Sunday, July 10, 2011

...Another Door Opens

Well, I'm back. I'd completely given up all Raw hope for a while, but I'm still getting a fair amount of folks asking me questions related to Raw and Living foods so, hey, why not? I moved to Asheville NC last week. By far one of the most beautiful places I've seen in my 32 years. I will confess, I've only been eating slightly more than 50 percent Raw. I'm still Vegan and always will be, but sort of fell off the Raw wagon for a bit.
I've also been struggling with old demons such as nicotine and coffee. The nicotine is an especially cruel beast. I'm from R.J. Reynolds' hometown of Winston-Salem, the epicenter of cigarettes; and most recently, and not coincidentally, cancer research. So if you're a 100 percent Raw purist, good for you but I'm not. I have my weaknesses.
Fair warning: I make no apologies for myself or the world of which I'm a part. I'm at times judgmental and harshly critical of the injustices I encounter on a daily basis. I offer more observations than solutions so there's room for my own improvement as well. I am not exempt. I do my best to consider all sides but there are some things in this world that our unforgivable. One of which being that our food supply is mostly in the hands of a corrupt, greedy system that is on one hand, using catastrophic farming practices, and on the other making a mockery of foods' mineral and nutrient content. Even organics are being compromised. There's also an agricultural renaissance taking place from the ground up. This is very good news indeed. It's a constant battle and hard to tell who's winning at times.
We all make a choice with our meals. We can choose processed, unhealthy, nutrient-deficient food or make a better choice. So many factors exist in these choices. Raw and Living Foods are one of the simplest and most natural ways to fuel our body. There's plenty of proof to show that Man lived longer before he started cooking his food. Raw food digests itself with its own enzymatic content, which is destroyed during the heating process and makes our bodies work harder. Eating can connect us with the Earth, or alienate us  further from Her. I'm going to make an effort to get back to my 75 to 80 percent Raw lifestyle and phase out the addictive poisons I sometimes allow into my body. Each step can be a step in the right direction. I'm going to take a few steps into the kitchen and get to work. Here's to gradual dietary improvements, angry rants, and my sub par writing abilities. Until next time...

Tuesday, May 24, 2011

One Door Closes...

I've been a little sidetracked lately. As I've said before, I'm not the best blogger in the world and never claimed to be. My Raw food has become condensed down to simple meals and snacking. Humans were built to be nomadic foragers not necessarily agriculturists. For millions of years before the explosion of totalitarian agriculture, we lived a simpler existence. I'm roughly eating seventy five percent Raw and cooking around 4 meals a week. It feels like a proper balance. I've had no choice but to shop at Whole Foods here in Winston-Salem. There are a few farmers markets around but not as convenient while also working six days a week and also not geared towards Raw food. Sure I can buy produce but where are the Raw vendors?
I'm ready to get to Venice, start hitting up the Santa Monica farmers market, and taking some classes at Planet Raw. I've decided to go out there for a month and see what happens. More than likely I'll be home soon but I have to try. Life is all about choices. We make choices everyday without even realizing that we do so.
Another choice I need to make is whether or not to continue this blog. I've said all I can say and this runs the risk of feeling like a chore. I never have a plan on what to write about when I start typing. I just let it come out, in the moment. There are far too many other things happening in my life of a much more timely nature than my diet. I hope you've gotten something positive out of this blog as was my intention. I'll let it stand as it is, full of mistakes, as a record of my journey into the Raw and Living Foods lifestyle. I'll also let myself stand as I am, full of mistakes, on my journey through life and my eternal search for broadening my horizons and growing into something better. I wish you well, dear reader.

Wednesday, May 11, 2011

Compassion

As I walk around, lending my shoulder, I feel a sense of grief. I absorb all I can and redistribute it via text and voice. I watch people eating things they should never eat and I take it. What's one to do at such an urgent point in our existence? Venting works for a while but it doesn't really help anyone. I'm leaving for Los Angeles next month to pursue something Raw and Vegan. Whatever falls into place, falls into place. As hard as it is to leave my home, it's time for change. The eternal struggle keeps me alive. All I see around is decay and disintegration. Maybe it's just the way I perceive it. It's not good or bad, it simply is.
If you want to feel alive, it's so simple: Eat a plant-based diet that IS alive. Live in defiance of our culture and actually get healthy. Health doesn't only mean skinny or fat, pretty or ugly. We made those terms up to define ourselves. Being one of five billion species, we really ought to find our place in the world. Life feeds on life, not death. The murder of sentient beings is unforgivable and everyone inherently knows that.
Compassion becomes us on so many levels. If I ramble on and on about Raw and Living Foods lifestyle change that's just my contribution to the greater whole. With all due respect, where is yours? How can we pull it all together and save ourselves before it's too late? I know most of you reading this already do your part. I ask you to pass this on if you truly want to be the be the change you want to see in this world. My green smoothie awaits...

Saturday, April 30, 2011

Hungry Yet?

So, apparently there's quite a few Raw bloggers out there. I subscribe to a few but it usually all runs together. The internet's all grown up now. Seems like only yesterday I was looking at green text with a Dos operating system. My, how time flies. Food's all grown up too. Not too long ago, organic was organic and you could trust the farmers. Well, those days are close to over. Planting seeds, of all kind, has become quite a hot-button issue.
It's not really my place to constantly criticize the commercial agriculture machine. I'm a big boy and I understand that everyone's out to make a buck, well not everyone, but most people. If conspiracy theorists are right about all this doom and gloom, will you know how to get food when the shit goes down? If ATMs aren't functioning and all the food is rotting in supermarkets, do you have a plan? I'll be the first to admit that I don't have a clue. When I was on a plane last month and mid-flight they "ran out of food," I was the only one on board with an avocado and a tomato. Guess who ate guacamole while children behind me cried? I wish I'd had 300 avocados and 300 tomatoes. It was pretty grim to say the least. We're the only culture that grows food, locks it up, and then makes ourselves work to buy it back from ourselves. Daniel Quinn clearly pointed this out but why don't more people question this hypocrisy? It's as if we've given up. Just imagine for a second that all resources were shared. Totalitarian agriculture works for Monsanto and no one else. Tom Vilsack is a chicken hawk and people are beginning to see that. Special interests and revolving doors in D.C. are literally making us sick to our stomachs.
I've been searching for something lately. I'm hungry in a way that I cannot even begin to describe. Hungry for the truth. The raw truth, however unsettling it may be, is out there. It's also inside. All I ever really wanted from this blog was to publicly acknowledge all the bullshit that goes on in my head. If people get something out of it, great. If you write this off as mental fodder, great. It's not about me all the time, it's really about you. There are thinkers, and then there are doers. What are we going to do about it? When are we going to realize that the Earth does not belong to us, we belong to the Earth? Don't give up, no matter what. As a great band once said, choose your Heaven or be content to live in Hell.

