Juicy News, Green Powders and Gifts from Gaia...

OOoooo La Laalalalalalaaaa – we are now officially launched into liquid world with the start of the Global Juice Feast yesterday on March the 1st. Globaljuicefeast.com is all a-buzz with activity and I’m happy to hear that many of you have also been enjoying listening in to the set of JF conference calls we just put up on the RawReform store. I have three pieces of yummy juicy news for you today:

1. We now have the first, FREE conference call up there for download too. This was the hour-long call we did prior to recording the main set of 4 calls and it’s available now as a free download from HERE. We also put together a little package of all four of the main conference calls for a reduced price of $35 for all 4, instead of $10 each if bought separately :) YAY – you can see that package and access all the juicy info HERE.
2. Those juicy yumsters Justin and Heidi over at RawFoodRightNow.com just posted their review of my book ‘A Juice Feaster’s Handbook’ – thanks guys, glad you enjoyed it :) – you can see their review HERE.
3. I’m also happy to say that I’ve reached a personal conclusion about my participation in this year’s GJF – I’m going to have a straight juicy day once a week – most likely every Monday, depending on scheduling and starting TOMORROW :) Back on the juices for Ms. Stokes on the ‘morrow…yeeeeeeeeeee-HAH… :)

On March the 1st I had:

1.5 quarts water
1.5 cups nettle tea
3 mandarins
20oz celery/cucumber/parsley/kale/radish/lettuce/carrot juice
bowl of raspberry bliss: soaked dried mulberries blended with fresh raspberries, with LSA (ground linseed/sunflower seeds/almonds) stirred in, plus more berries for chewability
1 quart water
2 cups peppermint tea
10 amazing, dark prune plums
18oz celery/cucumber/kale/apple/ginger juice
½ watermelon
1 quart water

Here’s a quick reader Q from Mary:

“A question> How do you consume your green powder? I have been taking it regularily now for some weeks just in water, however, I certainly DO NOT enjoy the taste and sometimes it can make me feel a bit nauseous. You do have any tips on how to do it better? Blessings, Mary”

Hmmm...well, to be honest, I just eat green powder with a spoon, straight from the package...LOL...I love it – especially the wheatgrass powder we have here at the moment – it is sweeeeeeeeeeeet – gimme a spoonful of that any day over fresh wheatgrass juice ;) Green powders can vary HUGELY in taste though, depending on which you use – an algae, like spirulina or chlorella? Or grasses/veggie mixes? Or smthg that has a huge range of ingredients in it? Personally, I prefer the tastes of ‘cleaner’ green powders usually – like straight wheatgrass, or straight spirulina for example, rather than complex mixes. I do REALLY like Greener Grasses which is from Healthforce Nutritionals and is a simple blend of 6-8 grasses, no fillers...I find that the taste of green powders starts to get a bit ‘messy’ usually when there’s dozens of different ingredients, besides which, sometimes I really wonder about the body’s ability to decipher the mixed messages in smthg complex like that… ;) So, it really all depends which green powder you’re using...for example, I really don’t appreciate much the taste of chlorella – whereas I LOVE spirulina and can often be found with a green ‘spirulina’ mouth when supplies are nearby ;) If it’s spirulina you’re dealing with, I’d suggest a very simple recipe is to mash up an avocado and stir in 1 tbsp of spirulina and the juice of one lemon (or half, depending on how juicy it is). I used to eat that every day at one point – LOVED it :) Other ways to get more green powder into your life: throw it in smoothies/juices or sneak small amounts of it into sweet meals (e.g. sometimes we sneak some extra greenery into things like the ‘blended mulberry’ meals we make, or ‘apple flax’). If you use small amounts of green powder like that, with stuff that tastes yummy, you’re getting your extra nutrients in, without pulling ‘yuck’ faces ;) Also, the ‘nauseous’ reaction you’re having could be for a number of reasons – it might be you’re simply using a powder that doesn’t agree well with you OR it might be that the power of those greens is creating a little detox reaction in you…
Hope that helped – I’d recommend getting on the tasty greens, like Greener Grasses – or better yet, go mainly for FRESH greens, rather than powders anyway ;)

on March the 2nd I had:

