Understanding the Prayer Pipe
I am excited to be posting again. I know you all have read about our prayer pipe in previous posts. Well, I have taken pictures of it just to show you. Along with finding some really cool links that discuss the pipe and the symbolism behind it. You can find one HERE! I had heard this story told by James, our Medicine Man, and a few other friends who are also involved in the Native stuff. But...I LOVED reading it on this site and thought it was VERY educational!
Isn't it BEAUTIFUL? Both Chris and I feel so blessed to have it in our lives. The sage sitting next to it is for purification. I LOVE the smell of sage. It is common place in most of the ceremonies I have attended. It is a VERY healing herb and is used for smudging to prepare yourself both physically and spiritually for what is about to take place. We burn it regularly as we am smoking our pipe!
I just recently learned from James that the reason they put the leather pieces around certain spots on the pipe is because the pipe is so sacred that the leather is to protect it from touching anything else. This is done to show how very honored and revered the pipe is. I place the bowl underneath the end so I won't be wasteful and can catch any leftovers from the tobacco and herbs that I put in it. I just recently put together a woman's combination of tobacco, red raspberry, rose buds, and lavendar. I have been enjoying this blend.
So...this is the basic set up I have got on my porch right now. I regularly read my sacred scriptures while praying with the pipe. If you notice, the stand of the pipe has a eagle holding up the pipe. For Chris and I this is VERY symbolic. Chris' spiritual Native name is Spirit Eagle and mine is Eagle Dove. This is one of the MANY reasons we felt so honored with this pipe. It helps us remember who we are and what we stand for. The eagle is HIGHLY revered for it's ability to see all, carry wisdom beyond our understanding and help those who stand in need.
This is one of the MOST beautiful parts of the pipe, I think. Here is another eagle. The bead work is intricate and brightly colored. Today I was honored to hold a pipe ceremony with some great friends of mine. It was the first one to be held outside my personal family. I felt inspired with thoughts and ideas that helped me really understand what each of my friends was going through. I learned more about myself and the woman I was working with. I felt LOVED and MOVED to such an extend that my heart of so full of gratitude for all things living. We were surrounded by the GORGEOUS Mount Timpanogos. Thank you, my dear friends, for sharing this experience with me.
Lastly, I would like reiterate that I don't actually smoke our pipe. The four elements of fire, water, earth and air are all utilize for their symbolic purposes. We bring the smoke into our mouths and mixed it with the water. The herbs in the pipe represent the earth and when you light them you are creating fire. The air comes in as you release your prayers through the smoke to the universe. The pipe carries the help of all things through all the symbolism it holds. I have felt blessed to use this very powerful healing modality.
Here is my reply. Someone was discussing the uses of Ayvrveda nutrition and healing and so my response is concering that topic also.
Maureen,
Is it really July 4th Already?
Hello again! I cannot believe that tomorrow is the 4th of July. Can you? HAPPY 4th of JULY, my LOVED ones!! The spring and summer are flying by. I swear, the older I get the less time I have. It's like there is this time warp that takes place each year when you have less and less of it. I am sure most of you feel the same. We think that if we just could get that extra hour in the day than that would make all the difference. I have come to the conclusion for myself that I would use the hour and still think I didn't have enough time. HAHA!! I will strive to be happy for the time I do have and use it wisely. I think this is my best bet for right now.
So...I am FINALLY posting my pictures from our sweat lodge ceremony on June 16th. I think I already mentioned how AWESOME it was but I will go ahead and say it again. It was AWESOME!! It was a VERY powerful lodge and each of us had our own unique experience that moved us more into a space of really facing our own issues. We each had to get really clear on who we are and what we are wanting in life. I absolutely LOVE participating in ceremonies and bonding and feeling the LOVE of everyone there. By the end, you have made a group of new best friends that you might not have even considered friends in any other setting. Isn't that COOL?
Here is our lodge when it is all ready for a sweat. We place canvas and blankets over the top to keep the steam and heat in. This was already a VERY hot day and even just entering the lodge without any stones in it felt uncomfortable. Notice the HUGE fire where we are heating the stones. I LOVE this picture. Every time I enter a lodge, I am in AWE of the power it holds in helping us move a step closer to our Savior and Creator.
Here is a side view of it. Again, GORGEOUS!!
