Well, unfortunetly that question is not going to be answered visually at this time. I, being unbelievably tied to the traveling life, haven't had more food than just enough for a meal or two at a time in quite awhile. I can tell you though what I am eating now and that might just have to do...
So I have been eating a lot of fresh fruits such as grapes,bananas, oranges, pineapple and melons. I have found myslef having tortillas and salad with onions and garlic in most of what I eat. I haven't been eating much rice or beans, no pasta, and very little bread. I have apples pretty often and mixed nuts have been a staple for awhile. I haven't been having much dairy or cheese, almost none. I have been staying away from most sweets, including chocolate. I have also been having more meat in my life, organic, local meat that makes me feel great when I eat it.
So there it is, a look at a traveling diet... See where I am at the end of this incredible course~ Cheers~
PS. I will get a picture as soon as I have an opportunity to have more than a few things around me.
Friday, August 27, 2010
Where Have All Our Minerals Gone?
I have been reading through pages upon articles upon research statitistics about how our mineral count in farming land and soil has been dangerously depleted since the start of the 20th century. I have read articles about how in 1930 they were warning of the dangerously low quality of our soil and that we needed to do something soon to bring back the health and vitality of our American population. That was 1930. Now fast forward to the 21rst century and take a quick overview of the sad state of our overall health as a nation. Diseases have been rapidly growing and studies have shown the link between the fall of soil quality and these diseases.
Here is a great site that has many different articles about mineral depletion on the same page. It had a lot of facts that I felt where well researched and backed for further research into this subject, if you want. http://www.scribd.com/doc/7152263/Why-Minerals
It seems that some of the greater losses we have endured are iron, sodium calcium and copper, while we are getting more phosphorous in our diet. High phosphate levels in the blood reduce the formation of the active form of vitamin D (calcitriol) in the kidneys, reduce blood calcium and possibly pose a threat to our bones. I find it interesting that the bodies natural reaction to low calcium is to provide more phosphorous and isn't this what it seems the planet has done as well? It is a danger though that elevated phosporous levels will cause calcium to mismanaged within the body and begin to effect the structure of our bones. Though not all phosphorous is bad and it can have good effecs for the body, any imbalance of the natural order of the body is potentially harmful.
So what has contributed to soil depletion anyways? Well chemical fertilizers are a having propenent, as well as poor crop management, increased nutrient demand by higher yielding crops,the changing of crops and soil erosion. These are all things that we can do something about. We can put a stand up against the chemical, heavy metal fertilizers that are not only polluting our food but also creating many forms of disease in the body. One of those being Alzheimer's as autopsies of elderly who died with this disease have shown a large number of aluminun toxins in their brain. Metals can accumulate in your fat cells, in your liver and kidneys, and in other organs. Heavy metal toxicity can impair many different systems in the body, including kidney, liver, and colon--and can cause skin damage, cardiovascular illness, and endocrine, gastrointestinal, immune, and nervous system damage. It leads you to question what other diseases are being formed due to heavy metals?? Hmm.. Well, I am sure there are plenty to choose from and if you want to find out more go to these sites:
http://www.nutritionsecurity.org/PDF/Minerals%20Go%20Down%20.pdf
http://www.klinghardtacademy.com/Articles/Heavy-Metals-and-Chronic-Diseases.html Another way to stand up against mineral depletion is to replenish our soil and give it back what it is missing. What the best way is to do that is still under heavy research, but it doesn't hurt to start using some permaculture techniques such as swales and organic compostable matter for fertilization. Glacier Rock Dust school lays thought that the last time our soil was truly given a good dose of minerals was when the glaciers retreated at the end of the last ice age. But these are just a few ideas and in my reasearch of all I found none other really stuck out to me as being efficient or factually based. This site has some good history you can sift through to understand the growth, controversy, and important figures in the timeline of soil. http://soilminerals.com/TIS_Ch1.htm
As I reflect on what I have written here I wonder also how the testing has changed over the years and how accurate the levels of minerals in soil were researched in comparison to the tools and technology we have to measure the soil today. It may seem far fetched but even though we may have definitely lost some mineral content I just wonder how accurate these readings were in the 1930's. Also it may have some effect as to where they were testing the soil and to what time of season and what type of crop they were choosing the crop from. Not that I in any way demean the reality of soil depletion and diseases. I do definitely recognize that heavy metals being induced to our environment have only raised disease rates, lowered overall health, and damaged many a generation. I see an obvious connection to this unethical greedy statement made by uncaring power driven people and organizations. But I still feel that with all the research I found on the mineral count it left me wanting to know more about how these testing techniques have changed over time.
