Food for Thought

About one short month ago I was in the habit of regularly feeding myself Hamburger Helper, fast food meals (salads and fish sandwiches), and a whole lot of home-made chocolate covered pretzels.  Nothing out of the unusual happened.  My digestive system was completely out of whack, like normal.  I spent a few extra minutes covering up those acne spots on my face, like normal.  I viewed hunger as something to pacify, like normal.

This St. Patrick's Day marked the first day of my first green smoothie challenge.  I heard about it through a wonderful website called WISH (Women's International Summit for Health).  I had been listening to the free radio interviews and began to get inspired through the information and example the interviewees were testifying to.  I can do this too!  As quickly as my response came, I dove into the nutrition world and began researching green smoothies, veganism, and raw fooding.  WOW!  There was so much to learn.  As I scribbled down recipe after recipe in my notebook, my grocery list began to grow.  I realized not only does this lifestyle require goods of all kinds (that I don't keep in stock), but food preparation tools that cost a pretty penny.

The smoothie challenge was a success.  I didn't stick to ONLY consuming green smoothies, but I did manage to have at least one a day and became a witness to my body.  Digestive system good?  Check!  Skin smooth and glowing?  Check!  Restful nights with energy-filled days?  Check-a-roo!!  I remember thinking to myself... How AWESOME our God and Earth are that we can heal ourselves by eating Mother Nature's gifts!  This must be truth! 

I have been doing more research on veganism (no animal products) and truly believe that people should not be "nourishing" their cells with the half-dead cows that crawl out of the cattle trucks to be slaughtered.  We should not be consuming chickens who suffer their entire life through anguish, abuse and malnutrition just to fill our stomachs with what we call protein.  Meet your Meat confirmed to me that I do not want to have anything to do with the inhumane production of animals for consumption.  My dollar will never again support these types of farmers who have no respect for life. 

By eating to live, I have discovered a diet that works.  It's a diet that has nothing to do with a scale and has everything to do with happiness and fulfillment.  Through this new way of living, I have discovered that I am gluten-intolerant (like a lot of Americans who don't even know it) and am healing my digestive system by exploring non-gluten foods.  I try to eat raw foods for breakfast and lunch and by dinner time I incorporate a warm ingredient along with other whole, nutritious foods.  I am left feeling satisfied, not stuffed.  My gut praises my choices instead of cursing me throughout the night.  Best of all, my cells are happy which makes me HAPPY!


I have emerged from this dark cocoon with a whole new perspective on food.  I eat whole, organic foods of the Earth that come in all shapes, sizes, and colors- no discriminating here!  I am completely stimulated and satisfied by exploring the colorful and creative, aesthetically pleasing, nutritionally-dense food that I am feeding every cell of my body.  My body is being treated like the temple that it is- and I am having a blast!  (I record my adventures at Sublime Organics if you would like to join me.)

My wish is for every single one of Earth's beautiful souls to feel happy and healthy from the inside out!!!!!!!


[A tidbit of beneficial information: If you think you can benefit by treating your body to 17 different raw, whole fruits and veggies every single day please let me know and I will tell you how I do it!]

Namaste.

3-Day Green Smoothie Challenge - Day Three

Whew!  I did it!!  I drank GREEN SMOOTHIES for three days in a row!!!  Yay meeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee! lol

By the third day I was beginning to detox... meaning runny nose and sleepy/tired symptoms.  Nothing like sickness, but totally in the vibe of something GREAT going on.  Weird to liken tired to GREAT, but believe me, it was gooooood!  I woke up this morning feeling ALIVE, AWAKE, and so ready to start this Spring Equinox.  It was an amazingly BEAUTIFUL day with loving energy and comfort.

I also had a green smoothie for lunch (and it is my 4th day!) ... I feel so enlivened and nourished by my food, which then carries on to the energy and love I have for the Earth and her people.  I am truly experiencing the phrase "you are what you eat."  I have totally transformed into an advocate for WELLNESS and encourage authenticity, health, nutrition, and true spirituality.

