HIMBA TRIBE (AFRICA)

There is a tribe in Africa called the Himba tribe, where the birth date of a child is counted not from when they were born, nor from when they are conceived but from the day that the child was a thought in its mother’s mind. And when a woman decides that she will have a child, she goes off and sits under a tree, by herself, and she listens until she can hear the song of the child that wants to come. And after she’s heard the song of this child, she comes back to the man who will be the child’s father, and teaches it to him. And then, when they make love to physically conceive the child, some of that time they sing the song of the child, as a way to invite it.

And then, when the mother is pregnant, the mother teaches that child’s song to the midwives and the old women of the village, so that when the child is born, the old women and the people around her sing the child’s song to welcome it. And then, as the child grows up, the other villagers are taught the child’s song. If the child falls, or hurts its knee, someone picks it up and sings its song to it. Or perhaps the child does something wonderful, or goes through the rites of puberty, then as a way of honoring this person, the people of the village sing his or her song.

In the African tribe there is one other occasion upon which the villagers sing to the child. If at any time during his or her life, the person commits a crime or aberrant social act, the individual is called to the center of the village and the people in the community form a circle around them. Then they sing their song to them.

The tribe recognizes that the correction for antisocial behavior is not punishment; it is love and the remembrance of identity. When you recognize your own song, you have no desire or need to do anything that would hurt another.

And it goes this way through their life. In marriage, the songs are sung, together. And finally, when this child is lying in bed, ready to die, all the villagers know his or her song, and they sing—for the last time—the song to that person.

You may not have grown up in an African tribe that sings your song to you at crucial life transitions, but life is always reminding you when you are in tune with yourself and when you are not. When you feel good, what you are doing matches your song, and when you feel awful, it doesn’t. In the end, we shall all recognize our song and sing it well. You may feel a little warbly at the moment, but so have all the great singers. Just keep singing and you’ll find your way home.

Source: The Mind Unleashed
www.themindunleashed.org

HEALTH BENIFITS OF SESAME SEEDS

Sesame seeds are probably one of the first oil seeds known to mankind. Sesame plant is a flowering plant belonging to the Pedaliaceae family. These seeds have the highest oil content among all seeds and a delicate nutty flavour which becomes more pronounced when they are roasted under low temperature for few minutes. These seeds can be consumed in raw or dried form or even as roasted snacks. They are used as an ingredient in several cuisines. Dry roasted sesame seeds are ground with olive into a thin light brown colour paste called known as ‘Tahini’ which is a popular middle-eastern dip. In Europe, they are commonly used in the manufacture of margarine.

There are several varieties of sesame seeds depending upon the type of cultivar such as white, black and brown seeds. White sesame seeds have higher iron content than black ones and are mostly used as ingredients in food or in the form of oil. Black sesame seeds are more flavourful and have a stronger aroma than white or brown sesame seeds and are preferably used in medicines. They contain 60% more calcium than white ones. White sesame seeds are hulled whereas black and brown ones retain their hulls.If you enjoy sprinkling sesame seeds into your cookie batter, on your salads and in your stir-fries, you’ll be happy to know that you’re doing your health a big favor! Tiny, crunchy, nutty sesame seeds are a nutritional wonder. Here’s a glance at the wonderful ways in which they boost your health:

These little seeds are loaded with essential minerals such as manganese, copper, iron, phosphorus and calcium.
The zinc in sesame seeds promotes bone health and prevents osteoporosis later in life.
Among all the nuts and seeds commonly eaten across the world, sesame seeds have been found to contain the highest amount of phytosterols, which are known to lower bad cholesterol.
Sesame seeds increase your levels of Vitamin E, which plays a vital role in fighting disease.
Sesame seed oil is known to reduce hypertension and ease stress.
The antioxidants in sesame seeds fight free radicals, thereby promoting youthfulness and strengthening the immune system.
A substance in sesame seeds has been found to inhibit the spread of many cancers.

Source - Google