A couple days ago I had one of those days when I really had to consider if the best option would have been to stay in bed.  Way, way under the covers.

I haven’t had one of those in a long, long time.  From the moment I woke up I knew something was off.  I slept great the night before; which is a bonus because sleep time has been filled with all sorts of interesting ‘stuff’ for me lately.  (That’s another post, entirely.)  When I woke up, even though I slept a sound, restful eight hours, I felt so drained and tired; like I hadn’t slept at all.  Physically my body felt weak; not like when you have the flu, just spent.

As I got up and started moving around I also noticed something fairly unfamiliar to me these days.  I was GROUCHY, grumpy, feeling volatile…even combustible, like if anything were to ‘push the proverbial button’ I may just explode!  This isn’t like me.  Remember?  I’m Miss Happy Pants.  I might have waves of yuck flow through; this was different.  It felt sticky.  Heavy.  It didn’t feel like I could just shake it off; though I would certainly give that a fair shot!

Freeze Frame ~ Reframe

I decided I would do my best to reframe.  I followed my morning rituals for self-care.  Water blessing, gratitude time while drinking my water, green drink, and other feel good, supportive ingestables.

Exercise.  That would take care of it.  Nothing like some exercise to shift the energy, get some endorphins flowing, blood pumping, heart space activated, etc.  Apparently that wasn’t the best plan.  While it felt good at first and I thought I was on my way back to myself; suddenly I started feeling dizzy, faint.  I stopped and tried to regain myself.  And then continued…switching gears a bit to weight training rather than rebounding.  It happened again.  This was strange.  I made my way to a chair where I could just be with it…and not have to worry I was going to crash to the floor.  It took what felt like forever to come out of it.

When the woozies were gone I felt even more tired than before and still just as cranky.  I just plain felt as though a tsunami came rushing in without warning nearly claiming my mere existence, leaving me empty, hollow and mostly unresponsive.

There was nothing concrete to base this situation on.  There had been nothing to provoke this shift; nothing.  Seemingly nothing internally nor externally to cause such a wave of dissonance to wash over me.

You can do it!

Normally I could coach myself through an episode like this.  I’ve got all the tools.  I own what I know; walk the talk, practice what I preach…and in this case nothing seemed to be moving me through it.

Even just giving myself to it; lessening the resistance, would normally ease my way into relief.  Not this time.  So, I sat with it, laid with it, read with it, ate with it…and did my best to just BE with it.  By evening time the worst of it was starting to lift, like a dense fog evaporating slowly to reveal the light.

I slept well that night and the next day I felt *almost* normal.  I say almost because still today, two days later I continue to have a foggy brain and an uncertainty around my flow that I didn’t have a few days ago.  The momentum I felt before this ‘energetic storm’ has all but stopped.  The sense of purpose and direction I was moving in feels at a stand still, if not slightly askew.

Looks as if…

I recognize this is all a “looks as if”.  This too shall pass.  All storms do.  There’s always a silver lining and the pot of gold at the end of the glorious rainbow.  Until then.  I’ll be here.  And I’ll be OK.  I am OK.  (See?  That’s better already!  Lessen the resistance, bring on the relief.)

The fact that I’m able to write this is proof positive that storms come and they go.  The better we can equip ourselves to weather such storms, the better chance we have of coming out unscathed once we unbutton the hatches.

We are in times of great change.  This is not new news.  With all that’s shifting in the world, knowing that everything is energy, knowing that we are all connected, is it really too much to wonder that there would be waves like this?

Forecast:

Chance of precipitation likely over the next 24 hours (a good cry releases tension and allows space for the new, very cleansing)  The outlook is for sunny, brighter days ahead.  Ever increasing probability of clarity with major bursts of resonance and deep connection, accentuated by waves of deep insight.

Air Quality:

Fresh.  Breathe in.  Breathe out.  Expand.  Allow.

Debra’s How to Weather an Energetic Storm Checklist:

(*HINT* These work great for everyday use as well!)

• Drink plenty of Good Hado Water
• Eat clean, organic, healthy (omit any processed, refined, etc. foods)
• Stretch, practice gentle yoga, breathe
• Rest/Sleep
• Honor/Acknowledge/Allow the feelings you’re having
• Bach Rescue Remedy Flower Essence
• Young Living ‘Peace & Calming’ Essential Oil Blend
• Listening to Abraham (nothing like a little Abraham to align, flow gently into resonance)
• Listening to calming/centering music (I love Snatam Kaur in these times)
• Journal/Blog (write a post about how you’re feeling!)
• Cancel any outside commitments that don’t support or align with your current needs
• Be gentle with yourself

Weathered any energetic or emotional storms lately?

Tsunami Photo Credit
Rainbow Photo Credit

from the Complete Idiots Guide to Eating Raw

Sure to please the whole family, this pudding actually resembles an elegant mousse.

