LivingIt

All these lists and goals and things....no, at some point you have to live in to it, these things have to become part of your life....you have to feel your goals/desires/dreams in the moment, as you are living your life, and in relation to your life.

For instance, I could theoretically want to find what I really want to do. I could make lists of what I like and don't like, list my dreams, hopes, goals, and aspirations. But more effective is having my primary thought be what I really want to do in life, and then letting life in each and every moment point me in the right direction. Letting my self at each and every moment first live in to the question fully, and then live in to the answer fully. This process wouldn't happen on its own. There must be other simultaneous processes and searching going on.

For instance, I want to be a nicer person. Similarly, that can not be done through reading about it, writing about it, making do lists about it, - I mean these things can help get you on the path, but ultimately this is something learned through practice in the field. It takes courage, tremendous courage to start practicing in the field. We usually start badly when we start something new in life. But we have to accept ourselves, humble ourselves, be willing to embarrass ourselves enough to begin to do it, whatever that new thing in your life is. And then you get better, of course, through practice.

And your quest for being a nicer person has somehow also helped you to know what you really want. Perhaps you are also seeking a better diet. The self-knowledge you gain through all three of these searches makes each area progress.

I could make my goal to be a successful musician, to lose weight, to make a certain amount of money, to pay off my debt. Sure, those are great goals to have. But you must also set goals to be happy, loving, confident or whatever other emotional goals you have. Without these, the successes you achieve will not make a real difference to you. But with these, which are by the way much more achievable at a much faster rate, you will be able to better and faster achieve your more material goals too. In fact, with these emotional goals set and achieved, you will automatically achieve success, wealth, fulfillment in your work, and your other material goals!

FindingMotivation

I'm sure most older people will agree when I say that people don't usually tell you how things really work in life. That is because it would sound too strange. You see, truth really is stranger than fiction. When it comes to describing life's intricate processes, you make a lot more sense when you make things up!

For instance, you should never give up on your dreams. To tell you how I have found this to be true, I have to tell you a strange story from my life. I had been eating too much, - although raw, not the right raw, and too much of not the right raw, and too much noshing all the time. Well, I finally prayed about it - really asked for help, from my heart. I couldn't at that time possibly imagine how I would break what had become such a bad habit.

Meanwhile I had started following my heart by singing. I was spending a couple of hours a day on my music. One night I told myself I had no business spending this much time doing music as I was in the middle of building a village! After moping about this for a little while, I suddenly stood up for myself to myself and told myself that I could too have a couple of hours a day to do my music as long as I kept taking care of business, which I would have the energy for if I would eat better.

And there was my motivation! I had somehow developed a passion for my music, and it would be easy to give up overeating if it meant I would have more time to spend on my music! Suddenly I could easily give up this forbidden fruit for another and tastier forbidden fruit!

This motivation wouldn't have worked a couple of weeks before, as my music studio wasn't set up and I didn't know my software. These things finally coming in to place paved the way for the motivation, for the good things to come together!

Who knows what motivates you! You may not even know yet, as I didn't. You may have to grow in to it! You may be motivated by disease, even when another person would give up in the face of disease. You may watch a movie or meet a person and learn something new that motivates you to change.

Motivation is key! And prayer helps! And if you trust the processes of life, you will see that things will unfold magically, weaving your dreams together in ways you couldn't invent on your own!

Familiarity

Familiarity
Constancy
Security
I give to thee
Oh that it would be
Easily
Like that little rhyme you love
Or your curiosity
Just like me
Getting you through
With joy
In the moments we
Are blessed to be
Living free
My soul stirs
At random things
Your eyes' reflections
Your little hands reaching
For something
Familiar
Constant
Secure
I am here

GreenSpaHouse

Total Green Living!
by Jinjee Talifero



I bought my first organically grown cotton, hemp and bamboo clay-died clothing today - head to toe! And wow! I feel caressed by the Earth Mother! I never want to wear anything else again!!! I have been eating only totally natural organic fresh food for 15 years - http://www.TheGardenDiet.com - so at least I don't eat toxic chemicals. But I have still been wearing toxic chemicals on my body, using toxic chemicals in my body care, living in houses that have been built, treated and cleaned with all kinds of toxic chemicals, and driving in cars that emit toxic chemicals. But all this is changing.

