holisticbuffalo-blog

[holisticbuffalo-blog]

Wildcrafting thoughts: I really love bugs

Do you want to know why? They always look like they are doing something. They have a purpose, a function of existing and it's enough for them. Sorry for my absence but I have been in the Yukon, Territory picking wild flowers. It's been an amazing experience, full of old memories some good, (I was raised here) mostly great new memories, reconciling mistaken beliefs and new friends. Nothing short of epic. I have come to claim it all back and move forward with a renewed perspective on things. In addition to starting a new business venture and create a brand. (More details to come) So I am out here picking completely alone some days, in the silence of the wilderness. Barreling down back roads in the look out for fields of glorious flowers, searching for colours and scents that dance and sing. I've found them and I have left my offerings and prayers with gratitude to honour the wondrous beauty and bounty. Before I started on my journey I went to ponder and soak this world in at my favourite place on earth, liard hot springs (disappointed that the temperature dropped) I gave the first mosquito a free sample as I was taught to, so they leave me alone the rest of the summer. I have always loved bugs. They always seem to know what they are doing. Humans are the only ones on the planet to not seem to come with (forest ions?) instructions. The story goes we are sitting around bored outta our minds and start (aging?) banging rocks together and discover fire. Then we stare till the fires properties dawn on us and then we realize it needs a fuel, wood, coal, oil, and so on. Here we are still bored and trying figure out new ways to be important and have meaning. Bugs seem not too concerned with any of that. I like that. Wildcrafting meditations Sending you wild holistic power to thrive. Victoria

[holisticbuffalo-blog]

Fluff piece: put the coconut down!

Before you light the torches and grab your pitch forks let me tell you, I love coconut oil. I came full circle career wise from hairstylist and esthetician to coach and counselor and after 5 years I was back in a salon & spa. While on hiatus I spent a year of using beauty products that I made and bought ingredients strictly from a super market. Meaning only raw food grade quality on my skin, if I couldn’t ingest it then it wasn’t for me. I experimented with grape seed oil and olive oils, sesame oil among others, then I discovered coconut oil that year. However, coconut oil is too heavy for me, it clogged pores on my face and created texture on my skin where there was none. About these hair treatments, I would never put it in my hair. I use it as a moisturizer on my legs and elbows, cuticles and feet, often as a base in body scrub but with the intention of rinsing it off thoroughly after. Since then I feel like coconut oil has become the basic bitch of beauty and people I fear are missing out on the most amazing products known to wo/men. Unlike coconut oil, these oils I suggest will not clog pores and will never feel heavy on the skin; baobab, jojoba, rice bran oil and so many more. All boasting qualities that surpass the unrefined cold pressed organic staple that we have come to the peak of our fervid adoration for. So here are my top five oils you may want to introduce or reintroduce yourself to and some suggested uses...  

Rice Bran Oil: This is my new favorite best anti aging friend, I recently found it as I was researching for anti aging miracle oils. The magic ingredient in this performing oil is Oleic acid, a highly used fatty-acid in mainstream anti aging creams. I just use the food grade raw oil. I have not been successful tracking down unrefined in the grocery store however I am just about to purchase it on line at bulkapothecary.com A good mid priced oil for anyone willing to spend a little more cash while exploring new base oils for their beauty routines. I use it in part with jojoba 80/20, which I will speak to next, as a beautiful facial oil base. It’s a light silky finish with a fast absorption rate. I love it, my skin loves it.

Jojoba oil: Now this is actually a liquid wax derived from a seed of a shrub. It is an indigenous plant to North america and is the most like our own natural skin secretions. This makes the oil perfect for any use of the body, split ends, scalp to toes. The texture is extremely silky and luxurious, if your budget is high I suggest this one for all your beauty needs hands down. Alternatively it is a great way to add quality to an oil you already use such as rice bran and mix 80/20 or 70/30 to your liking. It is moisturizing and loaded with fatty acid chains for your skins delight and is a natural preservative. I have a deep devotion to this one!