Yield: 3 cups
Prep time: 15 minutes
Chill time: 1+ hours
Serving size: [1/3] cup
2 cups avocado, mashed
6 TB. raw cacao powder
2 TB. raw carob powder
2 tsp. orange zest
4 dates, soaked
[1/4] cup date soak water
[1/4] cup agave nectar
3 TB. freshly squeezed orange juice

1. In the food processor with the s-blade attachment, blend avocado, cacao powder, carob powder, orange zest, dates, date soak water, agave and orange juice on high speed for 40 seconds until a smooth consistency is reached.

2. Enjoy right away or store in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-5 days.

Variations

Substitute [1/2] teaspoon of mint extract for orange zest.
Try adding 2 tablespoons of rose water.

Recipe courtesy of Jennifer Murray.

Mark Reinfeld, Author, Vegan Fusion World Cuisine: Healing Recipes and Timeless Wisdom from our Hearts to Yours & The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Eating Raw

Please visit www.veganfusion.com or www.blossominglotus.com for more information.

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“You are not sick, you are thirsty!  Don’t treat thirst with medication”
~F. Batmanghelidj, MD, “Your Bodies Many Cries for Water”

Do you ever feel thirsty?  Is your tongue ever dry?  Did you know that when you feel thirsty it’s one of your body’s last cries for water?  By the time you feel thirsty your body has already gone into dehydration mode.  Dr. B has this to say, “thirst does not develop until body fluids are depleted well bellow levels required for optimal functioning.

Signs, signs, everywhere a sign…

If thirst and dry tongue are two of the last indicators we have that we’re thirsty…then I believe it’s our responsibility to find some other ways to pay attention to staying hydrated.  Our bodies are *the* vehicle of expression we have and we owe it to them to take care.  Here are some things you can pay closer attention to in order to have a happy, healthy, hydrated body:

Have you looked at your urine lately?

What color is it?  Dr. B reports that a hydrated body produces clear, colorless urine.  A body that is somewhat dehydrated produces yellow urine and a severely dehydrated body produces orange or dark colored urine.  (Ewww!)  I’m happy to report mine is always clear.  (Whew!)  I’m sorry for the graphic nature here; but isn’t it wonderful that something as easy as reading the color of your pee can help gauge if you need to drink more water?

Are you stressed?

• Do you ever feel fatigued?
• Perhaps a little more uncoordinated than usual?
• Do you experience dry skin?
• Do you ever have headaches (mild or severe) or back pain?
• Do you have allergies or asthma?
• How about <<STRESS>>?

Did you know that these are all signs that point to dehydration?  A vast majority of us are walking around dehydrated and we don’t even know it!  We blame other things.  And, we choose to medicate to relieve these symptoms rather than choosing the simplest, purest solution of all.  Water.

I’m not suggesting we forgo medical attention if we deem it’s necessary and just drink water.  Please use your better judgment!  It’s been my experience however, that when I pay attention to the water I’m taking in (and importantly, what kind of water I take in); my body responds with gratitude and kindness.

Translation:  When I give my body the water it needs~ (my water of choice:  IonWays Alkaline Antioxidant Water)

• I feel alive
• I am more energized
• I have more mental acuity and focused stamina
• My joints and muscles feel great
• I sleep soundly and restfully
• I feel a general sense of peace and at ease-ness

“When Dr. Batmanghelidj thinks of a glass of water, he doesn’t think of it as half full or half empty. He thinks of it as brimming over with the essential fluid of life. He thinks of it as the solvent of our ills and deliverer of ripe old age. He thinks of it as the wave of the future.” ~The Washington Times

Let that sink in.

Is there anything that meets the importance of water?  Your body’s thirsty.  Give it a drink of water.  And then drink some more.

In future posts we’ll discuss why water is *the* beverage of choice; why coffee and soft drinks aren’t doing you any favors and the truth about ‘pure’ water.

See you next Water Wisdom Wednesday!  Until then, stay hydrated.  WATER.  It does a body better.

Are you drinking vitality?

Changing Water, Changing Lives ~ Vitalize with Alkaline Antioxidant Water by IonWays.

F. Batmanghelidj, MD Website

by Mark Reinfeld, Author, Vegan Fusion World Cuisine: Healing Recipes and Timeless Wisdom from our Hearts to Yours & The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Eating Raw

Q: I am interested in doing a “detox” for better health. My first question is what exactly is a detox and what if any foods should I avoid or focus on to help me through such a process?

Mark: First I would like to say that ‘detoxifying’ is a relative term. It involves going from a more toxic state to a state of less toxicity, or ideally to a state of optimal health.

Toxins Come from Many Places

There are many reasons why people have accumulated toxins in their body. Environmental pollution, poor food choices and even genetic predispositions can cause our body to retain certain harmful substances. When we have these accumulated toxins, our body does not function optimally. Digestion may be sluggish; we may have allergic reactions, feel lethargic and have a host of other symptoms that can mask as many common ailments.

Healing with Food

As you know, we are strong proponents of healing with food. Food plays such a central role in our lives. When we make healthier food choices, our body responds by functioning at a higher level. As I mentioned earlier, the idea of detoxifying is relative. Most everyone benefits from detoxing- from those on the standard American diet (SAD) to those on living foods diets.