Chris and I in front of the lodge. I had decided that it was time to pull the hair up. I was HOT! Chris was the stone carrier for this lodge which means he didn't actually participate in the sweat by coming in. He actually brought the stones in and then watched the door while we all sweated. This is a GREAT act of love especially when you might be hoping to participate by sweating.
Our Medicine Man, James Mooney, entering the lodge to pray and consecrate it before the actual sweat. He is an AMAZING man and I feel honored and blessed to know him. He has taught us so much in regards to personal healing in all forms in the Native American way. 
My beloved friend, Shauna, taking a rest before the ceremony. Look how GORGEOUS she is. She is someone who has found the LOVE inside of herself that aids her to truly be the person she knows she is. She is a VERY gifted Medicine Woman who is helping others through her experiences. I LOVE her!!
These are some other people who came and participated. For some of them, this was their very first sweat lodge ceremony. They left feeling renewed and refreshed!
More friends who wanted to share in the process. It is sometimes helpful to come with a spouse even if you personally will not be participating in the ceremony. Aaron and Lyndsey brought their little girl, Nevaeh. Lyndsey watched and shared in the process outside of the lodge while Aaron was on the inside. Aaron sat next to me inside the lodge and he was a GREAT strength to me when the going got tough. Thanks Aaron!!
Lastly, but definitely not least, is my sweet Chris. I took about 10 pictures of him with the pose and he would not pay attention enough to sit perfectly still for me so...this is what you get. He is still a HOTTIE!! I am so happy that we are on this path together and that he LOVES me enough to hang in there with me through all my stuff. I LOVE YOU!!I Haven't Forgotten Blogging!
Okay, I really haven't forgotten about blogging. Ever since we returned from our trip, it seems life hasn't slowed down. I think summer hits and we get into play mode and we all lose ourselves in it. Which is kinda what we have been doing. It has been alot of fun. In fact, tomorrow we are going boating with some friends. I was thinking about it and I couldn't remember the last time I went boating. I am excited. From what I can remember, I am not too shabby at the water skiing thing but we'll see!
Our Smart Bodies
As I am sitting here typing, I am having pretty strong bowel cramps. Yeah for me!! I am happy to know that my bowels are working and trying to keep me healthy and strong. Do you want to know what I ate that is giving me cramps? Raw Kim Chee!! To be honest, I am not surprised. I had forgotten the reaction that I have had in the past when eating it but I soon remembered as soon as the discomfort started.
I somewhat swore off all fermented foods when I started this diet change about a year ago. I found that they tended to give me gas and discomfort that didn't sit well with me. I understand now that anytime we are having bloating, gas or cramping, our bodies are telling us that what we ate is not digesting well and to really tune in to what we might be needing to change.
Fermented foods actually create gas during the fermentation process because of the excess carbon dioxide production. I used to eat quite a bit of fermented foods. Heck, I used to teach classes on how to ferment your own foods. There was a time when I have 12 batches of Kombucha tea brewing at the same time, along with my sauerkraut and keifer. I am not saying that I am against fermented foods. I have just found that, for me, I can no longer tolerate to ingest them. I learned that in order to keep foods from going bad during the fermenting process, you have to add TONS of salt. Salt actually slows down the production of enzymes since enzymes are what break our foods down. I have recently learned salt is a antibiotic, which anti meaning against and biotic meaning life. The final conclusion, salt would be anti life. I do not agree that salt is anti life when eaten in it's own natural state which would be eating it in the form of seaweeds. I do believe that seaweeds are some of the MOST beneficial foods for us.
Here is a quote on the health benefits of seaweed. It is from a book by Russ Horne. Please forgive me but the source from which I received this information did not state which book of his it was written in. You can find his books on the 2 websites I have listed below.
from Russ Horne's book:
Voisin emphasised that administering mineral salts to experimental animals led to wrong conclusions being formed because the only way the body can properly assimilate minerals is in organic form, having been first taken up from the soil and changed to a colloid form by the plant used as food.
That the content of various minerals in a plant can vary enormously depending on the soil, the water content of the soil, the weather and so on means that the best way to obtain your minerals is from a variety of fresh, raw fruits and vegetables. A part from vitamins and other nutrients in raw fruit and vegetables--preferably organically grown--the abundance of organic minerals they contain explains why patients with cancer respond so well when restricted to these foods.
