Reiki in the Chilterns Vegan "Choco Banana shake" recipe

Do you like chocolate and bananas? Its one of my favourite combinations!
If you fancy something filling, healthy and tastes naughty but isn't, then maybe give this quick shake a go!
throw into a blender:
2 chopped bananas
a handful of berry fruits (I used some blueberries)
a spoonful of carob powder
a dash of agave syrup or honey (to taste)
soya or rice milk (quantity depends on how thick you like your shakes)

blend until smooth, and that's it! Pour into a glass and enjoy!

Since leaving the rat race a year ago, I have found myself becoming more creative and resourceful in the Kitchen! My previous life entailed 5 days a week on the road so often eating out and my food shopping would invariably be popping into M&S food hall to pick up dinner - usually pre-prepared, and I probably I didn't even look to check the price......but now I think differently, being self employed you certainly become more aware of the price of food.... and being on a healing, wholesome path I am more conscious of what I am consuming. I want natural, organic, healthy & wholesome ingredients. I find it is more filling and more nutritious. Most cooking is from scratch these days and it feels so much more nurturing! So I had a few very ripe bananas I needed to use and sometimes I will bake banana bread to use them up, but today I created my own shake!
If you get a chance to try it let me know! :0) To be honest, it's about using up what's kicking about in the fridge and the cupboard I guess, and definitely more satisfying than buying it ready made! ;0)

Blogger virgin!

Yes indeed, I am a blogger virgin, and welcome to my first blog!
 I have had this facility set up for a couple of weeks now, but for one reason or another haven't managed to get going on it.....have I been stalling on purpose I wonder? It's not like I'm short of material to write about, as there are lots of various things bubbling along, with my fingers in various pies, and energies in lots of interests.......so now I am ready to divulge to the world and express my self through the medium of blogging, and what better way to share my happiness of seeing the Dalai Lama yesterday!!!! I was lucky enough to be able to attend the Templeton Prize Award Ceremony at St Paul's Cathedral and witness this wonderful spiritual leader being honoured for encouraging scientific research and harmony among religions.  Tenzin Gyatso, aged 76, the 14th Dalai Lama has vigorously focused on the connections between investigative traditions of science and Buddhism as a way to better understand and advance what both disciplines might offer the world.
 http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/gallery/2012/may/14/dalai-lama-visits-uk-in-pictures#/?picture=390107497&index=2


 First of all, I have always wanted to meet him every since I knew about him (which I guess was about ten years ago when I first started energy/healing work and my spiritual path), so it was a dream come true, and secondly just being in his presence was just wonderful, such a humble, loving, kind, peaceful, compassionate being, so happy and imparting that to everyone he comes into contact with. His message, to make this the century of Dialogue. The last century was full of blood shed, and it is up to each and everyone of us to make the positive changes in ourselves and with others in order to create a better present and future. He donated all his award money (over a million £s) to Save the children, scientific research into religion, and his adopted home India and its local charities, who he was extremely grateful to for allowing him to live there as a long term guest, and continues to live there in Exile from his homeland of Tibet.

This humble monk is a shining example to us all, so inspiring....I just walked away from the experience so happy. I was beaming my happiness smile all the way home, through the streets of London, on the Underground, and people did seem to respond to this, either subtly or obviously, but all in a positive way it seemed!
Thinking back to the whole experience, what was really surreal was waiting for him to arrive, and while the audience took their seats and got settled, Buddhist Monks where chanting prayers that could be heard echoing and resonating around the grandiose Church of England building of St Paul's! I sat and closed my eyes and soaked it up. I really did feel energies flowing right through from my crown through my feet, it felt very intense but very healing too.
I do not claim to be knowledgeable on Buddhism by any means, but I have become more and more fascinated in it in recent years. My spiritual path first led me to Tai Chi which in turn led me to take up  Reiki, and knowing Mikao Usui (the founder of the Reiki healing system) was a Tendai Buddhist encouraged me to explore Buddhism in more recent years. In fact, I have found some of the Buddhist teachings extremely helpful in dealing with emotions and thoughts, through the power of insightful, mindful and Metta meditation.
Earlier I referred to my spiritual path starting with Tai Chi over ten years ago - well it's funny how things can go full circle, as this coming weekend I will start to teach Tai Chi at my local Buddhist Monastery! I never saw that one coming! But I'm glad and very happy it is happening :0)
I hope that I will be able to see in my life time what the Dalai Lama hopes for, his vision of peace and love to all living things. As in Metta meditation..."May I be well, may all beings be well. May I be happy, may all beings be happy. May I be free from suffering, may all beings be free from suffering"