Revival

re·viv·al

[rəˈvīvəl]

NOUN

  1. an improvement in the condition or strength of something:

“a revival in the fortunes of the party” ·

  • an instance of something becoming popular, active, or important again:

“cross-country skiing is enjoying a revival”

  • a new production of an old play or similar work.
  • a reawakening of religious fervor, especially by means of a series of evangelistic meetings:

“the revivals of the nineteenth century” ·

  • a restoration to bodily or mental vigor, to life or consciousness, or to sporting success:

“the thunder and lightning affected his revival in the third round”

back to life

Do You Need a Revival?

During the months of December and January, I intentionally shut down. In December, I use the time to tie up loose ends, set my intentions while preparing to implement my plans.

I take time out to reflect over my year and see where I’ve lacked, where I’ve been weak, where I didn’t give enough attention, and where I can improve. I also take time to be grateful for any accomplishments, opportunities, loved ones who’ve held me down, and anything the Creator blocked me from. I ask for the lesson in the lesson and to continue being shielded from things I don’t need and am not ready for. It is important for me to do this so I do not ask for things I am not ready for, so I ask for things that align with the grand scheme of things, and so that I’m on one accord. I like to be working and moving towards what is going to be fruitful. I am a creative and it’s easy for me get caught up in my own vision and recreate it over and over. There’s not always room for that. It seems 2014-2017 were the years for me to sow, sow, and sow some more. I’m praying 2018 is my year of reaping. In 2017, I graduated with my Master’s moved into counseling; I lost major clients due to the economy changes; my family went through many changes, grief, loss, and celebrations; I turned 35; and, I came to the realization my journey has really just begun. The preparation for a major journey can be strenuous. It is designed to prepare you for the actual journey. It is similar to boot camp. If you can get through it, you’ll have everything you need to stay in the fight. As 2017 wrapped up, I realized the type of training I was going through and how epic the future MUST be. You don’t go through rigorous training to just sit and be average. I was created to be MAGNIFICENT.

With that being said, I’m ready for 2018. Of course, it won’t be perfect, but I can see the sun shining. It just hasn’t reached my hemisphere yet. Either way, I’m ready for it. The new year always starts with me being very aware and intentional of what I put into play. I cast spells! I desire to cast the positive ones and not set myself up for failure. I pray for guidance, wisdom, discernment, and love. With those four things, I’m set. The rest just falls in line.

So how do I bring in the new year? Intentionally! I pray, I speak thing into existence, I seek clarity, and I listen. This New Year, I listened to not just my spirit but my body as well. They both told me a revival was necessary. Many times, we gather things, almost like a bear for hibernation. We gather and collect and just watch those things. We don’t really do anything with them. We like how it looks sitting in our possession. We like the idea of having what we need but don’t really set those things into action. For the last four years, I’ve been gathering. I’ve been gathering data, strength, patience, love, knowledge, self-discipline, and will power. I’m aware that the reason I’ve been gathering those things is because the upcoming journey will require all that and more to make it to the other side. Every fighter gets time where they’re not training or fighting. They’re replenishing themselves and their resources. They’re reviving. I will spend this time in REVIVAL. As you can see above, a revival is restoration. However you need to bring back life to the dead in you, (and not the bad dead, the good things you’ve neglected for too long) do it; resuscitate it.

My revival takes place on all levels. I make it so my spirit, soul, mind, and body gets revived. I look at what has been heavy on my spirit and address them. Was it fear that made me ignore it? Was I ready for it but lazy? Was I obedient to the will over my life? I address all of it. I think about how I allowed myself to be myself. The creative, the scientist, the explorer, the thinker, the observer… Did I allow room for those facets of myself to feed properly? Was I nourished in that way? I’ve been in school for the past decade, so the answer is no. I’ve had to pick and choose which areas I could tend to because there was some fear of things and not enough self-discipline in others. I just wanted to graduate and I sacrificed for that and family but not much else. Due to that, I was empty in many areas. I didn’t travel for pleasure, I didn’t go to open mics, I didn’t write, I didn’t paint, I didn’t create, and I didn’t thrive. I was surviving. I want to live my life not just exist. I take inventory of the junk in my head and dispose of it. Sometimes this means mending relationships or ending some. The body may be the easiest and overlooked. We let ourselves go in more ways than one. I wish I was the person who goes for a run when stressed. Instead, I binge on banana nice cream and listen to music all day in the bed. Sometimes I clean but that’s it.

So, the whole month of January I will be intentional on the revival of my body. Often, letting that be overlooked can lead to other problems like depression and illness. I don’t have time for that.

How will I revive my body? Each week, I will share my plan and how it worked out.

Last week, I brought in the new year on a plant fast. This included no processed foods and plenty foods that can also be eaten raw (so think, no tubers, no beans, except lentils because I heart lentils). I drank herbal concoctions and fresh, cold-pressed juices. I made smoothies, and munched on guacamole when I wanted to indulge. When your body is backed up from toxins, things get foggy. Your vision gets foggy, your thinking gets foggy, your response time increases, your mood gets unstable, and much more. I used the end of 2017 to do a fruit fast to help flush the toxins out. I brought in the new year by replenishing with healthy choices that will allow my body to refuel itself and give me the things I’ve taken from it over the past year. Being on the go is stressful hard on the body, especially the excretory system. Things like constipation, acne, and feeling sluggish are localized symptoms of stress. This January revival will rectify those problems and get you back on the right track.

Below, I’m sharing some of the things I ate. As always, I’m available for consultation and more.

 

January 1:

Breakfast = a bowl of kiwi and grapes

AM Snack = smoothie with avocado, cucumber, blackberries, and Asian pear

Lunch = veggie soup with veggie broth, mixed greens, onions, and carrots

PM Snack = hot herbal tea (I blended dandelion, calendula, and cinnamon with pure maple syrup)

Dinner = none

 

January 2:

Breakfast = smoothie with cucumber, tangerine, pineapple, avocado, and blueberries

AM Snack = fresh eggplant hummus with apple sticks

Lunch = lentil soup with collards and onions

PM Snack = tomato and cucumber salad with plenty fresh and dried herbs

Dinner = mashed cauliflower and wilted spinach

 

January 3:

Fruit fast all day (any fruit I wanted) and some dry roasted pistachios when I still felt hungry

Fresh Swanky

 

January 6:

Breakfast = shake with bananas, fresh Nutso Fast, raspberries, and cacao

Lunch = lettuce bowls with carrot strips, tomatoes, Himalayan salt, fennel, black lentils, avocado

Dinner = hot herbal tea (I blended red raspberry leaf, burdock root, dried mango, and dried orange)

 

This week I’ll be including more hot foods as I’m back to work.

I made green split peas with spinach and riced cauliflower last night for today’s dinner.

Tomorrow will be cauliflower steak with warm tomatoes and leeks

This weekend I’m going to make a soy-free veggie stir fry with purple potato strips instead of pasta

 

I can help you layout your own revival if you desire. We all need a revival!

 

I’ll Drink to That-Fountain of Juice

 

Peace,

Mika Fresh