Baobab oil: For you high rollers out there, this oil comes from Africa and is more expensive than jojoba, if you can get over the nutty sent (just add some essential oil) it’s a winner. Similar to jojoba, a seed oil from what they call “the tree of life” this highly prized oil will deliver! It is beautifully light, silky and is ideal for treating the ends of hair and delicate skin like around the eyes. I love to use these types of light oils on the more delicate areas of my body, if you don’t forget your silky “pink” parts, neither will your beloved! Have fun!

Grape seed oil: On a budget? A really great suggestion for someone looking for a lasting bottle of base oil that is light and scentless, if this is you, then look no further! You can add any essential oils and make this the most hard working moisturizer that is good for sensitive and mature skin, will not clog pores, stain sheets or PJ’s. Because it has astringent qualities due to the lanoleic acid it is an essential ingredient for a facial cleanser (for those “oil removes oil” believers), in addition to leaving you clean it will also tighten pores and support collagen production on a cellular level. What a work horse! If you can, start a oil cleansing routine today, I do! Its an amazing habit to initiate and this is an indispensable oil for that cause. It’s like the old adage said, moisturize, moisturize, moisturize!

P.S: if you use coconut oil as a lubricant and have found it to warm too much or that it might be starting to cause black heads/ingrown I say, switch to grape seed. You’re welcome.

Last but not least...

Rose hip oil: I found this little surprise at the local pharma-save of all places! It’s a conditioning and rejuvenating oil and is probably my favorite find this year. It has an active scent rather than a performing sent, think the stock of the rose rather than the flower essences (or rose hips, lol). Its so light and beautiful, the skin feels so smooth and remarkable after application, the oil is absorbed in seconds! For those that love a clean finish, its hard to not be devoted from the moment you use it. I will never be without this amazing oil in my beauty routine and if you haven’t had the pleasure, I think its time you get acquainted with this luxurious active oil for the sake of your skin and all that gaze upon it. Oh, and don’t forget to drink rose hip tea in the winter, its loaded with Vit C and anti-oxidants for the inside out believers, I will never stop being grateful for the rose! 

Those are my top five beauty oils! Hope you learned a little or were inspired! Stay beautiful with wild holistic power and thrive!

[holisticbuffalo-blog]

Reincarnation vs this one life: a meditation.

In the beginning when I learned about reincarnation it fascinated me. It some how willed me closer to compassion, which I think may be the purpose. It meant all things have a soul and a journey to aspire to on a hierarchy of spiritual attainment. It brought me closer to knowing we are not alone and we are in it together, this learning curve we all face. It begged me to consider that everyone or everything may be a past mother, father, sister, a brother, a best friend or foe. The meaning in every relationship was enhanced by this. Furthermore, if time is an anomaly and truly relative, I may be in a relationship with myself from another "time line" if you will. I quickly saw how this belief system and story line can slip down a rabbit hole very quickly. 

This is where I found the message to open up more questions than answers for me. Could this fail us somehow? Set us up in a way that may allow our spiritual development to be stalled? Does this system of spiritual hierarchy fail to enrich rather than support the devotion required to understand ourselves as spirit having a physical experience? Does it limit the thinking for the long game or support it?