Thursday, April 28, 2011

Struggling in the Raw

Staying Raw has been a struggle. Trying to figure out how often, if ever, to eat a cooked Vegan meal has been a real challenge. My life is in a bit of a transition right now. I'm trying my best to get out to CA to do something different with my life. Plans change, and mine change a lot. That's the nature of impermanence. This blog has been my therapy. I can bang away on the keyboard and get it all out. And by out, I mean for the whole world to see. Holding back is not in my nature.
Clearly, being a Raw Foodist is difficult. It's simple, yet not at all normal in mainstream society. I think people want to be healthier, but don't know how. A multitude of distractions make for unthoughtful meal choices. Everyone's trying, in their own way, but it's easy to get down on yourself. Maybe some people truly don't care. It's easy to give up and surrender to the standard american diet. That's a real shame though.
I've always wanted nothing more than to help people. I give myself away every moment of the day. It's not money I'm after, it's happiness. That starts with a Raw foods diet. Our current system is leading us away from all the wisdom we once had. For example, my generation's grandparents knew how to grow food and be self-sustained. What a sad state of affairs we're in today when companies like Monsanto feel they can patent seeds. You cannot patent life. Our government is more corrupt now, than at any other time in our history. Look at what the World bank and the U.N. do around the world. This is a global resource war and our food is a major factor. Money HAS to be taken out of the equation, in a Venus Project sort of way.
The Essene tribe was Raw. Jesus of Nazareth was a member, maybe you've heard of him. The Buddha was Raw as was Leonardo Da Vinci. Not bad company if you ask me. Those were some pretty good teachers and artists. The Raw Truth by Jeremy Safron is such a great source, which is where I learned that bit of information. There's a great line in there that says "The truth doesn't need to be proven." Here here.

Sunday, April 24, 2011

We Are Risen

The journey is the adventure. The destination is completion. This is a very linear way of thinking. I'd like to think of things more like this: The circle is spinning in its cycle. Being that it's Easter Sunday in a lot of Western households, it's a great moment to reflect on our own cycles. It's a great metaphor for inner light and transparency. I've been battling myself for quite a while now. I'll let you in on a little secret: It's Exhausting! 
Raw and Living foods has, at times, spun me out of control and, other times, into perfect balance. Such is life. Having some cooked organic grains a couple times a week has been my saving grace. As long as it's Vegan and healthy, I have no issue with eating Asian and Indian cuisine. What I will always stay away from, is gluten and tofu. I'm not a huge fan of being binded up with glue and mucus. 
My mind and body have pretty much served as a biological and culinary science project for the last six months. My spirit, on the other hand, is unshakable. I take refuge in the Buddha, the Dharma, and the Sangha. I investigate everything, with great skepticism. I go to great lengths to critique my own understanding of this Earth, its inhabitants, and the Universe as a whole. I've given you, the reader, a glimpse into my own undoing and subsequent rebirth via diet and lifestyle change. I've nothing to offer anyone and I expect nothing in return.
In the Daniel Quinn sense of the word, I am a Leaver. To co-exist in this culture is emotional and social suicide. When everyone and everything is healthy, organic, and taken care of, including and especially the homeless, maybe I'll stop blogging. Until then, expect fierce resistance in every sense of the word. I am not angry. I am not bitter. I am not scared. We have a responsibility to do better. We are risen, right here, right now. May love and peace conquer all.

Monday, April 18, 2011

Abiding in Equanimity

Yesterday I was reading an anarchist zine that had a great piece about legitimacy and our place in it. It begs the question: How legitimate is a Raw Vegan lifestyle? It's different things to different people. My hope has always been to bring everyone together under the unifying tent of togetherness. Maybe I'm naive, but maybe not. Has our culture become so fractured and despondent that an idea like that is laughed off? If the whole world went Raw and Vegan would we live in a Utopian society? Probably not, for there will always be adversities to overcome. It sure would fix a lot of what's currently wrong with the planet, but not everything. There's still that pesky capitalist "free market" system to deal with.
Listen, I wasn't born yesterday. I'm pretty well-versed in the ways of the world. But the question I pose to you, dear reader, is this: When are we going to get our collective shit together? I include myself as well. This is the dawning of a new age, a Zeitgeist, if you will. What can we do right now to get ourselves and the ones within close proximity to eat a fresher, cleaner, and more compassionate diet? If you can start there, a whole new world opens up.
Can we move past our differences for the greater good? I'm doing my best to annihilate my ego. It simply doesn't fit into my new consciousness. While Buddhists may appear complacent and muted, they are true spiritual warriors. If Jesus was a liberal than Buddha was punk-rock. He was also the only spiritual teacher in history not claiming to have supernatural powers. He questioned the state of things, including himself. Just like Christianity, it's his flock that devalue the message. Ignorance is the true evil of any point in history.
Let's move to a place in the conversation where we feel our thoughts and actions are legitimate. There's nothing attractive about someone who's given up. True wisdom and love can conquer the world.
Until....

Sunday, April 17, 2011

I Wasn't Born With Enough Middle Fingers

Well, it appears I'm back. Soul searching on a times 10 frame of mind is something I've grown accustomed to being Raw. Everything's in fast forward most of the time. Fugazi has a line in a song that says "When people are catching, what farmers release; I'm on a mission, to never agree." Those are words to live by my friends.  I'm living in defiance of the status quo in a way that actually improves the quality of my life. I'm pissed off about a lot of things. How does the expression go? If your not outraged, you're not paying attention? Yeah, that's the one.
I get it out through insight meditation. As much as it helps my clinging attachment, it makes me feel a very engaged brand of compassion. I can no longer subscribe to false prophet preaching. These are not end times. Everything is pretty okay in a lot of ways. That impending sense of doom they market to us sells a lot of books but it's simply not true. I refuse to grow into a scared, bitter old man. I'm open and fearless. If I seem all over the place, it's because that's when I thrive! "Crazy" is a dismissive word used when someone's not understood. Well, if I can relate this to you, the reader, and you can relate it back, then that's not delusion, it's reality.
I feel pretty good about how my life is progressing. It's now the six month mark on my journey to give a middle finger to the establishment through lifestyle change. It actually started when I was 13 and I discovered punk rock. I'm still that 13 year old kid singing along to Bad Religion and the Dead Kennedys. Though now I'm 32, fierce and educated in the ways of the world. It starts, surprisingly enough, with a healthy diet. After you have the clear comprehension and clarity of mind associated with feeling empowered and in control of your food choices, you can truly do anything. "Bring it on" is my new mantra. We're responsible for how we feel. We're responsible for taking charge of our current predicaments. Every meal is a step towards feeling better or worse about yourself. Join me in saying "Fuck You!" to places that sell and grow GMO's while claiming to have sustainable integrity. This is our food we're talking about. Let's take the power back before it's too late.
Over and out....

