Winter Nourishment - Some Indian Tastes and Flavors

A South Indian Platter:

Rice & lentil crispy crepes (Dosa)

Spicy lentil curry (Sambhar)

Coconut & Coriander Chutney

 Brown rice steamed cakes (Idli)

Spicy Steamed Veggie & Chia Seed Soup:

Rice & Fish Curry Soup:

I began to write an e-book a few months ago, I wrote a few chapters
and even shared a couple of them, over at my other blog.....
And then I got blocked!
However much I tried, there was nothing doing - I simply could
not write anymore.....

I was not ready.....I still had so much to learn, discover and explore.....
There were still many levels within I had to climb and go beyond,
many new steps to take, different roads to walk on....

Now I feel ready to share once more, but not the same as before,
I no longer feel the need to preach or push or tell anyone how to eat.....
I am not interested in any theories - I simply want to put food
on the table and let my food talk!

So, I am working on a Cookbook :-)
And this cookbook will be about the food I love to make and eat myself,the food my husband and daughter love to eat as well....
Food that comes from my heart, food that comes from my home,
simple, wholesome, delicious, nutritious and healthy, food for the soul......


Gluten free, dairy free, sugar free Healthy Cookbook of Indian Tastes
and Flavors.....

No more words, pure joy and many smiles :-))))

Loving What Is........

something is moving within, once more
the waves are crashing against the shore,
of my body and mind, heart and soul.....
my thoughts gather around the force,
and follow the storm right to the source,
i feel wetness in every cell and pore......
one taste, one play, one song, one dance
unfolds so perfectly in the here and now,
what is, is a gift, whatever happens or not.....
love flows, gratitude rises in my heart
again and frees it of every ache and pain,
light sparkles in my flesh, blood and brain....
all is well, has always been, no lack at all
nothing missing, i hear the call and
i'm awake, the sun is shining, darkness fades........

Clean Day 35 - Detoxing, Falling, Flowering

 Quinoa Salad

with cucumber, spinach, coriander, walnuts,

smoked trout flakes, olive oil, sea salt,

lemon juice and black pepper

Day 35 today - Five weeks on Clean :-)))

I went through an intense Detox over the weekend,
while on a road trip to Wales.
I tried to find reasons for it but then let go.....
anything could have triggered it,
even being on the road in hilly and mountainous areas!
And after all I'm on a Cleanse, and detoxing, letting go of
all the toxins in the body is the goal of the process, right?
The body has it's own agenda which might not always
fall into line with my plan, my cells decide when to let go of
more toxins, when it is the right moment, they flush it all out.....
they don't hang around for my permission or the ideal
time and place! ;-)

While my body was detoxing, I ate very little.
I had made dehydrated crackers and bars for the trip,
and I had some for lunch the first day......but then all hunger
went away and Juice, coconut water and a couple of rice
crackers with avocado is all I could manage.

Dehydrated Crackers with Hummus and a Salad of cucumbers,
greens and fresh sprouts for a picnic lunch
The crackers are made with finely sliced red onions,
ground flax seeds and ground almonds in a ratio of 1:1
mixed with sea salt, herbs and spices - Yummy!

Dehydrated Bars / Slices

These contain:
walnuts/hemp seeds/coconut/pumpkin seeds
apple/zucchini/blueberries
sea salt/cinnamon/stevia
A very nutritious and tasty little snack, perfect for a trip :-)

I had a colonic on Tuesday evening, which really cleaned
me up and got rid of all the toxins floating around in one go!!
In the middle of the session, I felt a huge letting go
happening on all levels, I literally felt a veil being lifted
from my eyes and my brain - waves of love and joy spread
through me and I began to cry and feel deep gratitude.
I felt so happy, buzzing and Clean in both body and spirit.

I walked out of there feeling on the top of the world and
fell right down a flight of stone steps - I fell hard.....
I'm laughing while writing this right now
but that fall took me totally by surprise.
I had a couple of toe nails half torn with blood clotting,
the whole of right leg scraped and bruised, left hip muscle
pulled, right hand, elbow, arm, shoulder all pulled and strained,
whole body in shock and bruises in many other places.

And I can't even begin to express how amazed I am
with this body.....even Trevor can't get over how quickly
I have healed and recovered!!
Incredible is an understated and inadequate word here!!
I had pains and aches, I'm still sore in places - but I did
nothing, didn't apply anything, took no painkillers, just left
the body alone to heal.....and it did, with a speed
that I still can't get over!!
I'm sorry, probably repeating myself here or sounding
dramatic, but I feel so utterly absolutely amazed,
what to do? ;-)

Any other time, I would have been bed bound for days
just because of the shock!
It makes such a huge difference to be on Clean for so many
days - to nourish myself with food that is clean and
non-inflammatory, to have gone through layers of detox one
after another and be a lot less filled with toxins than ever before!
My body is healing, transforming, becoming centered and
finding its own balance, opening up softly, blooming and
unfolding and becoming the flower it is meant to be.....

Clean - Day 25 and rocking!!!

Mango, avocado, coconut, cardamon Raw IceCream

I feel good. I feel fabulous.
Stable, centered, grounded, calm.
As though nothing can shake this inner core anymore.

Even my dreams are crystal clarity right now.....
vivid intense colorful and so exciting.....

There is nothing really tangible to be excited about,

in fact the very opposite.
Things are shaky for us at the moment, some instability,
insecurity, the ground is shifting.....

and yet, instead of feeling frightened of the unknown,
of what the future holds.....
I feel calm and strong and excited. 

