Sunday, November 26th
San Enselmo Playhouse San Enselmo, CA C.A.S.T. presents a full-on day of community events including Laura Fox and The Anchor the Dream Experience: A joyous event celebrating Planetary Awakening and Anchoring the New Dream of Earth. Become a Visionary Steward: Visionary Stewardship for Planetary TranceFormation! This is world service of the highest (and most fun) order! Come have a blast exceeding your wildest expectations for what’s possible in an earth life filled with joy, sustainable co-creation, dynamic harmony, Divine love and spiritual healing.

Paradise Now: A RAW Permaculture Adventure
February 25 - March 4, 2007
www.RAWPERMACULTURE.ORG

Raw Permaculture is the blueprint for humans to thrive on planet Earth.

With proper intention, design and implementation humans can meet their needs and exist harmoniously with all of creation The Center of Conscious Oneness (COCO) is a tropical oasis (www.thehawaiicoco.com) located in the nexus of raw permaculture paradise, the legendary Papaya Farms Road on the Big Island of Hawaii.

At this amazing retreat you will be empowered with an abundance of:

~Hands-On Professional Permaculture by the world's top instructors (www.permaculturenow.com)

~Life-changing Visionary Stewardship with Laura Fox (www.visionary stewardship.com)

~Outrageous Tropical Live-Food Cuisine with Bruce Horowitz

~Incredible activities like Swiming with Sea Turtles, Whale Watching, Jungle Hikes, Raw Yoga and Field Trips to Raw Permaculture Communities

~A musical celebration with Shimshai and friends--to be confirmed soon (www.shimshai.com)

~And cool breezes, warm sunshine, gentle rain, hot flowing lava, black sand beaches, succulent tropical fruit, compost piles, organic gardens, sacred geometry, solar panels, bio-tecture, food forests, edible landscaping and A SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENT FOR YOUR DIVINE SUPER-HERO POTENTIAL TO UNFOLD SO THAT YOU RECEIVE THE SKILLS TO BE PART OF THE SOLUTION!

Investment in personal and planetary transformation:
$1200 pp double 'jungalow' occupancy; $1000 in your own tent. Save $50 register by December 15 at the link below. Space is limited so sign up NOW! Thanks and blessings!!

Contact Bruce for more information, at: thesunkitchen@hotmail.com

-Lama Thubten Yeshe, "The Bliss of Inner Fire"

Laura's Note: Rob is one of those amazing people you hear about who go from the brink of death to seemingly miraculous recovery. The raw vegan lifestyle has served Rob in countless ways: mentally, emotionally, and even spiritually. Here is his inspirational story. Shown in the picture is Rob with Kerrie Dancing Butterfly at the Raw Spirit Festival.

Four years ago my cardiologist saw something on the ultrasound image during my stress test. He said that the EKG looked totally normal but there was something odd in the image. A nuclear stress test the following week revealed blockages. The next step he advised was a cardiac catheterization and possible angioplasty treatment. During the procedure, he decided against the angioplasty because of the calcium in my blood. The final verdict was that I needed bypass surgery as soon as possible. My reaction was of course one of shock and disbelief. I knew that my family history was against me, but I had been a marathoner and a vegetarian off and on over the years. I had tried to do all the right things to help reduce the odds. I didn’t even have any symptoms. My cardiologist explained that the lack of symptoms was most likely due to the fact my heart muscle was extremely strong and had built up collateral vessels from my years of running and cycling.

You talk about a wake-up call, this was it. I searched the internet to find alternatives and means of reversing my condition. Medically speaking, Dr Dean Ornish’s lifestyle program was clinically shown to reverse heart disease. I immediately adopted his program, one that embraces low fat/no cholesterol near vegan diet, moderate exercise and stress reduction. I tried to talk my cardiologist and wife into just giving Dr Ornish’s program a chance, but I seem to have got voted down.

