Mentoring Your Spiritual Ascension Toward the Light of Your Healed and Highest Self

Eagle Spirit Blessings

05 29 11

My partner, Stephen, and I set off to spend the day together yesterday. We had no idea where or what we were going to do. Because photography is one of Stephen’s passions, we did at least know he would bring his camera in tow. We would just drift along with the winds and our whims. We gathered our things for the day- camera equipment, sunglasses, hats, and our explorative, happy hearts. We settled into the car, with Stephen behind the wheel, and started to drive. Where to, we still did not know, but we were excited nonetheless. Stephen looked at me, smiled gently, and said that he wanted to travel wherever he felt pulled to go. Intuition would spontaneously guide our way. I more than agreed. We shortly thereafter found ourselves at the freeway entrance, and he coolly announced, “It looks like we are going to go south.” And so, the day began.

From where we live in Bellingham, Anacortes is an easy drive away. Anacortes is a familiar bayside town, home of the ferries that transport many travelers to Port Townsend and the San Juan Islands. We had stopped there once last summer as we originally traveled into the state, relocating from Northern California into Washington. Since we had not returned for a visit since, we were inspired to stop there for a walk around town, enjoying a little photography along the way.

However, while there, I could not help but notice signs for a place called Deception Pass. I had heard of this pass, of its beauty and mystery. I had seen many photos and paintings of the lands and water around it, of the cliffs, trees, and the twin bridges, and I had heard many stories. The pass earns its name due to the deceptive strength of the water that flows through the narrow straight-like bay. The swift, powerful current forms standing waves, large whirlpools, and roiling eddies that are a struggle for boaters to maneuver. The idea of exploring this new area immediately ignited my drive, lit my heart, and led our day into an unexpected adventure full of wonder and spirit.

Deception Pass

Deception Pass

As soon as we arrived at the twin bridges that drape high over Deception Pass, my heart opened and waves of shear bliss washed through my body. I gobbled up the majestic scene with hungry eyes, and Stephen sat taller in his seat, imagining the boundless photographic possibilities of the day. I looked into the empty blue sky, and I saw an eagle in my mind’s eye. Without dropping my gaze, I casually mentioned to Stephen, “We will see an eagle today.” This I sensed. It was not a strong hit, just a subtle knowing. We parked the car at one of the lookout spots, gathered our things and embarked on what turned out to be a strikingly magical and spiritual experience.

On foot, we followed the usual tourist route. We gently hiked the narrow dirt paths that twisted along the hillside, which served up soul-filling views of distant, green mountain peaks, nearing tall evergreens and deep blue waters. This hillside that stretched up from the depths of the bay was lined with wild grasses, clumps of trees and patches of bright yellow wildflowers. The entire area emitted such profound energy. It filled me and thrilled me. I immediately wanted to sit right down in the soft brush and meditate. Deception Pass has been home to various Native American tribes for thousands of years, and I could deeply feel the powerful energies course through me. In those moments, I was no longer a woman watching the world; I was the land and the sea itself, flowing with the breath of earth’s spirit.

Soul-Filling Views From Deception Pass

Soul-Filling Views From Deception Pass

We continued to walk while Stephen opened his camera to the views. We trailed up to the road and along the bridge, crossing high above the watery pass and tall trees. In the distance, a bald eagle suddenly appeared, soaring effortlessly through the sky. I smiled, realizing that what I had sensed earlier was actually happening now before our eyes. It seemed to be flying near a red-tailed hawk, both searching the hillside with their keen intensity. They were too far to photograph, so we continued along the bridge in their direction. We slowly ambled around, snapping pictures, chatting, giggling and breathing deeply.

As we neared the area where the birds were flying, the sky fell empty. They had been gone for some time, so we sat down, resting on a log that lined the road. We relaxed and settled into each other. The entire time we were at Deception Pass, I was filling with pure love. I became so full, I felt as if this love was now pouring out from my pores, stretching my heart and tearing from my eyes. I felt such a cosmic connection to Stephen and to the expansive landscape of our lives together. Our conversation naturally drifted, and we were sweetly engaged in the topic of our union together. And then… magic happened.

Eagle Blessings

Eagle Blessings

We suddenly looked up and saw not one, but two bald eagles soaring above our heads. They were a pair, matched for life. We had not seen them before and we did not know where they had come from, but there they were, circling us. They cut through the sky with wings spread wide. They flew lower and closer to us as they graced the space just over our heads. Stephen grabbed his camera in excitement, shooting as many frames as possible. We stood there for a long time like this. People stopped to watch the eagles and us. It seemed as if this mated pair was there only for us. I could hardly believe my eyes. I felt intensely blessed!

The eagles continued to fly around us until the camera’s memory card finally ran out of space and could no longer hold any more photos. We both looked down to change the memory card. When we returned our gaze to the sky, the eagles had disappeared.

Looking back at the experience, we both feel these majestic birds came to honor us, encircling us with their empowering and supportive blessings. This was a magical, poignant and stunning moment in the flow of our lives, a spiritual breath of light, love and endorsement.

This blessing heightened our time together. Golden hues seemed to gently kiss everything I saw for the rest of the day. We attracted more wildlife and more opportunities. The afternoon unfolded like thoughtfully crafted poetry. And, as we drove home in the early evening hours, the sun lit the skies and our hearts in flaming rose tones, casting warm, glowing, divine light on everything in its path. We were in its path.