Here is a great site that has many different articles about mineral depletion on the same page. It had a lot of facts that I felt where well researched and backed for further research into this subject, if you want. http://www.scribd.com/doc/7152263/Why-Minerals
It seems that some of the greater losses we have endured are iron, sodium calcium and copper, while we are getting more phosphorous in our diet. High phosphate levels in the blood reduce the formation of the active form of vitamin D (calcitriol) in the kidneys, reduce blood calcium and possibly pose a threat to our bones. I find it interesting that the bodies natural reaction to low calcium is to provide more phosphorous and isn't this what it seems the planet has done as well? It is a danger though that elevated phosporous levels will cause calcium to mismanaged within the body and begin to effect the structure of our bones. Though not all phosphorous is bad and it can have good effecs for the body, any imbalance of the natural order of the body is potentially harmful.
So what has contributed to soil depletion anyways? Well chemical fertilizers are a having propenent, as well as poor crop management, increased nutrient demand by higher yielding crops,the changing of crops and soil erosion. These are all things that we can do something about. We can put a stand up against the chemical, heavy metal fertilizers that are not only polluting our food but also creating many forms of disease in the body. One of those being Alzheimer's as autopsies of elderly who died with this disease have shown a large number of aluminun toxins in their brain. Metals can accumulate in your fat cells, in your liver and kidneys, and in other organs. Heavy metal toxicity can impair many different systems in the body, including kidney, liver, and colon--and can cause skin damage, cardiovascular illness, and endocrine, gastrointestinal, immune, and nervous system damage. It leads you to question what other diseases are being formed due to heavy metals?? Hmm.. Well, I am sure there are plenty to choose from and if you want to find out more go to these sites:
http://www.nutritionsecurity.org/PDF/Minerals%20Go%20Down%20.pdf
http://www.klinghardtacademy.com/Articles/Heavy-Metals-and-Chronic-Diseases.html Another way to stand up against mineral depletion is to replenish our soil and give it back what it is missing. What the best way is to do that is still under heavy research, but it doesn't hurt to start using some permaculture techniques such as swales and organic compostable matter for fertilization. Glacier Rock Dust school lays thought that the last time our soil was truly given a good dose of minerals was when the glaciers retreated at the end of the last ice age. But these are just a few ideas and in my reasearch of all I found none other really stuck out to me as being efficient or factually based. This site has some good history you can sift through to understand the growth, controversy, and important figures in the timeline of soil. http://soilminerals.com/TIS_Ch1.htm
As I reflect on what I have written here I wonder also how the testing has changed over the years and how accurate the levels of minerals in soil were researched in comparison to the tools and technology we have to measure the soil today. It may seem far fetched but even though we may have definitely lost some mineral content I just wonder how accurate these readings were in the 1930's. Also it may have some effect as to where they were testing the soil and to what time of season and what type of crop they were choosing the crop from. Not that I in any way demean the reality of soil depletion and diseases. I do definitely recognize that heavy metals being induced to our environment have only raised disease rates, lowered overall health, and damaged many a generation. I see an obvious connection to this unethical greedy statement made by uncaring power driven people and organizations. But I still feel that with all the research I found on the mineral count it left me wanting to know more about how these testing techniques have changed over time.
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Traveling Roots Go Deep
I find myself sitting in this library in Missoula , Montana. Let me reflect on how I got here... Hhmmm....
I packed my bags and looked around the room. My room until I walked out the door, then it would once again be the storage room at my brother's apartment. It had been an incredibly healing and rejuvenating space and I was a little nervous to leave. I had found such calm here, such knowledge and insight. 'Here I am' I though, "leaving this place I love. I have to be going somewhere to dismantle my home." I knew I was jumping into a tidal wave. I felt the crash but still felt I had to go. Wasn't this my dream? To be traveling doing school and hiking those beautiful mountains that always seem to taunt me to their peaks.
We left Sioux Falls, Sd in my friend Sirius' RV headed to Pennsylvania on June 21rst. My Momma cried when I left and my Dad offered me $1200 a month and a place to live just to stay. I thought about it hard and then I felt this ping in my heart and I looked my Momma in the eyes.