Having your chest cracked open and your heart operated on tends to make you re-evaluate your lifestyle choices in a hurry. No way did I want to end back on that operating table again. I decided that whatever it takes to turn things around was worth the effort. I followed Dr Ornish’s program almost religiously, even to the point of taking it one step further—I became a vegan. This upgrade in lifestyle allowed me to quickly heal, lose weight, and feel better than I had in years.

However, even with my new lifestyle, problems with my cholesterol continued to plague me. My cardiologist was impressed with my LDL and DHL levels, but my triglycerides remained problematic, always hovering or going above the 150 mark. Most literature said that this was a common occurrence on Dr Ornish’s diet.

Then earlier this year I first paid attention to the Raw Food lifestyle when a close friend of mine returned from a Raw retreat in Costa Rica. Tim looked great—trimmer, more energetic and healthier looking than when I had seen him last. His positive results and enthusiasm intrigued me to have a closer look.

It’s funny how fate sometimes steps in to help make the important changes that happen in our lives. For the first time, my wife and I were unable to schedule our vacations together, so I decided to fulfill a long time desire and go on an extended vision quest in Sedona, AZ. I started a detox-cleanse before going to prepare myself for the spirit quest.

On my arrival, I noticed a sign for the Sedona Raw Café as I made my way to my lodgings. I made a mental note to give it a try. Later I returned there to check it out. I fell in love with not only the food but the people. Two of the owners, Keri Crick and Jim Bottarini are two of the most beautiful and genuine people on the face of the earth.

There was an immediate spiritual bonding with them. Over the span of my two weeks in Sedona, I became a regular of the Raw Café. Keri’s unbelievably delicious dishes (Green Goddess soup, Watermelon Gazpacho, and Raw Lasagna were among my favorites), and Jim’s to-die-for chocolate creations won me over. I felt healthier and more satisfied with my meals than I could believe. With continuous hiking and rock climbing, I never lacked for energy.

Back in Richmond I made the decision to continue being 100% raw. Why stop something that felt so good and right? Of course, my wife and friends worried about my health, even though I was looking healthier than ever. I decided the test would be my upcoming lipids test that I needed for the appointment with my cardiologist. The results laid all my fears to rest. My blood work was beyond excellent in all areas. And, the clincher was my triglyceride results—it had dropped from the 150 range, all the way down to 107. Needless to say, my cardiologist was suitably impressed.

I have been raw for four months now, and I have no desire or temptation to go back to cooked food. Every day is a new learning experience as I explore new ways to prepare raw vegetables.

Rob Murphy

Fall is one of my favorite times of the year with color changes and sweet colorful savory tastes on the palette. I am reminded of this time when the farmer’s market is full of winter squashes and a variety of pears and apples.

Living in America makes me sharply aware of the abundance of produce available year round. But, only when visiting the local farmer’s market do I understand what is seasonal and at the peak of both flavor and nutritional value to our bodies. This awareness of both food quality and nutrition is something that is apart of my life and is a gift of knowledge from my journey.

For a large portion of my adolescent life my body image presented several difficulties. Weighing in at around 260lbs, I suffered with self-esteem issues and a lack of energy. Taco Bell, Pizza Hut and Panda Express the three rotating “favorite” food shop list in my mind stuffed my belly full, but contributed nothing to nourish and heal. I was quickly loosing control. Gaining back my life and making sound choices transformed not only my body but my attitude towards food and nutrition.

Raw food plays a critical piece in my transformation process and having the introduction to this lifestyle I thank to the Blossoming Lotus on Kauai. It was there where I first took part in the vibrant world of Raw foods and started my exploration. From that day nearly two years ago, I have dove head first into Raw food life. Seeking restaurants from the East Coast to the West, participating in retreats and taking every chance possible to learn from the talented Raw food gurus.