I now realize that for the entire day, we were not only in the path but we were an integral part of the path, of a greater more expansive, interconnected, spiritual path. I have a sense that this is the case with every moment and every breath of each of our lives. We just have to open and flow with it. ♥

“I swear to you there are divine things more beautiful than words can tell.” ~Walt Whitman

Being the Path of Light

Being the Path of Light

Category:

My Life, Spiritual Living

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Herbal Garden Dressing with Tender Green Beans

05 02 11

Herbal Garden Dressing with Tender Green Beans

Herbal Garden Dressing with Tender Green Beans 

 

For the Herbal Garden Dressing:

1 oz. apple cider vinegar

2/3 c. cold pressed extra virgin olive oil

Juice of ½ lemon

1 t. Celtic salt

½ t. pepper

1 scallion, diced

1 t. parsley, minced

1 t. chives, diced

1 t. tarragon, minced

1 t. prepared Dijon mustard or powdered mustard

Place all the ingredients in a jar then secure closed with a tightly fitted lid.  Shake vigorously until blended.

This herbal dressing is delicious with raw, freshly picked summer green beans. Can’t wait until summer or if the green beans available now are not tender enough to eat RAW, simply steam them gently until they gleam in emerald brilliance. Drizzle the Herbal Garden Dressing over the green beans and toss to completely coat.

This dressing is also delicious massaged into hearty greens like kale and chard.

Store any unused portions in the refrigerator.

Note: The fresh herbs are what make this dressing special. Experiment with different types. Try fresh rosemary, oregano, thyme or dill. Have fun with it and enjoy!

Love and delicious delight, Shana  ♥

 “I know that if odour were visible, as colour is, I’d see the summer garden in rainbow clouds.” ~Robert Bridges, ‘Testament of Beauty’

Category:

Vegan & Raw Foods

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Being the Light of Winter

12 27 10
Winter Solstice Blessings

Winter Solstice Blessings

Winter has kissed us crisply on our cheeks. December 21st  marked the winter solstice. As the sun sunk into the sky that brisk day, daylight reached its minimum. For three days, the sun lingered along the horizon, coddling us with the longest nights of the year. Now, the sun begins its ascent into the northern sky. The days grow incrementally longer, slowly tempting us with the promise of sweet spring as each day passes. This time of year invites emotional comfort, new beginnings and cleansing traditions.

Consider transitioning from holiday feasts to that of a gentle cleanse. I am a proponent of cleansing by way of nutrient dense juicing. Vegetable juice offers a high concentration of nutrients that your body can readily assimilate. Incorporating daily juices will help fend off illness during the cold months ahead. Juicing is also an affective platform to launch better eating habits. Often, a short three-day juice feast will encourage your body to crave healthier foods. Many times a cleanse of this nature is exactly what your body needs to purify from the rich holiday menus, gently guiding your diet towards fresher, lighter meals and wholesome raw foods. You may drink four to six quarts of juices during a proper juice feast. Hunger should not be an issue, for your body is flooded with pure nutrition. If you choose to undergo a juice feast, please click HERE to learn more. Whether you are inspired by a full juice cleanse or simply want to add a juice or two to your current daily diet, the following green juice recipe will be a wonderful staple in your regimen.

Green Juice

2 apples

1 bunch celery

½ inch fresh ginger

1 lemon

1 cucumber

1 bunch greens of choice (try kale, spinach, chard, parsley, etc.)

Wash then cut all the ingredients into a size and shape that will fit through your juicer. Push the vegetables through the juicer. Collect all the juice in a bowl, cup or jar and drink immediately. Refrigerate any remaining juice in an airtight container, and be sure to drink it within the day.

Yields approximately one quart of juice.

The Green Star GS1000 is the juicer I personally and professionally use. It is a twin gear juicer designed to press the juice out of vegetables. In doing so, the nutritional integrity of juice stays intact. Juice pressed from this machine oxidizes at a slow rate. Because of this, you can make your juices in the morning, store them in airtight containers in the refrigerator, and they will stay fresh and nutritious throughout the day. The Green Star is ideal for juicing green leafy vegetables like kale, herbs and spinach. It produces the highest yield of juice from fruits and vegetables, giving you the most out of your produce in both quantity and quality. I love my Green Star! It is, by far, the best juicer I have used. It is the juicer of choice for many raw food restaurants, schools and chefs.

Winter Shana

Winter Shana

You are all wrapped up, cloaked from head to toe, snuggled warmly from Winter’s chill. Realize your body lives, it breathes, under all those threads and layers. Don’t neglect what you can’t see. There are many things you can do to keep your body vibrant during these cold months. Juicing is clearly one of the best habits to embrace, keeping you healthy and beautiful from the inside out. However, you should also nurture yourself topically, because caring for your skin will keep you looking and feeling young. Staying hydrated with supple skin in the winter can be easy.

For a silky, soft body, lavish yourself in moisture. Your skin is the body’s largest organ. It has the ability to absorb nutrients, filtering it directly into your bloodstream. Be aware of how you choose to moisturize yourself. Are you buttering yourself up with seductively scented toxins (from name-brand lotions) or nature’s purest ingredients? Where your skin is concerned, it makes a difference. Though you are not slathering your favorite lotions on your morning toast, if you apply it to your skin or lips, you are indeed consuming it. Try using edible oils on your body. Coconut oil is a simple and deliciously refreshing alternative to manufactured moisturizers. Coconut oil is one of the most moisturizing oils while not leaving a greasy feeling. It is pure and smells like sweet dreamy summers. Avocado oil is another luxurious oil. It’s said to be excellent for problem skin such as extreme dryness and eczema. It softens, increases elasticity and leaves no greasy residue while moisturizing the skin. Experiment with various oils of your liking, gifting your body a healthy, NATURAL luster.