1 quart water
3 cups nettle tea
3 mandarins
20oz celery/cucumber/kale/apple/ginger juice
bowl of the Monarch Savoury Speciality: grated cucumbers, avo, sunflower seed pate, garlic, spring onions, arugula, mixed sprouts and karengo seaweed, wrapped in lettuce leaves and nori sheets
1.5 quarts water
few slices of dried papaya, ½ tbsp green powder
bowl of mulberry fruit bliss: soaked dried mulberries blended with fresh blueberries and served swirled with fresh cherries and a little LSA (ground linseed/sunflower seeds/almonds)
1 quart water

I am feeling SO blessed and blissed in this little corner of paradise we currently find ourselves caretaking...this morning I awoke and wandered out onto the dewy grass for my morning yoga and was greeted by a graceful slither of rainbow, positioned directly in the space between the trees that guides our view down to the ocean...quite, quite beautiful...it only lasted a few minutes...I took a photo – you can see it here to the right – not sure if you can make out the rainbow from here – I hope so :) Then this afternoon I went for a delicious wander in this local area and found my way into an incredible grove full of ENORMOUS old rocks and unfathomably twisted trees that have worked their way up from the floor of this shady grove towards the sunlight way above, clinging to the sides of the rocks in the most bizarre formations – it’s an incredible little pocket of life there…take a look at this picture I took and you can see one of the trees with these huge roots stretching all the way down to the ground down the sides of this boulder...it actually almost seemed like a film set, the whole place – it was just so amazing to think that a place like this actually exists, untouched, except for a pathway to gawp from... ;)
While we’re on the subject of beautiful, inspiring locations, dear ladies and gentleman, we have a request for information from a dear raw chap who is seeking guidance on places to enjoy in Kauai for extended stays this summer...anything yummy to share? Or raw-friendly places anywhere in Hawaii would be interesting to know about for that matter...please send any leads to angela@rawreform.com and I’ll compile all the info and post here – thanks :)

One love,
Angelalalalaalalaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa. xxx

Onwards, with Gratitude...

Ooooo, here we go then…out with the old, in with the new…I hope you’ve had a great year so far and that the closing moments of 2007 find you in loving company, with joyful thoughts and a blissful vision for our next…13 moons :)
We’d still love to hear your raw reflections from 2007 if you’d care to share :) The current RawReform Giveaway prize is a pair of our uber-popular exercise toy – POI – and to be in with a chance of winning, just email in YOUR answer to the following question:

‘What have been your top THREE raw food highlights of 2007?’

…what in the world of raw food has inspired or uplifted you this year? What stands out in your memory? Who did you love sharing recipes with? What helped you to stay motivated? Which recipe made a difference in your enjoyment? Send your answers in to angela@rawreform.com. We look forward to reading and sharing your responses :) The winner will be picked at random and with joy in a few days… :)

on December the 29th I had:

2 cups water
3 cups watermelon/orange juice
big chunk of watermelon
big handful of cherries
2.5 cups green smoothie: mango/banana/red dandelion/romaine/tatsoi swirled with goji berries and incan berries
3 cups water
1 pint tatsoi/fennel/cucumber/bok choi/red dandelion/radish/red pepper/random greens/mizuna/carrot/apple juice
little bowl of soaked dried prunes blended with hemp seeds
3 cups water

Are you looking for a yummy raw place to hang out next year? Here’s a little site that you might find useful: http://www.rawcommunities.com. This has a list of – you guessed it – raw communities, worldwide…PLUS, remember to check out the Raw Permaculture Course in Hawaii in February if that appeals to you: www.livingmandala.com aaaaaaaaaaaand – guess what? There’s ANOTHER Permaculture Design Course coming up soon at another raw-friendly place: Punta Mona Community in Costa Rica. Their course runs from Jan 28th – Feb 10th at their eco-community on the east coast. I didn’t actually tread on Punta Mona ground when I was in Costa Rica this time last year – came VERY close though and I’ve been in contact with some of the lovely people there, who grow muchos amazing greens and rare plants…it’s an incredible community by all accounts – check it out at www.puntamona.org for more info :)

on December the 30th I had:

3 cups water
slice of watermelon
1 pint tatsoi/fennel/cucumber/bok choi/red dandelion/radish/red pepper/random greens/mizuna/carrot/apple juice
big handful of cherries
1 cup water
½ an avo mashed with 2 tbsp raw pesto, mixed with diced tomatoes, alfalfa sprouts and a pinch of Himalayan salt, served with romaine leaves and flax crackers
1 quart water
1 pint green lettuce/fennel/cucumber/mizuna/ginger/apple/celery juice
little bowl of soaked dried apricots blended with hemp seed, swirled with slices of fresh banana and cherries
2 cups water