Simple salads have evolved into pates and dozens of delectable dehydrated goodies. It is my belief that Raw food cuisine allows me to deconstruct known foods and interpret them in not only a nutritious but a delicious and texture rich way. Eating Raw for me links my food to not only the seasons but the farmers and soil from which they are grown. Seeking out flavorful produce from local farmers connects me to my food in an almost religious sense. Never again can I walk into a supermarket or even fast food joint and eat something hermetically sealed in plastic, stripped of life enzymes and preserved with countless chemicals to ensure safety and shelf longevity.

Sharing with others my journey and making them aware of the hazards and mismanagement of the US food supply helps us all to live better. Share with others your Raw foods and let them into this vibrant and natural cuisine. Bring a Raw dish to Thanksgiving dinner and Christmas gatherings this year, make it apart of someone’s New Year’s resolution. My goal for this 2007 Year is to introduce others to Raw food, and make a difference like Blossoming Lotus did for me.

Have a blissful winter season filled with rich cacao and cinnamon.

To Contact Paul: rawumami@mac.com

Laura's Note: Chris works with Nick Good at SuccessUltraNow.com and resides in Patagonia, Arizona, where you will find the Tree of Life Rejuvenation Center founded by Gabriel Cousens.

About 3 years ago I “tried raw”. It was 10 days before I was to attend a lecture by David Wolfe, and I simply wanted to experience what it was that everyone (my wife) was making such a “big deal” about. Call it academic curiosity, call it investigative reporting, whatever. I wasn’t really planning on making it a lifetime commitment. In fact, what kept me going through the whole thing was the image I had in my mind of the “real” food I planned to eat on day 11. A Philly Cheese Steak sandwich, to be exact, with lettuce, tomato and mayonnaise (which had been my favorite food for about 20 years).

I guess you could say I never really took this whole raw thing too seriously. Yet what I discovered was something way more powerful than I could ever imagine. Raw, living, vegan food is indeed the foundation of optimum health, nutrition, vitality, and energy. I very soon afterwards discovered the reason everyone doesn’t know about it (or want to believe it). Cooked food is addictive! This is way more than a physiological situation. It runs deep into our mental and emotional issues.

So the key to getting on with the raw food movement is understanding, respecting, and honoring the effort required to transition. For most of us, it is simply not realistic to go from eating a Standard American Diet to being 100% raw. I believe we can ‘willpower’ ourselves in the short run, especially for a good old intestinal cleansing. But it is not sustainable. Willpower eventually breaks down, resulting in guilt, resentment, and possibly “never-going-back.”

So how do we move beyond will-power into the natural flow-state which allows the live foods lifestyle to become an easy, natural habit? It’s simply a matter of allowing the physical body and emotional body to catch up with the decision of the mind.

It takes 4 months to replace your blood cells (which appear to be the shortest life span of all your physiological cells), and about a year to replace your organ tissues. All your body cells are replaced after 7 years. What are your cells made out of? The quality of food you eat! Our overall reaction is called homeostasis, a condition where the body and brain balances insulin and hormone levels, cholesterol, blood pressure, body weight, and all other regulation mechanisms as a response to the internal environment! What that means to you and I is that the way we have been eating for the last 4 months to 7 years defines our physiological homeostatic condition. ANY change creates an imbalance which requires the body to adjust. The result: we are physically addicted to our current lifestyle.

The mind is also playing an important role. Our neurological web of synaptic pathways are defined by our thought patterns. The words and phrases that we say to ourselves create metaphorical “grooves” which run deeper and deeper the more we have those thoughts. They are enforced by repetition. When we decide to change out thoughts and beliefs, these grooves do not simply lift up and realign. Our brain is “stuck” in our current paradigm, which has taken years to formulate. It ain’t changing after a week of eating raw food!

Understanding the challenges leads to respect for the transition process. We honor ourselves when we forgive ourselves and allow our bodies time to re-learn, re-set, and re-align with our newly forming lifestyle. Raw foods is not the goal, but rather a continual journey of “re-balancing” our homeostatic condition. What I love about working with Success Ultra Now is the ability to “go deep” into where those inner urges live, and not just try to ignore them. I believe it is important to work with who you are, and not try to ignore your true self.