"If I were to stay here it would be easier, I know. I would probably be happy and definetly wouldn't have any problems in school. But if I did that it would feel like I let myself down. I have been fighting all these years, following my heart and taking the risks that have led me to this beautiful state i am in now. I feel like it is my mission and my purpose in life to do this. If I didn't it would be like I had given up on something I have worked and sacrificed for all these years. I love you and I always will, but I have to go."
So we headed south on I 29 and over the course of a week and some very interesting travels we landed in Pennsylvania at the National Rainbow Gathering. This year it was held in the beautiful Allegheny National Forest. I was there for three and a half weeks. Out in the middle of this incredible forest hiking and running and singing songs everywhere I went. At the end of the week or whenever I could I would find a ride to take me the 35 minutes into Warren, Pa. Once there I would spend all day, and once I even slept in the park there to spend two days, doing my homework. The only place in this tiny town that had WiFi was McDonald's. You would think it pretty ironic that a healthy traveling woman like myself would be spending all my time sitting at a McDonald's and researching how to be truly a healthy you. Honestly, I find it ironic. Yet, that is exactly what it was, and has been quite a few times since.
I stayed to do cleanup and watched the forest turn from a very busy, tents and kitchens everywhere area into a peaceful valley and river nature scene that settled a soul into total calm. Camping that last week there I met a beautiful group of people and in the end decided to travel with them to West Virginia to be a part of the birth of a new community. So we left in three vehicles. 4 of us in a Ford Ranger, the back piked high with gear, 3 in an old Ford Pickup, piled outrageously higher with only God knows what, and 6 in the small SUV in front. We ended up picking up two more hitchikers on the way to WV and so they too piled into the SUV for the last two hours. Hah, can you just imagine our caravan? We should have taken a picture!
We ended up gaining 7 more people in Richwood over the next three weeks. It was a sight to be seen the way that we loved and respected each other. Even when we didn't treat each other optimally we would recognize it and then acknowledge the fault within ourselves and learn from it so that we might together grow more enlightend and pure. It was truly a growth and a challenge to continue to be so honest and open when you are dealing with 17 travelers and all coming from different backgrounds, different ideals. We would sit at night and pass the feather in our circle. The feather being this beautiful foot and a half work of art that we acknowledged as many things. We saw with this feather our respect for each other, the joy of our community, the ability to be honest and open and unjudged. Each person who held this feather had the right to speak uninterrupted and as they felt they needed to. Topics would come and go and we would shed many a tear over those weeks, as well as many many laughs and inspirations. It was such a powerful connection that it took us four days to leave. Oh wow, and for me those four days were just dragging on as I was often the one keeping everyone on track as best I could.
Now, remember my schooling, my books and laptop and the need for quiet and internet. Well, in a community that large spanned only throughout two houses next door to each other peace is hard to come by. The internet at first was an incredible challenge, my computer being broken and the internet at the house being down. I had hope of being at the library for hours on end. Then I discovered the hours of the library definetly had an end. I ended up spending much of my time in a friend's house up in a bedroom doing my work. I had begun just working til I fell asleep, waking up in the middle of the night and doing more school work, and then falling asleep adn waking again to do more. I would continue this pattern while during the days working to help repair the houses, garden, help with meals, be a part of the multiple hours of concils we had at night, and try to fit in just having fun in the middle somewhere. Hard to say, but the fun always took back burner. I heard more times than not "Hey girl, aren't you done with homework? Can't you come play with us?" It was sometimes really difficult to tell them no, but most times I had to or I wouldn't be able to get it all done.
Then all of a sudden one night the truck was loaded up and we were driving away from that beautiful house on the hill and those beautiful people. We lefty with 6 of us in the Ford Ranger. We had built a stash away space in the bed of the truck so that three people could be in back while 3 of us would ride in front. All of our bags and tents and instruments we loaded on top of this wooden rack we'd built above the open space. It was a tight fit but it made us all the way to Toledo, Ohio one full day later.
We stopped in Toledo so that Raw Soul could see his parents, drop off some of his stuff, and rearrange the truck. It was Raw Soul's truck that we had been riding in the last month. Here is a good place to insert a timeline real quick. I had left Sioux Falls on June 21rst, arrived in Pennsylvania at the Rainbow Gathering on June 28th, left the Gathering and arrived in West Virgina on July 18th, and left West Virgina on August 8th. It was now August 9th and we were in Toledo.