Open to Life, open to whatever life brings.....
I love it all, just this, the way it is.....
Am I crazy?
I'm not the only one. Ripples spread and my partner and 

daughter are catching my excitement too.
Old doors are closing and we are curious about the
possibilities ahead, who knows which new doors will open,
we sure don't know the how or the when either,
but we are learning to trust and accept....

Clean.
Nourishing my body and soul with clean food. 

True food that is aligned with who I am.
I am what I eat. I eat what I am.
This is a profound practice.
One that affects on all levels, every aspect, 

in so many soft and subtle ways......

Maybe on another post I might have something more precise, 

more concrete to say, but I can only let the words flow today.......

Clean - Day 18

 

Today is Day 18 of my 21 day Clean detox program.
I am feeling so wonderful on it that I plan to continue
for another 3 weeks :-)
I find no reason to stop eating and nourishing myself
in a way that is doing me so much good!!

I sleep better, I have more energy, I feel stable and calm,
no highs or lows and my body is healing, slowly but more
and more.....with each passing day that brings me something
new to rejoice about.....

Liquid breakfast and dinner - green juices, green smoothies
or green soups - and a healthy balanced lunch which totally
satisfies me.....
I exepriment every day, making Clean meals and I'm enjoying
the whole process of discovering how to make Clean foods
with Clean ingredients tasty and delicious.
I am deeply satisfied and have intense pleasure with the foods
I am eating for lunch and the liquids I am having for breakfast
and dinner - If this is detox, well, I could continue forever!!! :-)
Not only is Clean food yummy but it is totally healthy and
brings goodness to your body and soul......

And the best part is that I can continue eating Indian meals,
adapted of course to Clean ingredients.
I need something Indian every other day, and I love being on
a detox that allows me to eat the food I've grown up with :-)

Here are some pictures of what I've been eating
for lunch these last few days - Enjoy :-)

Gluten free Vegan Soda bread, with avocado and salmon spread,

and cucumbers from our garden - a delicious open sandwich

for my lunch yesterday, with a side of mixed greens salad :-)

A slice of Socca - a traditional South East French street food,

also called Farinata in Italy.

Made from chickpea flour, oilive oil, herbs and spices, 

red onions and garnished with zucchini from our garden,

served with a mixed greens salad.
There is another version that we eat in India called
Besan ka cheela or puda and it is delicious too!!!

Salmon in green coconut masala, with brown rice, broccoli

and steamed green beans.

Green lentil Falafel made nutrient dense with flax seeds and 

sesame seeds, served on a Romaine lettuce wrap,

with avocado and sprouts, topped with a yummy sauce.

Fish curry with tamarind and coconut milk,
served with brown rice and garlic cumin spinach

Clean - Day 5

If I could express the experience of being on Clean program
up until now in just one word - it would be Stable.

In the last few days, I have been feeling - calm, stable and centered.

No highs or lows, no intense detox to struggle with, 

no bumpy waves to ride!

It is a very different ball game from Juice Feasting.
One that I'm beginning to really like and enjoy very much.
Early days yet, for sure......but there is a quiet confidence and
a subtle certitude filling me every day.....I am healing.
Aand slow and steady wins the race.

There is a kind of liberation, a feeling of freedom - in following a
plan that is not my own, sticking to a protocol and structure build
by someone else, someone who knows.....

This is what I've had the last 5 days:


Day 1:

Green Smoothie - mango, avocado, blueberries, coconut water, ginger, hemp protein, ground flax seeds, fresh kale and spinach from my garden, stevia and ice
Salmon with steamed Broccoli and Asparagus - sprinkled with hemp seeds, Udo's oil and Himalayan pink salt
Coconut water and handful of Cherries - for a snack
Green Juice - cucumber, celery, carrot, romaine lettuce


Day 2:

Green Juice - Cucumber, celery, pear, mint, lemon

Green Salad - Avocado, cucumber, broccoli sprouts, mixed salad greens from the garden, walnuts

2 Rice crackers + Hummus - as a snack

Green Smoothie - Pineapple, blueberries, kale, spinach, ground flax seeds, ginger

Day 3:

Green Juice - cucumber, celery, carrots, romaine lettuce, lemon

Indian vegetable/chickpea Curry + 3 tbs Brown Rice - zucchini, mint, 

coriander, green beans chickpeas, tamarind, spices and coconut milk

Blueberries - as a snack

Green Smoothie - Avocado, cucumber, spinach, stevia, ginger, lemon, 

hemp protein

Day 4:

Green Juice - cucumber, celery, apple, kale, ginger, lemon

handful of Cherries - as a snack

Salad - avocado, cucumber, swiss chard, spinach, walnuts, smoked trout

2 Rice crackers + Hummus - as a snack

Coconut Water + Blueberries - as a snack

Almond Milk and Mango Smoothie - with two dates and ginger

  
Day 5:

Green Juice - cucumber, celery, spinach, apple, ginger, lemon
Salmon in Green masala + Zucchini- Indian style salmon, with mint
/coriander/coconut/spices + zucchini.
Blueberries + Coconut water - as a snack
1 glass Watermelon shake - with basil, sea salt, ginger and ice
Raw soup - zucchini, avocado, garlic, ginger, lemon juice, coriander,
garam masala, olive oil


The protocol is liquid breakfast and dinner, one solid meal at lunch
and snacks in between if you are really hungry.
There has to be a 12 hour window between the liquid dinner and the
liquid breakfast the next day. This allows the body to rest and then
detox, cleanse and heal. I usually leave 15 hours between dinner and
breakfast, after all I do have a lot to heal from :-)

There is a list of what you can eat and what you can't. What is called
the "Elimination Diet" as there is a long list of foods you are leaving
out of your plate.
I did 5 days on Elimination Diet, eating one liquid breakfast and two
solid meals before going on the Clean program. This prepared me
very well and there are hardly any cravings, nor hunger pangs now....

