Radiant on Raw Blog: Raw and Living Foods, Holistic Health, Latest News and Reviews

Are You Read to Make 2009 the Best Year of Your Life?

"Unexamined life is not worth living".
Socrates

I believe that our purpose in life is to grow and expand our awareness and fully embrace our experience as human beings. Each year brings us numerous opportunities to grow and get better at this game we call "Life". But if we do not examine the process, we can't really grow and expand. If we do not know where we are, we can't truly go where we want to be.

Radiant on Raw Beauty Secrets - Chamomile

Growing up in Belarus, I was surrounded by chamomile flowers - it's one of most common wild flowers there. I loved picking them up and making bouquets and ornaments. Chamomile always put me in a better mood. And no wonder - yellow is the color of the sun and the animating color of life that suggests joy.

In color therapy, yellow stimulates the mental faculties of the individual (also great for elevating depression), strengthens nerves and aids the brain. Yellow stimulates cleansing in liver, intestines, spleen, and the skin, purifies the blood, activates the lymphatic system.

Chamomile itself has been used since ancient times for a variety of medicinal and therapeutic purposes.

Raw Foodist's Holiday Season Survival Guide

We are full force into the holidays season and many of us are feeling anxious about keeping our raw lifestyle on track. Holiday office parties and family gatherings mean being around people who hardly understand our choices and also, in many cases, being a center of attention.

Choosing to stay high raw or all raw during the holiday season doesn’t have to feel like torture; you can have fun and enjoy it if you have the right strategy!

The following 7 strategies will help you glide through the holidays effortlessly, feel fantastic before, during, and after the parties, and be a shining example of health and happiness to everyone around you.

Radiant on Raw Beauty Secrets - Cranberries

 A cranberry juice cleanser is a wonderful exfoliant and acne fighter. It is slightly acidic and has antibacterial properties, so it tones while cleansing at the same time.

Crush a handful of raw cranberries in the blender. Strain to remove pulp. Soak a piece of gauze in the juice and place it on your face, avoiding the eye area.  Let soak in for about 10 minutes, and then rinse with warm water.

A cup of cranberry juice can also be used as an amazing hair rinse for brunettes and redheads.

Simple, quick, and on a budget!

Eating in Season – Radishes

Radishes are one of my favorite winter vegetables, I guess because it was a local staple vegetable back in Belarus, where I grew up.

Radishes belong to the mustard family, which explains their sharp taste. Although we are most used to red radishes, but it can be found in white, black, purple, rose and even lavender.

Most people don’t think of radishes as super nutritional veggie, and they could not be further from the truth.

Radiant on Raw Beauty Secrets - Pineapple Body Polish

I discovered this little trick in one of my friend's beauty books a few years ago (sorry, don't remember the name of it!)

Peel one fresh pineapple and cut it into 3-4 big wedges. While showering, massage wedges into your skin, starting from your neck and shoulders and working your way down to feet. Rinse thoroughly.

The enzymes in pineapple have wonderful exfoliating effect and do wonders to your skin. Try it, I dare you!

How to Make Flu Season a Thing of the Past

These days we can’t go out or turn on a TV without seeing advertising of a flu vaccine, which is a sure sign that the flu season is upon us. Even though numerous researches shows that flu vaccines rarely work and may, in fact, be dangerous (one study showed that a if an individual has had 5 consecutive flu shots his/her chances of getting Alzheimer's Disease is 10 times higher), we are still bombarded with false information that is intended to instill fear and drive us to doctor’s offices in herds. Frankly, unless your immune system is severely compromised, there is no need for you to have a flu shot – none whatsoever.

Being exposed to a flu virus does not necessarily mean that you will contract it. This all depends on how strong your immune system is. A strong healthy immune system is able to combat the flu virus – that’s what it is there for! As the “father of medicine”, Hippocrates, said: “Let food be thy medicine!” So let’s take a look at some foods that can help us strengthen the immune system naturally.

Eating in Season - Cauliflower

Cauliflower is an excellent vegetable to add to your diet during cold winter months. Cauliflower belongs to the cruciferous family. It is an excellent source of fiber, which helps to improve colon health and can even help prevent cancer. Cauliflower is high in potassium and low in fat. After citrus fruits, cauliflower is your next best source of vitamin C. Folate (a B vitamin needed for cell growth and replication) is also found in cauliflower. Folate is essential for proper tissue growth and it is often recommended that women who are pregnant or may become pregnant eat significant amounts of cauliflower in order to help their unborn children develop properly. 



Can You Finally Live the Life You've Always Dreamed Of?

A simple answer is YES. 

Now let me show you how.

I first discovered Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) at the Raw Spirit Festival, when I attended Michael Morningstar’s lecture on Emotional Freedom. The technique was new to me and seemed very easy, however, I was skeptical that I could release some old emotional pains just by tapping certain areas of my face and body. And then a woman completely released her fear of flying right before my eyes. We did the technique for only 20 minutes! That certainly got my attention.

Forward two months and EFT shows up in my life again. I was at the New Life Expo in NYC when I met Alex Ortner, who turned out to be the brother of Nicolas Ortner, the creator and producer of “Try It On Everything.” Alex told me that they just released a new documentary about EFT and gave me a DVD to watch. It took me over a month to get to watch it, but I am so happy that I finally did!

Raw Spirit Festival Goodies – Jahsah

Jahsah’s business card says “Minister of Divine Love” and that title suits him very well.

I first met Jahsah during a powerful rebirthing session facilitated by Kerrie Dancing Butterfly and Amoraea Dreamseed (fantastic angel-like souls that I will write about in another post). Jahsah, along with a few other musicians, was there to help us to get deeper into the experience through the medium of music and I can honestly say that it was the most powerful group rebirthing I’ve ever participated in. When Jahsah played his gong I could feel waves of energy just rushing through my body, taking me deeper into the experience.

Jahsah is not just an amazing musician; he is also an artist and a healer with a wide range of techniques in his arsenal. It’s incredible that someone can influence people in so many ways, but Jahsah’s mission on Earth is to bring Love, healing, and enlightenment to people and he works tirelessly at it.

Although Jahsah’s booth at the Raw Spirit Festival was located at one of the farthest corners, those who found him were truly blessed. Jahsah is such a beautiful soul, full of light; just being in his presence gives you a deep sense of peace. He is one of those rare people in whose presence you feel completely accepted and loved, you can be completely honest and open, which can be an amazing experience by itself.

The easiest way to experience Jahsah’s powerful healing is through his music. He already created three CDs: “Sacred Journey”, “The Journey Home”, and “Magic Carpet”, all of which can be found at his website.  I often use them for my relaxation and meditation sessions and they really enhance my experiences.

If you plan on attending the Raw Spirit Festival next you, I urge you to find Jahsah and get a healing session from him. Your world will never be the same.