The bottom line is this: if your body truly desires that piece of chocolate cheese cake, enjoy it! Without guilt or stress. Honor the transition process. ovingly balance it again with a nice salad. In this manner, I believe you can continuously improve and eventually achieve the quality of health that you desire.

Chris Whitcoe is a recovering executive business consultant. He is completing a Master’s Degree in Live-Food Nutrition. His presentations are motivational, inspirational and transformational. Visit www.SunCorporate.com

We have just started a local Richmond, Virginia Raw Vegan Meetup via meetup.com. Related groups include alternative health, the vegetarian and vegan meetup, organic meetups, and more. This is a great site for finding out what's going on with interest groups in your area. Enjoy, and please click this link to out our local meetup page by clicking the picture above.

Richmond Raw & Living Foods Meetup

~Laura

Okay, now this is simple satisfaction.
All you need is a blender, some love and a few ingredients.Chococado Shake

1 ripe avocado
2 tsp. raw chocolate powder
1 tablespoon agave
2-3 cups water

Blend dressing until creamy. Enjoy!

Pop-eye had it right!

New research indicates that eating vegetables may slow mental decline and help to keep your brain healthy and young. Furthermore, the study shows that it is the green leafy vegetables (such as spinach and kale) that seem to have the most beneficial effect.

The remarkable benefits of green leafy veggies are probably a result of their high vitamin E content, which is a powerful antioxidant. Evidence in favor of vitamin E stems from the fact that fruit, which has lower vitamin E content, was not linked with slowed mental decline. Additionally, the absorption of vitamin E from greens is facilitated by the oils with which we typically eat them (i.e. in salad dressing, nuts, etc).

So, eat your greens!

Here is my oh-so-simple, all-time-favorite kale salad (although I have been doing it with cilantro lately, yum!):

1 bunch Kale
¼ cup of pine-nuts
½ cup of raisins
Sea Salt to taste
1-2 tablespoons olive oil (first cold pressed)
Lime juice or Braggs liquid aminos

Laura's Note: Heidi has made a wonderful Raw Thanksgiving Recipe Book which she's giving away for free until November 23. You can grab yours at the link below.

Thanks, Heidi!

Serves 4-6

Equipment:

Food Processor
Knife
Approximately 6 bowls for ingredients
One big mixing bowl

Time to Make: Approximately 30-40 minutes, plus soaking time

Shelf Life: This stuffing can last up to 3-4 days, but for serving guests I recommend making it up to one day ahead of time.

Ingredients

1 cup walnuts, soaked 6 hours and rinsed
1 cup almonds, soaked 6 hours and rinsed
1 cup pecans, soaked 6 hours and rinsed
4 garlic cloves, peeled and chopped coarse
2 T. fresh sage
2 T. fresh oregano
2 T. fresh rosemary
1/4 cup fresh parsley
1 large red onion, coarsely chopped
6 stalks celery, coarsely chopped
1 apple, chopped fine by hand
1 cup water
sea salt to taste (up to 1 Tablespoon)

Directions:

1.Put one cup each of walnuts, pecans and almonds into separate bowls. Fill each bowl with water until the nuts are covered.

2.Let the nuts soak for at least six hours. Then drain soaking water, rinse nuts with fresh water, and place nuts back in their bowls. Set bowls aside.

3.In food processor, mix garlic and herbs, and pulse until mixed fine. Place mixture in one bowl and set aside.

4.Place the walnuts in food processor and pulse until coarse, about the size of rice. Set aside.

5.Place the almonds in the food processor and pulse until coarse. Set aside.

6.Place the pecans in the food processor and pulse until coarse. Set aside.

7.Place celery in the food processor and pulse until it is almost the size of the nuts, but slightly bigger.

Set aside.

8.Place the onion in the food processor and pulse until it is about the size of the celery. Set aside.