Toledo had some power moments. Some times of true strength and compassion shing through. I remeber one distinct memory of me running through the rain out in the great stretch of land that Raw Soul's family owned. The rain was pouring down and I had been feeling so much stress and so much anger and tension and I couldn't shake it. And then it rained and thundered and the lightning came in between deep breathes across the sky. And half an hour later I found myself totally soaked, barefoot and jumping on the wet skin of the trampoline laughing and shouting to the sky that this is me. THIS IS ME!!! Yea,m this woman, this strong sure happpy glowing soul that I am blessed to have access to, this is me! Then there was the day before that when I had broke down. I had been sleeping the afternoon away while everyone ran around doing whatever it was they do. I had been up early doing homework so found myself tired and needing sleep. WhenI awoke there seemed to be this electricity in the air and I sensed just as surely as the next day I knew the rain was on it's way. We all sat down to council, I had to fight to get the feather involved, and then I just let it all out. That is the beauty of the circle and the feather, we are able to express our truth even if we don't know how to be so open beforehand. I had been feeling so broken, so scared and so unsure. I felt the pressure of my homework not getting the attention it needed, the importance of my best friend's wedding in South Dakota, 900 miles and three days away, and the fear of losing the closest friends I had had in a long time. And then, when it was all over I again saw the power of our strength and the belief we all had in each other, and though i was still tired and still had pressing issues, I felt safe and happy. That was a powerful lesson in Toledo, honesty and rejuvenation. And most importantly of all that I should have faith in the souls I found myself around and in the hearts of. We discussed the many options of me making it to my best friend's weding at the West end of South Dakota and the next night my sister and I got dropped off at a truckstop and began our journey alone.
We left Toledo on August 11th. We caught a ride with this character of a man named Sunny and were headed for Omaha, Nebraska in a semitruck. In Nebraska it took us two rides to get to Sioux Falls, Sd. Sioux Falls is on the East end of the state, and though it is our hometown and we really wanted to see all of our friends, we could only stay for a few hours. We arrived in Sioux Falls at 6 pm and at 2:30 Am we were back at The Flying J and hoping for a ride.
It was now August 13th, the day of the wedding. We sat at that table outside of the truck stop with little anxiety and a lot of faith. And ironically it was probably faith that got us onwards. We ended up getting a ride from this man, Milton, who had the ultimate 'Jesus' semitruck. Writing on all the sides, religious quotes and symbols everywhere. He told us that usually he didn't take riders but as soon as he heard why we were headed to Rapid City he just said Oh Lord, and come on then. Even now I can't help but smile and laugh at the great journey with Milton the Faithful trucker. On the trip I was shocked and surprised at how much Milton knew about nutrition! He was incredible! I was so tired and I just stayed up as long as I could as he poured information into my burning ears. He shared so much great info and had me take some Vitamin C Absorbic Acid and a couple of cleansing pills as soon as he found out I had been sick for a month with this cough and weakness all around. I truly felt like I was robbing myself by falling asleep. When we got to Rapid City Milton was so worried I wouldn't make it to the wedding that he actually got us a cab ride the 25 miles to the wedding. Wow! I was sso grateful and felts o blessed by his generosity and understanding that even now my heart soars a little.
So we made it to the wedding in plenty of time to set up a tent and relax with some old friends. Tucker's wedding was incredibly laid back and there were points in the day that I jsut stopped and had to remind myself that there was going to be a wedding. Hah, my laid back friends!! Neeedless to say the wedding was quick, beautiful, and strong with love. We all celebrated throughout the night and I couldn't have been happier to be with my dear friend on that powerful day! We spent the next day romping around the Black Hills and then felt it was important ot hitch back to Sioux Falls to meet up with the rest of our crew from Ohio. We headed back to Rapid City in my Brad's 1930's era truck and spent a long 5 hours waiting and hoping for a ride. When we did catch a ride, it now being 11 pm, we were a little unsure of the man but I was so tired that we took it anyways. Well, sure enough the guy turned out to be pretty creepy and maybe a drug addict so 3 hours shy of Sioux Falls we said NO THANKS and got off at a rest area. It was now 2 in the morning and we wer anxious to be on our way. Luckily, at the rest area was another traveler (how ironic!) and we had so much fun playing music in the building and chitchatting that the time passed quickly! We didn't have to wait very long, or so it seemed, before this awesome guy came in and offered us a ride. His name was Russell and he was so funny! Oh, and our friend's name was Teddy like Teddy Bear. So Russell offers us a ride under the agreement that we would drive and he could sleep! Aha, how funny is that!! So Gena, my sister drove, and I sat in the middle on the middle storage, and we all crammed in with Russel sleeping in the backseat of the truck. We had a great ride, smiling, laughing and truly enjoying life. We even stopped just as the sun rose on this little deserted highway and did laughing yoga and ran around like kids for awhile. Then, all too soon, but yet just on time, we were at my Mom's house and she was smiling and laughing as she came out to greet us. Ah, how beautiful mother's can look as the morning sun shines on their smiling face!