Monday, April 11, 2011

You Are Elated

As I finished my morning grapefruit, I pondered something crucial. "I'm eating to live, not the other way around." Raw and Living foods has transformed me. I feel more primitive, more whole. I realize my place in the ecosystem in a profoundly deeper sense. I've become pro-active in my life, as opposed to reactive. This blog has kind of been all over the place lately, as have I. That's all changing. A calm is beginning to wash over me. I'm not sure if balance is the right word for it, more like spiritual transcendence. Words are not as important to me. As Jeremy Safron said: The truth doesn't need to be proven.
Life is rich and abundant. Six months into a 90+ Raw Vegan lifestyle and I'm still learning so much, but in a more refined manner. The obvious subject matter is well cataloged, sometimes to a fault, within these pages. Us versus Them is actually I. I am. We are. Nothing more, nothing less that's left to discuss. The idle chatter of a suffering mind is painstakingly clear to those around me. To quiet the mind is like moving a mountain; difficult yet not impossible. I've had enough of the struggle, the grasping, and the clinging. I'm sincerely letting go. Ajahn Chah said if you hold onto a bird too tightly, you'll smother it; too loosely, and it flies away.
California is calling. I'm ready to begin the begin. Organic food, landscape, and culture abound in Santa Cruz county. For the time being I intend to enjoy my life in North Carolina. Winston-Salem is my home. I have so many dear friends and loving family here. It's bittersweet. I know it's going to be hard to leave, but it's even harder to stay. Buddhist dispassion is all about non-attachment though. Some say it's cold,  I believe it to be a tool of basic survival. Just like the food we put in our bodies everyday. Fondness and joy are all anyone needs. In an effort to balance out the quality/quantity ratio of this blog, I'm going to focus on some other things in my life for a change. I'll have more to say when I have more to say. Here's hoping we all have more to say.
Much love, much respect....

Saturday, April 9, 2011

Santa Cruz, California

It's been decided. We're moving to Santa Cruz in late July. I'm not a tourist, I'm not a nomad. All the health food stores and organic food growing there will be a constant reassurance that even if the big one comes, we'll be just fine. The elevation of the high cliffs that outline the Central Coast will provide safe haven in the event of a tsunami. When we visited the local shops and grocery store a few weeks ago, we felt strangely at home. I'm ready to get there, embrace it, and blend in. Buddhists temples are all around. The way I see it, I have nothing to lose.
My body and intuition has been very kind to me lately. I'm running like a well-oiled machine. I've been trying to tone down my rhetoric as of late. I've been known to be a loud mouth from time to time. Sometimes it works in my favor, but I think it rubs a lot of people the wrong way as well. It's no fun being a one-dimensional Raw Vegan punk. There are many sides to Eric Wheeling. I'm learning to embrace my Italian roots. I'm not full-blooded but I feel that side more and more the older I get. I'm passionate, stubborn and giving. The Scorpio side only intensifies that. I'm not blaming my wins and losses on my heritage, but it does explain a lot.
I'm ready to wipe the slate clean. Begin the begin as R.E.M. said. Today is open to so many wonderful opportunities. Liz made some amazing kale chips which I matched with stuffed peppers last night. Simple, easy food that keeps us alive. What more could I ask for? I'm doing my best to spend time with my friends before I move. I've been pretty busy and I have a lot to take care of before we leave. If you live in NC, hit me up before the end of June. I would love to see everyone at least once. I'm doing my best but I need you to meet me half way. If you have my number, I'm just a phone call away. If we're friends on Facebook, message me.
I know exactly what I'm going to do in Santa Cruz but cannot share it yet. Some things are private. The support I've already received has far exceeded anything I could've imagined. Who knew me typed so pretty?

Saturday, April 2, 2011

The Yin and Yang of Raw Veganism

Hello all. I hope this finds you well. I've been trying to balance my Raw Veganism as of late. Figuring out how Raw to be is a wonderful opportunity to re-evaluate your body, mind and spirit. I feel pretty comfortable at 90 percent. The cooked food my body personally needs is organic whole grain or brown rice and the occasional indulgence of steamed veggies. I'm learning how to not be 100 percent anything. I've been so firmly rooted in my own bullshit for so long that I didn't even know. I largely attribute transcending the mundane details of human existence to Superfoods. Mother Earth makes everything we need, we just have to find it. I think it's possible to get too far out there. If you're partaking of deer's placenta, something's up. Everything's not a product to be sold and consumed.
The one exception I'm allowing myself, in regards to 100 percent, is Veganism. Consuming animal products, while natural to some, truly repulses me. The way our culture has subjugated this planet is indefensible. We are but one species on a planet with finite resources. We have almost reached the point of no return. Only love can save us now. Love for ourselves, our fellow sentient beings and every other living thing that doesn't have a heartbeat.
Rooting myself in the present moment is a task worth pursuing. We are all creators in our own moment. As I type I realize how much I'm capable of creating. Thoughts lead to words, words to action, action to character. So take a step back from your present situation and envision your place in it all. As a friend reminded me this week, "wherever you go, there you are."

Sunday, March 27, 2011

Hot Rawks

Hello all. Sorry for the absence. I've been readjusting to being home while simultaneously ingesting a Superfoods product for review. So here it is: This is the real deal. The fine folks at Hot Rawks were kind enough to send me a bottle to review. There's a ton of great information on their site, http://raw-nation.com/ For me it's also a local organic Raw Vegan supplement here in NC. You can only get this online and at a handful of places at the moment.
The first day I opened the bottle,  I gave half of it away to my co-workers and girlfriend along with taking two capsules myself. I wanted as many perspectives as possible. I'm not one to write a fluff piece and I had to be sure this was a legitimate product. It far exceeded my expectations. Everyone who tried it loved it. I only have 12 capsules left out of a 60 count bottle. I'm a giver, in a lot of ways. I like to share my food, my time, and my energy with others. This is marketed as an aphrodisiac. My girlfriend and I can now attest to the power of these Superfoods. Maca Root, Horny Goat Weed, Ginseng, Cayenne, Catuaba Bark AND Cacao makes for a pretty good weekend, let me tell you. After the initial physical effects,, it gets spiritual. All three elements of Chinese Medicine are represented here. The powder in these capsules is so well balanced. I've found that my favorite way to ingest them is mixed in my morning green smoothie. Brilliant!
I'm always cautious about taking anything. I don't even take aspirin unless my head is pounding. I think Hot Rawks has helped me find my inner balance along with a boost of energy that has no crash, no withdrawal, and most importantly, no side-effects. I gave my Dad a few and he had great things to say about it as well. I wish Julie much success. The herbal supplements market is highly competitive but I feel confident she can hold her own. The proof is in the (Raw!) pudding.
Until....