To everyone I know, to all who know me, and any person who may happen to stumble upon this post - please know that your wellness is my passion and love.  I REALLY really want you to live to your highest good; to LOVE and ENJOY life!  Lift up the people around you; lift up the Earth.  You will know its right and true.  Start with your own health and wellness!!

ALSO- Any of you awesome friends of mine who did the 3-Day Green Smoothie Challenge PLEASE leave a comment on this post answering the following questions:
1. How are you feeling?
2. What did you put in your favorite green smoothie?
3. What is your advice to anyone making green smoothies?

I LOVE YOU ALL!
Namaste.

3-Day Green Smoothie Challenge - Day Two

What an AMAZING Sunday!!  I started it off with drinking the leftover smoothie that I deemed undrinkable yesterday.  Instead of being bitter and gross it was actually refreshing and fulfilling!  I drank it all and it was awesome.

I did eat some other foods today and feel that I am well on my way to integrating green smoothies and delicious and nutritious raw food into my daily diet.

I just want to give a HUGE shout out to all of you beautiful and courageous souls giving your body a chance to heal itself.  The Earth, our home, has so MANY gifts for us- all we need to do is accept them!  I am grateful for the wisdom to do this.

Namaste.

3-Day Green Smoothie Challenge - Day One

My St. Patrick's Day 2012 began with a delightful morning filled with a dancing my butt off at a Zumba class and then taking a trip to an acquaintance's house to hold meaningful conversations with an awakened/awakening audience.  We discussed the Pleiadians along with many other crazy and strange topics revolving around New Age thinking.  It was such a pleasure to be around souls who, like me, were "contracted" to receive these specific messages and blessings.

I arrived to my house with an excitement to start the 3-Day Smoothie Challenge that I have been promoting and raving about so earnestly for the last four days.  I shoved into the blender some berries and fruits, following the directions I had written to prepare.  Then I cut up some ginger and threw them into the mix.  I was blindly approaching the methodology in creating this concoction, putting my trust in the knowledge that "it's good for my body" and that "I am committed!"  After throwing in a bunch of parsley (too much) and a handful of spinach and using the pulp option to blend them, well, to a pulp, the end result was a chunky, purpley very bitter tasting glassful of what my boyfriend described as a "compost pile."

Now this was my very first green smoothie.  I guess I got the fruit to greens ratio wrong because it was a challenge to get down!  I gulped half of it until I realized I was being too hard on myself.  After all, I had NEVER done this before!  I returned to my kitchen, got out my bags of fruit and tried again.  This time, I added a LOT of fruit and a handful of spinach.  Ahhh... yes, much better!  I still tasted the greens, but it was also a pleasure to taste the bananas and strawberries.

Now we're getting to the real challenge.  After two hours my stomach started to growl, and when I say growl I mean that it was making this moaning 'how dare you!' announcement that is both uncontrollable and embarrassing.  Here is when all of the self-empowering thoughts flooded my mind and I began acting as a cheerleader for myself.  Just imagine what three whole days of consuming just green smoothies can do for you Brittney!  Don't you want to be at your ultimate health?

Another hour passed by and I could barely stand it.  I thought about gulping down another strawberry, banana and spinach smoothie and my body shivered.  Then the other half of my brain started to rationalize- what's the difference between drinking a smoothie a day versus a smoothie a day with a meal?  So, ladies and gentlemen, you may dub me a hypocrite or judge me as ignorant, but I cooked up one scrambled egg and enjoyed it with a piece of whole-wheat toast.  MMmmmmMMM!  I don't think I have ever enjoyed a piece of toast with an egg to this degree in my entire life.

Another hour passed and I began to have cravings- of Panda Express, (conveniently located just around the corner)  of a slice deep dish pizza from Pizza Hut (just one!), or even a stir fry of mixed veggies and rice.  The time was late and it would better to take a few swigs of water and go to bed.  I could just start tomorrow morning with a fresh smoothie and I'll be halfway there!......................