You have to read the book "Clean" to understand and follow the plan,
there are supplements to take every day too.


Clean has been created by Dr Alejandro Junger - an amazing person.
I loved his book and everything he explained made absolute sense
and it felt like everything I have learnt and know has been put
together in the right place leading to right action for me :-)
The best place to learn more about this is Clean community site
with a wonderful group of members, who encourage, inspire,
support and share graciously.....

I feel good. I feel in the right place for me right now.
I feel grateful and happy :-)

Love to you all xoxox

Clean

Time to begin healing this new complex sounding neurological
immune dysfunction disease I have been diagnosed with.....

As I had mentioned in one of my earlier posts -I do not believe
in labels for chronic diseases as all diseases have one source -
Toxicity/Acidity.

I have wondered, questioned, and on occasion even lamented,
that despite eating fairly healthy, doing regular cleanses etc,
I still suffer from health challenges and issues!!

"All suffering stems from a resistance to What is."

I sincerely believe this and try to practice Active Acceptance
in my life. The last few weeks have been a revelation and I have
finally come to an Acceptance of my health challenges and the
fact that they are still with me. It holds meaning for me now.

And I have come back to a place where I am feeling at peace
with my body and its need again for healing and recovery.

It is not possible for me to do an intense Cleanse anymore,
those days  of long Juice Fasts are over! And as I wrote in my earlier
post, I like to eat a 70/30 to 80/20 raw alkaline diet as this is what
suits me. I do like my cooked food and I enjoy fish at times too......
No labels of any kind here either :-)

I bought a book called Clean by Dr Alexander Junger and it really 

resonated for me on all levels. 

I will be starting the Clean program from tomorrow. I will be
doing the program from the book and I'll write more about this
in the following posts.
I have joined their support community and to my happy surprise
I found an old blogging friend from my Juice feasting days, Jenny
who is now working as a Wellness coach with the Clean team!!!
How wonderful is that?? :-)))))

4 days on the elimination diet and then 21 days on the Clean plan.

I'll be blogging about it here, maybe not everyday,
but as often as I can.....

It makes a change to follow a program from someone else,
instead of doing my own thing! 

It will help me be consistent with the food, supplements and
activities.....

I am quite excited and look forward to being CLEAN and
healthy soon.....

And I feel grateful for these health challenges, with all the pain
and suffering they have entailed, all the difficulties and tough nights
they have put me through - I am deeply grateful for it all.......

To continue learning, discovering, healing, transforming.....
being more and more integral, authentic and bliss-filled......this is
what my health challenges have brought for me in their arms.....
a gift of grace......

I thank you my friends with all my being, for all the support and
love you continue to shower on me.....all along this healing
transforming journey......

Namaskar with a deep bow, and onwards to Clean from tomorrow :-)

Growing Food in our Patio

There is nothing as satisfying and empowering
as growing your own food.....

Day by day, to watch the plants changing, transforming,
new shapes, new flowering, new offerings......

A small patio, a couple of corners - green spaces emerge :-)

Patio corner

Marigolds and Dill

Salads and chives

Herbs - spring onion, horseradish, mint, oregano etc

Strawberry bush

Zucchini/courgette Flower

Onion Flower

Swiss chard

Young baby Spinach

Lambs Lettuce - mache

Hanging Tomato plant

Mixed Salad

Grace and Grit

 

Have you ever felt that you are moving around in circles,
never ending always turning circles?

My life for the last three years has often felt like that.....

And yet, I have continued moving and turning because
I have always believed in two things:

1) I am a circle with no periphery and the center everywhere.

2) It is not a circle turning...it is a spiral revolving....
and I am never at the same point horizontally,
but on a point that even  though feels the same, is not.....
It is on another level of the spiral!

The last three weeks have been a total nightmare......

I am undergoing tests, but my Doctor believes I have a chronic
neurological and immune dysfunction disease,
for which there is no cure, no proven treatment......
I won't write the fancy label here.....
I refuse to believe in it anyway!

Sustaining joy, acceptance and gratitude in the face of
such physical suffering - takes a lot of grace and grit.......


grace and grit......

to not give up,
to continue believing,
to continue having faith,
to feel calm inside,
to go beyond the fears,
to step out of crazy,
to move out of scary,
to hold on to hope,
to begin once more,
to ride the waves,
of fatigue and pains,
to feel the divine,
and continue to shine......

I have begun many chapters on this blog,
again and again fasting and feasting,
healing and transforming.....
and yet, the journey continues,
and yet, the healing will take place......again......

I began an ebook, it is half finished.....
I began a course in nutrition, it is half done too....
I don't know when I will be able to finish it all.....
I don't know when I will be able to live a normal
life either.....
I do know that I will.....it is enough for now.....
for now, it is enough to accept, to flow......

It seems like physical suffering, transforming
through the body - is my karma for this lifetime.....
What is the point of lamenting, feeling sorry for myself,
or moaning, grumbling and giving up?


I have these sufferings,
I am not these sufferings.....

I might have this disease, but this disease is definitely
not going to have me :-)

Wonder Wander

the days gone by
have been the calm
before a storm
waiting to transform...
now there is a buzz
from head to toe
a pull to wander
and begin once more....
a part of me aches
for stability and peace
another for adventure
a fresh new lease....
i live a period
a chapter a phase
then let go and move
to another stage.....
i taste and explore
every wave and shore
i reach out and touch
what i haven't touched before........

Green Juice/Smoothie, Brownie and New World....

