Whitney's Naan bread recipe

Cooking Bread at BOOM Festival, August 2014

My favorite thing to share is Garlic Naan bread and many have asked me for the recipe.  I have been cooking this bread for over 10 years and originally learned it from a cookbook by Madhur Jaffrey.

For the past couple years my friend Janet and I would have dinner together and eat it hot from the pan. Last year in the Fall I was able to cook bread a couple times for our group during the OPAL Tour and then several times in Morocco. We cooked together during BOOM festival this summer.  And the latest in Kilkenny, Ireland! My heart is warm with the pleasure of sharing my bread with people all over the world, which leave a big smile on my face!

If anyone has pictures of these occasions - please send them to me on facebook!  I would like to include them in this post!

You can tailor the recipe to your own liking, I really don't measure any more so the bread turns out even if you are not exact.  I like using a lot of butter in the garlic butter, it is good the next day as well.  The most important is the great thoughts and love put into the dough as you are making it.

This recipe is for yourself and one or two others. I would use one of the smaller bags of flour or half of the 5lb bag. For gauging the amount, if you are cooking for a group like five to ten, I would use a whole medium size 5lb bag, two eggs, more yogurt, baking soda and two packs of yeast.  Always keep some extra flour to add if needed when you are mixing the dough and a cup or more of the flour on the side if you end up putting too much water in the dough and need to add more flour and also to use when you are rolling the breads.

You chose the best type of flour for you, I have cooked variations with different kinds.  Spelt is very wet and sticky, barley flour is dry and crumbly, and when it comes down to it, the best is All Purpose White Flour.  Yep.

Shopping list:
Dry Active Yeast - 1 pack (normally comes in two or three packs)
Baking Soda - 1 tsp
Salt - 2-3 spoons preferably Himalayan Sea Salt
Flour - 5lb sack, All Purpose White
Sugar - 1 heaping spoon fine ground
Garlic - 2 or 3 whole
Eggs - 1
Butter - 1 large and use half
Plain White Yogurt - 1 cup
Olive oil - 1 spoon (or vegetable oil)

Things you need:  Big Bowl for mixing, rolling pin or wine bottle, large glass or container that would be the size of 2-3 coffee cups for the yeast to rise, cutting board and knife for garlic, bowl to beat the the egg and yogurt together, cloth to cover the dough while is rises, small pot for garlic butter, one or two heavy fry pans for cooking the bread.

Yeast overflowing at Carolyn's
in Jacksonville, FL January 2014

For timing, mincing the garlic is best to do first since it is time consuming, however you can get the yeast rising about half way through the garlic so it has time to rise.  Mince up as much garlic as you feel is the best, I really like using a lot, but you can do less as you wish.  Minced garlic will go into the dough when you mix it and also in the garlic butter.  I usually use a heaping handful in both. Thyme is also quite nice in the bread, it is fun to experiment with different things, I've even put black olives in the bread before.

Stir in a spoon or two of sugar into a cup of warm water and then add the package of yeast, mix and leave to rise until it is nice and frothed up.  Fine icing sugar is the best, but you can use whatever you have.  The yeast likes the sugar and it is better to have more than not enough so it froths up in about 15-20 mins.

In a big bowl or cooking pot put the dry items in and mix: flour, 1 spoon baking soda, 1 spoon salt.

In a small bowl, beat an egg and cup of plain yogurt.

When the yeast is ready, pour it and the egg and yogurt into the flour and begin to mix.  Knead the dough until smooth adding water or flour if required.  Remember to think nice things while doing it.

When the dough is smooth form it into a ball, put a bit of oil in your hand, rub it over the dough.  Put in back in the mixing bowl and cover with a damp cloth.  The dough rises better in a warm place, it takes longer or may not rise to much in a cold place.  When it doubles in size, punch it down and let rise again.  This process can take one or two hours.

When you are getting ready to cook the breads, put the garlic butter together to your own taste, lots of butter, the remaining minced garlic and salt.  Watch the salt, I've ended up putting to much in. Let simmer for a bit so the garlic is golden.

The process goes faster with two fry pans and the first couple breads you will have to gauge the heat. If it is too hot, the flour will burn, you can scrap it off the bottom of the pan.  Normally what I do is get the pans hot and then turn the heat down to about midway.

Clean a space on the counter to roll the bread.  If you don't have a rolling pin, clean and dry a wine bottle - works just as good!  Keep a cup of dry flour to sprinkle the rolling area.  It takes a couple breads to get the size you want and the thickness.  Pull a handful of dough and knead into a ball, then roll flat.  The thickness does matter and you will discover upon cooking the first couple pieces, too thick and too thin.  Too thick you have to burn to cook all the way through, too thin will be dry but honestly I've never run into the problem.  The flour that coats the dough when you roll it is enough for the cooking, it is better not to get too much loose flour in the skillet, burning flour really stinks up the kitchen!

Cook the bread by putting it in the pan and waiting to turn it over until it is completely cooked on one side a little more than golden then flip it.  Naan bread is fine with some black spots.

Bread is best eaten hot and dipped in the garlic butter! Enjoy!

