Emotion In Motion

Just finished the last day of my first round with the 21 Day Cleansing Raw Diet from The Garden Diet.

http://21daysraw.com/

I am sitting here pondering the differences in how my body feels after being mostly raw for well over a month now. For the most part, I have noticed a deepening sense of self awareness and calm.

For the most part...

This past week, the 3rd week of the cleanse, was also a time of recokoning and reconciliation. It was a time of mismanaged emotions surfacing and demanding to be dealt with.

I am trained in Breema, and in Breema I was reminded often to not just look at the body as this physical mass of tissue, fluids and bones - but to also recognize that our 'body' is much more than this. It is important to take moments and remember that there are also psychological, emotional and spiritual 'bodies' integrated with our experiential being to take care of.

Over these past weeks, as I feel extra weight coming off of my frame, I am also feeling the need to let go of extra 'weight' from the other aspects of my 'body.' Unfortunately, this 'extra' doesn't always surface in the most pleasant way, but like any healing crisis, sometimes you have to bring to the surface the irritants before they can be expelled.

And that is what these past few months have been for me. The various 'bodies' that make up my being have had enough of the unhealthy irritants and it has became mandatory that they either be transformed or expelled.

But interestingly, the paradox is:

The transformation and expulsion must come from within my own being. Only there. In many ways I am realizing...

I have also been my own irritant. My own thoughts, emotions, thinking patterns, beliefs...

These are what need to be transformed, not all the things and people that I felt were the causes.

It is interesting how life's events often mirrors prior life's events. In this case, with my own husband, I was reminded of what I watched my mother go through with my biological father. The circumstances are different, but the pattern is evident. The triggers for the memories, to cause the emotions to surface, still very present. It appears we repeat ourselves. Slow learners we be, it seems. Self created repetition to gain a deeper understanding of ourselves through our interaction with others?

Cleansing the 'body' is definitely a constant work in progress. It will take much more than 21 days, maybe even more than a lifetime.

Now on to the 'transition.'

http://28daysraw.com/

Pulp Julius

When I was a child my mother would sometimes take us to the local mall. When there, when we would beg for a treat, she often went with the healthier option and would stop by the Orange Julius stand and we would get one of their famous orange smoothies. Orange Julius now has many options to their menu, but back then, the menu was pretty basic. I loved watching them put the orange smoothie together and was always amazed how something so simple to make could taste so good. Fresh oranges, some ice, raw eggs and a little milk...and viola.

As I began my first day with The Garden Diet 21 day cleanse, every time I took a sip of my home made raw vegan version of an 'Orange Julius'  it made me realize that, much like how we are drawn to not so healthy 'comfort foods', often created from childhood memories, we can also draw from memories of eating healthy foods. Simple adaptations can still 'comfort' us and create new experiences and memories to pull from.

This time, no dairy or egg. Instead of squeezing the juice from the orange, I peeled the oranges, added some ice water and blended them into a simple smoothy with a bit of clove added for another layer of bliss.

Here are some interesting links about drinking orange juice with the pulp. Blending in the pulp has many advantages over just drinking the juice, even when its in its raw state, especially for those who are sugar sensitive.

http://thewaterygourmet.blogspot.com/2010/02/is-orange-juice-with-pulp-better-for.html

http://healthyeating.sfgate.com/oranges-lots-fiber-4551.html

http://justjuice.org/2012/juicing-fresh-fruit-is-fresh-fruit-juice-good-or-bad-for-you/ 

Lighten UP

I made it through the holidays! For the most the part, I did manage to stick with the raw food outline that I learned while doing the Raw Rapid Weight Loss menu plan. I had a few days of snacking, including the New Year's Day party posted here...but I feel good that I kept to a few bites here and there and didn't stuff myself. At this party I even brought my own juiced drink with me (I hid it behind the woman pictured with me) to fill me up and help with all the temptations! I do think the results are showing. My challenge is I am on lite duty/medical leave at work. That has helped with the transition and made it easier. I've been getting more regular sleep and am not on my feet as much. Bringing those changes to my enroute duties, on a regular basis, will prove to be interesting.

The new year is here and I do feel I am ready for a complete and refreshing over haul. Time to 'lighten' up. In a few days I think I will be ready to start the 21 day cleanse. I also plan to try out random raw recipes on-line and post my results.