Other primates certainly have a lot to teach us human beings. I'm doing an artwork that will be exhibited as part of a major festival here in Tassie in a couple of months and am thinking of exploring through it, the idea of people being simply another animal despite our modern lifestyle. I have some other ideas so who knows where the creative process will take itself!

I'm loving life, especially:
Excercise, especially dancing and bushwalking
Being free
Realising that everything is perfect
Forraging plums
Being around other people
Flowers and gumnuts
Mangoes - despite non-organicness and food miles they are bliss!
Simplicity

I'm about to concuct a green smoothie, with greens, banana and mango. mmmmm!

Have a fabulous day everyone!

Good morning Sunshine! Yesterday I went for a magnificant swim at Bronte Beach. I have not swum in the ocean since a swim at Mermaid Beach Qld in June 07 and I am a mermaid! I enjoyed the experience deeply and felt very relaxed afterwards. I have been feeling very free and creative the last few days. I have indulged in some yukky foods (cooked and too much raw fat for my digestion and energy to thrive) but have resolved to begin a cleanse on lots of purifying water, fruit and greens, with no overt fats, seaweed or dried fruits. As soon as I get home I will also be focusing on all organic and forraged foods. I am so energised by the fantastic warmth and sunhine I have been blessed with on my trip. Eating well and other self-care activities to me are freeing because they allow me to act in ways that are in tune with my deeper self, although to others they may appear restrictive. This is a big lesson for me to learn. That what is the norm is not necessarily right. I have put many practices into my life that to society as a whole may seem unusual but there are many behaviours that I still act out despite my innate knowledge of how I would be a happier being. Every moment is a chance to tune into these natural instincts to live joyfully in the moment!

This morning I went for a wander around Yagoona, the suburb I am staying in with family, a little jogging too. I then did some more excercises and stretches gotta go xoxox

Very interesting discussion here. I know that I need to address the issue of emotional eating as a priority. Perhaps reading Angela Stokes' book would help me as I don't really know where to begin. I do know that when I have been eating in allignment with my real needs, eating to live, my emotional life has really made good progress. It is very hard work though, it really is. But it is extremely rewarding too. As Doug Graham wrote in 80/10/10 eating cooked/heavy food puts us at risk of becoming emotional vegetables. Since many of us are accustomed to being emotional vegetables (and vegetable in the crippled way not yummy greens from the garden way!) we want to slow down our emotions and numb out with heavy food. It's so ingrained in our culture and extremely socially acceptable. It's up to me to reject this numbing as a norm and be strong in who I am and how I feel. I think meditation, excercise and yoga will play a big role in helping my face my emotional eating demons.

http://www.continuum-concept.org/ Explore the Continuum!

Hi there

I totally vibe with your longing for savoury food. Fruit is great for fuelling up and having healthy cravings. And if you crave savoury, there are options of something like raw soups that are simply made by blending a few ingredients like greens and tomatoes, a little fruit like orange, mango or peach, perhaps some coriander or other herb. Lots of savoury meals can be made from ingredients like zucchini, cucumber, all manner of greens, herbs, tomatoes, capsicum, fennel, celery, very fresh corn and peas, sea veg, dried tomatoes and small ammounts of avocado/nuts/seeds (etc!). Using fresh, organic ingredients ensures that the flavour is prime. Perhaps look into some simple recipes to get you started. I reccommend Doug Graham's High Energy Diet Recipe Guide. Very simple stuff with easy to find ingredients.

All the best!

Hello fabulous friends!

I'm writing from Sydney this evening as I have been visiting family here over the Christmas period. I am learning a lot being in such a different environment. There is much abundance outside our comfort zones. I'm not feeling very healthy at the moment as I haven't been focusing as well on my physical wellbeing as much as is usual for me, but I also believe that the experimenting and freedom I am allowing myself is developing a stronger sense of truth for me. I have been reading a fabulous book, "The Continuum Concept" by Jean Liedloff. A lot of clarity has come about in my thoughts from this reading. The book is basically of the expectations that babies, and further adults, have due to millenia of conditioning. The further we stray from our "continuum" the further we are from our sanity and wellbeing. Much unhappiness is attributed to the way we were treated in our first year of life, and this infantile part of us awaits healing by a return to his or her continuum. A very complex idea really, but well worth looking into, especially for parents. It answers a lot of questions I have had about the way humans behave in a very simple, tribal environment.

Being away from home often gets me reflecting on the way I live my everyday life. I am having lots of creative ideas but I think it all really comes down to living in the present. I am learning to use my mind as a tool and to put it down when I am finished with using it, as I would with a watering can when finished watering the garden. Simplicity is bliss!