Be Light & Play

Be Light & Play

As you settle into this darkened season, it is important to kindle the LIGHT within yourself. Learn to see the magic and beauty in everything around you. As merry as the holiday season was, don’t rely on it solely for positivism and joy. Reach within for true solace and enchantment. By doing so, you will begin to see your world through sparkling fresh eyes. Embrace the gifts of the winter. Allow yourself to love what you may have resisted in the past. Shed preconceived thought patterns. Begin anew. Renew and awaken right this very moment.

Never underestimate the power of positive thinking, and learn to live in the world like a lighthearted child. The next time it rains, get wet. Few things are more memorable then hiking in the rain, smelling the pine filtered air, sensing the dense quite of the landscape, knowing you are alone but amidst everything at once. Play. Jump in a puddle to see how big of a splash you can make. Laugh. Forget your umbrella. Or, on a thick foggy morning, walk along the ocean, listening to the unseen waves, feeling the sting of mist on your cheeks. Or, simply stay home, safe and cozy. Build a fire and light candles. Be grateful for weather that promotes snuggles, rest and quiet moments. If you are bright within, you will create a brilliant world around you. Practice seeing, feeling and expressing joyous light in every moment.

Raw Vegan Mango Torte

Raw Vegan Mango Torte

Season’s greetings, or rather, season’s eatings. As those around you invest in their favorite weight gain strategies, take a moment to consider the bigger picture. Is it health and vitality that will greet you on the other side of 2010 or will you face the promise of a renewed gym membership and dietary angst? If weight management and health often grace the top of your resolution list, take heed of your deepest wishes. Do this now and every day. Live in the moment. Desire better for yourself, and provide yourself the same attention, nurturing and support you would give a dear friend or loved one. You are important. Treat yourself like it, and honor yourself with compassionate LOVE and deep RESPECT.

Blessings in radiant health, renewal and peace!

Category:

The Art of Living Well, Vegan & Raw Foods, Weight Loss

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My Wheel of Fortune

11 03 10

A lemon-drop summer sunset over the San Francisco Bay

The Tarot snuck its way into my life several decades ago. It teased my fascination, luring me from mainstream thought, until it enveloped me in a greater respect for the unseen. How could simple cards make any plausible predictions? Shouldn’t this type of divination be left for the gypsies and fortunetellers whose slight-of-hand professes great tales? I had my doubts, for I was settled firmly in structured belief, cemented by logic and a tangible proof-driven society.

However, those silly cards, they tempted my imagination, feeding my belief, expanding possibilities. It seemed every time I would pick up a card, it would perfectly fit a situation, express a feeling or detail an outcome. How could this be? How could those little, colorful cards possibly know anything about spiritual lessons or offer guidance in any way? I wondered; however, I had this strange knack of choosing just the right cards repeatedly. It did not matter what deck I used, the results were always the same. Improbable, I thought. Isn’t this just up to chance, I questioned, a total fluke that I would happen to pick one card over another? So began the great internal debate.

For the longest time, my doubt had this discussion with my imagination. Until one day, while I was quiet in meditation, I realized that there is so much more to my spiritual self. I was meditating on my totem animal guides, a shamanic practice I feel deeply connected to, and Crow, one of my lead totem animals, popped into my mind. On a whim, I randomly flipped over one of my Animal Spirits Knowledge Cards, and a magical picture of Crow surprisingly stared right back at me. It was as if my guides and the universe were collectively saying, “Shana, do you finally believe? How many more times does this need to be confirmed for you?” This spiritual ah-ha moment came at a pivotal time in my life. It was finally time for my imagination to declare victory over my doubt and end this tedious and unsettling trail. Case closed.

This was quite a significant realization for a logic-focused, mainstream woman like me, significant for several different reasons. One might say, “Great, you can now live the life of a seer and dabble in the mystical realms of reality.” However, did I really want to fly away from society on the back of a gypsy’s dream? I will be judged. I will be questioned. I toyed with the idea of professionally sharing my gift with others, but I quickly ushered these ideas into the shadows. My place in society was resolute, and I did not intend to make my claim to fame through any art of divination. Period.

It is curious how destiny calls. Over time, I began to soften and TRUST. I began to dissolve my instilled need to conform to the ideals of the left-brained, linear thinking majority. I began to recognize that it was only I that I ultimately feared- my own critical mind, judgment and disapproval. Did people really care if I could read a Tarot card spread? Would they truly write me off as a fringe mystic? If so, what impact would that honestly make in my life? And, for heaven’s sake, who are all these darn people anyway? Do I even know them?

Once I finally plucked my head out of that restrictive box I built for myself so long ago, I was actually able to see the value in my gift. I now honor it, and I honor myself as I use it. In the beginning of this personal acknowledgement, I gingerly offered Tarot readings to friends and family. This felt safe. Time after time, though, I would be surprised and impressed with the cards, for they were eerily precise. It was not long before I faced my TRUTH and offered this gift as a bona fide service to my global community.