Saturday, March 19, 2011

Location, Location, Location!

That's what you hear in real estate all the time. If it's that important for your home, it's equally as important for your body. Well, I happen to believe you can make your home anywhere. I also believe one can adjust their diet based on location, climate and available food sources. If you live in the desert or tropics, by all means you would be well served by an 80-10-10 Raw Vegan Diet. If you live in the Midwest of the United States, maybe that diet's not for you. Native cultures have always sourced their own local food and it usually revolves around availability.
I firmly adhere to a Vegan diet. That can be achieved in any geographic location. Alaska and Iceland may be the two exceptions. It is not my place to tell anyone what to put in their bodies. It is my humble duty to remind you of the harm inflicted upon innocent creatures and Mother Earth. What you decide is best for you is your right as a member of the human race. After witnessing the utter chaos and devastation in Japan, I'm reminded of the fact that we are but mere mortals. On our flight into California, I watched the news of the tsunami that was yet to unfold. That put everything in a new light. I don't actually have problems, I have opportunities.
A lot of this blog has been pretty self-serving, which I guess is why most people blog. I'm not interested in leading the pack or herd or whatever you want to call it. I'm only one piece of the puzzle, as are you. If the whole world went Raw Vegan tomorrow we'd still have many issues at hand. Granted, they would be reduced five-fold.
My location is going to change. Whether it's a new home in Winston-Salem or on the other side of our continent. We have tornadoes and floods, they have earthquakes and the occasional tsunami. Whatever you want out of life, I hope you get it. Time to get mine.

Thursday, March 17, 2011

Fear

We got in from our trip to California on Tuesday night. When we left North Carolina, the earthquake hadn't happened yet. As soon as we got there, I saw what Mother Earth is truly capable of. She's growing, as are we. My parents were concerned about the yet to come tsunami and we'd barely checked in. That was the beginning.

After we'd been in Berkeley a few days, things started to calm down. The West coast was going to be just fine. Just prior to that, I had a meltdown. Our hotel in Berkeley is known as a "soft building." Essentially our building was not up to code. We were booked for three nights through Monday morning. I thought the big one was coming. My big one did come. I had everything we brought stacked by the door in case we had to "make a run for it." At this point, Liz started worrying as well. I realized that before I'd turned on the local news, I had been in a good mood. I turned it off and we went out for dinner.

We then proceeded to Cafe Gratitude. This is where everything changed. All menu items are named "I am x." I ordered I Am Elated and Liz had I Am Transformed. This unconsciously became our mantras for the remainder of our time there, we just hadn't realized it yet. I could commit every adventure to text, but I'm not going to. Let's just say that one thing led to another.
 Amber from epicself.com met up with us in San Francisco. I really liked the city but it didn't feel like it could be home. Amber was so helpful and so engaging. Positive energy flows from her. She mentioned being from Santa Cruz. She recommended driving down through Silicon Valley to the beach there. I'm so glad we did.

We fell in love with Santa Cruz, pretty much from Saturn Cafe on. That's where I met the crust punks. Those are my people, plain and simple. It reminded me of my time in the band Undying and our European tour. Nicest people on Earth and I'm not at all exaggerating. They have a "Free Skool" that teaches kids to get out of our current, impending system of doom. They have a great record store and health food store as well. There's a pretty good chance we'll end up moving out there at some point in the future.

After that we took the Pacific Coast Highway into the Redwoods. If you've never made this trip, it's something you should do before you die. I didn't even take pictures there. I didn't want to miss one moment of the sheer magic that inhabits the area. From there it was on to Napa and Sacramento. I like Sacramento a lot and we ate lunch at an Ethiopian Vegan Buffet. I stayed as Raw as I could on this trip without infringing on Liz's right to eat cooked Vegan.

I conquered my fears on this trip. All of them. If I can handle a tsunami/earthquake warning, I can handle just about anything else as well. Fear is a subtle parasite. It fed on my energy for 32 years. No more. I found a transcendental balance I never even knew was possible. I challenge you to face your fears as well. Life is Raw just like the food we put in our bodies. I welcome it with open arms.

Sunday, March 6, 2011

The End of the Beginning

Hi everyone. I hope this finds you well. This week has been pretty hectic, not so much externally as internally. I purchased an iPhone and have been trying to figure out the best way to continue this blog. We're cancelling the home internet and I really don't want to type this with my thumbs. So, do I make it a video diary blog? Do I take the laptop to Wi-Fi spots where I have to mooch free service? This very well may be my last typed post.

My head is also spinning trying to figure out where to move. It's price versus amenities. I feel like if we're going to make a move all the way to the West Coast, we deserve to go wherever we want. I'm considering all possibilities. Opening a Raw Vegan Cafe in Winston-Salem may very well be the easiest thing to do. Though, I don't like doing the easy thing. I need the kind of challenge I can only get in a move this big. I think we'll both have a better idea after our trip. We leave Thursday morning.

The Raw Vegan is flourishing in me. I've never felt so alive. My intuition is still in the driver's seat. My meals are simple yet filling. Fruit for breakfast, an avocado for dinner and a green smoothie in the mix as well. There's a balance starting to settle in and it's becoming clearer by the day. I couldn't ask for anything more.
Take a look around this week and ask yourself: "Can I continue growing in my current city?"

I'll be back on the 15th.

Until....

Tuesday, March 1, 2011

Sucking the Marrow Out of Life

There's a new Eric. The old one is still inside, lying dormant. The parasite known as fear is slowly being lulled to sleep. The world appears bright. Appearances can be deceiving just so you know. It's so funny to think about how this blog came into existence. I started doing a little journal on the laptop back in October. I wasn't 90+ Raw then but I was slowly guided myself there. I've been Vegan for a long time now. After the juice that cured my flu/sinus infection, it was on. That was on November 16th, 2010.

It wasn't that I thought I was a great writer. I'm not. It wasn't that I wanted to be a blogger. I've never been a huge fan of blogs. I'm still not, but there's a few I love. No, it was because I had to write. Emitting from my psyche was, and still is, a will that cannot be quelled. Raw Veganism has propelled me into a place I never thought possible. I don't want to gush. I've done enough gushing in this blog to flood the Grand Canyon.

