a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step, and ants move mountains one grain of sand at a time. undoing lifetimes of conditioning and beliefs is not easy, and doesn't happen overnight. we are amazingly resistant to change - including, and perhaps especially, beneficial changes.
initially, the Angels cautioned me to eat with the kind of mindful awareness the guidelines encourage no more than one or two meals at a time. the next step was to do it for no more two days at a time.
why only two days, i wondered.
because, replied the Angels, infinitely kind and patient, eventually you will want to eat this way on the third day of your own volition, not because We ask it of you.
the first practical step therefore, to incorporating the guidelines into your life is to simply begin to pay attention to the food you eat right now. begin to keep a journal of not just when and what you eat, but how you feel - before, during and after each meal. don't try to be "good" - the more honest you are in your assessment of yourself, the easier it will be to make the changes eventually. to some extent, the food journal is a kind of self-portrait. don't be afraid of it - no one else ever has to see it. you may be surprised by what you see - i know i was.
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
one of my favorite...
substitutions for meat as a white-light food is an egg. i love eggs - and one of my favorite ways to serve them for dinner is as a frittata. i like to add potatoes, onions and spinach as a base, but i know a lot of people who are way more creative than that. served with a root-veggie roast like i had the other night, and i can complete my rainbow by adding either black olives, or drinking lavendar or blackberry tea.
what are some of yours?
what are some of yours?
guideline two: men are like raindrops, women are like snowflakes.
no, this doesn't mean men are all wet :). what it means, in terms of figuring out how to nourish ourselves, we need to keep in mind that men vary across a much narrower range of what's considered normal than women do. it's easier for men to get the correct amounts of nutrients because their bodies remain far more static than women's bodies do across their lifetimes.
one of the most frustrating things for me personally that i experienced on my journey was how different i seemed to be from everyone else i knew. i understood why i'd be different from my husband, but i didn't understand why my mother, my sister, my friends all seemed to have such differing physiologies. why do we all react so differently to things that are supposed to be good for us, i asked the Angels one day.
because you ARE different, They replied. you and every woman differ across a much broader spectrum in terms of dietary needs. and no two women are exactly alike. in fact, karen found in some of her research that what makes one woman peppy and energetic, can make another feel sluggish.
this is why the Angels urge us all to go slowly, to pay attention to the signals from our wise body-minds, but most importantly, to recognize how uniquely special each of us truly are, and therefore, how deserving of loving nurturance.
one of the most frustrating things for me personally that i experienced on my journey was how different i seemed to be from everyone else i knew. i understood why i'd be different from my husband, but i didn't understand why my mother, my sister, my friends all seemed to have such differing physiologies. why do we all react so differently to things that are supposed to be good for us, i asked the Angels one day.
because you ARE different, They replied. you and every woman differ across a much broader spectrum in terms of dietary needs. and no two women are exactly alike. in fact, karen found in some of her research that what makes one woman peppy and energetic, can make another feel sluggish.
this is why the Angels urge us all to go slowly, to pay attention to the signals from our wise body-minds, but most importantly, to recognize how uniquely special each of us truly are, and therefore, how deserving of loving nurturance.
Monday, September 28, 2009
Days without Rainbows
Recently, I found out just how lousy it feels to not follow this divine and loving way of eating. Last week I went out for Girl's Night at PF Chang's. My first night out with the WomYn Folk in a long, long, long time. We decided to order and share appetizers... there were 9 of us. We ordered a nice wine, too. The lettuce wraps were wonderful, the steamed shrimp and veggie dumplings, too. I didn't overindulge but the small amounts of other things I ate-- like the spring rolls the egg rolls and what i thought would be green bean veggie chips (green beans wrapped in tempura batter--translation frided)-- by the end of the meal I felt well, yucky. Kind of oily and sluggish (and I did not even finish the wine.) Despite having eaten fairly well throughout the day, prior to our night out, this one meal left me feeling hungover the entire following day. I craved fruits, water, and healthy grains. In fact I ate fruit and yogurt for breakfast, three pieces of fruit and tea with crackers for lunch, and a large salad with egg whites for supper. And more tea. By mid afternoon I felt clearer, cleaner and more energetic. By bedtime, I felt like "me" again.
