Hi everyone

Mike Adams has truly excelled this time! I have always loved his writing but this is truly the best summary I've read ever of the argument not to eat meat. I highly recommend you read it, copy it and save it in Word and send it to people as the opportunity arises :-)  

 http://www.naturalnews.com/023299.html  



Note: Edited to make link clickable (to make links clickable ust type the url, then highlight it and click the icon above the 3rd/4thth smiley that looks like a little planet. That adds in the code to make it clickable).

Hi Eve

I do understand how you feel. It sounds to me like it's more of an isolation thing then - wanting someone to share the whole exciting journey with. I feel exactly the same way but I'm single...... so same problem, different set up!!!

I just went out to meet a raw friend in Manly and to meet some of her other friends. What I didn't know was that it would be in a bar/nightclub environment. Doof doof very loud music, neon lights, drunk people, cigarette smoke and bad vibes. I totally hated it, my energy was going AWOL and so I left after 5 minutes. So I'm now back at home 'all revved up and nowhere to go' as Meatloaf would say.

This evening was a double edged sword. I am now clear that I have left behind my old life forever if I cannot handle this kind of environment for even a short while. There is no turning back now and it means that I am a bit of a social outcast except when I am with 'my own kind'. On the other hand, I am pleased that I honoured myself and left the place, when it was so uncomfortable for me physically, emotionally and spiritually just to be in there. Now I have a nagging pain in my shoulder I need to clear.

I'm not sure I needed this on day 1 of my juice feast. On the other hand, maybe it's a great thing that I have so much clarity about who I am and what I want. There's no struggle or inner conflict with that!!! Maybe it was the perfect experience for me on day 1 to strengthen my resolve!!!

So, what I'm really saying to you Eve is that there is a way for you here to find peace with yourself, your thoughts and your actions.....where you can have a congruent life. So what I wish for you is that you find a way to have that peace :-)

Lovespirit xxx                 

Wow Jen.....so many challenges for you right now hun.

Have you thought about juice feasting to expediate the cleansing but in a way where you can still work and function etc??? It sounds like your body-mind is really trying to tell you something right now!!! I know I am totally biased because I've just started my own feast but I am seriously thinking this could be a great move for you right now.

Either way, I hope you come up with lots of great ideas to help you get more rest and that your cleansing reactions become much easier.

Hugs

LS xxx



 

PS Lulu, you should be sooooo proud of your rawness!!! Well done!!!

I have to confess that I did actually fall off the 100% raw wagon for a while, which totally surprised me. Anyway, to cut a long story short, today is day 1 of my 92 day juice feast and NOTHING is going to prevent me from doing it and finishing it properly. Yay! I'm tossing up whether to blog here or on the juice feasting site.....any feedback/preferences on that, anyone??? xx

Wow Eve - you poor thing...sounds like you are copping it from all angles :-(

I don't know your family set up but here's my take on it anyway: do not EVER give up on something that is REALLY important to you 'for the sake of your family' - especially when it involves your health. I don't know the 'impact' it has on your family but I am sensing some guilt as though you think they are 'suffering' becasue of your own 'selfish' desires. I am deliberately using strong language here to make the point......but since when does looking after your health, animal well-being, the planet and the vibration you emanate make a negative contribution to anyone or anything??? We all have a responsibility to be part of the SOLUTION, not part of the problem. And what a gift you are giving your son by way of example!!! I reluctantly acknowledge that being raw is not for everyone (although I will never understand people that don't embrace it)  .....but your family should be givng you medals for your courage and commitment, not giving you a hard time (silently or otherwise). And if your family is not giving you a hard time, then why on earth are YOU giving you a hard time?

I really really care about you getting your head straight on this because I know how passionate you are about being raw.

My recommendation is to figure out what's blocked here...deal with it..... and then move on with pride, joy and a renewed sense of love and exuberance for your chosen lifestyle!!!

Lots of love

Lovespirit xxx



         

Reading this whole thread, I'm getting the impresion that we are discussing two possible approaches, broadly speaking (which happen to be polarized):

1) Go hard to help them in a zealous way that may provoke a negative reaction
2) Plant a seed...but if they respond negatively, run like hell the other way :-)

Actually, in truth, I think there are many shades of grey, in between these two polarized opposites above, that would suit most situations.

I agree with Sanghama. It IS possible to 'coach' some people. I think we can do a lot more than just plant seeds or be overly heavy-handed.

Without sounding too over-zealous myself I do think it's our responsibility to at least give enough information for people to get enough of an idea...and then leave it with them. I usually 'request permission' to give some input, I'll talk for a few minutes max, guaging their reaction....and then usually back off suggesting they think about it and email me if they'd like more info from me - links, pdfs etc.