9.First transfer all three chopped nuts into a bowl, and mix with your hands. Then slowly add the onion, and celery, and slowly add the finely chopped apple until the stuffing reaches desired amount of sweetness.

10.Remove from mixing bowl and place onto serving plate. Garish with fresh rosemary or parsley and serve with other side dishes.

Way to go, Matt!

Matt Monarch is one of the great up and coming raw food teachers of our day.

He has just made a video that is on Current TV. Part of it was filmed in Sedona during the Raw Spirit Festival!

The video also includes some great background on Matt's personal transition from two-cheeseburger meals to 100% healthy raw vegan and loving it.

Check it out!

About Jeffrey Rose: Jeffrey has been a raw foodist for over four years and is the visionary and co-owner of Natural Zing, a natural specialty foods distributor. He went raw in the late eighties for a brief period of time, then ate 50-60% raw throughout the nineties and in 2002 evolved to a 100% raw diet.

Jeffrey’s love of vegetarian foods started in his pre-teens while experimenting with making vegetarian dishes and fermented foods as a hobby.

His long journey researching nutrition took him through experimentation with various diets, herbs and super foods, such as The Zone Diet, Sugar Busters, vegan and raw vegan living foods.

Some of Jeffrey’s favorite books are “Smart Pills”, “Mind Food”, “Natural Healing” by Soltanoff, and “Folk Medicine” by DC Jarvis. He also studied the effects of diet on addiction, substance abuse and food addiction. Having researched and consulted with numerous nutritionists and vegetarian specialists for the past two decades, Jeffrey gravitated to a raw foods lifestyle. Inspired to help others to journey towards extraordinary health, Jeffrey started Natural Zing, to make natural energy foods more easily available to the public. Jeffrey continues to evolve on this path and now believes that these foods can help people find inner peace, “peace of mind”.

Jeffrey is helping others find this path as well, one that creates a greater awakening moving towards conscious co-creation. Jeffrey is also a master at creating special super high vibrational living food dishes.

And again I want to thank Jeffrey and Natural Zing for their generosity in donating a bunch of raw food ingredients for the Raw Spirit Festival!

LAURA: What are the greatest challenges to leading a sustainably oriented business in our culture?

JEFFREY:Being in business can be expensive with regulations and insurance, and that sort of thing. It is necessary still to work with some businesses that are just bottom-line oriented and "other than" sustainably operated. Conscious business owners still need to be willing to, and to actually spend additional money in some cases, to get green or to have sustainable options in your business. For example, using recycled paper and soy ink printing is still typically more expensive.

Being green may not be a challenge for some people.

LAURA: Does your company include sustainable practices in it's mission and vision?

JEFFREY: It was always part of Natural Zing's vision. Examples from the shipping side of the business are that we regularly collect boxes from what other businesses would throw away; we only buy biodegradable corn starch packing peanuts; and we also get boxes from box recyclers (e.g. misprints, etc.).

We were also lucky that we are in an area where bio-diesel and 100% green energy (biomass) is available and also we use a corn stove to heat some of our business area and this burns locally grown corn. LAURA: Do you have a good selection of vendors to choose from?

JEFFREY: What vendors you do business with is always challenging until you research, setup and develop trusting relationships. Finding vendors with similar values is important.

LAURA: What words of advice do you have for other conscious business owners?

JEFFREY: Always tell your customers what you believe in and what you are doing to further that vision.

LAURA: How do you make bridges between where we are a society and where we want to be?

JEFFREY: We live and do business believing that we ARE where we want to be...fast forward..push forward. We set the intentions. We create our experience.

LAURA: Right on! Now that's leading edge, conscious business practice! Feel as if it's true, right now! That's just what we do in THE ANCHOR THE DREAM EXPERIENCE, on behalf of our collective consciousness for what we want to experience on earth.

LAURA: What is your favorite dish to prepare, and will you share the recipe?