The last ten days since I finished my liquid feast
have been very interesting, I have not always managed
to remain 80% alkaline and raw, but I've been close.

I begin every morning with a Green Juice or a Green smoothie,
and I have noticed that they have a different impact on the day
that follows.....
Green Juice gives stability, a kind of calmness and clarity.
Strangely, even though it has no fiber and is light in density,
it gives a more solid and tangible effect than a Green Smoothie.
The Smoothie is very good if I want to go out and have a busy day,
it stimulates and gives a kind of buzz. I think it comes from the
fruit in the Smoothie, fructose it is but definitely a form of sugar.
The day I want to write or study or need mental clarity for talks,
discussions or to coach/counsel clients or friends, I am better off
with lots of Green Juice.
Another thing I have noticed is the Juice takes away all kinds of
cravings or emotional hunger. I have no need to snack or eat anything
for quite a long time after I've had my liter of Juice, whereas with
even two glasses of Green Smoothie, I get hungrier more quickly!

Green Juice:

The base is always cucumber, celery, ginger and lemon/lime.
To this I add my greens - kale/spinach or romaine.
Usually I use a couple of carrots to lightly sweeten the juice,
if I have run out of carrots I use half a pear or half an apple,
never more because I don;t like the juice to taste sweet.....
Today I bought some oranges, because I want to have
carrot, celery, orange and ginger juice, not in the morning
as that is when I need a huge dose of greens, but as a snack
sometime in the late afternoon.....

Green Smoothie:

The base is always kale or spinach or romaine, sometimes
if I have none of these, I just add whatever green salad
I have in my fridge and chilled water.
I usually use half a banana and a big handful of blueberries
or strawberries, a tablespoon of hemp seeds, a pinch
of sea salt and some ice cubes....I like the smoothie to be
really cold, otherwise I don't enjoy it as much!!


I have a box of blueberries every day, I can't seem
to get enough of these, I can eat them all day long!!!

And I love a good yummy salad with lots of greens
and avocados and tomatoes and peppers and ....and.....
so much variety, so many vegetables to choose from,
it is never boring :-))))
And the dressings can be delish too!!!

I eat small helpings of food - I feel full
very quickly. My body does not need a lot of food,
what it needs and calls out for is high nutrient density foods!

I usually eat one small meal cooked - a chunky vegetable soup
made in the pressure cooker with spices and a little coconut milk,
or some steamed broccoli with a few pieces of steamed sweet
potato,
or quinoa / brown rice / buckwheat or millet or amaranth flatbread
with steamed vegetables or sometimes a salad with a bean burger.

I've had a small piece of steamed fish once with Trevor along with
steamed broccoli and it was okay, I think I can eat fish once a week,
with no problems at all.....
But I am not attracted at all to any dairy products or eggs etc.....

In fact, tonight we had some guests and I made a chocolate
brownie with honey, ground almonds and dessicated coconut,
no flours at all but with black beans, 2 eggs and some olive oil....
It was very light and melt in your mouth, I was tempted and had
a portion of it.....it felt good for the first few bites and then I felt
quite sick!!! Instant headache and nausea, my whole body
rejected it and I just kept saying, not this, not again, don't want,
don't want, and felt an intense yearning for greens and more greens......
I've had two liters of water with sodium bicarbonate and
green powder to alkalize.......
The next time, I want to eat something sweet and chocolatey,
I think I'll stick to raw avocado chocolate mousse!!!

I am laughing and grinning as I write this - just very interesting
to observe how the body speaks when you listen and how old neural
pathways light up at times, but when you take a walk down that road,
it is simply not the same thing anymore!

The NEW WORLD is here to stay this time around, YESSSS :-))))

Flow....

4:15 in the morning,
all silence and peace,
only me with my self,
not a wink of sleep....
just waves once more,
of love and light,
joy and gratitude,
life shining bright....
every night i dream,
with eyes open wide,
every night i lie,
with the world beside....
i hold the universe,
right here in my hand,
nothing is not-me,
as i breathe and expand....
a car moving outside,
is a cell moving within,
the earth, sea and sky,
are my flesh, blood and skin...
the bird's sweet song,
is the beat of my heart,
i am one with the flow,
there is nothing apart.....

Liquid Feast - Day 20

Day 20 :

and time to move on......

Something within has shifted so clearly, so intensely

that the only way I can express it is through poems and

my random scribblings.....

It has been very powerful, subtle and almost beyond words,

on the spiritual level.....the feelings of connectedness, 

unity-consciousness, one taste, awareness and bliss have 

made me weep tears of joy and gratitude all day long.....

Fears disappeared, doubts faded, confusion cleared.

I got a lot of things done in this short time - the capacity

to concentrate and focus on nitty gritty boring details and simply

do what needs to be done, has been very welcome....

There is certitude and a soft clear knowing of what needs to be done

NEXT -it is such a gift of grace to see the path ahead and deeply

know that its right for you.....that it always has been too.....

Acceptance, gratitude, trust, joy.....to be cultivated and practiced,

shared and expressed......

Detox has been strong these last couple of days and my 

body has been giving me signals that it needs more than

just juices now......

So its time to eat once again and knowing what my body

needs to eat, how I will nourish it in the future - is quite

wonderful too.....

I am going to follow the 70/80 - 30/20 % rule......

At my best it will be 80-20, at my worse hopefully not

other than 70-30.......

80% Raw

80% Alkaline

80% Full Stomach

I have done it before with great success......
Time to have another go :-)

Thank you very much all of you, for being there with me,
with kindness, support and love, all throughout this mad and
crazy journey......

Fleur, deep gassho, namaskar and gratitude beyond words.....
You are precious.......