I can see as much as it allows us to be completely aware of the living force that perpetuates our relationships and interactions, this also gave people an option out, to be lazy. Does it tease the part of our mind that wants to put off to tomorrow what may be accomplished today? Does it give the philosopher free reign and permission to not only depend on a safety net but also belief in a spiritual hierarchy reflected in this physical realm? I thought that was interesting. It means that their are good guys and bad guys with spirits journeying in a system that exists above as well as below. Or is its just a way to say, “watch out!” that we should be aware of our actions like a child's fable will warn of consequence? a little Aesop and spiritual attainment mash up. This is the kind of stuff I meditate on.  So then I asked my mom, whether not we believe in reincarnation in First Nations ways, she said no. That really surprised me, I was like “so this it?” It seemed so final and that moved me to way more interesting questions! What if there was only today, this life and no other. You reach the other side and you hand in your grade paper and that’s it, your done. That is the grade you get! What would that make you feel? What would that inspire you to do? Would you put anything off because it wasn’t important anymore? When you show up to the happy hunting grounds and they ask you “So how far did you get with this thing called love, with the time you were given?” What would you say? Would you do more of something? Would share more, love more, care more? Search yourself more, “go one deeper”? Could you be more compassionate of the ones that are fucking it all up for themselves? If you didn’t have a chance to ever come back here, how precious would this world look to you? If there was no time that you had beyond the split moments of choosing to love or to fear? Would it inspire you to make the most enlightened choice? If you had the power to know in the moment that it will pass and the decision is final, how much clarity could you sum? Would you huddle up and be afraid of dying or would be afraid to miss out on living, this one and last chance?

For me, it meant there was no time to waste. That this time around was more important and it is now time to bring whatever it is you believe about yourself to be a value into this world promptly. Yes, there is no time to waste. Brace yourselves, and be your best.  

I really liked that.

In the name of the highest good, I send you wild holistic power to thrive.

[holisticbuffalo-blog]

Emotional Intelligence: 101

This is the basis of all emotional understanding (as I understand it), are you ready for it?

There are only two emotions, Love and Fear.

So let me tell you how this works or how it doesn’t work. This doesn’t work if you think that being jealous of your boyfriend is love or if your boyfriend is jealous of you, and you believe that’s how he shows how he cares. It is a form of taking and this is fear based. 

Do you see where I am going here? I started with the fear based thought because that is what is going to make sense to you first, I am going for impact here. I have done this exercise in a room full of people and it never fails, It triggers someones mistaken beliefs. Deeply misunderstood incremental acts of fear is something we do to ourselves and each other, every day. For me, the first statement around jealousy, that was my misunderstanding. Just for perspective, jealousy is the fear of loss and abandonment or the belief that there is not enough love in the world to go around. 

For the record, giving, tithing, volunteering, inclusion, cuddles, teaching, sharing, smiling, hugs, saying I love you, listening, inviting, serving, learning, respect, trust, understanding, resolution, celebrating its all love, for the record.

Just to bring this home on how easily this can be misunderstood.

Defending is fear based, the love is in the support and celebration. Mother Theresa said “I was once ask why I don’t participate in anti-war demonstrations. I said I will never do that, but as soon as you have a pro-peace rally, I will be there”

In all our actions we have a choice whether we claim to or not. Getting super clear on this will give you more of a bearing in your life than you can imagine. Choosing your direction; taking or giving, holding a grudge or forgiving, holding on or letting go, defending or supporting, talking or withdrawal. Sometimes staying in your job or relationship is the fear based decision and in the leaving you find the love. If you look at your actions in this way you may also find your way back to rekindled relationships and family systems, self confidence and a place where you can wrap your head around saying sorry and find understanding for wrong doings. You don’t have to believe the cliche, “everything happens for a reason” however you can give meaning to your life by moving forward with a deeper understanding.

Understanding fear based and love based thinking creates accountability and puts it in your hands. This is emotional intelligence: 101 as Victoria Buffalo Robe sees it. 

In the name of the highest good, I send you holistic wild power to thrive!

[holisticbuffalo-blog]

Why would you ask me anything? Who am I?

Hey!

I am so excited to begin this blog with an introduction, it seems appropriate. On top of having a place to share my articles I will be asking you, the reader, to send me questions and ask for wild holistic fact based advice, you can also comment, like and a share. I respond really well. (in this blog I will respond to a question once a week)

So to get right to it, I am a mother of two. My daughter is 21 and my son is 17. I am 39 now and I have an empty nest already! What I know about myself is my need to care for others is obsessive, it’s my default. My go to role is helper and I can’t deny it, I have tried but frankly its just what I am good at. My boyfriend tells me I need a dog soon! I want a doodle, they are so beautiful! Another great self discovery is that helping translates well into a leadership role, I do well at creating a culture where everyone’s best interest is at heart. I just genuinely want to be helping where I can. Hence, this blog!