That the mineral content of seawater is practically the same as blood is significant, and it is a fact, according to Dr Maynard Murray, that seawater contains all the trace minerals needed by humans. Dr Murray demonstrated forcefully that animals fed on his crops fertilized sparingly with diluted seawater exhibited superior growth and health compared to other animals.
This is described in Dr Murray's book Sea Energy Agriculture (see Chaptere 8). Said Dr Murray:
"The disease resistance of plants and animals in the sea is remarkably different from disease resistance in land animals and comparisons between animals of the same or similar species are most interesting. For example, fresh-water trout all develop terminal cancer of the liver at the average age of 5-1/2 years; cancer has never been found in sea trout. It is also known that all land animals develop arterio sclerosis, yet sea animals have never been diagnosed as arteriosclerotic. Investigators have also established the startling absence of disease in the sea, citing not only the absence of 'chronic' disease forms, but especially the general vigorous health of sea animals that has apparently lengthened life many times in comparison to similar land species. These longevity differences are especially evident in such sea mammals as whales, seals and porpoises who have identical physiological systems with the majority of land animals important to man. And the major differences between sea and land life appear to be attributable to the superior food chain of the sea!"
Dr Murray's many experiments with all kinds of crops and animals all showed dramatic benefits from sea minerals. For instance:
"Started feeding mice both experimental and control food that was raised on the Ray Heine and Sons Farm. The experimental food had been raised on soil fertilized with 2200 pounds (per acre) complete sea solids. The control food was the same as the experimental with the exception that it was not fertilized with complete sea solids. The food consisted of a combination of one part soybean, two parts oats, four parts corn, balanced food proteins, carbohydrates and fats for mammals.
C3H mice were obtained for this feeding experiment. This strain of mice has been bred so all the females develop breast cancer which causes their demise. The mice were two months of age when received and started on the feeding experiments. The life expectancy of this strain for females is no more than nine months which included the production of two or three litters. The experimental and control groups both consisted of 200 C3H mice and those fed on control food were all dead within eight months seven days. The experimental mice that were fed food grown on the sea solids fertilized soil lived until they were sacrificed at 16 months; definitive examination revealed no cancerous tissue. The experimental group produced ten litters compared to the usual two to three litters and none developed breast cancer.
In the next experiments, twenty-four rabbits were obtained. Twelve were designated experimental and fed on food grown on sea solids while the remaining twelve were labelled control and fed accordingly. All of the rabbits were given a high cholesterol diet for six months which produces hardening of the arteries. The control group did develop hardening of the arteries and all had died within ten months. The experimental group did not exhibit hardening of the arteries."
Another way people can obtain all the colloidal minerals they need is from fresh seawater taken about a teaspoon a day. Health from the Sea and Soil, by Charles B. Ahlson (Exposition Press, NY, 1962), described the remarkable health improvements by people with different ailments gained simply by taking fresh seawater. It is important that the seawater is fresh and unheated, because once heated the minerals lose their colloidal status necessary for the body to properly utilize them.
Fresh kelp and even dehydrated kelp is a good source of minerals from the sea and it is becoming common practice for farmers desiring the best crops while at the same time avoiding poisonous spraying to fertilize them with fertilizers derived from sea kelp.
And finally, on the subject of seawater minerals is a recent item from the Queensland Fruit and Vegetable News:
"There may be hope for Australian deserts if recent Israeli research is any indication.
Today thirsty plants are not only drinking but thriving on seawater at an experimental farm near the town of Ashkelon on the Mediterranean Sea.
Dr Dov Pasternak from the Boyko Institute at Ben Gurion University, is overseeing the project which is studying 150 species of plants irrigated by sea water.
The research into seawater for irrigation is directly related to the successful efforts of Dr Samuel Mendlinger, also from the Boyko Institute, to produce a special strain of sweet, high quality autumn melon grown on brackish water using drip and sprinkler irrigation.
Among other fruits and vegetables being successfully irrigated by saline water from underground aquifers are asparagus, broccoli, sorghum, olives, peas, and pomegranates.
Agricultural production in 14 southern Israel settlements is now based on underground saline water, and instead of costly desalination Israelis are taking advantage of Nature's abundance, learning to harness sea and sub-soil water to grow crops."