I share once more, some words I wrote before.......
scribble no 15 actually :-)

be not the mental noise, be the stillness from where it emerges, 

you are not your thoughts, just let them come and go......

be not the anger that arises, ask who is it that is angry?

who is sad ? who is it that weeps and feels so low?

be the screen on which colors move and dazzle

simply be the field where all the ideas grow.....

seek not your self in the waves big or small

that dance and clash against the shores

be the deep ocean where it all takes place

be the space from where it all flows...........

Awake......

soft, silent, subtle and strong,
filling me up from inside out,
making me melt once again,
nothing of me or mine remains.....
is this what life is all about?
no fear, no anger, not a single doubt,
just love that makes my heart shake,
my cells re-form and come awake.....
i touch and smile and sing my song,
these crazy waves i ride upon,
i cry i laugh i dance i die,
every night i'm born, every day i fly.......

Light......

in the darkness of the night,
with silence all around,
something softly awakens,
whispers in gentle sounds,
a spark within dances,
the dance of one taste,
taking me somewhere else,
beyond time and space,
where all is light all is bliss,
there is no sky no ground,
trying to look for my self,
"i" am no where to be found........

Liquid Feast - Day 12 & 13

Juice Shop in Bangalore, India

Day 12 :

I began the morning by making a Smoothie.
I was so thrilled with the bagful of Nettle, young
green leaves looking so fresh and healthy :-)
I soaked them in water as I'd read somewhere
it takes away the sting.
Then, blended them with hemp milk and blueberries.
I had been on Just Juices for 5 days, so I was quite excited about
having a smoothie and that too, with Nettles, yeah!!!!
I drank a few sips and two things happened.
My mouth began to sting, it felt so strange and it hurt.
What did I do wrong with the Nettles?
Maybe I should have juiced them instead of
blending the leaves whole?
Fleur, please help!!!!!
And secondly, something in me kind of rejected
the idea of smoothie, it felt alien after the clear energy
of juices for the past 5 days.....

So, no drink, no juice, just didn't feel like having anything for a while.
In the evening, I was hungry and got all kinds of cravings,
for savory raw foods and for cooked vegan Indian foods.
Very strong cravings.
Well, I needed something, so decided to make a raw green
savory shake. Three spoonfuls after - Yuckkkkkk!
My body definitely did not want it either.

So I decided finally ok, I'll make a green juice.
Savory Juice.
And I used cucumber, celery, tomato, kale and red cabbage.
I had half a glass, it tasted very strong and not really nice.
I've used cabbage before in my juice but maybe not in this
particular combination - I couldn't finish the glass and a little
later, my stomach began to hurt.
I felt quite sick all night long.

Quite a mad day this one - nothing really worked out,
I had almost no nourishment, I had intense cravings and no sleep.
Oh well, I've had some crazy days in my previous feast too!! ;-)

Day 13 :

I had 2 glasses of cucumber, apple and mint juice - nothing more.
My stomach was still a little sore in the morning, so I avoided any
strong green juice and gave it a rest too.....
Colonic session again in the afternoon - one of the most incredible,
powerful sessions I've ever had.....
I felt deeply connected, almost like a mystical experience but one
I shared with my therapist Anne, who is an angel in disguise!!!
We talked all along the session about spirituality, compassion, God,
Universe, healing, relationships - and both of us felt so grateful
to exchange and share with a common language, to be part of each
others journey......

I have been a little stressed about the ebook I am writing,
as I had promised some friends that it would be ready for
them yesterday and I am far from finished.
Today, I just let it go and breathed out all the tension and control.....
I am enjoying the writing of this book, loving it really, so I will just
continue to do that and the book will be finished when it will be
finished......

Juices tomorrow and this time I will stick to Juices only and be
consistent for the rest of my feast......

I am going to create a Green Food Feast for a photography session
to post on my other blog -I won't be able to have any of the food
I create, but Trevor and Saatchi will be happily pleased :-)

Ahhh, the ups and downs, the madness, the mystic moments,
the cravings and the yearnings,
the clarity and the joy, the raw emotions and being touched
by everything, the sharing and the laughter, spending time with
my sweetheart and my daughter.....

I love it, every bit of this, just the way it is.........

Liquid Feast - Day 10 & 11

 

Day 10 & 11 - Just Juice

2 litres of celery, carrot, cucumber, greens, ginger, lemon Juice

as well as my 3 litres of Water with green powder, of course....

The photo above is an old one - all the Juice I have had for these
last five days has been green in color, just a couple of carrots
added for sweetness, no fruit at all.....
In fact all the pictures posted for this feast are old ones as
I haven't used my camera for days now!! Maybe tomorrow.....

I had a colonic yesterday and it did me a world of good as always.
Greens and colonics - this is what has healed me and continues to
do so....no medicines, no drugs for any of my health challenges!!!

5 days of Just Juices and its enough for now -I haven't feasted
for these five days, I have fasted. Tonight I feel the need for more
than Juices - I'd like Green Smoothies, Shakes and soups again.
Who knows I might come back to Just Juices after a few days....

We went and got some Nettles from a patch growing next to the golf
course where Trevor goes every weekend....
So, tomorrow morning I am going to make a hemp milk,
blueberry, ginger and nettles Smoothie, sounds yum for sure :-)

During this liquid feast I am keeping away from my usual browsing
of all other food blogs - i just feel the need to be in this liquid
nourishment space right now.......

It is bright blue golden sky over here, what a lovely gorgeous
spring weekend, here's sending you warm sunshine and wishing
you all a beautiful happy Sunday!