So the types of foods and the types of cleanses we would recommend are relative to the current state of health of the individual. Generally when we consume ‘lighter’ foods compared to what we regularly eat, our body will begin a natural process of detoxifying. In all instances, we recommend using organically grown ingredients whenever possible.

Chose a Cleanse that’s Right for You

There are many different types of cleanses and fasts for people to try. Different strokes for different folks. Some people benefit from juice or water fasting, others may go on a fruit only fast, some benefit from doing cleanses that involve a simple diet of grains and vegetables.

Gentle Detoxing

For those who would like a gentle way to detoxify through use of diet we suggest the following. Pick a week where you can experiment with making some changes to your eating habits. Evaluate your current diet. If you are eating lots of heavy foods, such as red meat, try going a week without it. You may want to also eliminate dairy products, which has proven to be an incredible way to clear up allergies, asthma and congestion. Many times we have food allergies that we are unaware of until we do without the food for a certain period of time.

Fasting

Other things to look at ‘fasting’ from include fried and greasy foods, refined sugars and flours, wheat products, coffee and or caffeine. Limiting salt intake is also a great thing to strive for in your cleanses. It’s important to remember that although you may be enjoying the taste of these things now, you will often notice very positive changes in your health by fasting from any of them.

Eliminating Cooked Foods

One type of ‘fast’ that we enjoy is to eliminate all cooked foods from the diet. This can be for a day or a week or longer. . During this cleanse you may enjoy fresh fruits and vegetables, salads, smoothies, teas and juices. You can also enjoy small quantities of raw nuts and seeds. This can prove to be a powerful way to activate a natural cleansing or detoxing process.

Juice Fasting

If your diet is relatively healthy, you may want to experiment with a juice fast, or fruit and juice combination. Fresh squeezed lemon juice with water is an amazing drink to include as it helps reduce mucus, provides vitamin c and potassium. Grapefruits are a great food to include in a fruit cleanse. Along with the vitamin C, the rutin in the grapefruit acts as a natural blood purifier. See below for a simple and refreshing grapefruit salad.

Tea Cleanses

There are several teas that can also be enjoyed during cleanses, depending on which part of the body you are focusing on in the cleanse. This is a vast topic and is best covered in a future article. Some suggestions for teas for detoxing may include red clover or dandelion root which are used as blood purifiers. Kukicha tea has been used to assist in detoxing for those who have consumed a large amount of animal fats.

Supplementing Your Cleanse

Supplementing your cleanse with some green superfoods like spirulina or wheatgrass juice gives your body the important micronutrients it needs. New Greens by Pure Prescriptions, mixed with some fruit juice or water is one of my favorite additions to most cleanses. Please see below for a sample recipe.

Listen to Your Body

It’s important to listen to your body. Something to be aware of is a ‘cleansing reaction’. When our bodies begin to detoxify, these toxins are released and can sometimes cause symptoms to appear such as nausea, headaches etc. Let your body be the judge. This may be a sign that you are detoxing too quickly.

Move Your Body

Light exercise is a wonderful compliment to any cleanse. In addition to the release of ‘feel good’ endorphins and all the cardiovascular benefits of exercise, light exercise opens up the pores and allows toxins to be released through our largest eliminative organ – the skin. Sitting in a sauna a few times a week for up to 10 minutes will also release these toxins.

Keep it Fun!

Perhaps the most important thing to keep in mind is that this process of detoxifying through diet should be fun. Remember that we are journeying towards a state of optimal health and well being. Envision the healthier you and this can inspire you along the way.

Enjoy these recipes from our cookbook:

Simple New Greens Smoothie

• 10 ounces fresh apple juice or other fruit juice
• 4 ounces filtered water – or to taste for desired sweetness
• 2 tsp new greens by pure prescriptions
• 1 small banana
• 1 tsp hemp seeds-optional
• 1 tsp soy lecithin- optional
• 1 tsp flax oil- optional

Combine all ingredients in a blender and blend well. If you leave out the banana, you can stir all ingredients in a tall glass. You may also replace the banana with some other fruit, fresh or frozen.

Simple Grapefruit Salad

• 1 medium grapefruit
• ½ medium lime, juiced
• 1 small date- pitted and chopped small
• few mint leaves, minced

Peel grapefruit and divide into segments. Chop into small pieces. Combine with other ingredients in a small bowl and mix well. Enjoy.

Seek Out A Qualified Health Care Practitioner

Detoxing, fasting and cleansing is a vast topic. Please consult a qualified health care practitioner if you have any questions or concerns, if your health is challenged in any way and before engaging in longer fasts and cleanses. This information is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice or treatment.

None of the above is intended as medical advice. Since every individual’s health condition and circumstance are unique, we recommend seeking the services of a qualified health care professional before using any of this information for medical purposes.

Mark Reinfeld, Author, Vegan Fusion World Cuisine: Healing Recipes and Timeless Wisdom from our Hearts to Yours & The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Eating Raw

Please visit www.veganfusion.com or www.blossominglotus.com for more information.