I have purchased a few lessons from The Life Science Health System that was created by T.C. Fry years ago. Here and Here are a couple of links to some free books and articles that you can download from the internet that are written by T.C. Fry and other like minded people. Now, mind you, I do NOT agree with all the info that the Natural Hygienists preach but do feel they teach some truths that if applied can help to move each of us to better health. I have found that the more I follow the principles of proper food combining, monoeating, and staying as close to nature in my eating habits as I possibly can, I feel the best and DO NOT have the bowel cramping. Big surprise! It is only when I stray from these new ideas that I find my body is letting me know that something may not be working for me.
I am going to post the info about salt from the lessons I have read. I do still eat salt but...I take LONG breaks from eating it. I did believe at one point that I was going to cut out salt and NEVER eat it again. I found that in the world we live in, it was VERY hard for me to apply. What I do now, is when I am home, I refrain from eating salt, 95% of the time. When I am out or traveling, I am not so much a stickler about it. Life is meant to be FUN and with where I am with food, at times, is still part of the bonding with others. I believe in loving others in the ways they want to be loved and "breaking bread" with them is what they might need to feel that love.
There is LOTS of controversial information out there on SO MANY different subjects. Here is some of the info I have read over the past year that through experimentation, I have found to be true for me.
"The most common defense for salt is, that the body has certain sodium and chlorine mineral needs that the sodium chloride (table salt) crystals are thought to fulfill. Sodium is used by the body to maintain a water balance, to integrate nervous functioning and to aid in the formation of digestive juices. Chlorine helps sustain normal heart activity, plays an important role in the body's acid-alkaline balance and aids digestion and elimination.
Salt (sodium chloride) cannot be used by the body to meet any of these mineral requirements. Salt is an inorganic mineral that cannot be metabolized by the body. Salt enters the body as sodium chloride, it circulates in the body as sodium chloride, and it leaves the body as sodium chloride. At no point is it broken down into sodium and chlorine and used by the body. Sodium chloride is a very strong and stable molecule, It cannot be broken down in the digestive tract or by the liver. The body cannot use the bonded sodium chloride molecule in any way. The body can use organic sodium and organic chlorine as found in living food (vegetables, fruits, etc.), but it can never use the inorganic sodium chloride compound.
So, if the body cannot break salt down, if it cannot use it in any way, if it only must be eliminated from the body in the same form as which it entered the body, then how can salt be termed "necessary" for life?
Moreover, salt eating has only been around for the last few thousand years of man's millions of years of existence. Primitive man did not eat salt. The American Indians never used salt until the white man introduced it. Many cultures today have never seen a salt shaker. Thousands of Hygienists and health-minded people in this country eat not one speck of salt.
Can you still believe that salt is essential for life?"
Pretty interesting, eh? My bowels are now doing their work to eliminate as quickly as possible it's contents to prevent complete absorption of what it saw as a poison. My body is also not used to the cayenne pepper and other spices that were in the Kim Chee. As I have experimented on my body, I have found that slowing my consumption of too many spices has been beneficial to my overall health.
I LOVE how each of us can learn to REALLY listen to our own inner knowing. There was a time when I felt I truly needed LOTS of spices, fermented foods, supplements and so on. And I truly believe there is a time and a season for all things to relearn how to truly be happy and find peace with ourselves, God, and the universe. It states in the King James version of the Bible in Ecclesiastes 3:1-8.
"To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under heaven. A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;
A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;
A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
A time to cast away stones, and time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;
A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace."
I do LOVE these verses! I feel this is important for me to remember as I form my ideas about myself and life as a whole. I believe these verses help me stay balanced, open to change and new discovery and growth. When I decide to close down and not apply new concepts that might aid in my learning, I am closing a door to some form of understanding at that moment that I may need to know.
WOW! I am always surprised what I come up with when I am posting. I find that I sit down with some ideas of what I am going to write but I have yet to stick with it. So much for expectations! I am trying to lessen my anyway. What a GREAT learning experience for me!! I would like to mention one more prayer of gratitude for Chamomile tea! I am already feeling the calming effects of this WONDERFUL herb. Thank you Mother Earth!