Liquid Feast - Day 7, 8 and 9

Day 7, 8 & 9 - Just Juice

2 litres of cucumber, celery, carrot, greens, ginger, lime Juice

This is what I've had these last 3 days, simply varying the greens,

spinach, romaine, or kale.

Yesterday the detox began in earnest.

Headache, joint pains, muscle cramp.

I also felt very cold and very tired.

At the same time strangely, there were waves of gratitude, 

love and bliss, so intense and strong that it made me weep 

a few times, just tears of something I couldn't really name.....

My mind was focused and clear, with a million ideas flowing

and coming together to make perfect sense.

These three days of juice have surely done me good,

but the physical detox is hard because of my health issues.

Tomorrow I have a colonic session scheduled, so I'm sure

that will take out the toxins and ease my detox pains.

Though I'm not sure that I will continue with Just Juices
beyond another day.

Fleur in her last post has inspired me to go get Nettles.
So, this weekend I'm going to go foraging with Trevor
and get me some nettles for my juice.

With its high iron content I'm sure Nettles will help
me with my severe anemia and low iron blood.....

Thanks Fleur, you rock!!!
totally with you for Green Power :-)))

Liquid Feast - Day 6

Curly Kale

Day 6 :

2 glasses of hemp milk, sprouts, blueberries, kale Smoothie
1 bowl of raw green gazpacho Soup
2 litre of cucumber, carrots, celery, spinach, ginger Juice
3 litres of Water with green powder

Simple satisfying day today.....with just one short
energy low in the evening.....

I've taken it easy and gentle, having soups and shakes,
avocados and coconut water....its been lovely to feast
on food that my body was asking for, to listen and pay
attention, to follow the rhythm the body sets, and to
flow without effort or stress.....
Time to move on to something a little deeper, to push
the detox a little further.....I feel ready for it :-)

So on to Just Juices from tomorrow Yessssss!!!!

Short one today, I need to go back to writing my ebook
"EAT RIGHT, BE LIGHT" which has to be finished
in the next five days and I still have tons to write.....

Wishing you all a Juicy Tuesday xxx

Liquid Feast - Day 4 & 5

Day 4 :

1 glass of Coconut water

2 glasses of celery, carrot, ginger, lemon Juice

1 mug of vegetable broth

2 litres of Water with green powder

1 cup of nettle tea

Crazy day, had to rush out early and managed to just have
coconut water, out all day with nothing except some water,
by 4 I was starving and tired!!!

Luckily we were close to Richmond, so dropped in at the
health food shop and had 2 glasses of Juice!! Wheww!

We reached home at around 7 and I was exhausted
and very cold, which was strange because the whole day
had been warm and sunny, go figure!

Trevor said I needed something warm, sent me off to bed
and made me a mug of vegetable broth - veggies, greens,
herbs, spices and water in a pressure cooker,

then strained it - really delicious....I would probably not
have made anything cooked, but this really warmed me up!

Like Fleur said in her post yesterday - "make sure you have
enough juice if  out and about" - so very true!!!!

Day 5 : 

1 litre of Celery, cucumber, carrot, spinach, ginger Juice

1 big bowl of raw green soup - (avocado, tomatoes, spinach,

lemon, broccoli sprouts, ginger - blended + 2 spoons Udo's)

1 litre of cucumber, tomato, romaine lettuce, ginger Juice (YUM)

1 glass of hemp milk, blueberries, greens and ginger Smoothie

3 litres of Water with green powder

Ginger Sunday :-))))

I feel good today, my skin which looked like hell the last couple

of days (detox probably) begins to glow, clear and shine today.....

I have a lot of energy - and spent all day tidying,

arranging, clearing, putting things in their places and getting rid

of all the inessentials in the house - a great Spring Cleaning!!!

I loved everything I had today, the smoothie, the soup, the juices,

all of it yummy and very satisfying.....

No cravings, no hunger, just feelings of love and joy brimming up

along with clarity and flow.....

Trust, acceptance, gratitude xoxox

Liquid Feast - Day 3

Day 3....

2 litres of cucumber, carrot, celery, kale, ginger, lime Juice
2 glasses of Coconut water
1 glass of avocado, lime, spinach, almond milk, stevia Shake
3 litres of Water with green powder

Major hunger pangs all evening....well, to be expected
as I cooked a meal for Trevor, vegetable curry and rotis (flatbreads)
and that was definitely not easy.......

I need more savory tastes and perhaps something warm,
so this weekend it will be soups and experimenting
with a few different recipes - keeping it simple though.....

It is amazing how just a couple of days on alkaline raw vegan
liquids can clear the mind, not only clear it but also open it up....
Ideas flow in, insights appear, everything seems lit up and
a lot of rubbish disappears....all is flow.....

A slight headache, a strange metallic taste in the mouth,
and low energy......mild detox.......

I'm going to make myself a cup of Nettle and peppermint tea
and then it time to sleep....sweet dreams :-)

Liquid Feast - Day 2

Its been lovely today, bright sunshine and blue skies,
pretty colors and smiling faces.....no winter coats anymore......
Time to take out a different set of clothes :-)
Time to begin a long Liquid Feast once more......

Day 1 :

2 glasses of spinach, blueberries, hemp milk, stevia Smoothie
1 litre of carrot, celery, cucumber, lemon Juice
1 glass of avocado, kale, lime, cucumber and red pepper Shake
3 litres of Water with green powder

Day 2 :

1 glass of blueberries, kale, hemp milk, stevia Smoothie
2 litres of celery, cucumber, pear, romaine lettuce Juice
2 glasses of Coconut water
1 glass of avocado, lime, stevia, cucumber, spinach Shake
3 litres of Water with green powder

I am not following any set program or plan - only my own
Intuition.....listening to what my body needs.....