You see... as your bodymind comes to love The Angel Way... you realize you can't go back to your old ways .... even visiting those less than loving and healthy ways for a special night out will affect your energy, mentally and physically. WE all have these days without Rainbows .... but let them be few and far between. Your bodymind and spirit will thank you for it. Peace -- KMR
You see... as your bodymind comes to love The Angel Way... you realize you can't go back to your old ways .... even visiting those less than loving and healthy ways for a special night out will affect your energy, mentally and physically. WE all have these days without Rainbows .... but let them be few and far between. Your bodymind and spirit will thank you for it. Peace -- KMR
first guideline - what you eat, is up to YOU
the first guideline sets the tone for all the others, and puts the responsiblity for nurturing your Self - your whole Self - squarely into your hands. one of the most remarkable aspects of the whole process was the way in which the Angels never said i "had" to do or eat anything. They made it abundantly clear that the foods i ate, the manner in which i chose to eat it, and the method of preparation was completely up to me. as perfect emanations of the Divine Source of All Things, the Angels bow to our free will.
however, what the Angels wish everyone would understand is that the choices we make about what and how we nourish ourselves, reflect key attitudes, beliefs and needs. if we are not aware of the full spectrum of what we're seeking nourishment for, we may make choices that not only reflect this lack of awareness, but may also be less than beneficial in the long run. we can learn to nourish our entire energy body, so that we feel nurtured, supported, balanced and whole in every aspect of our beings.
as the Angels see it, every time we eat, we have an opportunity to show our Selves how much we love, honor and value our Selves.
however, what the Angels wish everyone would understand is that the choices we make about what and how we nourish ourselves, reflect key attitudes, beliefs and needs. if we are not aware of the full spectrum of what we're seeking nourishment for, we may make choices that not only reflect this lack of awareness, but may also be less than beneficial in the long run. we can learn to nourish our entire energy body, so that we feel nurtured, supported, balanced and whole in every aspect of our beings.
as the Angels see it, every time we eat, we have an opportunity to show our Selves how much we love, honor and value our Selves.
Sunday, September 27, 2009
root-veggie roast
there's nothing i love more on a rainy autumn sunday than something hot and nourishing from the oven. tonight's dinner included this root-veggie roast which includes red, orange and yellow chakra foods:
1 red apple, cut into chunks
1 small yellow onion, sliced
4 carrots, sliced into thin rounds
4 parsnips, sliced into thin rounds
1 cup butternut squash, cut into chunks
3 tbs olive oil
3 tbs maple syrup
toss veggies with olive oil and maple syrup. cover and roast for 30 minutes at 425. remove cover, stir veggies, and roast an additional 15-20 minutes.
how many rainbows did YOU eat today? :)
1 red apple, cut into chunks
1 small yellow onion, sliced
4 carrots, sliced into thin rounds
4 parsnips, sliced into thin rounds
1 cup butternut squash, cut into chunks
3 tbs olive oil
3 tbs maple syrup
toss veggies with olive oil and maple syrup. cover and roast for 30 minutes at 425. remove cover, stir veggies, and roast an additional 15-20 minutes.
how many rainbows did YOU eat today? :)
the ten guidelines - revisited
Over the next ten days, I will post a guideline a day and talk a bit about each one. here they all are - not in the order I received them, but in the order Karen and I (with some angelic guidance) decided they made the most sense:
1. What you eat is up to you.
2. Men are like raindrops, women are like snowflakes.
3. Begin slowly and be gentle with yourself.
4. Eat a Rainbow every day and White-light food at every meal.
5. Eat Brown foods with awareness.
6. Every body needs a little sweetness (in their lives.)
7. Every body needs a little cushion.
8. Eat as organically and locally as possible.
9. Eat like a baby – nourish your body every three hours.
10. Keep a diary and plan how you will nourish yourself.
1. What you eat is up to you.
2. Men are like raindrops, women are like snowflakes.
3. Begin slowly and be gentle with yourself.
4. Eat a Rainbow every day and White-light food at every meal.
5. Eat Brown foods with awareness.
6. Every body needs a little sweetness (in their lives.)
7. Every body needs a little cushion.
8. Eat as organically and locally as possible.
9. Eat like a baby – nourish your body every three hours.
10. Keep a diary and plan how you will nourish yourself.
Friday, September 25, 2009
adventures in veggie-land
as i mentioned in my previous post, health issues of my own forced me to take a closer look at my diet this past summer. i've always been a meat-and-potatoes kind of girl - my favorite dinner is prime rib and baked potato with extra butter. i dont eat my favorite dinner very often, but i WAS eating a lot of meat - nearly every night for dinner and at least six or seven other times a week for lunch or breakfast.
when my chiropractor told me, during an accpuncture treatment, that my gall bladder meridian was inflamed (that's the meridian that runs through the nerve involved in morton's neuroma), i decided it was time to change my diet.
for a long time now, i've been feeling the tug toward a more meatless diet. i've resisted because i really like meat. however, the more i follow the Angel Guidelines, the more sensitive i've noticed myself becoming to the vibrational energy in the food i eat. in meat that's been commercially - corporately - processed, there's a lot of residual pain. i prefer to eat meat that's been humanely raised and slaughtered, but that kind of meat is more expensive. so by cutting back on the amount, i can more readily afford the kind of meat i prefer to eat - meat that has a much clearer vibration.
the challenge for vegetarians and vegans, according to the Angels is to include a "white-light" food - ie a complete protein food at every meal. in the last few weeks, i've been experimenting with various vegetarian alternatives to the complete proteins found in meat. here's one of my favorites:
pasta n' peas rainbow primavera
2-3 tbs olive oil
1 small green onion, sliced thin
1 tbsp garlic, minced
1 small green squash
1 small yellow squash
2 carrots, sliced in thin circles
3 cups fresh spinach
3 tbs fresh chopped sweet basil
4 plum tomatoes, chopped
1/2 cup of pinenuts
1 small bag frozen baby peas
1 box small shell pasta
in a skillet, preferably seasoned cast-iron, saute the onion and garlic until transparent. add the carrots and the squashs, saute a few minutes more, then layer in the spinach and the basil. allow the bottom layer of spinach to wilt, stir to combine, and add the peas. when the spinach is thoroughly wilted, add tomatoes and pine nuts. saute briefly until tomatoes are heated through and peas defrosted. meanwhile, prepare pasta according to directions on box. when pasta is ready, combine with the vegetables. garnish with black olives if desired for a true rainbow... or enjoy with lavender or blackberry tea. i've also substituted forbidden rice and french lentils for an alternative "white-light" combination.
when my chiropractor told me, during an accpuncture treatment, that my gall bladder meridian was inflamed (that's the meridian that runs through the nerve involved in morton's neuroma), i decided it was time to change my diet.
for a long time now, i've been feeling the tug toward a more meatless diet. i've resisted because i really like meat. however, the more i follow the Angel Guidelines, the more sensitive i've noticed myself becoming to the vibrational energy in the food i eat. in meat that's been commercially - corporately - processed, there's a lot of residual pain. i prefer to eat meat that's been humanely raised and slaughtered, but that kind of meat is more expensive. so by cutting back on the amount, i can more readily afford the kind of meat i prefer to eat - meat that has a much clearer vibration.
the challenge for vegetarians and vegans, according to the Angels is to include a "white-light" food - ie a complete protein food at every meal. in the last few weeks, i've been experimenting with various vegetarian alternatives to the complete proteins found in meat. here's one of my favorites:
pasta n' peas rainbow primavera
2-3 tbs olive oil
1 small green onion, sliced thin
1 tbsp garlic, minced
1 small green squash
1 small yellow squash
2 carrots, sliced in thin circles
3 cups fresh spinach
3 tbs fresh chopped sweet basil
4 plum tomatoes, chopped
1/2 cup of pinenuts
1 small bag frozen baby peas
1 box small shell pasta
in a skillet, preferably seasoned cast-iron, saute the onion and garlic until transparent. add the carrots and the squashs, saute a few minutes more, then layer in the spinach and the basil. allow the bottom layer of spinach to wilt, stir to combine, and add the peas. when the spinach is thoroughly wilted, add tomatoes and pine nuts. saute briefly until tomatoes are heated through and peas defrosted. meanwhile, prepare pasta according to directions on box. when pasta is ready, combine with the vegetables. garnish with black olives if desired for a true rainbow... or enjoy with lavender or blackberry tea. i've also substituted forbidden rice and french lentils for an alternative "white-light" combination.
