This week’s top reads from our friends at Elephant Journal. 

Elephant Journal loves serving up green with a side of sass as much as we do. To make sure you get a taste of all the good things they’ve got going on over there, every week we bring you a round-up of the best picks. Brew a cup of coffee and enjoy!

Vegan Comfort Food -Lorin Arnold

We are getting close to setting the clocks back on the East Coast, and that means that cooler weather is really coming.  It’s time to sort clothes and put away the tank tops, figure out who needs a jacket, and find the extra blankets.  It’s also time to start thinking about the vegan comfort foods that go best in colder weather.  Of course, there are some super-easy-to- veganize comfort food dishes that are so standard most of us make them frequently, whether we are vegan or not.  These include items like spaghetti, vegetable soup, and oatmeal.  But, if we don’t get too complacent about what we are cooking, there are also some slightly less regular and delicious vegan comfort foods that can both warm us up and provide that “zing” that we sometimes need to keep from settling into palatal hibernation in the cooler months.

Looking for God on the 6 Train -Susanna Hardwood Rubin

Suddenly I wanted to be more fully in the experience I was having at the moment that it was occurring. I wanted to connect with what was going on around me – not that I wanted to engage in conversations with strangers, but I wanted to listen more and escape less. I wanted to soften to the richness of each moment and recognize the interesting-ness of everything. I wanted to become more sensitive, more aware, more engaged and entertained by the world. And the more I did it, the better it became.

Agave: The Nectar of Deceit -Dr. Paul Gannon

“Really?” I said, as I thought to myself, “Agave IS sugar” and bit my tongue, realizing that I do like parties, and I do like desserts, and I do want to be invited back. Far be it from me to be Debbie Downer and judge what we put in our mouths — at a party! But here, judgment takes front seat in this context and forum, as your health and informed decisions for it, is a whole nutter butter snack cracker.

So after the sugar shockwave cake, I was curious. Really? Is agave that great? Is it even a little guilt-free?

Image: Elephant Journal

The post Elephant Journal Reads of the Week: Vegan Comfort Food, the Power of the Subway, and Agave appeared first on EcoSalon.

This week’s top reads from our friends at Elephant Journal. 

Elephant Journal loves serving up green with a side of sass as much as we do. To make sure you get a taste of all the good things they’ve got going on over there, every week we bring you a round-up of the best picks. Brew a cup of coffee and enjoy!

Living Off-the-Grid. – Michael Levin

Living off-the-grid means living without public utilities like electricity. People who live off-the-grid may not depend on municipal water, sewage, or natural gas. It also can mean you’re self-sufficient in various ways. There are many third-world citizens who have lived off-the-grid for generations. Some people choose this alternative lifestyle to save money. It’s also a way to lower your environmental footprint.

The 10 Things You’ll Do Once You Start Yoga. – Lee Anne Finfinger

You’ll get over yourself. If you teach yoga, you’ll hope that people show up because they like taking class from who you really are. If you practice yoga, you’ll keep showing up and you’ll realize that the other shit doesn’t matter.

Eco Boy vs. Yoga Girl: Sunday Brunch – Elephantjournal.com

“Yeah,” Nearly Vegan Girl said. “Nothing worse than…”

And they spoke together: “…getting yer croissant before your coffee.”

“You wait all week,” he continued, “for brunch with your Sunday NY Times and coffee and croissant. And then you just get your croissant, and by the time the coffee comes it’s cool or you’ve eaten it.”

“Life’s rough,” she said, smiling.

“Seriously,” he said, seriously.

The post Elephant Journal Reads of the Week: Living Off the Grid, Reasons to Do Yoga and First World Problems appeared first on EcoSalon.

This week’s top reads from our friends at Elephant Journal. 

Elephant Journal loves serving up green with a side of sass as much as we do. To make sure you get a taste of all the good things they’ve got going on over there, every week we bring you a round-up of the best picks. Brew a cup of coffee and enjoy!

5 Steps to Dating Like a Superwoman – Jackie Summers

You’re intelligent. You’re ambitious.