As yet I do not have the energy to cope with intense detox,
so I am doing this gently.....the hemp milk and avocado slows
down detox and provides the nourishment I need right now....
It's wonderful to not have any fixed or rigid ideas, no should's,
must's or have to's - this time there seems to be no strain or stress,
no feeling of effort surrounding this feast.....I am sliding into it
in a natural instinctive way that simply feels right to me.........

And I am not doing this alone either, I have the company of
my friend, the sweet Fleur who has been an inspiration and
support to me from the very beginning of my healing journey.
She is following her own intuition too and it is such fun to share
our experience and walk this path together :-)

A couple of weeks ago, when I was feeling low, and a little upset
about my health issues - Fleur asked me a question - Is there any
"key" that you could adjust that would make a difference?
Around the same time, Anne Page who is my colonic therapist
here in Henley, suggested that I do an exercise - go into my body
and have a look around, have a little chat with my organs and
and become aware of what my body is telling me about its needs.

I found a couple of keys and also had a chat with my body,
gosh, when you let it speak, believe me it really can go on ;-)
And I will definitely write about this here,  another day, as there
is really so much to share, so much to say.....

For now, I leave you all with spring sunshine and a big big smile :-)

On to Day 3 of the liquid feast - I am so looking forward to it!!!!

What it takes.....

it takes just a smile to fill up a heart,
it takes a small step for a journey to start,
it takes one breath to begin a life,
it takes trust and acceptance to let go of strife.....
it takes time and courage to achieve your goal,
it takes more than courage to answer your soul,
it takes deep knowing to reach for the star,
it takes all your being to become who you are......
it takes a lot of love to face all the pain
it takes song and dance to walk in the rain,
it takes just a moment for a hug and a kiss,
it takes here and now to follow your bliss.......

Aware, Awaken, Alkalize

I've been reflecting, meditating and focusing
on my health journey, which began 3 years ago.
After months on high raw vegan, 40 days of Juice Feasting
and following an alkaline lifestyle on all levels,
I felt clean, pure, dynamic, healed, connected and transformed.
My live blood analysis showed a radical change - the cells
were glowing and clean and perfectly healthy......
From having less than one year before catastrophe struck,
I moved to a point where I couldn't even smell the slightest
whiff of anything catastrophic :-)

Now, 3 years down the road, my old health challenges are back
along with some new ones too - maybe I am crazy but right now
writing this - I am almost laughing, with a big silly grin on my face.
Sure, it is not funny, it has been painful, irritating, confusing and
has also made me feel low and blue these last few days.....
and yet....somehow, it is funny.......must be - because I can;t stop
grinning and at 5 in the morning right now, I am feeling light
and joyous and filled with laughter - I must be mad!!! :-)

My Doctor in Paris told me a few days ago, looking at all
my test results, that she couldn't understand how I was
walking around and functioning and talking and laughing
and I didn't even look sick really - when with the results
she saw I should be in the hospital or at least bed ridden!!
Yeah sure, in your dreams Doctor!! :-)
And a couple of days ago, some more test results
came out, showing some more stuff - yes stuff happens.....

Well, anyway, enough giggling......right? ;-)
So, I believe I have understood what I have done wrong
in the last couple of years, where I went off track.....
not consciously of course, otherwise I wouldn't
have done it......but sometimes when you are in the picture,
you don't see it clearly, and it takes time to step out,
time or then maybe something to shake you
out of complacency and your inertia......

One thing that I have to let go of completely
is the word and attitude of MODERATION - this word
is a killer for someone like me with serious
health challenges!!!
I had deep conditioning that I have to totally unlearn -
the voice that says, it is alright to eat this time to time,
it is okay to have it once in a while,
and slowly but certainly other thoughts creep in
without you being even aware of it!!! - like - others eat
everything and they are fine, so a little bit
of this won't really harm you - come on, stop being
so rigid,  such a fanatic, you can't give up on everything!!!

ah, the monkey mind LOL
It is truly capable of fooling oneself thoroughly.......

And then, a little bit of this and a little bit of that,
and the body begins to turn Acidic once more - the Alkalinity
flies out the window.....
And acid calls for acid, so everyday becomes one little thing
once in a while......I was still being Moderate, of course!!!
I also did regular Juice feasts and Liquid Feasts and even
Colonics......so I felt I was doing good - yes I was but to heal
deeply from strong labeled health challenges, one has to stick
to the path and stay really really alkaline for yearsssssss......
and alkaline for years might mean alkaline forever, hopefully!

Awareness........Awakening......ALKALIZING
and gratitude flows.........
change is here again.......
transformation calls once more.......

and I feel strong and beautiful and connected, like before....
ready to dance and sing from the core....

Ok, maybe time to stop rambling and go to sleep,
it is almost 6 and I can hear birds chirping outside,
and I am loving life, madly, passionately, intensely :-)))))

I'll be happy......if only......

if only i had this,
if only i had that,
if only he'd said this,
if only she'd not said that,
i wish it was different,
i wish i was elsewhere,
i wish the world was a better place,
i wish everyone would care,
i want sunshine instead of rain,
i want some heat and not cold,
i want my own place in the sun,
i want as i want it to unfold,
i need more than i have now,
i need to travel and explore,
i need to understand and express,
i need to have more and more,
i'll be happy if i get a house
i'll be happy if i get a car,
i'll be happy if i find love,
i'll be happy if i become a star,
if only i was slimmer,
if only i was pretty,
if only i was clever,
if only i was witty,

if only, i wish, i need, i hope,
i want, i yearn, i long, i ache,
i'll be happy.....if only if only,
everything happened my way.....

a serene cloud passing by,
got fed up with my chatter,
gave me a hard rap on my head,
woke me to what mattered......

right here, right now,
what is, just is,
all is perfect,
like this or like this........

nothing to get,
nowhere to be,
to accept this, what is,
that is the only key......