I am grateful I have arrived at a place of admission, acceptance and self-respect, for it has allotted me a new platform to help others. Now, the question that blossoms from my heart is- how can I NOT share my abilities, ALL of them, with those in need? My desire to guide and support others now trumps any doubt or judgment I once had. My life path is paved as I serve others, and the Tarot is yet another modality I can now use to construct the life I was born to live.

The funny thing is… I finally discovered that people actually LOVE the Tarot. Who knew!

“Fate brings success, the unexpected arrival of good fortune.” ~Eden Gray

“The Wheel of Fortune can indicate a vision or realization that strikes with great force. If you’ve been struggling…this card can signal that you can find the answer if you stand back and view everything from a larger perspective.” ~Joan Bunning

“The Wheel of Fortune…symbolizes a new beginning and the completion of an earlier series. The second half of the quest has now begun. The Wheel is a mandala, a symbol of psychic wholeness and inner order….Cast [yourself] free from the bond of society, and [your] sacrifice is rewarded. The symbol of the Wheel brings with it peace of mind, the resolution of guilt, and an affirmation of the fundamental order existing at all levels of the universe.” ~Alfred Douglas

Category:

Intuitive Readings, Life Purpose

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Blending the Natural You

10 16 10
Autumn Sunset

Autumn Sunset

As the air invites a slight chill and the trees blush in brilliance, we are enchanted by autumn spices, lit fireplaces and the promise of a festive holiday season. School is back in session and summer travels have weaned as we revisit routine and tradition.  This is a time for renewal and re-forecasting.  What are your goals for the season to come? How do you want to look?  How do you want to feel?  How do you want to live your life?  The turn of the season is the optimal time to cleanse and refresh.  Increasing the amount of fresh raw organic foods in your diet is a simple and delicious way to embrace this new chapter in life.  However, raw foods alone are not the only answer to complete health and well-being.  Creating the life and body of your dreams requires a holistic approach.  Nurturing the mind, body, and spirit together will beautify and rejuvenate the total Self.

Nurture the Total Self

Nurture the Total Self

MIND

As daily routines are reformed, take time to revisit goals.  Return to yourself. Make yourself a priority.  How do you want to look, feel and live?  Create and practice motivating affirmations.  Harness a positive mindset.  Fill your heart with deep gratitude for what you already have in life. Say to yourself, “I am successful.  I am healthy.  I am attractive.” Fill in the blank with your own aspirations.  You are what you think.  You can rise up from the mundane and create a fresh start.  You can do and create anything you put your thoughts and your heart towards.  Be mindful; sincerely feel what you want and make it happen.

BODY

Take advantage of the tepid autumn weather while it is here. Get outside and move your body!  The best exercise is that in which you enjoy. Relish in the movement and honor the body as a fluid and powerful system.  Walk, swim, cycle, jog, surf, row, hike, garden- be creative, pick an activity and have fun. Breathe in the fresh outdoor air, and soak up the sun’s natural vitamin D.  Wake up and refresh the body.

SPIRIT

Take a moment during this special month to just be.  This enchanting time of year gifts us a tranquil lull before the holidays arrive.  Take advantage of it, and cherish these few peaceful weeks.  Notice the leaves turn, smell the air, sit in silence, watch the afternoon sun turn gold. Unplug from techno-culture. Be quiet.  Be alone if only for a moment.  A few minutes a day amidst your busy schedule will help center and refresh you.

Farmers Market

Farmers Market

NOURISHMENT

Feed your body well with pure foods.  There is no denying it, increasing your fruit and vegetable intake is one of the healthiest things you can do for yourself.  Transitioning into a high raw diet is simple.  If you have a blender, you can start by adding green smoothies to your daily meal plan.  A high-powered blender like a Vitamix is ideal for whipping up silky smooth drinks, for it breaks down fiber to the molecular level.  Adding one or more smoothies a day offers extra vitamins and minerals, fortifying your physical constitution.  Green smoothies are an excellent meal replacement or can be used as an in-between snack.  With approximately 100-250 calories per quart, these green drinks are great for attaining or maintaining your perfect weight.  Take advantage of the late summer and autumn fruits that are still available like peaches and pears.

Making green smoothies is easy. Simply add the following to a high-powered blender:

2 whole fruits

2 handfuls of green leafy vegetables

1 cup of ice

2 cups of filtered water

Blend until smooth.

The flavor of the fruit outshines over the greens, making these smoothies delicious to drink.  Try the following recipe ideas.

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Peachy Green

2 peaches

2 handfuls of spinach

2 c. filtered water

1 c. ice

Blend until smooth.

*Nutritional Info:

Calories… 116

Cholesterol… 0

Dietary Fiber…7g

Protein…7g

Vitamin A…332%

Vitamin C…101%

Calcium…18%

Iron…28%

____________________

Perfect Pair

2 pears

2 handfuls of dinosaur kale

2 c. filtered water

1 c. ice

Blend until smooth.

*Nutritional Info:

Calories… 260

Cholesterol… 0

Dietary Fiber…13g

Protein…6g

Vitamin A…414%

Vitamin C…291%

Calcium…21%

Iron…16%

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Mango Melody

1 ripe mango

2 handfuls of parsley

2 c. filtered water

1 c. ice

Blend until smooth.