Answer: We believe eating raw foods paves the way towards optimal health and the prevention of disease because the plants are in their most bio-available state. The World Health Organization estimates that a low intake of fruits and vegetables is the cause of major diseases such as heart disease, cancer and stroke. Major national health organizations such as the American Heart Association and the American Diabetes Association recommend including fruits and vegetables to prevent illnesses. What better way to meet these needs than with delicious raw foods?

Once a small movement, eating raw is now recognized as a delicious healthy main stream lifestyle with access to all of the ingredients, tools, foods, recipes and great books available today.

Mark Reinfeld, Author, Vegan Fusion World Cuisine: Healing Recipes and Timeless Wisdom from our Hearts to Yours & The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Eating Raw

Please visit www.veganfusion.com or www.blossominglotus.com for more information.

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The vision was intensely powerful.  As I considered how I could share that with all of you the intensity of the water sounds grew in my mind and I felt my heart pouring over with qualities of gratitude, love, kindness, compassion, forgiveness, peace, joy, trust…these qualities just continued to flow abundantly and surely.

I sat with this experience for a moment.  I felt the ecstasy of the vision; the feeling of the cool, clean water washing over me; gently caressing my cares away, tenderly nurturing my God Self.  I started to feel each of you entering the pool, one by one experiencing the bliss of the moment.  Each of you allowing the pulse of the waterfall to fill your senses, giving new life to your cells, regenerating your aliveness.  As I watched this in my mind’s eye I observed the glow of brilliance shining all around.  I saw love growing, I saw peace flowing and every soul’s knowing.  I saw the purity of each and every soul, each in your own unique nature being embraced by All; connected by the ONEness of creation.

In this moment I am completely immersed in euphoric bliss.  I’m envisioning now that each of you are immersed as well…cradled in the womb of Mother Ocean…the origin of birth, the origin of creation where all is possible.

Thank you for appearing in my vision for New Year’s Eve ~ Water Wisdom Wednesday.

This New Year’s Eve…and forevermore, may each and every one of you be blessed with the purity of water, the life giving qualities of water.  May you feel the steadfast, gentle yet ever powerful qualities of water at work in your lives.  May you recognize water’s gifts both physically and symbolically and receive them to your highest good.  On this New’s Year’s Eve I wish you ease and grace as the flow of 2008 washes away and the tide of 2009 sweeps the sands of promise; bringing with it all that you dream it to be.

As an added treat I found this video for you to enjoy.  As you watch, perhaps you can imagine the vision we just walked through and taste the sweetness once more.

Peace, Love and Harmony…
Blessed Happy New Year!!  ~Debra

Are you drinking vitality?
www.ionways.com/wellspring
Changing Water, Changing Lives ~ Vitalize with Alkaline Antioxidant Water by IonWays.

Answer: It’s an open secret in the health world that eating raw has a built in weight reduction mechanism. Raw foods have higher water content, fiber and nutritional values than their cooked counterparts.

Going raw also keeps you away from two of the main weight gain culprits – refined sugars and flours. Whatever the reason, we think the raw food diet is the best way to lose weight because it’s simply so satisfying!

The higher water content of raw foods encourages weight loss. When food is cooked, it loses its moisture and becomes denser. Raw foods, loaded with water, fill you up sooner. You wind up eating less because you are filling up on low calorie, nutrient rich foods. You may find yourself eating more frequent, lighter meals.

The water in raw foods is the water of life that is designed to sustain our bodies. Going raw naturally creates a light cleansing effect that purifies and assists our body in weight loss.

Mark Reinfeld, Author, Vegan Fusion World Cuisine: Healing Recipes and Timeless Wisdom from our Hearts to Yours & The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Eating Raw (Complete Idiot’s Guide to)

Please visit www.veganfusion.com or www.blossominglotus.com for more information.

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In last week’s Water Wisdom Wednesday post I introduced some of Dr. Emoto’s ideas on how water is influenced by what we think, feel and project.  When we give Love and Gratitude to water it responds by becoming even more vital, more alive.  I am so moved by the correlation of this to our bodies which are made up of 70% water, just like the earth!

All we need is LOVE…

In Japanese there is the word ‘hado’, which literally means ‘wave’ and ‘move’.  Dr. Emoto has changed the depth of meaning for the word and this meaning has caught on in all of Japan.  He translates HADO as: “The intrinsic vibrational pattern at the atomic level in all matter. The smallest unit of energy.  Its basis is the energy of human consciousness.”

HADO is like VIBES.  GOOD HADO = good energy, good vibes…energy that can raise, magnify or amp up the positivity in something.

Got GOOD HADO Water?

What kind of water are you drinking?  Do you know how important the answer to that question is?

In 2007 Dr. Emoto tested Alkaline Ionized Water from a water ionizer for the first time.  He tested water for IonWays; the company that makes the system that transforms the water I drink…in my humble opinion the best tasting most magical drinking water ever!  :0)

Water Wisdom from Dr. Emoto~

After testing our water, Dr. Emoto had this to share from the HADO Institute:

Water is one of the most indispensable substances for the life of human beings. Let’s think about the water inside our body. Generally, it is said that about 90% or more of the embryonic body is water. Regarding an infant, about 80% of its body is water and an adult 70%. As we grow older, the percentage of water in our body decreases.