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Updates n' Angels
happy fall, angel-readers! it's been a very hectic summer but karen and i are THRILLED to report that the proposal for our book Eating... the Angel Way is in the hands of a publisher! all happy thoughts are MUCH appreciated... this is giving us a chance to finish the manuscript, hopefully in time for some GOOD NEWS!
in other news, i've struggled with my own health issues this summer - i was diagnosed morton's neuroma in both feet in late july. i write about my healing journey on my other blog, but i will summarize in another post the steps i've taken (haha - there's another Angel pun) to ease the pain in my feet. needless to say, Eating... the Angel Way has played a major part in my recovery, and interestingly enough, there seemed to be a dietary component to the problem, that i would never have uncovered had i simply stuck to a traditionally western allopathic approach.
the upshot has been that i am finding i am eating a LOT less meat than i was - from ten - twelve times a week to three. since i don't eat cheese and i don't like beans, it's been a challenge to find acceptable combinations to make complete "white-light" foods, but i've also discovered and rediscovered some interesting alternatives, such as quinoa, french lentils, forbidden rice and yellow peas.
yesterday on blogtalkradio, karen and i made our first "appearance" together. you can hear the archived show at www.blogtalkradio.com. i will also be appearing at the NEW ENGLAND ATHLETIC CLUB in Cromwell CT on OCTOBER THIRD from 8:00 to 1:00 - i hope you will stop by if you are in the neighborhood and say hello!
in other news, i've struggled with my own health issues this summer - i was diagnosed morton's neuroma in both feet in late july. i write about my healing journey on my other blog, but i will summarize in another post the steps i've taken (haha - there's another Angel pun) to ease the pain in my feet. needless to say, Eating... the Angel Way has played a major part in my recovery, and interestingly enough, there seemed to be a dietary component to the problem, that i would never have uncovered had i simply stuck to a traditionally western allopathic approach.
the upshot has been that i am finding i am eating a LOT less meat than i was - from ten - twelve times a week to three. since i don't eat cheese and i don't like beans, it's been a challenge to find acceptable combinations to make complete "white-light" foods, but i've also discovered and rediscovered some interesting alternatives, such as quinoa, french lentils, forbidden rice and yellow peas.
yesterday on blogtalkradio, karen and i made our first "appearance" together. you can hear the archived show at www.blogtalkradio.com. i will also be appearing at the NEW ENGLAND ATHLETIC CLUB in Cromwell CT on OCTOBER THIRD from 8:00 to 1:00 - i hope you will stop by if you are in the neighborhood and say hello!
Friday, September 11, 2009
Clouds covering my Rainbow
Sometimes you will get stuck, as has happened to me, and your Rainbow Path will be engulfed in clouds. You won't know what to eat, won't understand your cravings for a particular food or foods, won't feel clear and centered.... it is at these times that deep breathing, a walk around the corner (or even down the driveway) can help you regain clarity. There may not always be time to write in your journal about triggers or emotions or anything else... but dep down, you DO know... the wisdom and understanding is there... it is only clouded by the "happenings" in your life ... let go of your connection to what is outside of your bodymind and reconnect to the breath and the spirit within you... Guidance will come, sooner than you think, and you will understand and be able to choose more wisely, more healthfully... should you get stuck in the clouds for a day or two or even a week... don't begrudge yourself... find some time to journal, reach out to a Rainbow buddy or send a note to the blog ...
There's a balance that we all have to find for ourselves... in eating... in life... if only we listen to the Wisdom within.
Peace, Karen
There's a balance that we all have to find for ourselves... in eating... in life... if only we listen to the Wisdom within.
Peace, Karen
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