*Nutritional Info:

Calories… 116

Cholesterol… 0

Dietary Fiber…7g

Protein…7g

Vitamin A…332%

Vitamin C…101%

Calcium…18%

Iron…28%

____________________

Notice all the Vitamin A, C, iron, protein and, most notably, calcium in these fruited green yummies.  Are you surprised to see that a serving of green smoothie has as much calcium and protein as a glass of milk? Don’t be fooled by the milk industry’s ardent marketing efforts.  Greens have more of what your body needs! Dark green leafy vegetables are nutritional powerhouses loaded with chlorophyll, phytonutrients, vitamins and minerals. Calorie for calorie, they are the most concentrated source of nutrition of any food.

Greens make your eyes sparkle; they clear your skin and promote hair and nail growth. The carbohydrates in greens are packed in layers of fiber, which make them very slow to digest, balancing blood glucose levels. Greens are very alkalizing and balancing for the body and are wonderful mood enhancers.  They also protect bones from osteoporosis. The best food you can add to your diet are green leafy vegetables.  Any way you can sneak more into your menu plan, the better you will look and feel.

Organic Garden Greens

Organic Garden Greens

There are many benefits to eating a raw or a high raw diet. It is common to have an increase in energy. Sleep requirements are typically minimized, the immune system is strengthened, mood is elevated and a general sense of well-being is often experienced. Some raw fooders diligently eat 100% raw, avoiding all processed and cooked foods. This may be your lifestyle or goal, or you may simply wish to increase your organic fruit and vegetable intake. It does not matter where you are on the path towards health and vitality, just eat better. All your little efforts will add up to big results. Be food conscious. Learn to be aware of how certain foods make you feel. Eat high energy, health promoting foods, and fuel your body with pure nutrition that will help you bounce out of bed each morning and shine all day!

Nourish Your Mind, Body and Spirit!

Nourish Your Mind, Body and Spirit!

Category:

The Art of Living Well, Vegan & Raw Foods, Weight Loss

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Spiced Peach Cobbler

09 08 10
Sweet Summer Peaches

Sweet Summer Peaches

Spiced Peach Cobbler
By Chef Shana

For the crust:
2 cups walnuts
½ cup raisins
½ cup dates, pitted

• Place all the ingredients in a food processor fitted with the “S” blade. Be sure to evenly distribute the dates and raisins. Separating the dates will keep them from clumping together while being processed.
• Process until coarsely chopped.
• Remove ¾ cup of the mixture and set aside. This reserved mixture will be used for the crumbled topping later.
• Continue to process the remaining mixture, the crust, until finely chopped.

Walnut Crust

Walnut Crust

• Pour this crust mixture into an 8×8 baking dish. Evenly distribute along the bottom of the pan then press firmly in place, forming a bottom crust.

Pressed Walnut Crust

Pressed Walnut Crust

 

For the filling:
6 ripe sweet peaches, thinly sliced

Ripe Organic Peaches

Ripe Organic Peaches

Sweet and Juicy

Sweet and Juicy

Sliced Peaches

Sliced Peaches

 

Ground Cinnamon

Ground Cinnamon

½ tsp cinnamon

A dash, a pinch, a smidgen of nutmeg...

A dash, a pinch, a smidgen of nutmeg…

1 smidgen nutmeg

Psyllium

Psyllium

1 Tbl psyllium
¼ tsp lemon zest
½ cup dates, pitted

• Place half of the sliced peaches into a food processor fitted with the “S” blade.
• Add the remaining 5 ingredients: dates, cinnamon, nutmeg, psyllium and lemon zest.
• Process into a smooth sauce.

Spiced Peach Sauce

Spiced Peach Sauce

• Pour the sauce over the reserved sliced peaches and toss until completely incorporated, coating all the peaches evenly.
• Pour this mixture onto the prepared crust in the baking dish.

Sliced Peaches with Spiced Sauce

Sliced Peaches with Spiced Sauce

• Sprinkle the reserved crust topping evenly over the top of the mixed peaches and serve.

Cobbler Crumble

Cobbler Crumble

Note: As with all raw fruit desserts, this peach cobbler is fresh and full of enzymes, so it oxidizes quickly. It will last one to two days refrigerated, but it is best when served immediately.

Spiced Peach Cobbler

Spiced Peach Cobbler

“A Georgia peach, a real Georgia peach, a backyard great-grandmother’s orchard peach, is as thickly furred as a sweater, and so fluent and sweet that once you bite through the flannel, it brings tears to your eyes.”
~Melissa Fay Greene, ‘Praying for Sheetrock’

Category:

Vegan & Raw Foods, Weight Loss

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The Death of My Life

06 13 10

Do you want to change your life? I mean really change your life? Do you long to tear it down to the last thread of its current existence and weave a new lifestyle, livelihood, a new identity? If your answer is yes, you are among the millions who are searching for something bigger, something more fulfilling. You yearn for a lifestyle change. You expect more from yourself; you are seeking a greater return on life.

Life is full of movement. Change is the ebb and flow, the breath, of our existence. We learn to move with the winds of desire, opportunity and inspiration. However, what if those winds whip us against a corner, whisking away opportunity, forcing us to take action, make rash changes or settle for less? The current economy has done just that to millions. Real estate and jobs have been lost, families struggle, the individual questions the system.  Many sulk in the corner after that whipping, immobilized by fear and constraint.

I have highlighted a grim picture of our current plight. Is it really this bad? To many, the answer is an emphatic yes. It is difficult to focus on anything more than restriction and lack when treading through the muck of these hardships. But, is it? Can a refocus on new positive changes be possible? I believe anything is possible.