Why does a baby smell so sweet? Because he or she is made of sweet smelling, alkaline saline, naturally mineralized water.

While rain water contains oxygen and minerals and crystallizes into snow flakes, distilled water has no crystalline structure and is very acidic once exposed to air.

It is not enough to take in a necessary quantity of water inside the body, but we should take the quality of water into consideration. For instance, the district where a lot of long life people live is blessed with high quality from natural resources. In other words, it is becoming common sense that there are a lot of correlations between the health and the quality of water which we drink every day.

Today, even if the water that we drink or use does not contain any detrimental ingredient, the quality of water is not always satisfactory. It is becoming clear that the formation of water crystals reflects the quality of the water. I would be pleased if you would deepen your understanding and interest toward water when you see the photograph that is reported here.”

~Masaru Emoto

President of I.H.M. General Institute,
“We have observed various kinds of water crystals in our laboratory and have found that water containing minerals and in a healthy balance tends to turn out well-ordered hexagonal crystals. Energetically speaking, we believe that water needs to have good Hado to create a beautiful crystal. ”

Dr. Emoto gave IonWays an authorization number and certificate of authentication along with his good HADO.  :0)  If you’re interested in receiving this information, please inquire; I’m happy to share.

In the Flow...

I’ll meet you here next week with more Water Wisdom.  Until then and forevermore, I’m sending you GOOD HADO; filled with Blessings of Love, Peace, Harmony and Health of Well Being on all levels!  Be Well…and drink GOOD HADO water!  You deserve it, beautiful beings!  :0)

**for more information about IonWays Alkaline Antioxidant Water, send me a message or please visit:  www.wellspringwellbeing.com or www.ionways.com/wellspring.

We are happy to announce that Blossoming Lotus Founding Chef Mark Reinfeld has been interviewed on Public Radio’s food show, The Splendid Table, now in its 14th year of broadcasting. This popular program was named “1999 Best National Radio Show on Food” by the James Beard Foundation, and “2000 Best National Syndicated Talk Show” by American Women in Radio and Television.

Mark Reinfeld discussed a Vegan Holiday Feast with host Lynne Rossetto Kasper the weekend of December 13th and 14th on over 200 stations across the United States, and world-wide via SIRIUS and XM satellite. Please help us spread the word by forwarding this newsletter to your friends and family.

Mark’s interview segment is included in the audio podcast here.

Question: Many times you will hear the word live foods or living foods used to describe a raw food diet. Is there a difference?

Answer: For many, the words are used interchangeably. For those ‘in the know’, there is an important difference. Raw foods consist of foods in their natural, unheated state.

Live foods can even contain greater amounts of vital nutrients and enzyme activity created through soaking, sprouting, blending and culturing. Culturing allows us to create specialty dishes and drinks such as sauerkraut, plant cheeses, yogurts and kombucha.

Mark Reinfeld, Author, Vegan Fusion World Cuisine: Healing Recipes and Timeless Wisdom from our Hearts to Yours & The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Eating Raw (Complete Idiot’s Guide to)

Please visit www.veganfusion.com or www.blossominglotus.com for more information.

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“To understand water is to understand the cosmos, the marvels of nature, and life itself.”
~ Masaru Emoto in “The Hidden Messages in Water”

Our Mother Earth is 70 % water.  Our human bodies are 70 % water.  Coincidence?  I think not.  We are created in the reflection of our Mother.  How we care for her, we care for ourselves.

"Hidden Messages in Water" 2009 Calendar, Dr. Emoto

Are you familiar with Dr. Masaru Emoto’s work? Dr. Emoto has committed his life’s work to discovering the mystery of water.  Dr. Emoto is an original thinker.  He applies his scientific knowledge…but it’s his passion, love and gratitude for life and humanity’s core spirit that inspires his work.  He has gained worldwide acclaim through his groundbreaking research and discovery that water is deeply connected to our individual and collective consciousness.

We had the honor of listening to Dr. Emoto speak while we lived on Kauai.  It was an intimate audience of 150 people who had come together around the spirituality of water.  Dr. Emoto presented and the engaged audience laughed, gasped and cried at the wonders that he shared.

Water has always been sacred to me.  On that day with Dr. Emoto, water took on an even deeper sacredness that I have carried with me ever since.

You’ve all heard the adage, “Where our attention goes, energy flows”?  It’s been that way for me with water.  I see water in everything.  Think about it.  What exists without water influencing it’s shape or mere existence in some way.

Dr. Emoto was the first to show us in his own unique way, with capturing images of water crystals, that our energy, our thoughts, our intentions, our prayers literally shape the health and vitality of the water.

