Ruth
13-10-2009, 06:59 PM
Hello friends!
My name is Ruth and I have been raw for over a year now. I feel so very blessed to have discovered this way of life. It is a wonder and a joy, and the benefits are so much more than anything transcribed. To me the raw food lifestyle very quickly transcends the 'diet' aspect and becomes something altogether larger and more beautiful; altering one's interior landscape; or being a tool for transformation... to where you always knew you were, but did not know how to reach. I would describe the raw food diet as a means to an end solely. A tool which is immensly practical, unutterably beautiful and one that can fill your being with lighted joy.
I came to raw food 18 months ago through the writings of Shazzie, David Wolfe and Gabriel Cousens, after reading books on conventional nutrition by the likes of Patrick Holford and his ilk in my early teens. I was searching for a way of nutritional eating that would promote the inner bliss I was sometimes experiencing within, instead of dulling it as conventional cooked food seemed to do. From day one I counseled myself that I did not want to become 'religious' or dogmatic about eating raw. To me it is just another way of loving... just another form of demonstration of love into the dream of the world... and as such I have not felt the need to start doing a dual system of hate/ defensiveness over anything which does not at present seem to be aligned to a raw food lifestyle. I think I mean that I cannot disparage what is not raw even though I choose raw. Eating raw foods has been entirely natural, and I had no difficulty wanting 100% raw instead of cooked, although cravings for lentils and hot soup (and occasionally coffee!) still arise sometimes! Raw food eating is an utter joy and delight to this one, and what I had wanted throughout my life without knowing. The whole world of food has opened up; real abundant food; the food that naturally feeds the soul as well as the body. I feel so lucky and thank all raw food promoters who do such an inspirational job!
We all come to raw food for different reasons. Often those who have appeared to suffer alot in the world can more quickly align themselves with the call of real food. I feel that all people inwardly know what is the very best for them and will make their way in their own time when any resistance has ceased. Interior knowledge is vast, not to mention all the resources the body holds for us until we are ready to listen to it's wisdom.
I came to raw food after a lifetime of rather severe illnesses.
I have been urged to put a little of my 'story' out in the hope that others may find it somewhat helpful.
I am 34 this month and I became ill with severe ME when I was in my late teens. From the ages of 19-29 I was completely bed bound and vegetative, cared for by my parents in their tiny bungalow. I did not leave the bed for all those years or have any natural light or air as my body could not cope with any sensory stimuation at all. The medical profession did not know how to treat this very severe form of ME, and it did not help that I could not speak, move, open my eyes, breathe properly or communicate in any way in order to let any instincts be known. My parents were more than wonderful, giving up their retirement to nurse me, and they could hardly leave the house as the body's physical condition was so fragile. They were so patient and full of love, hope and endurance, particularly as there was not much if any understanding of this type of ME, and still isn't. To cut a very long story short, none of us gave up hope that I would recover, and indeed in 2001 I began to turn around. It has been a very slow (to me) process, and rehabiliatation into the world almost harder than the illness itself. It has required a different sort of grace, and a completely different mentality than the survival techniques I used whilst I was comatose!
This past year has been pivotal for me in that it is the year I have actually started to meet people and be able to talk more fluidly. It is also the year that I have learnt more about the easy simplicity of raw food eating, and how it can open you up to a truer, more care-free, lighter nature.
I still lead a very quiet life but little by little am able to do more. I moved to Hythe Marina Village near Southampton last year which is an amazing place to be! I am discovering the delights of the New Forest and of course, Karen's newly formed fortnightly pot luck for which I am so grateful! Meeting people has been almost too wonderful to bear after most of my life alone in one room...imagine...you could not make it up!! I LOVE people...so lucky to be able to witness their beauty and grace... and I love life and food and air, and being out of doors as much as possible! Everything is 'raw' if you look for it! If you reverse 'war' within yourself that is what the world turns out to be! Before my illness I lived for walking and being outside anywhere, particularly coastal paths or mountains. It is beauty in all forms that is my light and joy, and although I always loved it all, the experience of the illness has left me with nothing but so MUCH MORE! There is nothing to increase joy than loosing everything to gain everything...
These days I seem to eat very simply with lots of greens (although if I could live part-time on honey mangoes I would) which is ironic as a passion has developed for creating raw gourmet food. Thankfully I am now meeting people that appreciate these occasional dishes which is just wonderful. I love the passion when we share food. And I love that somebody bought nettles pure and simple to the last pot luck: delicious, and so much sweeter because somebody else had picked them!
My daily diet consists of a couple of pints of green juice; a pint of green milk; some fruit, although growing less; and a couple of salads based on all different sorts of greens, sprouts, micor-greens, seeds, miso, algaes and sea-weeds. I find these foods suit me and keep me very happy. My evening salad almost always has me euphoric I love it so much.
Well this has turned out to be much longer than I imagined. I thought it would be only a few short sentences. Suppose we are all growing more authentic nowadays on our lovely broccoli-brains.
I want to end this like a letter and send my love to you. I wish you everything you desire on your raw food journey and hope that we can inspire each other through this forum, and perhaps meet one day.