JEFFREY: Sure, its:

Hemp Kale

Ingredients:

One bunch organic Kale
2 teaspoons pink rock salt
1 organic lemon juiced
1 or 2 organic tomatoes
1/2 cup hemp nut seed
1/4 cup organic stone-crushed olive oil
1 teaspoon coriander
1 teaspoon cumin
1/4 cinnamon
1/4 hot red pepper powder

1. Wash and shred Kale into thin slices.
2. Massage salt into the Kale for 3 minutes until you see it begin to wilt.
3. Now add the remaining ingredients and mix well.
This dish will keep well and up to a week in the refrigerator. It also will keep for at least a day unrefrigerated, tightyl sealed.
4. Get prepared to be very satisfied.

LAURA: Thanks Jeffrey, thanks for doing your part in lifting our planetary consciousness and manifestations to a whole new frequency of love, harmony, diversity and sustainability.

Check out Jeffrey's Raw Business, Natural Zing:

"I know with a clean raw food diet and a positive mind, anything I wish to accomplish will become a reality." ~Frank Giglio

Laura's Note: Frank is a live foods gourmet chef and instructor who is passionate about spreading positive vibes and sharing the nourishing wisdom of raw and living food cuisine! He runs a Vegetarian/Vegan/Raw food deli, catering business and personal chef service on the shoreline in CT. He is also an athlete going further~
on raw fuel~

Aloha!!

To all my friends and family in this raw food community, I wish to share my personal experience with raw foods and sports. Until Memorial Day 2006, I never was much of a runner. This all changed after a 1 hour run through the woods of New England. I immediately felt a vibration from the earth and felt the need to keep running. I instantly began to train for the Hartford marathon which was held October 4th 2006. Since adapting the raw food lifestyle in March, I really wanted my training to be pure and raw and see what results I would have.

I left out the sugared sports drinks and drank a blend of coconut water, dulse, hemp and maca root, sweetened with dates and banana. This drink would carry me through long runs of over 3 hours.

I noticed my energy level remained high and I didn’t feel the up and downs like a refined sugar drink would do to the body. My recovery time was also quicker. I could run harder and longer than some other folks who had run many years more than I had.

I was very pleased with my progress. My original goal was to finish in 4.25 hours. I quickly realized that I could do much better than that. I then hoped for a time of 3.5 hours.

When the day of the marathon came, I felt confident and ready. I ate a banana and a few dates and had an almond butter-maca bar at mile 20. I ended up finishing the race at 3:30:01. I was right where I wanted to be and I knew I would accomplish my goal.

I now hope to qualify for the Boston marathon. That will require a time of 3:10. I know with a clean raw food diet and a positive mind, anything I wish to accomplish will become a reality.

Keep it raw!!

Frank Giglio

Wow, I can't wait to see Michael Bedar's new film on sustainable solutions to global challenges. Michael is the media specialist for the Tree of Life Rejuvenation Center. Click his photo for a link to Tree of Life.

His film is called EcoParque, and focuses on an experiment taking place there in which treated wastewater that is normally discharged into the ocean is being re-used to irrigate and transform an otherwise arid slope into a verdant park and small wildlife preserve, complete with lush hiking trails.

Why not get a copy and have a screening at your local raw potluck?

Just call or e-mail Laura at (804) 708-7324 or laura@rawinspirations.com.

It may be just the beautiful experience you need to help you meet your dietary, health and wellness goals and help you learn to prepare delicious raw gourmet meals! You deserve it! Cash, check and credit card (PayPal) accepted.

Our Special Price Includes All Food Costs: $200 USD

Purchase Your Raw Immersion Experience Now! Simply enter the quantity of days you want for your Experience in the quantity box. We'll handle the food costs later. | Check it out!

You can purchase your 1.5 hour massage online. Sessions are available at your home for an additional $10 (depending on location).

Thai Massage: $80.00 USD

Invest In Your Health: Purchase a Thai Massage | Tao Mountain