What would happen if you used upheaval and failure to create the life you have always wanted? Could you imagine doing such a courageous feat in the face of defeat? It is time to move towards your true life path. This is something that needs attention whether you have suffered a loss or not.

The time is now.

I am addressing those who have been forced into unsavory life situations, because that is the most challenging position to move out of due to the debilitating wounds of a fall. However, anyone can restructure and redefine lifestyle. It does not take a tragedy to desire more out of life. The yearning for personal evolution and truth exists within us all.

Do you want more out of your life? Of course you do! It is time to CREATE the life you have always deep down felt you were meant to live.

Allow me to share my personal story of loss, growth, courage, fear and transformation.  I was raised with high financial morals. At age 14, my mother made it clear that if I wanted a car at age 16, I would have to buy it myself. I got my first job waiting tables at a small, local café and slowly earned, diligently depositing every cent of my income into my new savings account. Two years later, on my 16th birthday, I bought my first car with all my saved earnings. This was the beginning of my perfect life. Or, so I thought.

I lived the standard life. You know, the life that parents, peers, scholars and society pushes, the one that trucks you along from school to college, from job to career, from renting to home ownership in hopes of delivering the great American dream of material happiness and eternal gluttony. I reached the pinnacle of this dream in my early thirties. I made it. I had the college degree, the career, the home. I paid all my bills in full and on time. My credit was so shinny clean; I could see my own reflection in it. And, believe me, it reflected perfection. I was a success by society’s standards. However, never once did I ask what my standards were, nor did I wonder what it was I considered to be true perfection.

I was so devoted to the principles by which I thought I should live my life that I failed to look at what it was I truly wanted. I thought I wanted everything I had. I thought I loved consumerism. Ironically, I was the one being consumed. Something was wrong.

By the time I realized that my life was incongruent with my greater wellbeing, I was firmly set within it. My house, which had lost value due to the economic downturn, was a giant cement block attached to chains that coiled around and imbedded into my legs. My career paid the bills, yes, but lacked the luster it once did, painting my daily routine in the dullest of colors. I was fading behind obligation. My inner light flickered in desperate attempts to ignite some former passion and enthusiasm for a creative, fanciful, courageous and bountiful future that no longer seemed to exist.

I was so consumed by the life I thought I should live and the things I thought I should own and the person I thought I should be that I was not cognizant of any of this. I clung to society’s ideals. Oddly, I was still considered a success.

Then it happened.

I was a commissioned corporate employee, and as the economy slid down the muddy hills of defeat, my income dropped like a sack of rocks. It crushed everything in its path. I watched in horror as my house and flawless record shattered around me in tiny shards of imperfection reflecting back at me. I curled up in a ball of failure, embarrassment, lack, fear, disbelief and shock. The wounds caused by those jagged little mirrored shards, bled the life right out of me.

This was an absolute blessing in disguise.

The life that bled from my devastated body was no real life at all. As I slowly uncurled myself from that agonizing ball, something greater within me began to unravel. I awakened. A fire started to smolder, and I began to fan the flames of new possibilities. I questioned everything. My values, career, lifestyle and self-image were suddenly splayed across the butcher block to be trimmed or discarded. I knew there was something more within me, something I earnestly wanted to uncover and celebrate. I began to see a clear ray of my true essence where there were once only clouds of obligatory accomplishment shrouding my reality.

This is what I discovered.

I am a precious being with a compassionate heart full of love and wonderment. I am connected ever so delicately with all other life forms and natural elements. I am ONE with the earth, oceans and the skies. My spirit vibrates to the pulse of the universe. I am raw and awake. I am that wild animal with keen senses, untamed, alert and excited. I am the wind, the sun and the rain. I am the lightening that streaks across the darkened night, fierce and poignant. My body has its own intelligence, aligned to my soul’s path. I flow with the synchronicities of life. I am life. I inhale wisps of tranquility and exhale healing harmony. I am everything I have ever imagined. I am every dream that has bounced off my pillowcase. I am that wish upon a falling star from the milky heavens. I am adventure and exploration. Bliss twinkles from my eyes. Curiosity rolls over my lips. I am pure. My life energy is gentle yet powerful, capable and captivating. I radiate like polished crystals.  I am boundless, timeless, and priceless.

So, I quit my day job.

With this single choice, I stepped out of an insignificant life of limits, monotony, lack, fear, disharmony, worry, structure, and confinement, and I stepped into SIGNIFICANCE. As I tepidly stretched my foot over that threshold, I was tempted to maintain my familiar mediocrity by a lifetime of social conformity. It took every trembling ounce of courage and faith I had, but I did it. I took that step. I broke free. With my intuition ablaze and trust in my soul’s greater purpose, I changed my life.

I connected to my passion, my spirit and my higher ideals. I now have my own practice, and I work at what I love. I offer Reiki healings. I teach. I write. I create raw cuisine. I use my intuition in my spiritual readings. I coach others to connect with personal truth and to live significantly. My heart now beats to the tempo of my life work and my whims. Now that I flow with my life instead of force it, my work feels more fanciful and creative. It is my whim, for it is my muse; it is whimsical. As I allow myself to transform and grow, as a result, so does my effort. My passion and my labor have become synonymous. I invite change instead of confront it. I now sway to my own rhythms. I breathe in freedom. It is fresh, invigorating and inspiring. I can now see a fulfilling and abundant future.