So we truly enjoyed our time in our hometown, seeing family, friends, and the favorite hangout spots we missed so much! I got to meet up with th band, Harriet Tweed, that I have been working with doing booking and promoting and that was so great. Our crew met up with us from Ohio a day or so after we got there and then we all ended up spending the next two days at my friend's house playing music, eating good food and laughing early into the morning.
And then, finally it seemed, we were off. This time two of the pack, Raw Soul and Shining, decided they wanted to hitchike to Montana and meet us there. So We dropped them off at the interstate, gassed up the ol' ranger and headed out onto the interstates again to adventure.
It is so crazy that as I write this I reflect on the fact that somehow I was able to still be doing school. Even if I was slipping a little, which drove me nuts, and still sticks to my thoughts like glue when I have assignments due, I still did it! Whoa! I keep just pressing on and believing that this is my divine path, my lesson to be learned, and a challenge to give me strength as well as inspire others. I love this school and what I am studying so much that yes, I could spend all day, everyday on it. I could literally have spent the last few months with my nose in the schoolwork and been completely happy. I have no doubt my friends would dwindle away as I happily stayed on my work and let them go off on their own to play and enjoy the sun. And often I do definetly crave that, wish for it, wonder how crazy am I to put myself on the line so much. But then, it is my nature to push myself, to find my strengths through trials, and to get the total satisfaction when I have completed something totally unbelievable.
So there we were, to bring the story back. 4 of us in a much more comfortable ride and heading West to Montana. We stopped to see the sights along the way, and believe me, when you are traveling cross country it is a bit difficult to know which ones to choose. But we decided to go to Mount Rushmore in the Black Hills and one of the coolest spots I have found in Sd. The Cosmos! This place is perplexing and magnetic in it's unique experience waiting to be found there. I highly recommend anyone passing through the Black Hills to go to this bizarre and gravity defying place. We found ourselve there two hours before opening hours and anxious to go in, knowing we wouldn't have the time to wait for the opening. So, being mischievous and dedicated we just walked over the short and easily passable rope and ran up the mountains to the crazy structures that lay tilted on the side of the hill. Oh man, even thinking about these buildings makes my head spin and get dizzy! We laughed so hard we cried and then went back through them three more times! Ahah, we could not stop giggling and belly laughing for a long time!! We ran, trying to be quiet, but still we laughed and laughed. It was such a joy filled experience! Seriously, don't miss it if you go through West South Dakota!!
And then we were in Wyoming and at a cross point. Should we go to Montana directly or take the longer route, out of the way a bit, and see Yellowstone? Oooh, I don't think we had too much to think about on that one! We headed west instead of North and decided that Yellowstone was definetly calling our names! And then we found the Medicine Wheel. We were drving down the highway and then all of a sudden a sign said Medicine Wheel to the right 100 ft. Ok, Medicine Wheel, seriously how could we pass that up?? I had no idea what it was but once we got there, up a two mile gravel and winding rode into the mountains, I understood. We had landed at this ancient native sight similar to Jerusalam for some cultures. Or so it seemed to me to have this importance. Some people would prepare for one year to come to this place and pray. It was a mile and half walk up this road and then at the mountain crest their lay a wheel pattern with I believe 24 pieces.