We should be out of town until Monday night. We flew an overnighter last night. I slept about an hour on the plane that left at 11:30 pm. I was VERY grateful for the overnighters at the births I had been too. I think this helped me deal with the lack of sleep much better. When we finally arrived at our designation, we found a hotel room and took a VERY long and VERY needed nap. So...I didn't actually eat anything until 4 o' clock today.
Here is what I ate today.
Thursday, June 21st:
2 small cantaloupes
1 cup fresh blueberries
3 bananas with strawberries
3 cups raw seaweed salad with dulse and Kim Chee
I have to admit that I LOVED every bite of my salad but feel blessed to learn, yet again, what works for me right now and what doesn't. And to find that my listening to my body is the BEST way to LOVE it and show appreciation for all it does for me!!
Hopefully, tomorrow I will have pictures to go along with my post. I have actually been taking them since we left. Now I just need to buy the little cord that makes it so I can post them. Oh, and I will tell you a REALLY funny story of how "out of this world" I really am. Check back for that one. You really won't want to miss it.
Abundant peace to you all,
Rachel
Another Baby Boy Born!
I am SO sorry that I have been such a slacker and it has been so long since I have posted. Whenever we plan a sweat lodge ceremony, it seems life gets really crazy for several days before and after. We had a very interesting and VERY emotional and spiritually cleansing ceremony on Saturday. I did actually take some pictures and will show those and talk about the experience in the next couple of days.
I knew she was going to have a BIG baby. I could tell as I palpated her during her prenatals. Also, her belly was measuring quite large for as many weeks as she was. At the time of pushing, she was having to use much more energy than she had to in the past with her previous births. She was doing so well! When the babies head was fully out, we noticed that pushed that the baby's head never restituted and his face had the look of a turtle. These 2 signs show that the baby was stuck and had shoulder dystocia. The anterior shoulder was stuck up against the pubic bone and was having a hard time moving past it. So, I proceeded to reach in and grab under the armpit the posterior arm and pulled it out. It worked BEAUTIFULLY and soon thereafter she had a GORGEOUS baby boy. He weighted 10 lbs. 14 ozs and was 19 1/2 inches long. I LOVED helping my sister deliver her baby. It was a very rewarding experience for me. Thanks Amy!!
Swimmin' and Sweatin'
Hey everyone, I thought I would send out a reminder about Becky and I's class tomorrow night at The Food Garden in Orem. The address is 698 East 300 South in Provo. Here is the info from the flyer that was sent. I hope we get a big turnout. It always makes it more exciting the more people we have.
s is P.F Chang's at The University Mall in Orem. If there are any of you who are trying to eat healthier but not all raw, this is an EXCELLENT place that offers very healthy vegetarian and vegan dishes. There food seems to be more authentic Asian cuisine. From what I remember, everything I tried was DELICIOUS! I never tried any of the meat dishes because I was a vegetarian before I had ever eaten there. Chris really likes The Veggie Lettuce Wraps . I think he was sad because he LOVED their Great Wall of Chocolate. But a gift he gave me for my birthday was to be vegan for a year along with cutting out all sugar. He was sad but didn't really show it. The waitress was so sweet because we told her it was his birthday and she felt bad he couldn't eat a dessert so instead she brought him out a bowl of fresh fruit. He even shared it with me. It was YUMMY!! It had all kinds of berries. Oh and the other really good thing about the restaurant is that they offer brown rice so you don't have to eat white. They also do not use MSG in any of the food. It is a great place to go when you are transitioning to a healthier diet.
My AMAZING sister in law, Yulia, let my kids sleep over at her house while we went out. Our kids LOVE each other. She is pregnant right now and is due at the end of July. With her last delivery, she had an unassisted birth which means it was only her and her husband delivering their baby. Her birth went BEAUTIFULLY and she LOVED the experience so much she is planning on doing it again. I am really excited for her. She is one of the most courageous, strong, empowered woman I know. I will just add that she makes the BEST lentil soup. Here is the link to Yulia's Lentil Soup.
Jumping in cold water to aid in the immune system becoming stronger is very foreign to most Americans but has been around for years in Russia. Victoria and Igor Boutenko recently sent out a newsletter where she discusses the health benefits of swimming or wading in cold water. You can read all about it HERE! I LOVE this article and I absolutely believe it. When we finish with our sweat lodge ceremony, each person is dumped with cold water to spiritually and physically keep the body strong and safe after the process of cleaning our internal house through sweating. More often than not, sweat lodges are built next to a stream or running water source where you can dunk your whole body or even wade in the water. There is a sweat lodge that was just recently built up in Nebo with a stream running right next to it. I have yet to sweat in that lodge but I am excited for when I can.