You combine charisma and character, and command respect, all in your four inch stilettos. You can deflect bullshit off your magic bracelets, leap tall douche-bags in a single bound, and never lose your femininity. You’re a SuperWoman, you’re spectacular, and you’re single.

Sex, Lies and Journalism– Anna Baldwin

Modern journalism, as a rule, should be just the same as it was during the time of Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein – not influenced by any outside issues or people, as well as truthful and deeply needed just as it always had been.

Of course, news writing is absolutely just as needed to keep citizens informed in order for them to make educated decisions and to help advance democracy. Journalism is also still important to be watchdogs of the government and corporations.

To Be Forgiven: A Meditation on New Karma – Laura Marjorie Miller

Forgiveness is a two-way street, and if you are the one who needs to be forgiven, you are definitely not in the place of the hero. It’s embarrassing and difficult, grotty and unglamorous, harrowing and uncomfortable, to be the one who would plead forgiveness from another person.

But to be able to practice forgiveness presumes that there is someone else who needs forgiveness. How seldom do we ever want to acknowledge that person is our own self.

Image: JD Hancock

The post Elephant Journal Reads of the Week: Date Like a Superwoman, Modern Journalism, and Forgiveness appeared first on EcoSalon.

This week’s top reads from our friends at Elephant Journal. 

Elephant Journal loves serving up green with a side of sass as much as we do. To make sure you get a taste of all the good things they’ve got going on over there, every week we bring you a round-up of the best picks. Brew a cup of coffee and enjoy!

Food Is Love: A Story About Vegetables -Susan Simon

Oh the attraction that opposites have for each other! I knew that the love that was blossoming between us was the real deal so I had to cope with his picky eating one, to demonstrate my unconditional love for him and two, if I was ever to win him over to the vegetable side I would have to move slow. And slow it was.

A Song for Broken Hearts

“I don’t make music for eyes. I make music for ears.”

Sleeping with Anger -Nadine McNeil

At some stage of our lives we all face anger – projected, acted[ing] out, victimized by. Some of us may have learned that leaving our anger to fester is counter-productive and self-destructive.

Then there are those who have been angry for so long that the possibility of being otherwise is beyond their scope of reach. I recall reading once somewhere that most cemeteries are filled with angry people. So too are homes, offices, schools, churches, government institutions, brothels, bars, yoga studios, subways, buses, airplanes…anger is everywhere.

Lure the Goddess -Kimberly Johnson

One of the marvels of the feminine is that she is always close, like the spark of a flame waiting for the wind to come and augment the fire. She must be courted. And, like with all women, there are intricacies. The more you listen, the more she will speak. Her voice will become louder and clearer. However the opposite is also true, if you ignore or affront her, she will also speak loudly and sometimes unpredictably to shake you and beg your attention.

Image: Elephant Journal

The post Elephant Journal Reads of the Week: Food, Love, and Femininity appeared first on EcoSalon.

This week’s top reads from our friends at Elephant Journal. 

Elephant Journal loves serving up green with a side of sass as much as we do. To make sure you get a taste of all the good things they’ve got going on over there, every week we bring you a round-up of the best picks. Brew a cup of coffee and enjoy!

The Celebrity Body. -Hannah Siegle

The media is everywhere and a celebrities’ life is no longer their own. They are constantly subject to remaining locked in the roles they play on film. As a society looking in we start to see this as the norm and thus make attempts to recreate the appearance of the celebrity in ourselves, a process that takes hours in the gym, a strict diet and a whole slew of personal assistants to maintain.

A Dress Made From…Cow Nipples. -Lynn Hasselberger

Now… would you wear it? I would.

It’s Harvest Time: A Celebration of the Inward Equinox -Laura Marjorie Miller

There are unseen wisdoms that are greater than we can sometimes easily comprehend. What looked like a crushing defeat was in actuality a key to a whole new life, a much better gig than the one I had, but at the time all I could see was shame and defeat. It looked like an ending, but it was a hidden beginning.