I've had 4 sick people in my life recently. Three wouldn't listen. But one did. She decided against surgery, has totally healed her gall bladder issues, has totally changed her diet, radicaly improved her health and is considering getting a personal trainer. She is a very close friend....and I did have to be VERY careful how I approached it. She did "hiss" at me quite a few times in a defensive way but I loved her so I persevered......she has since told me clearly how grateful she is. I'm soooo glad I didn't give up on her. I cannot quantify how much my perseverence with her has probably changed the quality of the rest of her life now. It was worth it!!!

I am also forever grateful to the person that leant me Nature's First Law!

I am VERY careful how I approach this topic with everyone but I do think it's something we can get better and better at, with practice. I look for an angle to 'sell it' as well - what pushes their buttons and gets their attention :-) Also, asking questions, like Sanghama demonstrated, is far more powerful to lead a conversation. "Ask, don't tell"!!!   

I have an interesting situation coming up soon. I'm a Toastmasters member and last month one member spoke about health and his newly diagnosed prostate cancer. Afterwards, with his permission, I bombarbed him with information in an email. I had already decided I wanted my next TM speech to be about raw food and, being very sensitive to his current situation, asked his 'permission' before deciding on this topic for June. I have his blessing - he wants to hear what I have to say...but the other TM members won't know I've spoken to him and may think my speech is a bit out of line. So, it's a touch risky but I'm doing what I feel is right according to my own ethics.....ie talking about something that all can benefit from. I'll be well into my jucie feast by then so hopefully they'll find it pretty interesting!

In my heart I am a very passionate activist when it comes to animal rights, planet earth, raw food etc. I have learnt, however, to refine my approach over years to facilitiate the best outcome with my audience. This skill is something that I would like to excel at  - but is still a WIP for me in the meantime!

Lovespirit xxxx       

               

Hi GG - on day 22 already - full power to you!!! You must be so proud of yourself to persevere with it in such an emotional week.

I agree that the juice feasting sites are a wealth of information - quite extraordinarily so.

I haven't quite decided yet if I'm going to journal here or blog....but it would be a wasted opportunity for myself, and probably for others too, if I didn't do something that. I do believe, based on past experience, that it's going to be quite a ride ;-) I'll will give it due consideration this weekend. I start on Saturday with a trip to the organic farmers markets first thing.

Thank you again for being such an extraordinary inspiration for me Gojo Girl. I really mean it!

With love

LS xx   

Hi OG, I have actually had a few colonics when I did a 7 day fast in Thailand. However, since then I have changed my mind on their benefit and tend to agree wtih Nora Lenz who says: http://www.rawschool.com/colonics.htm. Fundamentally we all have to go with what feels right for ourselves, don't we? And, being  a woman, I reserve the right to change my mind at any point ;-)

Sanghama - that is fantastic!!!!! The programme on www.juice feasting.com is awesome, have a look if you haven't already. (I hope it's OK to put these links, I don't see them as competing with RP, just spreading the raw word :-) ) Don't rush though - start when you are good and ready. The main thing is that you feel comfortable and enjoy it, that you're not wobbly on day 1!!! I've still got lots of thigns I'd like to buy, I'll get there bit by bit, but I know how to juice now and that's the main thing!

DR - thanks, I'll check your thread!

Lotsa love to all you fab raw spiritual people out there!!!

Lovespirit xxxxxx

 

Thanks Sanghama :-)

Care to join me??? ;-)

Hi Jungle

That is really useful feedback, thanks. The fact that you are feeling so good only serves to reinforce that I am much more toxic than you, due to being older and no doubt having imbibed way more alcohol, nicotine, coffee, drugs etc in my years. Yuk! I can't believe I did all that now!

Anyway, I completley agree regarding dealing with emotions and not burying them with fat. 

Re 811 - I researched this again and it was still jarring in some ways. So I'm actually taking the quite radical step of starting a 92 day juice feast this Saturday. I am incredibly excited!!! I feel like I'm about to climb Everest. I kid myself not about how difficult it might be sometimes but I know WHY I have to do this for physical, mental and emotional reasons. I am definitely ready for it!!!

I've also done my research on organic sources and will do my very best to have all organic on this feast. By the time I've completed it, I will have shiny new habits in place.

Thank you for your support!!!!