We leave for San Francisco next week. I personally want to live in Berkeley or Oakland. I have no desire to pay $2,000 a month for rent in the Mission District. It's hard to not let the excitement consume me so I'm trying to "Attach, Detach" as Don Miguel Ruiz would say. I may not do another post until after we get back on the 16th, who knows. This blog is my outlet. It's my medium at the moment. If you enjoy reading my ranting and raving, thanks. If you don't, why are you reading this? Have a great week everyone. We'll talk to soon.

Monday, February 28, 2011

The San Francisco Treat

No no, not the rice, I'm referring to our trip coming up next week. We've made a few, let's say alterations, to our trip. We'd been planning on going up to Mt. Shasta CA and Ashland OR to find a place to live. While I absolutely love that area, it's a little isolated for me. See, here's the thing, I want to go to Living Light. It's one of three Raw and Living culinary schools that exist in this entire country. It's an hour or less from the Bay area. My new but dear friend, Amber of Epic Self, is going to show us around San Fran, locals style. If you haven't checked out Epic Self you're missing a very talented Raw and Living enthusiast. She does great online yoga and pilates videos and has a very interesting blog. She's a free spirit indeed. That much is obvious by her writing. She's also interviewed some of the most interesting Raw Foodists out there. I have to say that everyone I've encountered so far in the Raw and Living Foods community is so nice, so approachable, so helpful.

We don't need to live in the San Francisco city limits. Anywhere in the area will do. I think people who move there sometimes make the mistake of being attached to that one particular city. Most times they realize they can't afford it, move somewhere near by and never spend as much time there as they intended. Just getting out of NC for a while will be good enough for me. Berkeley, Oakland or any other surrounding city will be just fine with us. If we don't fall in love with it, we'll probably move to the Los Angeles area. We have friends in both places.

I keep putting off what I really want out of life. Well, I'm finished with that. I had a great conversation Friday night with my friend Steve. He challenged me. He said "What's your passion? Yeah? Why the fuck aren't you doing THAT! Stop making excuses." I'm so thankful for such an honest friend. It all boils down to fear. Fear of failure, fear of rejection, fear of not being good enough. I've slowly let my humility morph into low self esteem. I'm going to die one day, maybe tomorrow, maybe in 50 years. From this moment on, I'm going to live my passion. I'm going to stop putting off life. Life is what happens while you're making plans. It all seems so simple now. 

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Home is Where you Hang Your Hat?

    As our west coast trip and move date get closer, I'm staying open-minded to any possibility. Sure, I want to move out West, so does Liz. It's also important to not let anything sway you too much in any one direction. I love NC, I love Northern CA, and I love L.A. What a wonderful problem to have. A good friend of mine, Jason, told me once that home is where you hang your hat, as opposed to "where the heart is." My heart is always just a beat away. It seems like the moment we opened our mind to new possibilities, the universe opened up. I'm letting my intuition hold the reins. My ego has truly "let go."
    The Raw Vegan lifestyle has been my greatest blessing to date. I wish I'd started eating this way years ago. I'm a changed man, all for the better. I'm searching for ways I can give back. I've taken so much in my life. Taken from people, the Earth, and myself. I'm unlearning the conditioning that's clouded my mind for 32 years. The original mind is clear and pristine. My karma appears to be shifting in a good direction. Though appearances can be deceiving. I'm just watching it all go by and playing my part as best I can.
    One of the things that still makes me disappointed in myself is something I let happen on Facebook, of all places! I let myself get caught up in petty partisan politics. It ruined a couple really great friendships. I've apologized for myself but it doesn't seem to matter to them. One of those friends I'd had since the 3rd grade. It's a shame that people hold so tightly to their beliefs. The more your brain "believes" anything, the more it stops critically questioning everything. It literally stops functioning in that "belief zone." A non-functioning mind is clinically dead. I hope they come back to life in my life one day. This isn't a judgement or critique of them, it's a plea.
    There's love pulsing through every atom in my body. I feel so connected to everything, as if for the first time. The world is changing day by day and I think it's for the better. People are scared and they shouldn't be. We are the government. We can make the laws we want to live by. We can end the corporate democracy for good if we fight for what we belief in. Let's fight with our money, our hearts, and our minds. Have a good week everyone. I love you.

Saturday, February 19, 2011

All In

    As I listen to the new Radiohead album I'm reminded of my own innate qualities. I'm a Scorpio that's also half-Italian. I feel that predisposes me to a lot of intense passion. Sometimes it manifests in a positive way, other times not so much. Raw Veganism has only widened the spectrum. I don't want to see auras or anything like that, but I definitely feel a deeper connection to all things living. I can read people easier. Not judge them, that's not what I'm about. Though I'm quick to share my thoughts, people can take it or leave it. If they leave it, they leave me. I AM my thoughts, words, and actions. A communal consciousness is within our power. We have so much power, and we give it away every day. We can all be a vehicle for change and a greater good. We need each other.
    I seem to be settling into a good place as far as diet goes. Fruits and greens in the morning and fats in the evening. I'm still maintaining a 90% Raw diet but am considering going the full monty. All in, 100% Raw Vegan, all the time. Coffee is gone as well. The only time I eat anything cooked is when we go out to a restaurant. I had a coconut curry last night with veggies and jasmine rice. Before I got home, my ears were filling with fluid and my sinuses were getting clogged with mucas. I skipped the tofu and still had this problem. Most places serve GMO crap with hydrogenated oils and I'm fucking sick of it. I don't feel this is an allergy as much as a refining of my digestive system. I never noticed it when my gut was loaded down with gluten and old toxins. But now it's in and out within a day. My system is clean and I intend on keeping that way. I just passed the three month mark and there's no going back now. I feel great!

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

The Apollo Programme was a Hoax.