Notice the leaves starting to sprout. I wanted to cry I was so happy they were starting to come out. All our work and effort was coming to fruition. What a good feeling. Isn't my lodge MAGNIFICENT? Any one of you are welcome to come to my backyard and see it. Or even better yet, come and sweat with us in it. If there is anyone who might be interested in participating in a lodge, just email me and let me know and I will put you on a list where you will contacted when we put a lodge together. Here are the new pictures I just took today. It has only been about 2 weeks since that those last pictures were taken. Notice how much they have grown since then. The ones of Chris and I were taken earlier but I thought they were really cute so I thought I would share.
Wow, this post is taking me MUCH longer than I thought it would. I decided that I had, not knowing it, took a longer break from the fat thing than planned. But...today I am jumping back on the wagon. I had a good time but I can tell my body is ready to go to back to no/fat & salt for awhile. So, here is what I ate yesterday.
Happy Birthday to Chris!!
Geez whiz, does it seem forever since I have posted? I would say so!! This weekend has been a busy one but full of excitement and FUN!! First, on Friday I went to a Suturing Class that the Midwives College of Utah was offering. I LOVE when they hold their bi-yearly conference. They have AMAZING teachers come and they are all so interesting and chalk FULL of really neat things to learn about. The teacher for our suturing class was a woman who I had taken classes from before. Her name is Sonia Ochea and I LOVE her. She keeps your attention by making it hands on and SO interesting!! I am grateful for the suturing class because I feel I can use the skills for other than suturing a woman after delivering a child.
Friday evening I was blessed with the opportunity to go to the Living Cuisine Cafe and spent the rest of the ni
ght helping Omar in his kitchen. I absolutely LOVE Omar! He permeates LOVE and LIGHT! He is doing with his life what makes him feel he is connecting and being part of everything and everyone around him. Because of my jaw pain, he made me some of his Broccoli soup with avocados and tomatoes. Oh my goodness, I could not believe how good it was and to be honest, I feel I make pretty darn good food! For those of you who haven't tried his food yet, I HIGHLY RECOMMEND you do!! I have been to several raw food restaurants around the nation and I do believe his is BY FAR the most HEAVENLY and DELICIOUS! He truly does put all his love into his food. You can feel it when you eat it. It was GREAT FUN to chat and laugh with him and just get to know him a bit better. We are hoping to teach a class together soon. Won't that be FUN?
Then on Saturday, I took a NRP class which stands for Neonatal Resuscitation. The class was taught by a OUTSTANDING teacher named Karen Strange. This class was SO MUCH MORE than just a class about resuscitating a baby. She brought into it so many other thought provoking and emotionally stimulating ideas. She taught us up to date and current studies that had been done in regards to birth. They showed the emotional and spiritual side of aiding and helping a newborn infant enter this world along with what we could do physically if the infant was struggling with it's first breaths of life. The ideas and concepts that she taught were not new to me but were delivered in such a way that I felt I understood myself and my laboring mom and babies MUCH better. Her class really was just a BLAST!! It was worth EVERY dime I spent. I can't wait til I can take it again. 
eryday life to look at. I LOVE my husband!! Can I just tell you I married the most GIVING and LOVING man on the face of the planet? I was and am in awe at the responsibility he takes in his life to look at himself honestly and openly just so he can connect with me and the Divine Source within him. WOW!!! So...he decided to go up to the mountain with our Medicine Man, James Mooney! He had an AMAZINGLY spiritual experience and came back renewed with life and love. This has helped me immensely to be able to really dig deep and look at myself and stop blaming him for my problems. With his heart so soft toward me, I could no longer resist his loving embrace and persistent nurturing. I am HONORED to be his wife and soul mate. By the way, TODAY is my dear hubbies birthday. HAPPY BIRTHDAY!! I LOOOOVVVVVEEEEE YOU!! Thank you for sticking it through it all and bearing my pain right along with me. Rachel
Cramping and Teaching
I just found out last night that Becky is going to be out of town when I am supposed to teach my class on June 15th. I am sad, of course but am now trying to decide what to do. I think I will still keep the class Q & A but I am wondering if it might be interesting to everyone to have my son come and talk about his experiences with being raw. I think he has been all raw now for 8 months or so. I asked him last night if he wanted to teach with me and he was VERY excited about that. Maybe he could just come and tell his story and how he has felt and so on. I thought this might be fun for people who want to bring some older children who are wanting to make some changes but might feel outside pressure not to. I don't know! So...what does everyone think? Email me or post a comment and let me know. I hope as many people will still attend even without Becky! It won't be the same but I hope just as educational and exciting.