Imagine it.  If this is true, and I believe it is, then consider this again…  The earth is 70% water.  Our bodies are 70% water.  Our every thought, intention, prayer, etc. literally shapes the health and vitality of Us, our planet and our bodies.  For many of us this is not new news…and yet, adding the visual of the water just adds to the immensity of the potential we have to shift our awareness, thereby shifting the creation of our experience.  At times it’s the simplest of epiphanies that create the biggest ah-hahs!

My cells just quicken with joy at the thought of it!  See??  I just positively altered my body and the earth’s body by having that thought of JOY!  It’s that easy.  I can do it over and over and over again!  So can you!

Within my love of water and my deeper understanding of its sheer importance I’ve become more aware of the vital nature of the water I’m putting in my body.  I realize that I can shift the quality of any water with my intentions…and why not start with amazing water which will give quantum amplification to the love and gratitude I already pray into the water.

After researching many systems and possibilities I’ve found the perfect match for my desire for amazing drinking water.  Dr. Emoto himself worked with this water; he was impressed and amazed by the intricacy of the water crystal it produced.  Here is a photo of the water crystal that created itself with IonWays Alkaline Ionized Water…

I would love for you to experience this water too.  Please visit my website devoted to this amazing water:  www.wellspringwellbeing.com.
To purchase a system, and for further information:  www.ionways.com/wellspring

Out of my enthusiasm to share my passion for water, health and well-being I’ve created, “Water Wisdom Wednesdays”.  This is the first installment; welcome.  :0)  I’ll be posting things that speak to me about water and how its related to our wholeness, health and well-being.

In Love and Gratitude for Water…Be Blessed!

Live Moo Shu (courtesy of Jennifer Murray)

This flavorful combination of napa cabbage, fennel, and the sea vegetable hijiki is one of our all-time favorites when combined with our live hoisin sauce—a sweet and flavorful rendition of the Chinese cuisine staple.

4 cups napa cabbage, sliced into 1/2-inch strips
1 cup carrot, peeled and julienned or grated
1/2 red bell pepper, ribbed, seeded, and julienned
1 small shallot, thinly sliced
2 cups shiitake mushrooms, thinly sliced (or soaked dried black mushrooms)
1/2 large fennel bulb, julienned (optional)
3 Tbsp. sesame oil
3 Tbsp. nama shoyu
Pinch of salt
1/2 cup hijiki seaweed, soaked in warm water for 30 minutes
1 cup raisins
1 1/4 cups filtered water
1 tsp. garlic, minced
1 Tbsp. sesame oil
3/4 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes (or cayenne)
1 tsp. dulse flakes
1/2 tsp. unpasteurized barley miso
1/2 tsp. stone-ground mustard
16 leaves butterhead lettuce or 8 large chard leaves, stems removed

• In a large mixing bowl, combine the shredded cabbage, carrot, red bell pepper, shallot, mushrooms, fennel (if using), 2 tablespoons of the sesame oil, 1 tablespoon of the nama shoyu, and salt. Allow to marinate for 45 minutes.
• If dehydrating, dehydrate at 110°F for 45 minutes to soften the veggies. Remove, add the hijiki, and toss. Allowing the veggies to sit in the oil for 45 minutes, without dehydrating, will also soften them up a bit.
• Soak the raisins in the water for at least 1 hour. Place in a blender with the soak water.
• Add the remaining 2 tablespoons nama shoyu, garlic, remaining 1 tablespoon sesame oil, crushed red pepper flakes, dulse flakes, barley miso, and mustard and blend for 30 seconds or more, going from low speed to high speed until the raisins are blended smooth.
• To serve Chinese restaurant-style, place the vegetable medley on a plate. Stack the cabbage leaves on another plate and pour hoisin sauce into a small bowl. Tear off the desired size of chard leaf, wrap some veggies in it, and dip in the hoisin sauce.

Makes 16 wraps plus 2 cups sauce

Mark Reinfeld, Author, Vegan Fusion World Cuisine: Healing Recipes and Timeless Wisdom from our Hearts to Yours & The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Eating Raw (Complete Idiot’s Guide to)

Please visit www.veganfusion.com or www.blossominglotus.com for more information.

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Once raw food is heated above a certain temperature, the food is considered to be cooked. Many define this point as the temperature where the particular food’s enzymes are destroyed.

Enzymes are the catalysts of life and that all foods come with naturally occurring enzymes. At around 100°F they are beginning to get a bit sluggish and by 118° F they are pretty much toast. Most raw foodists consider 116° to be the maximum threshold for enzyme potential.

Raw foods are loaded with enzymes and all of the vital nutrients our bodies need to flourish. Raw foods also have a high water content compared to cooked foods. The water found in fresh foods is in many ways superior to drinking water.

Raw foods abound with phytonutrients. These are the important vitamins, minerals and other nutrients found in plants that are known and still being discovered by science that are necessary for life to thrive. Eating raw means you are getting the highest concentration of phytonutrients emanating from the plant kingdom.

Mark Reinfeld, Author, Vegan Fusion World Cuisine: Healing Recipes and Timeless Wisdom from our Hearts to Yours & The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Eating Raw

Please visit www.veganfusion.com or www.blossominglotus.com for more information.