So a little more about me and who the hell I think I am. In my relationships I was given a wide range of emotional experience; I lost my baby daddy when my daughter was four months (we were engaged), my sons father and I split when he was just one, I have lived a common law life, a single mom life and now a life where interdependence is the goal. My grandmother once told me I have lived enough for three, that was when I was 27.

A little on my work history; I have been apprentice reporter at CBC radio, stay at home mom (year and a half with each child), customer care operator, cold call operator selling cell phones (I did well, I might add), hairdresser, esthetician, poet, writer, performer, coach, counselor, workshop facilitator, educator, just to name a few. I have studied beauty for over twenty years and the psychology of emotions for over ten of those. It all wraps up into this, I am person that is really passionately obsessed with what makes me tick and how I can be a better human being and more beautiful inside and outside; a better mom, a better employee, a better girlfriend/partner and more successful all around, now I want to know how to be an entrepreneur and try my hand at branding myself on line and pretty much anything else you can think of. I am currently beginning a start up to manufacture a luxury infused oil with hand picked wild flowers for face and hair, I just want to do well. Ahem, over achiever people pleaser in recovery! Maybe I should get a dog? 

My big shift to inner space was after a car accident, I was forced to consider a career change, and I discovered I was more interested in what made people feel better, rather than look better. At the same time, my daughter was coming of age and as she started growing up fast. I realized I had very little to give her in terms of advice or guidance to lead her towards a happy life. Last but not least, my son was the first long term relationship I had with the opposite sex! I had to ask myself the hard question of “what kind of man will I raise?” It was a sobering moment. It was like symbols clashing over my head to wake up. So I began to study every thing about wellness; scientific, spiritual, psychological and relate these things to my life and my everyday interactions. I have discovered its not all that glamorous and takes a lot of courage to have honest moments with people that you care about and even more so with weeding out people, places or things you don’t care about!

So in conclusions to who I think am I, I will say conservatively I have over a dozen diplomas and certificates and over a thousand hours in training in each beauty and intuitive coaching that could amount to what we collectively define as “expertise” in a field of study. I have had many coaches and mentors and I believe I always will be learning. I listen to two to three pod cast a day that relate to the psychology of success whether it’s about food and the body, money and emotions or mindful mental clarity, I am averaging about three books a month, all subjects about personal success. It took me months of thinking to myself, “who the hell am I to have a blog?”.  My litmus test is this; I have the courage to make this blog and follow through, I have healthy relationships with my children and I am currently dating a man that is my equal partner. The moment of clarity; all of this takes daily cultivation but then it takes action and my next step is to give, to pay it forward. 

I believe I have something genuine to offer the world. These things ebb and flow, I am not always this confident and I use the term “healthy” loosely just like the word “normal” and maybe that is the point? I can say honestly the meaning of being healthy is not perfection and its not glamorous at all, we are all going to have knee jerk reactions in life.The catch is that relationships never go away and often we have to come back to conflict over and over again until we can simply say with certainty, “this is how I feel right now”, without a fear based reaction. Whether it was my inner turmoil or the past living in a current relationship, for me I needed clarity and often it required feedback. I was so blessed and very lucking to get honest and practical advice, feedback and training, so now I pay it forward. My mission in life, no matter how many attempts it takes, is to simply respond to my experience with as much interest and healing intention as possible. That is my passion now and in my opinion, it is also the ultimate challenge in life and I love it!

So, thank you for reading this full article and introduction! You can ask me for some holistic wild fact based advice, anonymously if you like but give me a nick name if you can. Also, stay tuned for more articles in my attempt to demystify all the glamour around being an emotionally intelligent human being and my story telling of a first nations single mom of adult children looking for a tribe lol. I hope it helps you on your way and puts a smile on your face!