I have been eating lots of yummy fruit here in Sydney after being taken to the Sydney Markets to buy cases of cherries, nectarines, "donut" peaches, mangoes, watermelon, apricots, black russian tomatoes. I imagine I will enjoy the abundant forragable plums when I return home to Hobart on Wednesday. A few days before I left I discovered that the plums were finally ripening in the late summer of this year. How normal it felt to go on a big hike in the morning and pick my fuel as I wandered back! There are plums in the many parks, reserves and nature strips all about hobart, and out in the country too. My veggie garden will be a delight to see too!

I hope everyone is having a wonderful moment xoxoxox

 

heya calusa...good advice from RGG of watermelon...it is a magical fruit when combined right! You're doing great!

Hello Patchworkkitten

I began this leg of my raw journey while about 7.5 months pregnant and felt amazingly better for it immediately. I reccommend eating raw while pregnant if you feel positive changes. I imagine you will only know if it would be a good idea to transition to raw while pregnant once you try it. If your body embraces the change and feels good and it feels right emotionally, spiritually, physically and mentally than it would be wise to head in that direction. I do see the sense in building up to a high-raw diet before conceiving though but I also think anytime is a good one to enjoy a healthy lifestyle. Some of the benefits of being raw during pregnancy in my experience...more energy, tummy more comfy, better sleep, not waking up ridiculously hungry any longer and feeling better nourished in general.

xoxoxox

Heya all in Tassie-land! Come get your raw groove on this spectacular summer!

how? Joyfully, happily, freely, naturally, rawly!
what? Lunch of delicious summer fruits, scrumptious salads, garden greens and other creative concoctions, followed by planting of an avocado tree, lazing about, laughing, playing and yarning!
when? Sun 11th January 12:30
Where? Supriya and her family's colourful abode/fruitful land in Glenorchy...PM her for address/directions
why? Why not?!

Hi Arijel5 !

My little boy's first birthday was just yesterday and I made an icecream cake which went down very well with everybody. I processed figs for the pie crust and froze, then put layers of frozen fruit ice-cream, topped with a layer of fresh passionfruit and cherries to decorate. Looked beautiful! xox

Hello Beauty! Dropping in quickly to let you know we are having an AACT chrissy party at ours on Sunday...x love you to come.

Not sure of the time but will ask Jenn. We're catering with a heap of others and am so excited about making my new discovery. Really would love to see you here with your new muscles I have grape plants for you too whom would love to be in the ground. Maybe Luke and You can find a home for them?

 Have a lovely post-rain eve in your funky colourful house! xoxo

Would have been so special to meet you here in Tassie but I think it will happen another time. Hope your body recovered from the chill factor! I found that weekend pretty warm! Your veggie barrels look stunning and you even more gorgeous Always admire how well you look after yourself. Balance is priceless and free Congrats on your awards...good to be agknowledged for your effort. You are appreciated by many! JaRrah on my lap smells like mango! mmmm Enjoy the moment! xoxoxox

Monomeals of fruit eaten in the garden! Especially if fresh picked. As I am from Queensland I discovered this year the apricot in its sun-warmed eaten-off-the-tree-glory! Also lettuce in so many varieties - they are soooo beautiful to look at I feel like I am eating this amazing, perfect creation of God/nature and all that beautiful, divine, holy energy is going into my body and I am part of its source - wow!

I am sometimes aware and sometimes not...I try to remind myself how far I have come when I am being self-critical cause it's a long way baby! I feel life washing and flowing through me, so connected with everything alive. I feel more like a human animal or being than a civilised human which creates so very much joy and freedom. I am kinder and more giving, and there is more to give! My true creativity is emerging! I feel like an asset to the world more than ever. Physically I have much more energy and crave excercise rather than putting it off (mostly!). My self esteem is much better and in a way I related to what niqi said, I don't care for doing things just cause it's normal although it can be a challenge to reach a balance by doing things in flow with the way of the Earth as it is sometimes - a challenge of putting aside the ideal for effectiveness and practicality. I am way more positive. I have a lot to work on of course, so much to learn! The beauty of my life for being raw is so real though and as OxyJohn so wisely noted...

love and peace...need to get outside and eagt apricots lol

I've been learning that it is so very healing to respect what the Earth has to give at this time in this place. The most enjoyable, healthful eating is right from the plant. I think Nature is so wise in providing what we need throughout the seasons, even in this crazy, mixed up world.