Tomorrow – January the 1st 2008 – the RawReform website is 4 years old. WOW :) Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to yoooooouuuuuuuu…what an extraordinary four years it has been…if you’ve ever wondered how the site started, here’s a little insight from a piece I wrote recently:

“British health magazine Zest wanted to run a piece on my story for their January 2004 ‘new year, new you’ edition. I was thrilled. My partner at that time was an extremely talented web designer and began to suggest we put up a website about my transformation too, to share this message. I laughed at first. At that point, the internet did not play much of a role in my life, other than reading about raw foods and emailing friends. I had certainly never considered having my own website. The more we talked about it though, the more I came to like the idea. It was in Greece in the summer of 2003 that the name ‘RawReform’ was given to me, as I wandered the sandy beaches, pondering which name would suit this venture. I began writing out the content for the website that autumn, which was a hugely cathartic experience for me. It helped me so much to see clearly the patterns I had lived out with food. I was also terrified. I had never spoken honestly with many of the people in my life and now I was about to bare my soul to the world. How would my family and old school friends react when they read my truth?
It took my partner just a few days to put the first website together. Then on January the 1st, 2004, the day my article was published in Zest magazine, RawReform.com went live…I was thrilled…and terrified ;) In the end, the reactions of my family and friends were mainly filled with love, appreciation and kindness. Mostly, people said they felt sad to read how miserable I had really been all that time, underneath the façade. Some seemed surprised that I was sharing so much personal information with the world. Others were silent. The whole experience left me with a huge sense of relief and fulfillment. I had shared my truth with the world and it did not seem to have back-lashed on me ;) I felt encouraged and supported to go on sharing my truth. People seemed to respond with great enthusiasm to my before/after pictures. After all, as the saying goes ‘a picture speaks a thousand words’ and many people seemed to draw inspiration from my photographs.
The journey of RawReform has continued to expand exponentially since those simple beginnings…and I had no idea at that point of what would unfold over the coming years via this website, my little portal to the world… ;)”

…and who knows what 2008 will hold for all of our ext-RAW-dinary adventures…I wish you yummy goal setting and even more delicious fulfillment of your deepest desires in the coming months… :)
Thanks for all your messages, comments and support this year – it is all greatly appreciated…

One love,
Angela (and Mr Monarch ;). xxx

Raw Radiance...

Looking for smthg inspiring for the New Year? Well, here is an opportunity not to be overlooked…there’s a course coming up soon in Hawai’i that I would attend in a heartbeat if I was able to go there…it’s a RAW Permaculture Course. YUMM. This is one thing that's been on my personal goal list for years…If the term ‘Permaculture’ is unfamiliar to you, it is a union of the words ‘permanent’ and ‘agriculture’ and is based around creating SUSTAINABLE living systems – for our gardens, homes, communities and more…It is all about working WITH nature and mimicking natural ecosystems. The intention is to move away from reliance on industrial systems of production and distribution. Permaculture was developed HERE actually, in Australia back in the 70s, by David Holmgren and Bill Mollison, who’s still running courses now :) I have long wanted to do the full-length Permaculture Design Course and am SO excited to see people holding RAW versions of the course – this is (unfortunately) rare it seems – the only people I’ve known to hold RAW Permaculture courses so far are the lovely Steve Charter in the UK/Spain and now this team behind the upcoming courses on Hawai’i – the beautifully named ‘Living Mandala’. There are actually going to be two courses running back-to-back – firstly a 2-week Permaculture Design Course from February the 3rd-19th, then later a hands-in-the-dirt Practicum from Feb 24th-29th. Participants get to learn in a tropical paradise, share with other like-minded yumsters, receive certification for both courses AND eat luscious raw food the whole time (made by someone else – nice – PLUS – other food options available if you’re not up for full-on raw… ;)…sounds blissful…hope it all rocks on in 2009 too, so I can play as well…in the meantime, if this is tickling YOUR interest nodules, do check out their website here for more info: http://www.livingmandala.com

on December the 21st I had:

1 quart water
‘The Cleansing Drink’ #1
= 8oz water, 2oz apple juice, 1 tbsp liquid bentonite, 1tsp psyllium powder
Followed by 10oz water mixed with 1tbsp apple cider vinegar, 1tsp raw honey
3 cups mizuna/tatsoi/romaine/kale/parsley/spinach/all-kinds-of-greens/cucumber/celery/beetroot/apple/ginger/garlic/daikon juice
‘The Cleansing Drink’ #2
1 pint mizuna/tatsoi/romaine/kale/cilantro/spinach/all-kinds-of-greens/cucumber/celery/beetroot/apple/daikon juice
‘The Cleansing Drink’ #3
1 pint mizuna/tatsoi/iceburg/kale/parsley/spinach/all-kinds-of-greens/cucumber/turmeric/beetroot/apple/daikon juice
‘The Cleansing Drink’ #4
1 pint mizuna/tatsoi/iceburg/kale/parsley/spinach/all-kinds-of-greens/cucumber/turmeric/beetroot/apple/daikon juice
‘The Cleansing Drink’ #5
2 cups water

Do you know any raw dogs? Do you perhaps live with one? Well…the lovely Anna from raw lifestyle magazine ‘Purely Delicious’ wants to hear YOUR story ;) She is putting together a ‘Radiant Hound’ calendar for 2009 and is looking for submissions. Here are the details:

“I would love it if those of you that are feeding your companion dogs a diet comprised mostly or entirely of fresh, raw ingredients, would consider sharing a bit of your experience with us. I would also like to include photographs of the dogs we select for the calendar. You are welcome to keep your personal information confidential (name, location, etc). If you have a story or recipe you would like to share, and believe that you currently have or can get a good quality photograph of your dog, please forward it to: anna@purelydelicious.net You may also send any questions to this same address. We don't need the photographs at this time, but if you have a thumbnail you would like to send along with your story/recipe, feel free to do so. There will be prizes for the winning entries… MINIMUM photo specifications are as follows:
- 8x12 (inches) or 3609x2406 (pixels)
- at least 300 dpi
- .jpg format
- full color (no black and white images, please)
- if you use a professional photographer to take the photograph, please get their written permission and appropriate credit line for reprinting in a calendar.”

on December the 22nd I had:

1 pint water
‘The Cleansing Drink’ #1
= 8oz water, 2oz apple juice, 1 tbsp liquid bentonite, 1tsp psyllium powder
Followed by 10oz water mixed with 1tbsp apple cider vinegar, 1tsp raw honey
1 pint mizuna/tatsoi/iceburg/kale/parsley/spinach/all-kinds-of-greens/cucumber/turmeric/beetroot/apple/daikon juice
‘The Cleansing Drink’ #2
3 cups celery/cucumber/apple/ginger juice
‘The Cleansing Drink’ #3
1 pint mizuna/dandelion/iceburg/cilantro/daikon/all-kinds-of-greens/tatsoi/cucumber/apple/carrot juice
‘The Cleansing Drink’ #4
1 pint mizuna/dandelion/iceburg/cilantro/daikon/all-kinds-of-greens/tatsoi/cucumber/apple/carrot juice
‘The Cleansing Drink’ #5
2 cups water

My psyllium-bentonite cleanse is still going grand. I’m at the end of day 5 as I write this…I've actually started to see some sections of the ‘black-tyre-rubber’ stuff come out of me. Nice. I've started using additives in the enema water like liquefied, strained garlic water or liquid bentonite. I LOVE the psyllium and bentonite products from the 7-Day Cleanse that I’m using. They’re the ones Bernard Jensen recommends in his book and they’re so quaint and old-fashioned looking ;) They also seem extremely high quality to me – I love that the psyllium is powdered – it seems to make it much more user-friendly to me than the full husk, which I’m used to using… I am brushing my teeth a LOT – about 8-10 times a day at the moment – there’s a lot of apple juice, honey, juices etc going in and I can’t bear the fuzzy-teeth feeling, so, much scrubbing is the answer ;) My energy today has been really great. I find that as long as I take time to rest after the morning enema sessions, I feel good for the rest of the day. I’m definitely at a much slower walking pace than normal though – I also stand up slowly after being seated for a while, as my blood pressure is pretty low right now… I also notice how sensitive I’m becoming to chemicals. We went to some shops a couple of days ago and one that had a lot of plastic items in it was almost unbearable for me – it felt SO toxic to breathe in there for me…I recall having similar experiences last year in Costa Rica on my Juice Feast and starting to consider just how far it might be beneficial in our modern world to keep on detoxing/ cleansing…there simply comes a point when being in a city full of pollution, for example, feels deadly, if you’re extremely ‘clean’. Those of you who’ve read Mr Monarch’s latest book – Raw Success – will know that he goes deep into these environmental factors in regards to our food/lifestyle choices…it’s a big area to consider...hmmmm... ;)

All blessings,
Angela. xxx