I've started using all the 7th Generation recycled unbleached paper house products like paper towels, toilet paper, and diapers, and natural organic cleansers and detergents. The clothes were the next big step for me. Now soon we will be living in a home that not only is non-toxic, but that will actually promote healing and well-being! And we will soon be driving in a car with totally clean energy and no emissions! Hard to imagine I know! But the green movement is here and now! We have arrived!



I'm having the most amazing reaction to wearing these natural clothes! I feel like I'm really valuable, really loved, really special, and really futuristic. Strange how different I feel! And it has made me see all the pieces of the puzzle and how they will fit together. Perhaps people won't even realize they are living entirely green, but I can see it happening! Every single product in the Consumer Goods Economy (link to storyofstuff.com) will be green by the end of the next decade! (2020). What a wonderful world it will be!

When I started eating The Garden Diet (a raw vegan diet) my health shifted dynamically, giving me exponential energy, mental clarity, and spiritual connectedness. Now that I'm wearing green clothes, my well-being and sense of self is shifting dramatically. I can only imagine what living in a green home is going to do! Perhaps much of our angst, mental fog, indecision, negative thinking, and confusion is a result of the chemicals in our homes, that we are breathing in every day. Wood is the predominant building material in homes today. And wood is in a constant state of decay, going back to the earth. Therefore all the wood that is used in building has first been dipped in heavy duty chemicals to ward off the bugs and microorganisms that would otherwise be recycling the wood. And we would be breathing in those chemicals.



But imagine living in a home that was totally toxin free. Would that make a difference? Of course! It is insane that wealthy individuals are spending millions of dollars on homes that are killing them. Homes that cause cancer! You can read it on the product labels. The manufacturers are very open about it. They know it won't make much of a difference, because people are going to resist change. How do make an eco house comfortable anyway? Its all concrete? Ah, but the concrete is finished with beautiful non-toxic surfaces like bamboo or hemp siding, cobb or adobe with lovely rounded corners and no sharp edges anywhere, and creek rock on the outside to fit in to the environment. The house has more windows than walls, to give you the feeling of living in nature. The house is low to the ground (single story) and with the windows, creek rock, adobe, and sod roof, it is barely noticeable, hardly distinguishable from the pristine nature around it.

How would it feel to have your electricity generated by the sun, and to be able to switch the electricity off at night, to get a deep sleep with no buzzing and humming of electric appliances emitting electro magnetic fields! You can't imagine the profoundness of that sleep, embraced by the deep silence of the night. - This I have experienced, in a sleeping-house that was built on an old redwood stump, outside a house we rented and lived in for a year. I believe it regressed my aging by about five years.



And imagine showering in water that is from a well that taps in to the ground water fed by the mountain rain water of the Topa Topa mountains. This water is charged with electrolytes from the mineral-rich ground, free of chemicals, and filtered using the latest in state-of-the-art water filters to retain all of the natural and beneficial water content while filtering out toxins. And this water is good to drink. It is energizing, nourishing, and even healing. Water is a huge theme in this house, with a real waterfall in the living area providing the natural sound of life force that gives us energy on an abundant cellular level. The beauty is intense. Pools, lap pools, outdoor showers, hot tubs, and jacuzzi tubs using this totally natural water, all contribute to a revitalizing of the body and spirit on a many times daily basis.

And then best of all, imagine that your garden is entirely edible, that you pick your breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and eat it within minutes, so that the nutrient levels are at their very peak. Every minute the food is off the tree or vine or out of the earth, the nutrient levels are dropping. We barely exist on the nutrient-starved foods that are delivered to cities on trucks and planes, sitting on shelves for months, filled with preservatives, stabilizers, and flavor enhancers (toxic chemicals)! Now you will experience the complete opposite of that meager vibration, - the life force of the planet nourishing you as God through nature intended! Experience the communion with your Creator, who developed precisely designed foods to maximize your potential, and feel loved and cared for like you never have before!



Now add in the spiritual fulfillment of knowing that your idyllic life is serving humanity through the work that the community you are living in does in the world, helping obese children to lose weight and giving them the skills and knowledge to keep it off, researching, publishing and producing information about the benefits of fresh organic unheated fruits and vegetables in a scientific academic format that will change the way nutrition is written about and taught in schools, and above all being an example of the possibilities that are now available to us to live abundant lives of health, purpose, peace, happiness, and total well-being!