We need each other, so thank you and bless you.
Ruth
My name is Ruth and I have been raw for over a year now. I feel so very blessed to have discovered this way of life. It is a wonder and a joy, and the benefits are so much more than anything transcribed. To me the raw food lifestyle very quickly transcends the 'diet' aspect and becomes something altogether larger and more beautiful; altering one's interior landscape; or being a tool for transformation... to where you always knew you were, but did not know how to reach. I would describe the raw food diet as a means to an end solely. A tool which is immensly practical, unutterably beautiful and one that can fill your being with lighted joy.
I came to raw food 18 months ago through the writings of Shazzie, David Wolfe and Gabriel Cousens, after reading books on conventional nutrition by the likes of Patrick Holford and his ilk in my early teens. I was searching for a way of nutritional eating that would promote the inner bliss I was sometimes experiencing within, instead of dulling it as conventional cooked food seemed to do. From day one I counseled myself that I did not want to become 'religious' or dogmatic about eating raw. To me it is just another way of loving... just another form of demonstration of love into the dream of the world... and as such I have not felt the need to start doing a dual system of hate/ defensiveness over anything which does not at present seem to be aligned to a raw food lifestyle. I think I mean that I cannot disparage what is not raw even though I choose raw. Eating raw foods has been entirely natural, and I had no difficulty wanting 100% raw instead of cooked, although cravings for lentils and hot soup (and occasionally coffee!) still arise sometimes! Raw food eating is an utter joy and delight to this one, and what I had wanted throughout my life without knowing. The whole world of food has opened up; real abundant food; the food that naturally feeds the soul as well as the body. I feel so lucky and thank all raw food promoters who do such an inspirational job!
We all come to raw food for different reasons. Often those who have appeared to suffer alot in the world can more quickly align themselves with the call of real food. I feel that all people inwardly know what is the very best for them and will make their way in their own time when any resistance has ceased. Interior knowledge is vast, not to mention all the resources the body holds for us until we are ready to listen to it's wisdom.
I came to raw food after a lifetime of rather severe illnesses.
I have been urged to put a little of my 'story' out in the hope that others may find it somewhat helpful.
I am 34 this month and I became ill with severe ME when I was in my late teens. From the ages of 19-29 I was completely bed bound and vegetative, cared for by my parents in their tiny bungalow. I did not leave the bed for all those years or have any natural light or air as my body could not cope with any sensory stimuation at all. The medical profession did not know how to treat this very severe form of ME, and it did not help that I could not speak, move, open my eyes, breathe properly or communicate in any way in order to let any instincts be known. My parents were more than wonderful, giving up their retirement to nurse me, and they could hardly leave the house as the body's physical condition was so fragile. They were so patient and full of love, hope and endurance, particularly as there was not much if any understanding of this type of ME, and still isn't. To cut a very long story short, none of us gave up hope that I would recover, and indeed in 2001 I began to turn around. It has been a very slow (to me) process, and rehabiliatation into the world almost harder than the illness itself. It has required a different sort of grace, and a completely different mentality than the survival techniques I used whilst I was comatose!
This past year has been pivotal for me in that it is the year I have actually started to meet people and be able to talk more fluidly. It is also the year that I have learnt more about the easy simplicity of raw food eating, and how it can open you up to a truer, more care-free, lighter nature.
I still lead a very quiet life but little by little am able to do more. I moved to Hythe Marina Village near Southampton last year which is an amazing place to be! I am discovering the delights of the New Forest and of course, Karen's newly formed fortnightly pot luck for which I am so grateful! Meeting people has been almost too wonderful to bear after most of my life alone in one room...imagine...you could not make it up!! I LOVE people...so lucky to be able to witness their beauty and grace... and I love life and food and air, and being out of doors as much as possible! Everything is 'raw' if you look for it! If you reverse 'war' within yourself that is what the world turns out to be! Before my illness I lived for walking and being outside anywhere, particularly coastal paths or mountains. It is beauty in all forms that is my light and joy, and although I always loved it all, the experience of the illness has left me with nothing but so MUCH MORE! There is nothing to increase joy than loosing everything to gain everything...
These days I seem to eat very simply with lots of greens (although if I could live part-time on honey mangoes I would) which is ironic as a passion has developed for creating raw gourmet food. Thankfully I am now meeting people that appreciate these occasional dishes which is just wonderful. I love the passion when we share food. And I love that somebody bought nettles pure and simple to the last pot luck: delicious, and so much sweeter because somebody else had picked them!
My daily diet consists of a couple of pints of green juice; a pint of green milk; some fruit, although growing less; and a couple of salads based on all different sorts of greens, sprouts, micor-greens, seeds, miso, algaes and sea-weeds. I find these foods suit me and keep me very happy. My evening salad almost always has me euphoric I love it so much.
Well this has turned out to be much longer than I imagined. I thought it would be only a few short sentences. Suppose we are all growing more authentic nowadays on our lovely broccoli-brains.
I want to end this like a letter and send my love to you. I wish you everything you desire on your raw food journey and hope that we can inspire each other through this forum, and perhaps meet one day.
We need each other, so thank you and bless you.
Ruth