I formerly believed that society wanted me to be that other thing, that unimaginative employee with the hefty mortgage and spotless accounting record. I thought perfection was owning that car, having the highest credit rating, making the safest choices, living within structure, and, ultimately, being an insipid enculturated debutante.

The irony is I followed my soul’s true path, and I now have more respect and more personal and spiritual abundance than I ever did before not because I am somehow now better, but because I am living a congruent, passionate, grateful, loving, positive, compassionate and free flowing life. I am living the life that used to occupy my heart in daydreams.

I faced my greatest fears. I took that step. Where there was once defeat, loss and a sense of failure now exists innate knowing, soulful endeavors, spiritual awareness and natural living.

I am exactly like YOU. We share the same inner brilliance. We are no different. We each have higher ideals and a heart opening, nurturing, healing, awakening purpose.

I know many of you reading this ache to embrace that greater calling. Whether it is leaving a dead-end job, selling a home, recreating a relationship, starting your own business or embarking on a dream you have always thought was just out of your reach, you, too, can live your highest Truth. It is more than possible. I now realize perfection is not defined by society. Perfection is simply and only divine. It is within us all. Can you feel it smoldering deep within you?

How will you create your divine life, the life of your unlimited imagination, the life you were BORN to live?

Leave Your Own Beautiful Trail

Leave Your Own Beautiful Trail

“Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.”

– Ralph Waldo Emerson

Category:

Life Purpose, My Life

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Communing with Water

05 03 10

Flowing water over Galena Creek, Reno, Nevada

I love water.  Water is movement, action, vibrancy and life.  I love water in all forms.  I enjoy watching water run over slick rocks in creeks, carrying with it many life forms, providing a self-sustaining ecosystem.  I enjoy sitting in the damp sand, watching the ferocity and energy of ocean waves as they slap shorelines, intimidating me, exciting me.  The power dwarfs me, humbling me.   I also relish in simple pleasures like long showers.  I cherish my time under the hot flowing water as it cleanses and awakens me.

Water is musical.  Some of my favorite sounds are of rumbling creeks and of trickling water fountains.  I can think of countless times I have snuggled up in my home, listening to the symphony of raindrops as they pound on my rooftop like a team of thundering pianos.

When the skies open, I cannot contain myself.  I want to be in the rain, in the flurry and liveliness of nature as it washes the earth.  My fondest childhood memories are of my long walks in the rain with my father in the wooded Oakland hills.  The dark, wet daylight would amplify the green trees and vegetation.  Life stood still, and all that could be heard was the pitter-patter of wet drops on exposed leaves.  The sounds of water can be calming as well as dramatic.

I have always loved being in water.  Swimming is a source of pleasure for me.  As a child, I would turn into a wrinkled prune before I ever considered leaving the pool.  As an adult, I swim to relax and energize.  I love the way it makes me feel physically, emotional and spiritually.  Exercise improves the body and mind, but swimming, for me, takes the experience an extra step.  I can meditate in and around water.  When I swim laps, I get into a grove, a meditation so to speak.  I can truly turn off my mind, allowing my body to flow.  It is rhythmic.

This rhythm and the clear presence I have when I commune with water is the common theme behind my love for water.  Water is power, it flows, and I feel my body and my spirit flows with it.  I can float into a restful yet powerful place when I am by a creek, an ocean, or even as I stand with my arms open to a storming sky.  I simply love the way water sounds, feels and gives life.

“If there is magic on this planet, it is contained in water.”

Quote by Loran Eiseley, The Immense Journey, 1957

Category:

Musings

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Trust Your Body’s Enlightenment

04 17 10
Walking the Soul's Path

Walking the Soul’s Path

There is a strong correlation between the body and the spirit. We identify with our bodies as “I”. We identify with our minds even more deeply, for it drives us, often dictating our choices and directions. For those who are able to listen to the heart or follow gut instincts, messages from the body, personal journeys are more easily traveled. Our soul’s true purpose is stored in our bodies, for our bodies and our spirituality are so closely linked. The subconscious mind knows why we are here in this lifetime. It knows the lessons we need to learn and the focus of our current journey. Yes, we all have a reason for living here now. We all have deeply inlaid goals for this life that our physical bodies have set out to experience. Our bodies know these goals. Our bodies are programmed to function, aligned with our soul’s knowledge.

When we step off the path, we become sick, we injure ourselves or we are greeted with a challenge, a closed door or a conflict. We then store negative energy from these experiences within our bodies. We have not been taught how to release much of the pain we encounter. Bodywork in the form of massage, acupressure, rolfing and the like are all methods that can be used to release trapped emotional pain that have settled into our bodies.  However, what would happen if we never stepped off path and chose to stop using our bodies as storage units for negative energy? How would life feel if we could live and walk our true journey, our purpose, without diversion? If we learn to listen to our bodies, this could be possible.

We receive messages throughout each day that help guide us. Many of these notions are ignored. The powerful and logical thinking mind often overrides the subtle nuances of the body. Life is hectic. We are pulled into a hundred different directions. We have deadlines, responsibilities, personal promises to keep and chores to accomplish. How in the midst of all that can we follow our hearts and our physical instincts? What do we do when our intuition tell us to stay home, for example, when we have appointments set all day?  We cannot disappoint.  However, the greatest lesson we can learn is that the only one who ultimately gets disappointed is ourselves.