This is a visual picture of what it will be like to live in The Custom Green Dream Home to be built by Storm Talifero, in conjunction with the Raw Vegan Village. Architect Storm Talifero, below, is a fine artist, visionary, and has been devoted to visually designing a green future for our planet for over 30 years! All the drawings on this page are designed and rendered by Storm. Storm works in pencil, watercolors, 3-D computer modeling, maya animation, and digital videography. As an architect and healer, he is devoted to creating healing homes in nature that merge in harmony with the environment.



In Joy!
Jinjee

Reflections

So much has happened this last year that seems to have intensified my life tremendously. What am I learning from all this. That love is the answer to all things. That the world is becoming a better place. That when we are all doing our best in a family or community that we can overcome our problems with love. And when we see someone who is loving, we are inspired to be more loving ourselves, and then we can experience a little microcosm of what the world could be like in a perpetual state of harmony. It is like a dance. It is like doing the best you can even though you know it is not perfect. It is like really dealing with problems and facing challenges, doing that hard work, within ourselves, and having faith that everyone else is doing that too. And it is like realizing that it is all too big to handle and turning it over to higher powers.

And then every once in a while that state of grace is achieved when the whole family or community is happy together, like a beautiful sunny day after a storm, like an orchestra that moment when everything just works right and the energy of the audience inspires the musicians and the magic happens, and you just feel like a part of something big and beautiful. And then this makes you appreciate everything in the world more. Even the little mundane things start to shine. And as you care, you change, into something more glowing too. This gives me such hope that the world is becoming more whole, more healthy, and that as this is happening, so also the world is more able to support the health of each individual.

Oneness, wholeness, health, - it is possible, for ourselves, our families, our communities, and our world!

Now I understand. When I wrote my little contract with myself to dedicate myself to my health 16 years ago, then found myself working towards the health of others, I thought it was because it would help me to be healthier. Now I see it is also because as the world becomes healthier, I become healthier. If you dedicate yourself to your health, if you become healthier, then the world becomes a healthier place, which supports the health of each person including yourself. The cycle of good. No good is ever wasted.

I was walking down the dock today and saw the masts of all the boats reaching upward and outward on either side of me. It was like walking down an aisle of energy that reached up into eternity, like I was at the top of an inverse pyramid. And I thought of another pyramid starting in infinity and reaching down and out embracing all of creation. Of course that is impossible, but it is a nice metaphor for what it could be like if infinity was a place. And it seems like it could be a reflection of sorts.

Here at the top
reaching down
seeing all

Here at the bottom
reaching up
being me

Here at the top
streaming energy towards you
calling you to me

Here at the bottom
streaming my little beacon up
here I am

Here at the top
I'm not really at the top
I'm enveloping you

Here at the bottom
I'm not really at the bottom
But within you

Here at the top
I'm not really at the top
But within you

Here at the bottom
I'm not really at the bottom
But around you
You are in each of my cells
You are my core

Here at the top
I know everything now and always
And I need you to illustrate it all

Here at the bottom
I know only that I know nothing
And yet I am here to be it all

Here at the top
I am love, growing
And I reflect all your love

Here at the bottom
I am loved
A reflection of you

OK, its not rap! Its pretty corny but I didn't have a paper and pen and I wanted to draw a picture of it - so I did this instead. Oh well. These things happen. You'll forgive me I'm sure!


In Joy!

positivethinkingdiscipline

Overview: Positive thinking takes a discipline of the mind. Learning this will help discipline your food thoughts too.

When you've figured out that a certain thought hurts you (even if it seems like its hurtful to someone else) (Storm's little wisdom Regarding revenge: You have to hurt yourself first in order to hurt another person).

Further, Katie Byron's The Work helped me to realize that when you have negative thoughts about others you primarily hurt yourself! That was a nice thing to realize, but it took a long time after that to actually stop thinking negative thoughts about others. I had to go through several experiences that were like the Universe was beating me up so bad that I had to say OK, fine! Mercy! I'll stop thinking those negative thoughts! And then I had to find a way. It turns out that for me it was a discipline.

You identify which thoughts are hurting you (not hard to do!) and you make a decision to not think that thought any more. Then you discipline yourself to block that thought. You start by ignoring it or giving it no energy. If it persists then you say to yourself - This thought hurts me so I'm not going to think it.

Sometimes part of you will think that it is important to think a negative thought. For instance "My DH doesn't clean up enough". - I know that thought triggers a whole tirade of negative thoughts and emotions, that we just go around and around year after year and that it is just better for me to clean up myself, so I choose to block that thought. But then another voice asks, hey, aren't you just letting him walk all over you, or aren't you afraid you're being used, or what if you are ruining your life by not allowing this thought? But I am learning that when we have big issues with someone else, they are usually reflections of our own problems.