Encounters on the Road: Archie Bell

Upon arriving in Ireland on September 22nd, my friend Wayne and I did not personally know anyone and we had no specific travel plans, we only knew that we wanted to meet people and experience ancient sites.  So after a couple days of getting settled in, I posted a message on the One People Ireland FaceBook group and sent out two private messages to people who had posted in the group. The next day, Wayne and I were honored to meet a new friend, Archie Bell in a quaint restaurant/pub in Drumahair.

It didn't take long after meeting Archie for him to lean over the table, voice sounding a bit

Sean Connery "why me"; meaning why did I send him a facebook message out of the blue to see if he wanted to meet for coffee.  His sincere eyes looking right into me.

We are all just walking each other home.

Archie quoted this line later in our conversation and it stuck with me and it is the true answer to "why me". He had read it somewhere, could not remember where, but it stuck with him and now I have adopted it with full appreciation to the originator.

In the moment someone hones in and directly asks you a questions like that, how do you explain the background of all that you are, that would have you go on to a FB group page, see who is posting in the group and send a private message - hey, do you want to meet for coffee and know that only the person you would supposed to meet would respond.  We wanted nothing from Archie, simply to connect and share ourselves.  My response was not as eloquent at the moment but honest.

No matter what the trail was to Wayne and I sitting and conversing with Archie, we as "perfect strangers" talked for over four hours straight before looking up and realizing how the time had melted away. Interesting huh!

Archie has been aware and supporting the shift in consciousness of the earth in his own fashion for his entire life.  The wisdom he shared with us from himself was gratefully received.  I think the most heart warming was our conversation about the sincere love and compassion sent to us in the USA by fellow humans in Ireland when the events of September 11th took place.  I had not really thought about the reactions of people in other countries to the tragedy of that day and am so grateful for the heartfelt love sent to us by people in places that "seem" so far away however are closer to us that we can imagine.

Archie, is in every way a reflection of caring; proudly wearing a cap and matching sweater stating "I Care".  After our long conversation, he wanted us to meet his family and we walked together to his son's house.

It was about bed time for the kids, but Archie's son Alan asked us in and we enjoyed talking while kids came in and out bringing us the toys that they wanted to share with us.  Wayne, who has grandchildren he loves and misses at home, had fun lost in kid land for a bit with Alan youngest daughter, whom Alan said normally is very shy.  Like his father, Alan was giving gifts of his heart as well.  He shared his passion for helping kids with us as a member of a Star Wars Battalion, where he and his group participate in various kids functions as Star Wars figures.  He showed us a video of himself dancing as a Storm Trouper at a picnic for terminally ill children - what a light brightening their spirits!  They make their own costumes which look like they are straight from the movies!

Wayne and I left late at night appreciative and happy for the day well spent and new friends that we will never forget.  Thank you Archie and Alan!  Our blessings to you!

All my best,

Whitney

Encounters on the Road: Thor Gundersen

Following the energetic trail in Norway brought me to Thor Gundersen, who I had the pleasure of meeting in Oslo this past week with my friends Wayne and Olav.


September 14th, 2014 - Thor arrives at a very corporate, polished hotel conference center in plaid shirt and blue jeans, roll of charts in hand.  Aware eyes and authentic, I could feel him walk by as I waited outside the room he would be speaking in.  Wayne and Olav were still outside enjoying the sunny day in Oslo; it was only a couple minutes before Thor's session would begin.  I thought about all the steps it had taken from hearing his name a few weeks prior all the way from the other side of Norway.  Still I had no idea what to expect.

Thor deposited his presentation materials and walked out of the hotel lobby doors and returned minutes later accompanied by Olav and Wayne, laughing and talking.  Olav Jenssen was part of our group in our camping expedition to find the energetic center of the pentagram in Norway that we had just completed and joined us on the trip to Oslo.  He had known Thor for a couple years and greeted him outside the building.  Wayne Fries had just flown in from New York two days before.  Olav introduced me, no need to be formal I hugged him like family and noticed his humble demeanor. Time for the session to begin.

The session, which I thought would be a general overview explaining his work, was from what I could tell, a condensed version of his course in higher self development coupled with energy healing that started when we were in the lobby before the class.  He got right into it, going back and forth from Norwegian and English so that Wayne and I would understand.  I was so thankful.

A very powerful healing, Thor packed in information without long explanations.  This session was about deprogramming the genetic mind from all the thoughts, feelings, beliefs, perceptions and intentions we accumulate in this lifetime and that are downloaded from our ancestry.  Thor did this on the spot with limited words and symbols that represented concepts.  Several days later as I am writing this, I can still feel the changes in my body and will for several weeks according to Thor as my body integrates the energy.

Deprogramming is what many of us have been doing to heal ourselves.  We create these programs ourselves by how we see the world around us and what we believe.  This is why it is said that our thoughts create our reality.  They are then strengthened with continued attention over time. Although, unseen, they can blind us from seeing the reality of now and create sickness and disease.  The programs also come from our ancestry and this is why healing yourself now, also impacts your family past, present and future. Deprogramming yourself is in my journey, one of the most important things you can do in life.