Food, Pain, Spirituality

These last few days have been very hard.
A simple extraction of a wisdom tooth
turned into something very complicated
and needed surgery.
Antibiotics, anti-allergic tablets and strong
painkillers every 2 hours!

This body that is so not used to medication
of this kind - resisted, reacted and rejected!!

Other complications and old health challenges
surfaced and expressed themselves quite
generously......

"Pain is inevitable, suffering is optional"
True - and yet, very tough to remember
when physical pain reaches peaks that
not even the painkillers can accompany!

Juices, smoothies, soups, and then I had to
slow down because Detox in these circumstances,
is so not advisable - only causes more discomfort!

Now it is Juices, smoothies, nut milks, etc
during the day - and then something light
and soft and warm late evenings.....
I can't chew well at the moment, so no salads
or raw foods or nuts etc.....
Just hearty softly chunky vegetable soups,or steamed broccoli/sweet potatoes and
sometimes a few spoons of quinoa or brown rice.

No detox - just quietly healing and recovering,
pain is better now, swelling and discomfort reduced.

I am going to have 1 colonic session a week starting
Monday - need to help clean the system of all those
capsules and pills and tablets I've swallowed.
My body needs all the help it can get......
When I feel stronger and better in a few weeks,
I will do a Juice Feast - a longer one similar to
what I did a couple of years ago (40 days).....

For now, I need to stop focusing on what I put into
my mouth and begin reconnecting on a Spiritual level.
Pain, suffering, health challenges - keep repeating
themselves, heal then return after a while.....
I do not have the answers on why, what, how....
If these challenges still persist, they are here for a reason.
To push me further into transformation, to take me places
I haven't been before.....

There is only gratitude, acceptance, joy and love.....
And a need to reach out and touch the Divine once more.....
So I'll share with you whatever will flow.....
Scribbles for my journal like I did before......

Raw Challenge 21 - Day 10

 

There is a routine that has been set up in the last

three days, one that I'm quite happy with.....

Green juice or green smoothie for breakfast, 

a salad and crackers for lunch,

some fruit, or fruit roll, or a handful of nuts,

or a bar or cookie for a snack and then once again

a Green juice or green smoothie for dinner....

My intake of dehydrated goodies has reduced and 

I am feeling much better eating more fresh foods, 

less of sweets, less of nuts and more savory......

And the liquids for breakfast and dinner are an 

excellent idea too.....I'm happy :-)

  

I made a delicious Vegetable Pilaf yesterday for my lunch
and I ate it with a small avocado/tomato/greens/hemp seeds/
walnuts/raisins Salad + tahini/orange juice Dressing.......

Vegetable Pilaf :

I used whatever vegetables I had in the fridge - carrots,
cauliflower and courgettes - processed them into tiny bits,
quite coarse......added garam masala, cumin powder,
sea salt, orange zest, finely chopped dates, tamarind,
fresh coriander, cashew nuts, olive oil......mixed it all
together and then warmed in the dehydrator for a couple
of hours - allowing all the flavors to blend together......

Oh yes, I also added some carom seeds, in India we call it
ajwain and it is helps to digest raw cauliflower :-)

  

I'm off to Paris tomorrow morning for 6 days
to take care of some health challenges......

I am taking some crackers, fruit rolls, vegetable crisps

and even some cookies - also my Vitamix blender - there is

no way I can do without my green juices and smoothies!!!

I feel very strong, calm and joyful within.......
And deeply grateful......for right here, right now, so precious......

 

Raw Challenge 21 - Day 7

Day 6 :

Green Juice in the morning, then crackers with avocado/tomatoes

and a fruit roll for lunch, marinated warmed broccoli with 

cashew cheese cream for dinner.....

I went through some kind of detox yesterday, slight headache,
body ache, fatigue and a general feeling of restlessness in the
body.......
So it was a quiet day, I spent a lot of it reading, meditating
and resting......just what we need sometimes, especially when
letting go of toxins and healing :-)

Day 7 :

Green smoothie for breakfast, wraps with avocado/cucumber/
red pepper and cashew cheese for lunch, strawberries and banana
with hemp seeds and almond flakes for dessert - and a green juice
for dinner tonight with maybe a cookie or two :-)

The wraps were made using juice pulp along with ground flax seeds
and a couple of spoons of pesto ( basil, pine nuts, garlic, lemon juice)
and they were soft and flexible but too thin - so I had to use two
per wrap......very delicious though :-)

I have bars, cookies and fruit leather in the dehydrator right now,
so who can resist a warm cookie? I've made them with almond,
coconut, hemp seeds, pumpkin and sunflower seeds, a drizzle of
date syrup, raisins and mashed bananas.....

There are also two kinds of fruit leather in the dehydrator now,
one with mango/pineapple/cardamom/cayenne pepper and
the other is bananas/strawberry/nutmeg......one golden yellow
and the other rose pink :-)

It is very interesting to observe oneself when going through
changes, transition or detox....the sensations in the body,
the feelings that come and go, the highs that make you feel
excited and sometimes even a bit hyper, then the flats and the
lows, the mind that becomes sharp and clear and penetrating
one day and then another it is dull and tired and slow....
And one can't take all this very seriously, it is too early in the
process - I am learning once again to watch and witness, to smile
and laugh at myself, to look at my moods and states, and to
simply go with the flow :-)