How would it feel to live life, moving from one project to the next, from event to event, but only if it felt right? How would it feel to have the power to choose your life and the direction it will take? Liberated? Relieved?  Like you can finally exhale? You actually have this power right now. If you do not know where to start, simply turn within yourself and listen closely to your body. This is an art, a skill. Tuning into your body and listening to its messages is like listening to a symphony for the first time. It is masterful, overwhelming, unfamiliar but filled with artful magic that invokes inspiration.

It is definitely possible to tune in to ourselves at any time. Meditation and yoga both help to quiet the mind, allowing us to connect with our bodies and our souls. A regular practice teaches us how to quiet the mind and keep it at rest. There is much literature on meditation. The benefits are well known.  It can instill great peace, purpose and solace. It trains the mind to settle down, to move away from the limelight of our lives. A well-trained mind can be powerful, for having the ability to silence it in the face of angst or suffering is an empowering ability.

However, let us take this discussion a bit further. There is more to the path of personal enlightenment then a yogic mind. We must actually use our physical bodies to guide our way through life.  Our minds can never do that for us no matter how long or often we engage in meditation. We have bodies; we must learn to use them in the way they were divinely meant to be used. We will never be able to rationalize or think our way through life even though we are taught from birth that we can. Those who do often reflect back on a life of regret, feeling unfulfilled like something profound was missed.  Well, it was.

How do we live our lives, choose directions and actions, that will introduce us to our divine life goals? We cannot ignore that we exist in physical form. We have bodies. We must learn to use the body, for it contains more knowledge and power than modern medicine or society has yet to grasp. The connection between our bodies and our spirits is definite. We must turn inward. That is the unequivocal truth.

Within each of us is a road map. Our bodies are spiritually designed to travel along this path. One of the most significant things we can do to find our divine purpose is to listen and to follow the body. Learn to live in the heart.  Follow gut instincts; be guided by intuition. Get out of your head and feel the journey with the energy that exists from the neck down. This is not to say logic is irrelevant. We have complicated reasoning abilities for specific situations. Our brain keeps us alive. It protects us and propels us. However, we need to move the thinking mind out of the driver’s seat. Yes, we will continue to think and logically problem-solve, but we need a shift. We need to do so from the body, the heart and from our intuition. This will guide us towards our soul’s greater destination, our true life purpose.

It is time to live on path.

Category:

Life Purpose, Spiritual Living

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Raw Chef Panel Q3: Emotional Eating

03 07 10

Q. Do you emotionally eat? If so, what do you eat? How do you overcome emotional eating?

A. I have been an emotional eater my entire life. This is partly the cause for my swinging introduction into the raw food diet. Like I mentioned before, I am an all-or-nothing girl. This is a mental state; I am aware of this. Few eat out of sheer hunger. Most eat for social or emotional reasons. I am no different. I have found, though, that the more I am able to quiet my mind, the more stable my diet becomes.

Over the years, I have self-medicated and soothed myself with foods. It is what I turn to when feeling stressed, sad, overwhelmed or fearful. Heavy foods, particularly, dampen my anxieties by forcing me to feel the physical discomfort of a full belly rather than my mental or spiritual upheaval. As a raw foodie, I tend to go for the heavy nut or seed laden foods when feeling negative emotions. I rarely dehydrate foods at home, for I prefer to eat juicy, high vibrancy foods. So, when I am having a challenging day, I will seek out a store-bought raw granola. My favorite is Hemp & Greens by Living Intentions. This gives me exactly what I am looking for- a sweet treat, that heavy feeling I crave and a quick fix. If I need to eat emotionally, I am certainly not in the mood to create something in my kitchen. This is why the premade raw granolas are so perfect. Because it is raw, I can eat this without any guilt, which is also a huge bonus. Though, powering through an entire bag of granola is not the best thing for my body, it certainly is not the worst either. When I do this, my body usually balances itself the next day by craving more water dense fruits and vegetables. I find, in this way, I can manage my weight by staying raw if going through tough challenges. I would also like to add that the more raw foods I eat the less negativity I feel in general. I have far fewer emotionally turbulent days as a raw foodie.

In addition to my raw food diet, a daily meditation practice is one of the best ways for me to maintain an emotional equilibrium. My ever expanding spirituality keeps me in a state of gratitude and abundance. The more I honestly love myself and recognize myself as source energy, the more grounded I feel, the more joy I have and the lighter life appears. Because of this, I rarely feel so emotionally charged that I need to grab that bag of granola. Often one can find me nibbling on Hemp & Greens granola not because I need it, but because I simply like it. There is a difference here between the two mind-sets.

For me, meditation is a necessity. It is something I need to do every day like an exercise routine. It aligns me and centers me. As I mentioned above, emotional distress is a mental state. It is self-created. By meditating, I am able to train my mind. I can quiet it when needed. I can look at it and see that it is little more than a part of my ego. It is separate from what I truly am on a soul level. Realizing this through my spiritual practice keeps the strife of daily life in perspective. There is so much more going on than my insignificant earthly, society based stressors. I am so much more than I have been raised to believe. When I meditate, I know this, for I can feel what I truly am. I see that I am light; I am divinely perfect. This soothes me on a level that dissipates any angst I may have with my physical life.

I remain balanced and manage emotional eating by synergizing my clean diet with meditation. Doing this, I feel liberated, inspired, empowered, lighthearted and grounded.

Category:

Vegan & Raw Foods, Weight Loss

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