Yesterday I actually had some bowel cramping. I haven't had any in over 2 1/2 years since my last surgery. It wasn't too severe. I am wondering if it was something I ate or it is a cleansing reaction. I had forgotten what cramping felt like. It did take me back a little to that fear place I was at when I used to get my reoccuring obstructions. In the past, when an obstruction hit, my bowels completely stopped working. Last night, my heart was SO full of gratitude that they were still working and things were moving through.
I have been digging deep emotionally lately. I do believe that this is where the cramping came from. Remember that even though we may have a physcial "reason" as to why we are feeling the cramping, like I could say that I ate something or did this or that, I physically created that situation from an emotional place for myself to be able to look at whatever I needed to and release it. This is what I did last night and found that I was relieved through the process. I find it interesting that my jaw was aching right along with it. I hadn't really chewed anything yesterday that would have made my jaw that sore but from my study of the bowel, it is truly connect to all other parts of my body. Whatever I was emotionally releasing through my bowel, must have been connected to the pain in my jaw. I think our bodies are SO cool!! What a gift!
So here is what I ate yesterday. I think maybe eating seedless and not completely ripe watermelon did give me more gas. I am a FIRM believer in eating seeded melons. When they are seedless they have been hybridized to the extent that they are basicially a neutered plant. They are sexless and can no longer reproduce. Now tell me how can that be healthy for you! NO way!
Wednesday, June 6th:
Lots of watermelon
2 large organic mangos that my husband bought me for a treat
2 bananas
Then some mild cramping began with some diaherrea, then it passed for awhile and I am sure I shouldn't have eaten my green soup but did anyway.
1 quart green soup
Then I just drank water the rest of the night. There is an EXCELLENT I heard from a friend. It is: THE SOLUTION TO POLLUTION IS DILUTION! So basicially any time we feel we over did it with our eating or are cleansing harshly or what not is to drink lots of water so the body can gently process things in a more efficent manner. Pretty cool eh?
As for today, I haven't had anything to eat yet just drank lots more water. I have had some more really cool spiritual insights I will talk about on my next post! Until then!
Abundant peace to all,
Rachel
You are a Creator
"You find when you get right down to the nitty-gritty of life, no one is going to take care of you but yourself. You are placed on the planet with everything you need already inside of you. Everything is already there. You can't be upset unless you allow it. You can't be controlled unless you allow it. You can't go crazy and lose your mind unless you allow it. You can't be possessed by a disincarnate entity unless you allow it. This puts you in a very unique position. You are a creator. You can create harmony or discord, happiness or despair, joy or depression, productiveness or lack." ~ John - Rogers in "Psychic Protection"
This quote is from the book I am reading right now. As I have already discussed in the past, we are creators of our own reality. I have been grateful in my own life that as I listen to my inner knowing and my personal Creator, I then see who and what I really am. This goes right along with the previous post. I am loving putting these ideas into practice and seeing the fruits thereof.
Well, this morning I was feeling that anxious feeling, partly because I went to bed at 1 am and didn't get up until 9 and that usually stresses me out, and my kids were all in my room wanting to spend time with Chris and I. My oldest son was working through some issues and I found myself being TOTALLY annoyed that I was wasting time with my kids when I should be BUSY doing something else. Isn't that a completely selfish thought? You know, it doesn't seem that selfish at the time because you really think you are helping others by getting our motherly duties done during the day. Right? I am SURE I am the ONLY woman in the world who feels this way.
n is, HERE is a website with all the info. I purchase them at The Asian Market on 3rd East and 3rd South in Provo. If you decide to purchase one from there, tell them I sent you. Durians are truly delicate ambrosia in my mouth. Dean, my son who eats all raw with me, has also been on a kick where he can't get enough of them. So...between the two of us, we are in heaven with the durians. I think it is so funny that just like Noni Juice, NeWays MLM company has created a Durian Fusion that is supposed to be the end all, be all to health. Just go buy the dang fruit and eat it fresh and get ALL the needed nutrients it has to offer. The product they sell has been pasteurized, changed and manipulated in such a way that I have a hard time believing it can even compare to eating the whole fruit. Man, God sure LOVES us, doesn't he? Every time I eat a durian I feel his LOVE!! Here is what I have eaten.WHOA! Big eating day for me, wouldn't you say?