    One of my all time favorite bands, Refused, is on my mind today. Namely, the powerful words they forever etched into my brain. Sabotage will set us free, throw a rock in the machine. I'm a peaceful person. I always have been, I always will be. But to speak frankly for a moment, I'm pretty fed up with all the bullshit surrounding our food supply and our world as a whole.
    I focus on food for many reasons, Raw Veganism being only one. It affects us in every conceivable way. We literally are what we eat. I don't need to rehash old posts, you guys know exactly where I'm coming from. What boggles my mind is why doesn't everyone get it? I guess I'm strangely fascinated by folks who accept the truth as told to them by mainstream science and commercial media. The ones who think facts are negotiable. They are not. Some things are just true. If I cut through the white noise what I hear mostly is analogous to: "I don't believe in the law of gravity, watch me walk up this wall just to prove you wrong!" How do you respond to someone like that?
    Sabotage will set us free. There is no natural law that says you must actively participate in a mindless consumer culture. Peaceful, yet disruptive direct action, is highly encouraged. You decide what you're comfortable with. Some people shoplift at sweatshop chain stores, some people choose not to shop at GMO dominated grocers, some people hack into Monsanto's database and disseminate incriminating information. None of these actions harm another living creature. They're all a middle finger pointed towards our soulless system of profit and disease.
   If I sound angry, I'm not. I'm as cool as a cucumber. Anger and attachment are the distractions the ruling class use to confuse and divide us. Well, let me tell you, that's just not going to work anymore. If we start with an empowering diet and lifestyle, the skies the limits. I've never been this clear and focused in my entire life and 90% of it is because of a Raw Food lifestyle. It changes you, for the better. I've always had these concerns, but I've never had this sort of confidence in my personal choices. It's different for everyone, but, if you can look at a suffering animal on a factory farm or a starving child with any amount of indifference, maybe The Cooked Food Conspiracy isn't for you. My gut tells me however, that this is not the case. If you're still reading, it's obvious you care.
   Our lives are short. Soon the elements that make up our bodies will disintegrate. How will you throw a rock in the machine? Some of us have more rocks than we can carry. Pick your battles and defend them to the death. May a healing wind blow through us all.
Until.....

Saturday, February 12, 2011

The Door in Front of Me

    I sometimes feel immense frustration at the wool that's been pulled over our eyes. Our social and environmental conditioning is by design and yet blameless at the same time. The members of our culture can't help but feel isolated and abandoned in such an ugly age. The powers that be are raised from childhood in a familial climate of power, greed and selfishness.
    I also believe that the seed of enlightenment is within us all. It begins with letting go. If you hold a bird too tightly in your hand, you'll crush it. If you release your grip too much, it'll fly away. Finding that balance isn't easy, at least it hasn't been for me. We're so disgusted by the world we see that we try our best to control as many things as we can. As well we should, lest we fall from the brink of our own collective madness.
    For me, a Raw Vegan lifestyle has been a door that's opened me to new possibilities. I never imagined, in my wildest dreams, that I'd ever be eating and living this way. I didn't feel worthy of such pure, clean food. Buddhism has also had an immense impact on me. Ever watched a bitter Atheist blossom into a neutral, contented Buddhist? Me either, but my heart of hearts is writing (and typing) this chapter as we speak. I'm loosening my grip and just watching it all unfold in front of me.
    My connection to the Earth is resonating in deep and profound ways. Mount Shasta, California is the 3rd Earth Chakra and one of our planet's highest energy centers. We'll be living there soon and I can't even begin to tell you how joyful I am about it. My karma is burning bright and I feel as if nothing could extinguish the fire I've started.
    The only wish yet to be fulfilled is to help others. That's what this blog is to me. I've never approached it with a self-serving interest. I have no ambitions other than to help others guide themselves towards they're highest potential. I felt healthy eating cooked Vegan food but I never imagined how far the spectrum could reach. If you think you feel good now, just imagine eating foods that literally digest themselves, leaving more energy than you can even handle at times. Balancing my 3 treasures (shen, chi and jing) is one of the most rewarding challenges I could have undertaken. Bringing my body into alignment, with regards to alkalinity and acidity, is also a great learning experience.
    The process continues. Does it ever end? It's as if I've reintroduced myself to myself. Where I was last week is not where I am at this moment. It ebbs and flows in a beautiful rhythm. It's the soundtrack of our lives. What's on your playlist?

Tuesday, February 8, 2011

...And the Beat Goes On

It's truly remarkable how much my perspective has changed since I switched to a 90% Raw Vegan diet. I thought I'd reached a destination, but it was only the beginning. I've slowly been accumulating information and raw data, no pun intended, that's constantly reshaping my outlook. I've simultaneously been delving deeper into my own mind to unlock the potential that lies beneath. Just when I think I've got it all figured out, I hear an online discussion between Dr. Joseph Mercola and Dr. Gabriel Cousens. These guys are at the leading edge of Raw Food nutrition. Hearing their wise words, my process continues to unfold. Dr. Cousens in particular is my guiding light in regards to Raw Veganism. He's been helping people cure their illnesses with a Raw Vegan diet for 38 years! What an inspiration! He should be writing the curriculum for our academic medical institutes of higher learning. Also, Brother Echo of Raw Sangha is doing a 40 day Juice Feast that's inspired me to start seriously juicing again. My own recipes are getting better too, I think. I made stuffed bell peppers for a Superbowl party last Sunday. Apparently, they were a big hit. I've decided not to do a new post for every new dish but I have a few to share. Bon Appetit!

Stuffed Bell Pepper Wedges

Multi-colored Salad, drenched in my Creamy, Basil Herb Dressing.

Fresh Juice with Strawberries, Aloe Leaf, Romaine, Apple and Lemon

Saturday, February 5, 2011

Internal Synergy

    The last two weeks have had a lot of twists and turns. When the decision was made to leave North Carolina for the West Coast, something happened: I pulled my head out of the sand. Suddenly the Universe laid itself at my feet. The dismal surroundings I'd long dismissed began to open. At first I thought "Wow, looks like Winston-Salem might actually have some great projects in the works." As if instantaneously my hometown became cool again. It's always had it's bright spots and I'm starting to see how I fit in here. The deeper my connection becomes with Raw and Living foods, and its relation to my body, mind, and spirit, the deeper the connection becomes to my social and geographical roots. I never thought it would be an easy choice to leave this place. I have so many amazing friends and a very loving family. I realize all of this and yet it's time for a change. There's something calling me and I have to answer.
    Changing what I ate was only the beginning. The internal synergy that's been taking place is propelling me forward. Settling into my ninety percent Raw Vegan lifestyle has, so far, been only a positive transformation. I've lost nearly thirty pounds in three months, my mind is crystal clear, and my gratitude and love is growing exponentially. We leave for our Spring Break trip on March 10th to go find out if home will be Ashland OR, Redding CA, or Mount Shasta CA. There are just some things that cannot be accomplished here. The cultural climate is not the same. The West Coast is the birthplace of the Raw Food movement, among many other things.
    All is uncertain and impermanent. Nothing is set in stone. We are only a spiritual biomass consisting of the four elements. We arise, we pass away. Pondering this, the present is always a place I'll enjoy residing, wherever that may be on a map.