(I love the way Katie Byron puts it so simply - "If its so easy, do it yourself!")

I'm a terrible slob and so I have a super problem with people who are slobs. The more something bugs you, the more you can be sure it is an issue you are working on yourself (or that you feel you should be working on, or that you dislike about yourself). And of course you are attracting these people to your life to show you what your issues are. So be grateful for them! And every time you think "so and so should do this" - instantly turn it around and say "I should do this". and take that wonderful opportunity to work on yourself!

You'll be helping them too! - Setting a good example.

Work on yourself! You can't work on anyone else anyway!

My DH's untidiness and unfairness is his own problem - and the Universe will give him ample opportunities to solve them. Its not my job! Isn't that freeing! And what's more, I don't even have to THINK about his problems - or anyones! I get to have a totally positive mental attitude!

And in that positive mind state, you'll find you have have room for the most wonderful creative thoughts! Life can be good! Right now! OK, it might take some practice to get good at disciplining the mind, for some of us! But it is worth the work!

And this discipline can be used to stay raw or to overcome addictions! Blocking Food Thoughts! If you start thinking about a cooked food you want to eat, you can say the same thing - I don't want this thought. I reject this thought. I don't own this thought. I cancel this thought. I release this thought.

And soon your mind is so organized and disciplined that it doesn't suggest so many destructive thoughts to you anymore.

We all filter our thoughts all the time anyway. This is just being more conscious of the process. For instance dreams - we don't take those thoughts seriously, or literally. Random thoughts, violent thoughts, fantasies, - most of us dismiss those thoughts almost right away. Sometimes strange thoughts that make no sense, like a dream-like garbled stream of thoughts - enters our mind when we're tired, trying to pray or meditate, in bed late at night after a long day - and we just recognize those as not our right mind, not our normal head-space - and we dismiss them, ignore them, or take them with a grain of salt.

Sometimes they can be annoying or confusing, but usually they don't even get that far. So, now I am learning to do this same thing for bad food thoughts. It might be difficult the first few times, but after that - well, you've just created a great new habit! - One that will give you so much energy! A new life!

Co-incidentally, I was talking with a man on the dock yesterday who told me he got over his bi-polar disorder (manic depression) after reading a book about how to control your thoughts!

Thoughts are very powerful! You deserve to live in a positive, stimulating, happy, and harmonious mental environment!

We just went and saw the second Narnia movie, Prince Caspian, and Jome was attracted to the song at the very end - The Call - which he's been listening to on Youtube, and I think its about how thoughts become reality. - Pretty song, anyway! - The movie was a bit full of battles, but it was like "The Good Fight" with a very Christian message - I enjoyed it, having grown up loving The Narnia Books!


In Joy!
Jinjee

Love's Layered Lessons!

Love! I am learning more from my 1 yr. old Yarrow about love! You think you know love, then something happens, someone happens, and you realize you knew so little. An endless journey, this unfolding of love in our hearts!

Yarrow has been looking at me with this very blissful kind of love, very joyful. And I'm joining her in that joy - and we just sort of bliss out together in love - its very magical - I'm sure many mother's know what I'm talking about - But then today she was a bit upset about something and I looked in her eyes and there was sadness there, but then the love/joy was still there too between us! Like a continuation, unbroken. And it was as though our love made the sadness and joy blend together and become one! As though love is accepting and understanding and sharing each-others bliss as well as pain. It reminded me again that life and death are one.

I am getting many similar reminders of late. Looking at people, people-watching, trying to figure this life out, I notice that there are good people in every type of person. You just can't stereotype or label people really, as far as their goodness goes.

But if you like this kind of learning about love stuff, you might enjoy my ebook of all the things I've learned from Yarrow so far -- which is called The Yoga of Nursing, or alternately titled Nursing For Emotional Intelligence - which also gets in to learning to eat to nourish our emotions in a good way, and why emotional eating isn't really at all bad if done right. The eBook is available on my garden diet site when you buy all the eBooks - - I haven't gotten around to putting it up for sale as a single eBook yet -- I will put a link in here to do that, just in case you'd like to order it individually:

Click to order Nursing For Emotional Intelligence eBook

In Joy!
Jinjee
http://www.TheGardenDiet.com