I am at peace in my future,
at peace with my flow,
in harmony with one,
fully in abundance
and filled with light.

~Mark Gehrke

Mandala creation inspired by a fresh snowy Colorado day.

If you like this mandala and would like to see more see my mandala slideshow page.

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MARK: We come across this question very often and have found that there are three simple steps you can take to get you on your way.

1. Begin Where You Are

The first step is to look at and accept where you are at with your eating. What is your current food intake? If you wish, keep a food log for a few days to a week. Keep track of everything you eat, including the snacks. This is a powerful practice as you can begin to locate the less than excellent food choices and begin to replace them with more healthful ones. Don’t play the judgment game with yourself. A recent study showed that the simple act of recording what we eat can help us lose weight. Remember the important thing is to take the first step. If your time or inclination does not allow you to keep a food log, that’s ok. Just take a mental note of where you are at right now. Accept that you are at where you are at and that this is the beginning of your journey towards more healthful living.

2. Hold an Intention of a Healthier Life

Hold an intention of creating a healthier, more vibrant you and commit yourself to do what you can to actualize this intention. If you are able to do this, you are 90% of the way there. This is what sets you aside from the 20 others who have given up on trying to improve themselves in this way. Create a vision of yourself of where you would like to be a year from now. What weight would you like to attain? What dress size or cholesterol level? If you feel inspired to write down these intentions, this can be another powerful inspirational tool for you to refer to along the way.

3. Gently Transition From Where You Are To Where You Would Like To Be

There are many theories surrounding what foods are healthy and what foods are not. Special diets abound, each one proclaiming to be the end all/be all to lose weight, feel great and stay young forever. We would like to suggest that every individual is biophysically unique and what is true for some of us, is not true for others. Your own body and own sense of well being is your best judge. Rigidly trying to adhere to an externally imposed diet is a formula for disappointment and relapse into old ways of eating. In most instances, we recommend taking baby steps, making changes slowly and gradually. (Of course, in some instances, health conditions necessitate dramatic and instantaneous changes to one’s diet and lifestyle.)

We feel people shouldn’t have a deprived feeling when making these changes. There are countless ways of replacing unhealthy food choices with exciting and delicious alternatives.

Mark Reinfeld, Author, Vegan Fusion World Cuisine: Healing Recipes and Timeless Wisdom from our Hearts to Yours & The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Eating Raw (Complete Idiot’s Guide to)

Please visit www.veganfusion.com or www.blossominglotus.com for more information.

What does it mean to eat a Raw Food diet? Are you interested in learning more of the benefits of eating raw?

Mark Reinfeld and Jennifer Murray give us the answers with their amazing food wisdom. Mark Reinfeld founding chef of the award winning Blossoming Lotus Restaurant on Kauai. Mark is the author of Vegan World Fusion Cuisine Cookbook and the brand new soon to be released “The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Eating Raw”. Joining us for our conversation is Mark’s wife and co-author of the idiots guide to Eating Raw is Jennifer Murray.

Episode Highlights:

• What does it mean to eat a raw food diet
• Eating raw isn’t limited
• The nutritional aspects of being “raw”.
• Health benefits of eating raw foods

Please also listen to part 1 of the Raw Foods Guide series where Mark and Jennifer talk about what inspired The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Eating Raw. Stay tuned for more episodes in the near future.

Be sure to check out some of our previous episodes with Mark Reinfeld and Jennifer Murray here at Earth Harmony Home

• Vegan Fusion and The Blossoming Lotus
• 7 Minute Chef- learn 7 minute techniques
• Simple Grapefruit Salad – video
• Spirulina Popcorn – What’s the Secret – video
• Guacamole – Sensalicious Cooking – video

In our upcoming episode with Mark and Jennifer learn specific techniques for raw food preparation.

The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Eating Raw

Check out Mark’s previous book:

Vegan Fusion World Cuisine: Healing Recipes and Timeless Wisdom from our Hearts to Yours

My Podcast Alley feed! {pca-7bede9656f1b79768e47e25d1cab3527}
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Vegan Holiday Menu

( click the links for the entire feast )

Spinach Stuffed Mushrooms ( Monday )
Organic Mixed Green Salad with Toasted Pecan Vinaigrette ( Tuesday )
Blue Corn Crusted Tempeh with Shiitake Mushroom Gravy ( Wednesday )
Acorn Squash with Wild Rice Pilaf ( Thursday )
Cranberry Sauce ( Thursday )
Pumpkin Pie with Dairy-free Maple Whip ( Friday )

Pumpkin Pie with Dairy-free Maple Whip

20 min prep / 1 hour cooking + pumpkin cooking time / 9” pie

1 pre-made 9” Pie Crust
1 medium Pumpkin (1 ¾ C cooked)
¾ C Almond butter
¼ C Soy milk
¼ C Maple syrup
¼ C Sucanat or organic sugar
3 Tbl Molasses
2 Tbl Arrowroot powder
½ tsp Vanilla extract
¼ tsp Cardamom powder
¼ tsp Allspice powder
¼ tsp Nutmeg, ground
1/8 tsp Clove powder

1. Preheat oven to 350°. Cut pumpkin in half and remove the seeds. Place face down on a well oiled or parchment paper lined baking pan. Bake until a knife easily goes through the skin and the flesh of the pumpkin, approximately 45 minutes.
2. Scoop out 1 ¾ C pumpkin, place in food processor or blender with remaining ingredients and process or blend until smooth.
3. Pour mixture into pie crust and bake until top is firm to touch, approximately 1 hour. Filling may puff up and rise above crust line as it bakes. It will fall back down as it cools.