Tuesday, February 1, 2011

Raw Vegan Karma

    In the past couple of years I've slowly been gravitating towards a path of Buddhist spiritual practice. After unlearning the Christian conditioning of my youth, I naturally found myself of the Atheist persuasion. I still consider myself an Atheist because Buddha is but the messenger, the teacher, and the illumination of my personal path to liberation.
    Organized religion always has a way of twisting spirituality into some set of rigid rules, supposedly handed down from a "Creator." This has become my polar opposite. I truly feel as if Veganism led me to Buddhism and Buddhism led me to Raw and Living Foods. What an exciting and enlightening time it's been, and I'm just getting started! 
    Insight Meditation is not what most people think it is. Meditation in general has the stigma of "sitting down to relax and escaping into yourself for relief." I think Insight Meditation is just the opposite. While you may be still and focused, it's anything but a leisurely escape. You guide yourself into confronting all the illusion and deception of the heart and mind. You ponder The Four Noble Truths and gain a deeper understanding of Dukhha, Impermanence, and Not-Self. Learning to strive for the least amount of harm I can cause without struggling to achieve it has become my most humbling attribute. The Earth and the Universe have opened up to me because I've opened up to them. We're all atoms belonging to the same body of energy. 
    The karmic stains of my past are being cleansed by the merit I'm trying to cultivate. There's a great saying in Buddhism about the fact that we've all been each other's mother in one of our infinite past lives, so respect and love everyone as you would your own mother. I've taken this concept and applied it to the food I eat and the Earth in which it grew. That's the essence of where I am today, right now, in this moment. 
    My wish is for us all, non-vegans, non-raw foodists alike, to take this step towards liberation. In doing so, we no longer need to quarrel about all the injustices of the world. The first step towards this liberation is also the first step away from our destructive culture that forces us to live outside of the community of life. It's within our grasp and we've already taken that first step.

Thursday, January 27, 2011

Raw Food and Zeitgeist

Zeitgeist is defined as "the spirit of the times" or "the spirit of the age." It is also a growing movement leading us to an awareness that is unparalleled in recent times. Along with The Venus Project, it is exposing the true horrors of our history while laying a path before us to a better existence. Living in a resource based economy will mean ending our dependence on finite materials while also eradicating a need for competitive global commerce. When managed properly, natural resources remain abundant while our current model of scarcity fuels unspeakable crimes against humanity. The Raw and Living Foods movement is an obvious fit for such a world. Natural, unadulterated food is at the heart of this lifestyle, but there are so many more aspects that converge with The Zeitgeist Movement. Self-sustainability, local and organic farming, and global Fair Trade, just to name a couple. I truly believe this will all coalesce into a better tomorrow. The Cooked Food Conspiracy is one of many. Look underneath the stains of recent "human achievement" and what lies beneath will begin to unravel. The third installment, Moving Forward has just been released online. This three part documentary is the most viewed in the history of the internet. Technology can be used for enlightenment as well as evil. I aspire to nothing less than a complete shift in our collective consciousness. I invite you to watch for yourself and make up your own mind. 







Tuesday, January 25, 2011

Intuition and Improvisation

As I approach the three month mark of adopting a ninety to ninety five percent Raw Vegan lifestyle, I'm growing more at ease in my new skin. Whereas in the beginning I made what I thought I should be eating, I'm now letting my intuition guide the way. What a beautiful feeling. My recipe improvisation is also becoming more refined. I used to stress about meals, which ingredients may be missing in our kitchen, and how I would prepare food without all the "necessary" items on hand. Fast forward to two days ago where I found myself whipping up what would become my newest creation. Calm, cool, and collected, I foraged our refrigerator and pantry until there was a delicious feast before me. Intuition and improvisation are also beginning to reach into other areas of my life. I'm able to read people better and feel them out as to how best approach any given situation. I was once an angry, pissed off guy a large part of the day. I was reactive not proactive. My Buddhism practice is also in overdrive. What used to be a unfulfilled aspiration is now becoming an almost daily practice stretching into every corner of my mind, body and spirit. There's a lot of work yet to done but I see the path before me. What was before an uphill, dim, careening, narrow trail is now a radiant, level, wide open array of limitless possibilities. I thought I'd share the recipe pictures that symbolize this to me. Warmest wishes for your A-Ha! moment.  Mine included an Olive Oil massaged Collard with Red Bell Peppers, Kalamata Olives, Sundried Tomatoes, White Onions, drizzled with a Basil & Pine Nut Alfredo topped with Fresh Dill and Pine Nuts. I give you The Tuscan Wrap.
Until......


Thursday, January 20, 2011

Why I'm leaving North Carolina

Returning from our poorly stocked local Whole Foods, the only organic grocer in Winston-Salem, I started thinking about all the reasons I'm moving to the West Coast. To be fair, they are having distribution issues. Though, this is my food supply we're talking about. Yes, I go to a Co-Op that's thirty minutes away, every chance I get; but that's just not doing it for me anymore. We've been talking about moving for a couple years now, but it's finally coming to pass. It's been quite the intellectual and emotional struggle with my parents. They're slowly realizing that a Raw Vegan Atheist with Buddhist aspirations doesn't really fit in here in the South. The geography isn't so bad, it's the Southern mentality that's slowly draining away my optimism and spirit. You can take that however you like, but it's the truth in regards to me personally. As much as I've relished being that weirdo in the minority with crazy ideas, it's time to get real. This is more a lifestyle change than anything else. Why not surround yourself with a like-minded community? Why not better your existence and reach for your highest potential? We're getting by just fine here but we're no longer living. Are you? I remember a moment when everything was clean and bright. Before the stains of time had dulled the unfulfilled ambitions burning with radiance in my mind. So I press on, determined to live the life I deserve. Why settle? It's so easy to feel stuck, to feel useless, to feel that your routine is all you really have. We have so much more to give, so much more to share, to create. How well would a raw and living foods restaurant or vegan organic community garden/resource center do in Winston-Salem? How big of a market is here for something like that? This is exactly what I want to accomplish in Northern California or Southern Oregon. The industrial agriculture complex is tightening down the screws everywhere you shop. We're being given less and less of a choice about the cleanliness of our food. This is my attempt to do my part to help sway things back in our favor. I would like to extend an invitation, here and now, to join me in whatever way you can. I believe, in my heart of hearts, that we're moving in the right direction. As I take a look around, I see hope.