Rachel
Man is a Facade
I find it interesting how our expectations of life and the way it should be are always changing. I have found that even if I create the expectation I am desiring, it tends to come in a different form than my mind had configured. I am talking about just daily choices we make. My husband "planned" on going to a sweat lodge ceremony today and then changed his plans and decided not to go. He had planned it all week and so I had planned my day around his plans. But then, his plans changed so mine did also. Now, this isn't always the case but I often wonder about the importance of acceptance of the present moment.
Him we do not respect; but the soul, whose organ he is, would he let it appear through his actions, would make our knees bend....We lie open on one side to the deeps of spiritual nature, to all the attributes of God."Scrumptious Hummus
4 cups soaked and sprouted almonds
The Birth of Daniel Noble
I will go ahead and talk about the food thing to get it out of the way.
tay strong in her belief that her baby and body knew EXACTLY when her he was ready to come. 
I arrived at 4:45 am to see her contracting BEAUTIFULLY! Once again, she was handing her pain SO well that I couldn't tell how far along she might be. She was worried about me checking her for fear she wouldn't be very far along. I decided to check her so we would know what to do about filling up the birth tub. When I checked she was 9 1/2 centimeters with a bulging bag. We hurried and filled up her bathtub and she delivered a GORGEOUS baby boy at 5:32 am. She was in SHOCK at how fast it all went. We all were. Rachel
Apple Crisp
Here's how I did the apple crisp. Put 1 1/2 cups raw cashews in the vitamix and added enough maple syrup to blend it smooth and creamy, but not runny. I'd start with 3/4 a cup and then add more if needed. Also add 1/4 to 1/2 tsp sea salt. This mixture alone makes a very yummy fruit dip and I have to credit Apryl Jensen for telling me how to make it. Put this mixture into a seperate bowl because you will have more then enough for two batches of crisp, maybe three. Chop six apples, (I used Gala) and about a cup of walnuts and put them in a mixing bowl. Scoop on a couple spoonfuls of cream, sprinkle on some cinnamon and nutmeg, maybe a 1/2 tsp of each. Stir, adjust to taste as needed, and there you go.
What to teach?
Okay you guys, I am starting to forget what I have been eating so I decided that even though I don't have time tonight to post all my thoughts and insights, I better post my food. So...
My good friend Raw Melissa called my today. Her, Julia and Agi just recently opened The Food Garden in Provo. It is SUCH a cute little place with LOTS of YUMMY raw, living foods to eat. There is a GREAT vibration and feel. I am honored to be friends with all the AMAZING ladies.
I have had TONS of emotion garbage spuing all over the place the past few days. It has felt PAINFUL to admit my faults and weaknesses and be REALLY honest with myself. I have been so grateful for my Yoga, sunbathing, incense and candles. I have been striving to hold a prayer of gratitude in my heart at all times. I will tell more tomorrow or really soon. I still have to tell Christa's birth story, along with the CUTE pictures she sent. I will do that too. I hope everyone is JOYOUS~~ Thanks for being part of my world!!
Party with Kim
The last couple of days have been ALOT of FUN!! I am so EXCITED because I started carrying around my camera with me so I could take pictures to post. My good friend Christa finally delivered after being 1 and 1/2 weeks over due. Her baby boy was born this morning at 5:32 am. She had an AMAZING birth. She was strong and applied faith throughout the whole process. She should be emailing me some pics soon. When she does, I will post them and give you some of the low down about the birth.
My sister came decided to come and visit me this weekend. I LOVE it when she comes. She is one of my very BEST friends. She inspires me to be a better person. We have been VERY close since we were young. We grew up sharing a room and singing songs together before finally falling asleep. Such FOND memories of our growing up years.