Then we took a trip to Wall-Mart, and the whole way I was arguing with myself about my need/desire for more food.  I never KNEW I was so dependent, almost like an addict.  I settled on getting some bread sticks, and they were delicious.

So to sum up- on the first day I had a glorious morning followed by an important learning experience of how not to make a green smoothie.  Soon after I actually ENJOYED my first green smoothie, but failed to resist sticking to ONLY green smoothies.  I humbly admit that my willpower was defeated by cravings and a very powerful lacking and empty feeling.

For now I am going to leave today's occurrences with today and try again anew.  I am not going to create a list of excuses on why I am so behind this green smoothie thing but when it came down to it failed to stick to my own rules.  In the end, rules will be broken because we are human and it is all a part of the journey.  My journey.

Here's what I DID do:
1. I stalked my fridge with amazing fruits and vegetables that will nourish me.
2. I made my first awful green smoothie, managed to get half of it down, but didn't let it get me down.
3. I made and consumed my first delicious green smoothie!
4. I am open to admitting my failures.
5. I encourage others and share wisdom.

Namaste.

3-Day Green Smoothie Challenge Eve

I am prepared for my 3-day challenge and am so excited to transform myself!!
I went to the store and filled my basket to the BRIM with spinach, kale, parsley, lettuce, and another green lettuce-looking thing I've never bought in my life.  The funniest part were people's expressions as I was searching the store for frozen fruit.

I have a fridge (and freezer) full of blueberries, a tropical mix of fruit, a kiwi, bananas, pears, and fresh ginger.  I cannot wait to feed my body all of these amazing nutrients and share with you my success story.

GREEN SMOOTHIES, HERE I COME!

Namaste.

Hello, Spiritual Being

Have you ever heard the same phrase more than once within a relatively short period of time?  I am no believer in "coincidence" by definition but rather, I consider it a message from the Cosmos.  There is POWER in coincidence, and here is my recently attained power:

"We are spiritual beings having a human experience."

Cool, right?!  Wow!!!  I have heard this statement once or twice before but have not fully absorbed its deep and quite significant meaning.  After listening to an interview with Bruce Lipton (you can find it here) he amazingly compares our bodies to "virtual reality suits."  Your true self is a spirit, and is made up of divine light and love!  Bruce helps describe this image by asking your spirit, "What does chocolate taste like?"  In order to comprehend the purpose of the body, he breaks it down into two main functions:

You inhabited your body to...

1. SENSE - The beautiful you acts as a machine that converts the world to sensation.  Think about everything you love to feel and experience.
2. CREATE - The beautiful you came here to create love, art, friendship, community and anything else that's on your contract.  Think about everything you love to make and nurture.

Now, look in the mirror and see what's really there- a beautiful LIGHT of the Creator!  Really - go do it.

Face this evolution.  Own who you are.  Own your creative power.  Let war and disease dissolve- can you see it?  Seek what you really want...

Each of us play a key role as a cell in humanity's body.  Bruce enlightens us by stating that humanity is suffering from an autoimmune disease- we (the cells) are fighting against each other.  Once we realize these important truths, we can begin uniting with the rest of our body.  The potential harmony can manifest into being united.  I can see it in my mind's eye!  While my imagination plays Kumbaya in the background, we all do a group cheer and lift each other to the Light.  Tears of joy are falling while all the spirits of the Earth rejoice!

Please excuse my mind's eye- it got carried away for a bit... it it did look real, and very possible.

"The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body." (I Cor 12:12)  Let's come together, shall we?  Can you choose to be apart of the rest of your cells and work with the body you are created to contribute to?  The Body of Christ will be strong and will THRIVE once you, me, and the rest of the cells unite in healing.

Believe this and let it become your life!

Namaste.

Rock On!

