Want to get your hair dyed at the salon? Before you go, here's something to think about: Most salons use products that contain harmful chemicals that lead to several health problems such as allergies, throat and lung irritation, and even cancer. In fact, according to a European Commission report of 2006, not one hair dye brand was proven to be safe for consumers. This led to the EU Commission banning 22 harmful ingredients.

 An elixir may sound like something concocted in a magical realm of some fantasy movie or video game BUT they truly exist and provide healing. Elixirs are actually some of the sweetest medicines provided by Mother Nature and concocted by healers all over the world. These clear, sweet, and aromatic drinks are considered Hydroalcoholic, meaning they contain both water and alcohol. Elixirs are made using water, consumable alcohol, medicinal plants and herbs, and different flavors and spices.

The Karmic Tools Weekly Forecast covers the current planetary transits which affect people in different ways and to various degrees of intensity.  Take notice when it is a Personal planet (Sun / Moon / Mercury / Venus / Mars) interacting with a Social (Jupiter/Saturn) or Collective planet (Uranus / Neptune/Pluto).  And pay extremely close attention when it is a Social planet interacting with a Collective planet because that means something *big* is brewing that will move large groups of people along their evolutionary paths. Tuning in to the energy

Start off a cold winter day with this hearty breakfast hash! Simply seasoned with just olive oil, chili pepper and salt, this recipe allows each vegetable to shine. Sweet butternut squash is balanced by the mild flavors of cauliflower and potatoes, as well as the slightly bitter flavor of the Brussels sprouts. This blend of veggies would also go well on the side or as ingredients in another meal, but it makes for a delicious and healthy breakfast with the addition of tofu.

More and more states are jumping on board for the Plastic Bag Ban, and with good reason. Plastic makes up a big chunk of the landfills here in the United States. These bag bans are strategies being put in place in order to reduce the use of plastic carryout bags from grocers and other retail stores.

I am constantly searching out inventive ways to prepare eggplant. While eggplant parmesan is a classic, it can be a bit pricey and it takes quite some time to make. Messing around in the kitchen I decided to take one of my favorite seafood stews and turn it into a vegan dish. And I must say, the eggplant is so good that meat eaters are easily fooled.

If you haven’t heard of quinoa, the superfood, by now, it’s time to get out from underneath that rock. For those of you who are still unsure of how to say it (let alone spell it), it’s pronounced “keen-wah.”

As one of the most important and powerful practices in all of yoga, the Moola Bandha lock, when practiced regularly, can make you great and masterful in the full spectrum of your life. How? Truth is, by lifting and engaging the perineum and bringing attention to the root of your being you are solidifying and strengthening your core essence. And this is key to pretty much everything.

Now that you are making more breakfasts at home using healthy ingredients, let’s take a look at dinner. Instead of grabbing that package of organic macaroni and cheese or other “helper” products that allow you to make a meal in a skillet, try creating your own sauces or pastas. Once you get comfortable with the process, you’ll find you can whip up dinner in record time.

Previously, I wrote about how I don’t want to be responsible right now. I want to retreat, to withdraw. I’m tapping into something deeper this week and realizing it’s more than that. I want to be taken care of. I want someone else to make the hard decisions, to be a leader, a hero. I want to be like a child feeling joyous and free because someone else is taking care of business.