Sunday, January 16, 2011

Luna's Living Kitchen

Yesterday we decided to make the drive to Charlotte, NC to check out Luna's Living Kitchen. It's about an hour and a half from us, here in Winston-Salem. We'd read and seen so many good things about the place that our expectations were very high. Let me just say right now, all expectations were exceeded, and then some. We were BLOWN AWAY by Luna's. The food, owners and staff, and general vibe were probably the best I've ever encountered in any restaurant. Randy, Juli, Koichi, Andy and the rest of the folks running that place have a great thing going. Liz had the made-to-order Almond Milk, the Sweet Potato Bisque with homemade bread, and the Lunasagna, served with a local green salad. These were all delicious! I couldn't help myself from helping her finish the Lunasagna. I had the Nasturtium Heaven which was complex and palette pleasing. I don't recall ever eating Nasturtium in a dish before, but I now plan to seek it out. The cilantro pesto is to live for! I also had a refreshing, freshly made "Shapeshifter" juice, which means you get to pick whatever you want to go in your juice. I had Apple, Carrot, and local greens. Before we left, Juli and Randy gave us two Mint Chocolate Coconut Macaroons that were still warm from the dehydrator! We were pretty full, but as soon as we got to our next stop in town, we were all over them. Liz is saving half of hers in the fridge so she can savor it a little longer. North Carolina should have more of this. We are in dire need of gourmet quality, healthy Raw and Living Foods. I don't usually gush in my writing but these guys and their food warrant it. Below is the proof of this culinary excellence:








Friday, January 14, 2011

What Monsanto Doesn't Want You to Know

So far in my blog posts, I've tried my best to craft my words in a way that will benefit the reader and myself. Words aren't enough for the sheer frustration and morbid fascination I feel towards "Genetically Modified Food" and revelations in this documentary. It's recently come to light that David Wolfe was infiltrated and pushed out of Sunfood.com by Monsanto. Here we have undeniable proof of this cooked food conspiracy. Keep up the good fight and enjoy the video:










Thursday, January 13, 2011

Moving Forward

I've heard as long as you're walking in the right direction, you'll get to where you want to go. The path before us is wide and well lit. I welcome the challenge of working towards it. Staying grounded in this moment is the signpost along the way. One of my favorite songs, For me This is Heaven embedded this line in my mind long ago,  "And the mindless comfort grows, when I'm alone with my great plans." Raw and Living Foods and the movement that's grown around it have been quite the eye-opener. It's as if for the first time I have the clear comprehension to unapologetically walk in that right direction. No longer do I worry about the consequences and pressure to conform. If I've stepped out of "the norm" I know it's because "the norm" is what's leading humanity to it's downfall. We have to do our best to be a living example and I have great hope for all of us in regards to the future. We're planning a move to the west coast later this year. I have a rough draft in my mind of where I want to take this, but I'd love any feedback or suggestions. How are you living your passion and bettering your community through optimal diet and lifestyle?

Tuesday, January 11, 2011

The Long and Tasty Road

I just realized that there's no pictures here of what I've been creating. I've only shared these on the Facebook page. These are all original creations from my own blood sweat and tears. The cooked food stranglehold CAN be loosened and we CAN reclaim the bounty nature provides in abundance.                   Until next time....




Cinnamon Agave Pink  Lady
                               
        Spicy Collard Burrito w/ spicy nut "taco meat', topped to perfection
                                   


                                                                          
Finished Kale Chips



                                                                           
Lasagna's first layer
    
                                                  
 Basil & Cashew Ricotta Lasagna  

Creamy Tomato Dill Bisque



"Smiling Buddha" spicy Thai stuffed pepper

Kale & Romaine Salad, tossed in my home made vinegarette

Saturday, January 8, 2011

My Typical Daily Diet

Hello everyone. I hope these words find you well. I've been asked twice now to list my daily food intake. It's kind of a difficult thing to do because what I eat changes so much. So I'm going to share my average breakfast, lunch and dinner, supplements and all. I get up around 6 a.m., juice half a lemon, and mix with about 12oz water and a little Celtic Sea Salt. Coffee is the monkey on my back right now and the only reason I'm not completely Raw. I try to find shade-grown, fair trade coffee as this seems to be more mellow. I'm tapering it down and I'm at about 5 oz a day which I have after my sea salt lemon water. Then it's time for 1,000 milligrams of  raw MSM in tablet form and 800 to 1000 milligrams of vegan vitamin D. Up next is the first of two breakfasts. I've always eaten two separate times in the morning. As I've been told by my friends, "I like to get my hungries." Grapefruit or orange is usually round one. Then it's green smoothie time! Kale, banana,  flax oil, aloe vera juice, spirulina, 1 milliliter of magnesium droplet/tincture, filtered water and ice. This is so good and I feel a little bit off on days when I miss my morning green smoothie. Lunch could be any simple salad with olive oil and vinegar or guacamole with celery sticks and/or red bell pepper strips. Snacking is not unusual in the afternoon but lately I've been drinking a lot of water as is recommended with any MSM supplement. Making dinner is like a spiritual event for me. I get in the zone. Just ask my girlfriend. She pretty much stays out of the kitchen when I make us dinner. Insert any entrĂ©e here: Collard wrap/burrito, zucchini pesto pasta,  nut/seed burger stuffed portobella and/or nori rolls are usually on the menu. About an hour before I go to sleep I make an herbal tea. Lately I've discovered my favorite combination: nettle leaves tea with burdock root and goji berries. No sweetener necessary with the gojis in there. By the time I'm finished with an 8oz cup I have the warm fuzzies. All joking aside, this tea is off the charts in antioxidants and blood purifying properties. I sleep soundly and deeply. I hope this answers any questions you may have had. Warm wishes and best regards!

Sunday, January 2, 2011

Shedding Skin


Happy New Year everyone. I know we over-symbolize a new year sometimes, as if by the simple changing of a calendar year we have a clean slate. Whether it's 11:59 pm on December 31st or 12:01 am on January 1st, a potentially life-changing, pivotal event is always possible. It seems however, that most of the time we're not really driving the vehicle but merely holding the reins. The fact is we're constantly renewing and shedding everything. Skin, cells, ideas, and so much more are forever falling by the wayside. What you allow to settle in their place is a matter of great significance. We're slowly, but purposely, being led away from the innate knowledge we all have inside to heal ourselves and our world. Ever so gently, a corrupt, greedy, and self-serving system is holding our hands and leading us astray. No one disputes that the BP gulf oil disaster and subsequent cover-up is anything less than the perpetuation of the aforementioned system. But how many of us look at a conventionally grown, bionic apple with that same disgust? I, for one, am taking charge, taking responsibility for my own healing. I can beat up on myself for how we let it get so bad all I want, but where's the solution? It's deep inside and I've never been more convinced than I am now. It's in my heart, my mind, and my soul. My knowledge on this topic is new and incomplete. So I ask you to join me in resurrecting the communal brilliance we once had. Let's do SOMETHING! Anything really, that returns us to our proper place amongst the living. It's within our grasp. Will you drive or just hold the reins?