Troy Davis & the Power of Forgiveness. -Sunita Pillay

But before the end of Troy’s life yesterday, he expressed nothing but dignity and forgiveness; he looked at the victim’s family in their eyes. He could have chosen not to say anything, not to look at them at all, but he didn’t. Regardless of his guilt or innocence, the fact that Troy acknowledged the MacPhail family so intimately and without anger was a powerful act, and one we should not forget so soon.

Image: Rachel Freire via Elephant Journal

The post Elephant Journal Reads of the Week: Celebrity Bodies, Cow Nipple Dresses and Forgiveness appeared first on EcoSalon.

This week’s top reads from our friends at Elephant Journal. 

Elephant Journal loves serving up green with a side of sass as much as we do. To make sure you get a taste of all the good things they’ve got going on over there, every week we bring you a round-up of the best picks. Brew a cup of coffee and enjoy!

Growing is Forever {Video}  – Lynn Hasselberger

I have a deep affection for the Redwood Forests of Northern California. This is my best attempt to capture the reverence I feel when in the presence of these giants. ~ Jesse Rosten, filmmaker

How to Live Brilliantly in 16 Hours Each Day – Lauren Foster

Every day is the first day of the rest of your life.

Gluten-Free Tabouli Salad – Brigitte Mars

Tabouli Salad is a great way to use colorful antioxidant-rich, fresh produce. Sun ripened tomatoes, cool cukes, sensuous spearmint, and hip hempseed as an alternative to the gluten containing bulgur wheat that is traditionally used. Hemp can provide omega 3′s, protein and vitamin E. The hempseed oil adds a lovely richness that might even win over olive oil aficionados. There is no THC in the hempseed or oil. Try this Mediterranean treat that can be a meal in itself!

Child’s Pose: A Lesson in Mothering – Sara Bautista

Sofia, my eldest, is four going on sixteen. Sometime during the last year she transitioned from a precocious and cheerful toddler to a fiery, emotional preschooler. Although she’s still a joyful child, Sofia can go from merrily playing with her dolls to screaming and kicking faster than you can say pitta dosha. Balance, tranquility and stability are not in big supply around our house these days.

Image: Elephant Journal

The post Elephant Journal Reads of the Week: Celebrating Trees, Life and a Delicious Fall Salad appeared first on EcoSalon.

This week’s top reads from our friends at Elephant Journal. 

Elephant Journal loves serving up green with a side of sass as much as we do. To make sure you get a taste of all the good things they’ve got going over there, every week we bring you a round-up of their top picks. This week it’s all about that crazy feather hair extension trend and acts of civil disobedience. Grab a cup of coffee and enjoy!

One Stylist Explains: Why I’ll Never Do Feather Hair Extension -Tamara Kerner

The trend: clipping feathers that can be curled or washed in your hair has a dark side that’s causing some stylists who specialize in funky extensions to refuse including them in their services.

The Sexiness of Seva -Chelsea Roff

Donating money alone isn’t service. Are we increasingly falling into a model of service that is disconnected from human beings?

5 Ways to Reduce Waste through Sharing -Beth Buczynski

If we want to create a more sustainable life, there are plenty of sharing services and online communities that can help us reduce waste, make a little money, and reconnect with what’s really important: people!

Why I Went to D.C. to be Arrested at Age 64 -Ellen Gunter

At 64, I’d never been arrested before. I was bricked and egged during anti-war protests in the Vietnam War days, even shot at in a high-speed car chase during the sixties because I had the audacity to be in a car with black friends. But I had never been handcuffed and taken to jail until that day.

Spirit Cleanse: One Girl’s One-Month Journey to Self Love -Dani Larson

In order to gain back My Self, I knew that it was time for something I knew best: cleansing. But I needed something more drastic than a food cleanse. Thus, I began to ruminate over the idea of a “Spirit Cleanse.” Unlike the ones I design for others, I resolved that this cleanse would not be focused on the body, for it was my spirit that ultimately needed a recharge, and my mind that sought quietude.

Image: Elephant Journal

The post Elephant Journal Reads of the Week: Feather Hair Extensions, Spirit Cleanses and Civil Disobedience Arrests appeared first on EcoSalon.