My interest in energy work started in 2009 and is the main focal point of all I do now, especially the last year as I left my home in Montana to follow my own energetic trail to self awareness.  Thor is the most gifted healer I have had the fortune of meeting and almost everyone I know is powerful energetic Being in their own respects.  I am very humbled and grateful for the encounter with him and intend to take one of his courses as soon as I am able.  He works in Norway, however if you check out his website (Click Here), you will see that he has a course coming up in Spain.  Also, I believe he offers distance sessions, the best way to contact him is to email Lisbeth at lisbeth.reiseater5@gmail.com.

This past year for me has been incredible, full of awe-inspiring, unique and beautiful people, situations and events. This I know in hindsight is the product of following my heart and the energetic trail which is like a real Indiana Jones adventure taking me across the US, to Morocco, up and down the entire span of Europe and now to Norway for the past month.  The clues to meet Thor started at the end of August while visiting Yvonne Børsheim in Bergen for the weekend.  One of Yvonne's friends described the impact Thor's high level self development courses had with her in her awakening process, now she is studying to be an acupuncturist.  I was instantly intrigued, took his name down and thought, "I have to meet this man".  This started a list of synchronicities all of which confirmed - I really did need to meet Thor.

After the weekend, I returned to Haugesund, where I had been staying with Solveig Elin Bokn, a soul sister who I met for the first time when she came down to Aouchtam, Morocco for the QEG build in April.  Keeping him in mind, I found his website and listened to an interview on the internet (HNR Interview May 2014).  Several days later I sent him an email to see if it would be possible to meet him, he is located in the Oslo area and Sonja and I had a plan to visit there soon; maybe it would fall into place.  Sonja Knutsen and I met in Aouchtam, she is a dear soul sister with whom we traveled to Norway and all through the EU this summer and back to Norway.

When Solveig came to Aouchtam she brought with her some information that had me intrigued and I felt that there was something that we would be doing together.  I remember her saying in April, "you must come to Norway in the Fall", at that time it seemed impossible, yet somehow I am here and indeed it is that time of the year.

Solveig feels strongly about finding certain energetic locations on earth and one is in Norway.  She showed me a map in Morocco and it was the same map that we followed into the heart of Norway a week ago on a journey to the center of the Norwegian Pentagram with Sonja, Solveig and new friend Olav Jenssen.

View of the historical site at the exact center of the pentagram

Olav and Solveig had met at the Norwegian OPAL Tour in November 2013 and connected over the pentagram.  Olav has done an immense amount of research finding that the lines on the map here are based on sacred geometry and that the cities where the points come to were, in fact, purposely founded in those specific locations.

This marks the site of the original
church that has been torn down

Olav is in the process of writing an overview of his findings and plans to write a book in the future.  As he looked into the history, he found clues that this huge pentagram was established most likely over 200 years by the Norse and Vikings cooperating together with perhaps the Irish Druids, before the Roman invasion. This is significant because it leads to clues on a new view of our history and that perhaps, there was something that they knew about and it was important enough to take 200 years to establish while holding off the Romans.  I am excited to help Olav tell the story that he has arrived at through all his research, he just sent the first draft over to me today!

The Pentagram is also represented
in the human body

Within a hour of our arrival after a day and half of travel, Thor called Sonja's phone.  We missed the phone call and I was surprised when Sonja told me he called.  Then we found out that Olav knew Thor; how amazing.  Thor had help Olav recover from an injury where he fell painting a house.  We asked Olav to call him back and Thor almost immediately performed a group distance healing on us, I could feel him working with my energy.  Thor talked about clearing out our space of all possibilities below our feet and space of unlimited potential above our heads, then he invited us to meet him in Oslo where he would be holding a workshop that weekend.

Our encounter did not end in the session, we enjoyed over an hour of conversation with Thor afterwards.  Not often do you have the opportunity to speak with someone as present and authentic as Thor, I am very grateful!



Fast forward to March 2015!

Now I am in Charlotte, North Carolina, very excited to get to know the huge community of people who are interested in learning more.  Azera MoonHawk took me in just before Christmas after my friend Wayne helped me get back to the US from Ireland where I went after Norway.

Thor and his work has been on my mind for months.  My commitment is to bringing online our Inner Technology and have focused my life toward that purpose.  For anyone who is dedicated to growing themselves, I think that what Thor can provide is integral, like a platform to build from.  

At first I thought maybe it would be possible to bring him here for a workshop, so I contacted him to find out if he was interested - he is! but the cost of bringing him over to the US from Norway would make the workshop very expensive, therefore he offered to work with groups through me over Skype.

Sign up for or express your interest in a workshop with Thor Gundersen by emailing Whitney at LivNShine@gmail.com. Workshop are approximately two hours and will be held as a group together in Charlotte, location tbd, via Skype with Thor in Norway for $250.00. 

Once we have enough people signed up, we can schedule a date and place for the workshop most likely in April 2015. If you are not in the Charlotte area and interested, please email and we can see what we can do.

Thank you for reading this article and participating in this adventure!

All my best,

Whitney