Dairy-free Maple Whip

12.3 oz Silken tofu
3 Tbl Maple syrup or agave nectar, or to taste
2 tsp Lemon juice, fresh squeezed
½ tsp Vanilla extract
Pinch Cardamom powder
Pinch Cinnamon powder

1. Place all ingredients in a food processor or blender and process until smooth.

This concludes of Vegan Thanksgiving Feast series.  Enjoy creating your healthy, happy Thanksgiving meal.

Here are the links to all the recipes:

Spinach Stuffed Mushrooms ( Monday )
Organic Mixed Green Salad with Toasted Pecan Vinaigrette ( Tuesday )
Blue Corn Crusted Tempeh with Shiitake Mushroom Gravy ( Wednesday )
Acorn Squash with Wild Rice Pilaf ( Thursday )
Cranberry Sauce ( Thursday )

Recipe from Mark Reinfeld, Author, Vegan Fusion World Cuisine: Healing Recipes and Timeless Wisdom from our Hearts to Yours & The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Eating Raw

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Vegan Holiday Menu

( new links will be added each day)

Spinach Stuffed Mushrooms ( Monday )
Organic Mixed Green Salad with Toasted Pecan Vinaigrette ( Tuesday )
Blue Corn Crusted Tempeh with Shiitake Mushroom Gravy ( Wednesday )
Acorn Squash with Wild Rice Pilaf ( Thursday )
Cranberry Sauce ( Thursday )
Pumpkin Pie with Dairy-free Maple Whip ( Friday )

Acorn Squash with Wild Rice Pilaf

30 min prep / 1 hour cooking / 4 servings
2 medium Acorn squash
1 C Wild rice (3 C cooked)
4 C Water or vegetable stock
½ tsp Sea salt
1 Tbl Olive oil
1 medium Onion, diced (1 C)
½ C Celery, chopped
1 Tbl Garlic, minced
1 C Pecans, toasted & chopped
½ C Cranberries, dried
1 Tbl Italian parsley, minced
1 tsp Sage, fresh, minced
1 tsp Rosemary, fresh, minced
1 tsp Thyme, fresh
1 tsp Vegetarian Worcestershire sauce (optional)
2 tsp Soy sauce, or to taste
¼ tsp Crushed red pepper flakes
• Sea salt, to taste
• Black pepper, ground to taste

1. Preheat oven to 375°. Rinse squash well, slice in half, scoop out seeds and place face down on a well oiled baking sheet. Bake until a knife can pass easily through any part of the squash, approximately 45 minutes. Set aside.
2. Place wild rice and 4 C filtered water or stock in a large pot and bring to a boil. Cover, reduce heat to simmer and cook until rice kernels are open and just soft and chewy, approximately 50 minutes. Drain well.
3. While squash and rice are cooking, place oil in a large sauté pan on medium high heat. Add onion, celery and garlic, cook for 5 minutes, stirring frequently. Add remaining ingredients and cook for 5 minutes, stirring frequently. Add water or stock if necessary to prevent sticking. Place in a large bowl with drained wild rice and mix well. Stuff into squash and bake for 10 minutes.

Variations
Substitute roasted chestnuts for pecans. Add ½ C corn and ½ C sliced mushrooms.

Cranberry Sauce

10 min prep / 15 min cooking / 2 ½ cups
4 C Cranberries, fresh or frozen
1 C Filtered water
¼ C Sucanat or organic sugar
¼ C Orange juice, fresh squeezed
2 Tbl Maple syrup or agave nectar
¾ tsp Cinnamon powder
½ tsp Ginger powder
¼ tsp Allspice powder
¼ tsp Nutmeg, ground
Pinch Cardamom powder
¼ C Pecans, chopped (optional)

1. Place cranberries and filtered water in a 3 qt pot over medium heat and cook for 5 minutes, stirring frequently. Add orange juice, sucanat, maple syrup and cook for 8 minutes, stirring frequently. Add the remaining ingredients, cook for 3 minutes, or until cranberries have “popped” and the sauce thickens.

Variation
For a sweeter version, replace water with fruit juice, such as apple or pear.

The Pumpkin Pie with Dairy-free Maple Whip is coming tomorrow!

Recipes from Mark Reinfeld, Author, Vegan Fusion World Cuisine: Healing Recipes and Timeless Wisdom from our Hearts to Yours & The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Eating Raw

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