(here's a picture of the Living Light Cafe   www.rawfoodchef.com )


Wow.
Day one of the class, with eight more to go, and the amount of information is nearing overwhelming.  Thank goodness for the book we get which has all of the information in it- and thank goodness for the natural interest in the subject.  Otherwise it would be a bit much.

But really.
This stuff is amazing.
When my daughter came out of school many years ago I began to wonder what kind of information would be necessary for everyone to have.  If there was a universal education,  some things that every person should really know, beyond the math that most of us never used, or literature that some of us were tortured by (literature was always my favorite subject actually), there had to be some things that we really did need to know, and from that foundation we could go out and learn what we were truly interested in and not waste our time with things we had no talent and interest in.  In a perfect world of course. 
Well, one of the things that came to me was anatomy and nutrition.  We all have a body.  It seems that we could all benefit by finding out how it works.  The optimal fuel.  Operating instructions so to speak.
Well, the problem is, even though the human body is pretty consistent in its organ location and biological makeup, etc. there are hundreds of opinions as to what is the best way to fuel it and care for it. 

After stopping red meat for the most part while I was pregnant with my daughter (about 17 years ago since I would get sick when I ate it then), and then going on to be vegetarian, then cutting out dairy products, then getting into living foods, I can only go by my experience.  The amount of energy and....well.....JOY in eating food that is what I consider to be the food of the gods....uncooked fruits veggies seeds nuts whole grains superfoods....all retaining the original molecular content, enzymes and vitamins, food that is pure and whole, is cleansing and my experience with this way of eating has been nothing less than shocking.  After experimenting for about seven years, it has become more obvious to me that this is the way my body is asking to be fueled.  Needs to be fueled.
So, apart from getting in the kitchen with raw food chef Juliano last week for three days, it seemed like diving into this class on the scientific nutritional end of things would inspire me further and help to gain more clarity on what exactly it is that makes me feel so great when I'm eating this way!!

One of the components is the enzymes that each food naturally carries within it, and which are destroyed when cooked above 118 degrees.  The other is the nutrients that remain in the food and are not destroyed by the cooking process.  And besides what is going into the body to fuel, it is just as much as what is not going into the body and creating disease over long term exposure. 

Okay, more to share later.  Another day of great information tomorrow, so for this moment it's time to hit the sack.

Here I am getting my Science of Raw Food II Certification Certificate with Doctors Rick and Karin Dina.

Wow.
Nine full days of living food science, or, science of any kind for nine days straight.....
 
it's time for a little brain break.  Seriously excellent information which I plan on sharing in a larger context.  This living food stuffs seems to tie it all together for me though.   I knew something significant had shifted when I first went 100% raw about seven years ago.  I had so much energy and was so clear I almost didn't know what to do with myself- but then my personal trainer at the time said there was no way I was getting enough protien and convinced me to have a protien bar a day and I completely fell off the wagon and didn't get back on until six months or a year later. 
It's been my intention to get back on the 100% bandwagon, even though the science and the experts agree it is not necessary to be 100%, for me something seems to happen.  Something clicks when I do.  This time around I've been going since March and don't see an end in sight.  If you feel great, feel like you are eating the food of the gods, are healthy and blood tests confirm it (as well as confirm that you are getting 'enough protein'),  then why stop?  After having extreme weight issues for many years (carrying 110 more pounds than I am now) this is the way of eating I had always dreamed of.  I eat more and enjoy what I eat more. I don't have to count calories and give myself permission to eat whatever I want (yes, there is raw chocolate).  For whatever reason though, I can have a piece of raw chocolate and feel fine and not feel compelled to eat ten more.  More and more, as the tastebuds refine and get more sensetive, I find that I like a piece of fruit or salad or kale smoothie, NEVER because I should, or because it's good for me, but because there is no better gourmet chef than god.  I think that by getting used to cooking the flavor and life out of our foods, then getting it back with sauces and spices, we no longer have the capacity to really taste an apple anymore.  YUM.  I used to think I loved food before, but I think I actually loved filling an addictve need.  
 And I don't do it to 'live longer' I do it to 'live now'

This moment is all we have


We leave Fort Bragg tomorrow and head south to Marin and hope to visit Fairfax.

The adventure continues......

Here's one of the many beautiful scenes on the way to class.....

had to park and walk out on a bridge to get the shot--those cars came a little faster and closer than anticipated!!!   but, worth the shot.


it's been beautiful here, hope to be back to dive further into the culinary artist end of things at the living light......


Goodbye Fort Bragg/Caspar Beach

Here's San Fran last week.......

and almost wondering why.
It is funny that a number of people that I've called haven't gotten back to me, a few people that were raring to go to help with a book release party seemed to have dropped off the face of the planet.....hmmm.....
Not feeling bad about it, I know I go some days without getting back at times.....it's just strange that everyone seems to be in that flow and nothing seems to ever really get started here no matter how much energy and focus goes into it.
Hmmm....
Some wonderful holiday parties coming up, a yearly four day New Years Eve meditation retreat with my Agape family www.agapelive.com which I am sooo looking forward to.  Time with family.  All good. Just such a strong sense that I am supposed to move on already......
Nothing like getting an extra sign or two....

Last night was the second show of the Living Beyond Belief show at www.sedonatalkradio.com .  The software was on the blink a bit, so we had to wing it.  Perfect for a show called "Flying Lessons".   It was fun and off the cuff, since we are docked at the beach in Playa Del Rey until after the new year, and the planes flying above from LAX were the perfect addition to a show on flying.  Right as I was saying that human beings can't fly a plane flew over---- well, except in a plane!  Spiritual beings, though, how can they do anything but fly in the grace that is.
and one of my favorite quotes:

Come to the edge, he said.
We can't, we're scared.
Come to the edge.

They came.  He pushed them.  They flew.



 Must be time to fly.

Again