Lovespirit xx

Sanghama - they are good points, thank you....and thanks for the PM as well. I didn't know that about L; it's good to know :-)

GG - YOU are an inspiration!!! I've been meaning to write to you so here's my chance. You're doing an AMAZING job juice-feasting.....and for you to display such love, compassion and support to others at this time in your life is just extraordinary. I wish you all the love, compassion and support in the world in return. I'm thrilled that you've chosen to continue your juice feast at this time and that it's nurturing you so well. Well done!!! Interestingly, I was semi-dreaming about juice-feasting all night and woke up at 3.03 am which was when you posted to me here. Don't you love those synchronicities??? 

Raw Sensation - thanks for your book tips on the phone yesterday. You're a sweetheart. It helped me research more schools of thought, thus clarifiying my own thoughts. 

I spent an hour looking at the global juice feast site last night and must admit that this is what I'm most drawn to right now. It is bringing up a lot of fears though and I haven't even started yet!!! I'm going to pay 1 month's membership to see what kind of detail is there. I have so many questions about it. I would LOOOVE to do this but I'm pretty sure all my 'stuff' would come up and I would just have to deal with it. You can run but you can't hide ;-) Just one aspect I'm really uncomfortable with is the colonics/enemas. Although I've had them when I did a fast in Thailand I always hated it and it made me feel really emotionally traumatized. I'm also not so sure I agree with them; I know some raw foodies don't....so I need to get all of these questions clear before I can decide whether or not to proceed.

That's all for now. Love to all!

Lovespirit xx

       

 

Hi all

Well, I'm 5 months into being 90%+ raw vegan from being cooked vegetarian. Naturally I have absolute faith in being raw......but I am beginning to be rather frustrated with not really experiencing the promised health benefits  - yet.

My journey so far has been in 4 broad stages

1) Pig out on anything raw in sight to curb the mad cravings
2) A 5 day master cleanse
3) Drink lots of green smoothies and get into superfoods
4) Drink lots of juices (2-3 litres most days) and more simple green salads.

On top of this I've been running 4-5 times a week with lots of horse riding at weekends.

How I'm feeling now physically: I've only lost around 1 or 2 kilos (I would like to lose around 6 more now), I usually wake up with a puffy face, my body is quite puffy too and my belly is too bloated. I am usually tired and lethargic and I don't feel very strong physically.

I can definitely feel that I'm still in a big detox and would love to hear from people about how to push through this current stage. I am really hanging to have that lean, mean, clean exuberant raw glow!!!! I love that lean hard athletic look and am willing to work for it...but of course I definitely don't look or feel anythign like like that yet!!!

Of course I'm happy to be patient if persistence is all that is required but I have a sneaking suspicion that I could be doing this transition a lot smarter now. I know that Nora Lenz says that she didn't really change much physically for 6 months and she went 100% raw from raw vegan. Shazzie lost weight very quickly when she went raw and seemed to look and feel much better within weeks. Regardless, I know I've got quite a way to go yet! 

Also, I'm hanging to do some hard core training and psychologically feel ready for this. I've been toying with the idea of getting a personal trainer but I don't have the energy to train hard.....so I'm a bit caught between a rock and a hard place.

I'm interested in the 811 diet and am toying with buying and trying it. I'm also very drawn to juice feasting, I instinctively feel that it's a wonderful thing to do....but I'm not quite ready for it mentally....I'm also scared of going into another mad detox phase with it. I have a lot going on in my life and can't afford to drop the ball right now!   

I would be thrilled to hear from people who have successfully moved through the stage that I'm in - and how you did it - whether 811 or anything else.

Also, I haven't eaten that much organic food (for a number of reasons) and feel that this could help too. Has anyone seen a noticeable difference just from switching to more organic food??   

Harley - if you want to give input and can't post here, post on your thread and/or PM me.

Love to all

Lovespirit xx


 

Thoran - You're a darling - thank you....this is really helpful!!! :-)

KittyK's links are great too, I was readign them in more detail last night, great info! :-)

LS

Hi Chilli13 - that's really helpful to me.....and I hope you get resolution soon. I'd be very interested to hear what you surmise from this experience.

RS - Paul Bragg is a legend so I'm stoked that he had a vegan dog :-)

A close friend of mine suggested transitioning from meaty dried dog food to veganpet dried dog food - which kind of made sense to me. I like the idea of using a 'complete' dog food like veganpet......but I'd add heaps of fresh veggies too. In my mind that's a bit like using human dried superfoods mixed up with heaps of fresh stuff.

LS xx

   

Hi everyone

In case you haven't read from the top of this post.....and just so we don't lose the clearly explained intention of this thread:

***I would still love to hear from anyone that has a vegetarian/vegan/raw vegan dog
*** what you feed him/her
*** how the transition phase was (or if they were fed that way from birth)

.....whether they were your own personal experiences or those of family and friends.


Thanks a million!

Lovespirit xx