I just returned from an amazing workshop called "Rock On!  Crystals and Stones Healing, Meditation, and Life" that I found on Meetup.com ran by Carolyne 'Chevy' Pickup.  She is an Energy Healer a Medicine Woman who studied under Grandmother Pathweaver and a Shaman in training. She reads Tarot and Palms and channels. Her psychic journey began in 1996 and she became a healer after taking classes in Reiki and Yuen Energetic Healing. She is now a Reiki Master and practitioner.

I think it's incredible how she hosts these workshops for free (thank God for me)!

First she made sure that we had all meditated this morning.  Of course, some of us hadn't (like me.. ) so she led us through a quick connecting of the cosmos to Mother Earth.  We were to imagine going down into Earth's core where warm molten lava is and also residing is Earth's unique loving energy.  She told us to bring it up through the ground, through our feet, knees, and keep it well into our hearts.  Then we were to imagine ourselves going up, up, and beyond the atmosphere, solar system, galaxy, and through other galaxies to where Mother and Father God were creating new galaxies.  This energy was a bright blue sparkle.  Then we were to catch it and bring it down into ourselves.  Using our body, we were to connect these two energies, essentially bringing Heaven to Earth! :)

Then she had us all stand up and turn around (we were situated in a circle).  She spoke intentions for the highest good to be done for all who were present and asked all of our angels to connect us.  She described that our heart chakra extends outwards (kind of like wings to the sides) and radiates to those around us.  After the room was connected she explained that this was so that we are all on the same level.  I did feel a deepened sense of community after that and a great love for everyone present.

Then Chevy had us all work on connecting using Kinesiology.  Here is an example: Make an "okay" sign and put the pointer finger of the opposite hand inside the hole.  Move your pointer finger so that it breaks apart the "o" you are making with your fingers.  Now tighten your "o" so that your pointer cannot pass through and break them apart.  The first test is stating your name, as in 'My name is __."  It should not break.  Now choose a different name that is not yours, and your fingers will break.  This is because your energy body responds to Truth!  This is how she came acquainted with angels and the angels began helping her.

There was a lady in the room who was having trouble with this part.  She was "getting in her own way."  Chevy spent some extra time with her, utilizing Yuen Energetic Healing to neutralize the lady's belief systems so that she was more open.  In the end, the lady behind me was able to experience the kinesthetic affirmations of stating her name.

Later, she described the way various rocks and crystals can be used as a part of healing.  She asked for a volunteer to lay in the middle on top of her massage table.  She used a rose quarts pendulum and the assistance of Jesus (Raphael chose not to help) to break up the energy blockages on the woman.  There was an instance where another lady's knees were tingling at the same time she was working on the blockages around the knees with the woman on the table.  This was explained that because we were all in the room, the lady on the table was acting as a stand in for all of us and what we all need.

The most intense experience was when the crown chakras were being cleared with the help of Jesus and the rose quarts pendulum.  I was sitting close to the lady's head and began feeling overwhelmed with heaviness.  When I felt that I couldn't breath as well, I began forming some protection around me so that all of the energy being cleared from the lady wouldn't seep into me.  Chevy said this may be what's happening, or that I was actually being worked on through the lady on the table.  Either way, I knew something significant occurred.

Last, and most gratifying, was when Chevy asked us all to imagine all the pain, worry, negativity, darkness, and heaviness in our lives and send it to the center of the room, in a ball.  I could see it in my mind's eye hovering over the massage table, dark and gloomy in color and filled with tears, anguish, and nonsense.  Then we each filled our heart chakra with pure love, and I started to overflow with a bright green loving energy.  Chevy asked us to send this overflowing love to the center into the ball of negativity.  We asked for help from our guides and angels to help transform this ball into what ever is to be done with it.  And so it was!

I realized from this last exercise how AMAZING community can be!  We were each able to transform all that did not serve our highest selves within a couple minutes, all with love, intention, and support from all that is Divine!

Overall, the last two hours were amazing and am so grateful for this eye-opening experience!  I encourage you all to find your own spiritual community and call upon them to help transform you and Mother Earth!

Namaste.