All along the circle fence that protected the wheel itself were scarves and crystal bags hanging from the old wooden posts. On the posts themselves were rock sanctuaries and many shells and symbolic pieces of the peoples lives who had left them there. Although I describe the wheel first, it took me an hour to get there, when usually it is only a half an hour or less walk. I could feel the sanctity of this place and wanted to prepare myself for what I found at the end of that walk. So I meditated and burned the sacred sage I had been carrying for over a year first. Opening my eyes I smiled and felt ease as I looked over the valley and the mountains beyond. I walked further and stopped where these old worn trees had grown into a circle and created a space of spiritual life in the middle. I felt as though I was in the presence of some great elders of time and was humbled to be welcomed into the purity there. I walked down that loose white rock road with a powerful sense of fulfillment and the desire to be more in tune, more true to soul, and willing to learn. I was humble in this place, and serenity grabbed me by the spirit and lifted my feet as I thought myself to be walking further along the road. I meditated for awhile on this rock free standing almost entirely out fromn the rest of the cliffs as the wind feriously waged it's anger into my body, pulling me sometimes so much that I clung to the rock for safety. I felt as though some ancient spirits were acknowledging my presence, yet testing my strength and dedication. I held on for awhile just in awe of the power of this place. My eyes feasting on the site of the valley far below me and the trees scattered along the mountainside. The clouds were beginning to darken and I could see the rain falling across the mountain range so I walked up to the Medicine Wheel site. I didn't feel as much spirituality and power as I had on the walk up when I got to the site. Nonetheless I placed my burnt sage ends as offerings and walked around the circle in homage to the true consciousness that lay waiting there. AS I left the site I, and I alone, saw the most unbelievable and truly ispiring double rainbows of my life. The bottom rainbow was just barely above the tops of the trees in the valley in front of me and the second rainbow vaguely winked to me from the sky above. It looked like an orb of rainbow distortion in the valley, not much like the rainbows I usually see at all. There truly was a mist all around that valley within the scope of those rainbow walls. And within the misty grasp of this rainnbow sensation I could see the trees change color and absorb, literally it looked as though they absorbed, the colors of the rainbow and over more than a minute the trees still maintained those colors even after the rainbow was gone. I felt incredibly honored to be the soel witness, if I wasn;t the sole I was one of only a select few due to the placement of the rainbow in the valley in between two mountains and a lot of trees. Yet... I stood there and soaked itin, smiling and breathing and feeling blessed. And then I returned to my friends awaiting me in the truck, the sun shining down upon my back all of a sudden.
And we headed to Yellowstone then. Just jumped right back in and left. We drove for awhile, I think two hours and then found ourselves in the Rodeo capitol of the world, Cody, Wyoming. We also found ourselves a new friend in a hitchiker from Switzerland by the name of Luke. He also was going to Yellowstone adn didn't mind spending the night in the truck as I stopped off at a very cold hotel to do homework.
We awoke the next morning, I did a little more homework, and then we left, the four of us in the ranger, to Yellowstone National Park. When we got to Yellowstone we almost soared through the gates. We continued soaring and smiling andlaughing right up to the point were our truck stopped running. Then there was s lag for a moment as we pondered our next move. We pushed our truck to the pull off, right next to a bison that was walkingand eating grss, and were lucky enough to have someone right there willing to tow us to the auto repair 4 miles away. And so we got the tow and spent the evening selling painted rocks and rearranging the truck. In the morning we hitchiked out of the auto repair parking lot, having packed our bags and cleaned out the truck, and headed off with a park employee to continue our journey. We had also ordered the timing belt for our friend who was going to come pick up the truck in a few days.
So we saw the rest of Yellowstone a little too quickly, and accidently got a ride all the way to Missoula, Mt instead of to the nearest Hot Springs in Yellowstone. Just our luck, but really was it?!?! We pulled into Missoula, Mt at 2 AM in the morning on August 25th, lazily picked up our bags and eventually found ourselves sleeping down by the river underneath the full moon. In the morning I awoke to my sister at my feet and the river swaying in the sunlight not too far from our site. Oh, it was gorgeous! And after a walk and some clever stashing of my pack, I find myself here, in this library and finally doing my much desired homework. Ahh, I reflect on these times, can hardly wait to tell more, and sit back for a breathe before jumping back in....
More to Come....
I packed my bags and looked around the room. My room until I walked out the door, then it would once again be the storage room at my brother's apartment. It had been an incredibly healing and rejuvenating space and I was a little nervous to leave. I had found such calm here, such knowledge and insight. 'Here I am' I though, "leaving this place I love. I have to be going somewhere to dismantle my home." I knew I was jumping into a tidal wave. I felt the crash but still felt I had to go. Wasn't this my dream? To be traveling doing school and hiking those beautiful mountains that always seem to taunt me to their peaks.
We left Sioux Falls, Sd in my friend Sirius' RV headed to Pennsylvania on June 21rst. My Momma cried when I left and my Dad offered me $1200 a month and a place to live just to stay. I thought about it hard and then I felt this ping in my heart and I looked my Momma in the eyes.
"If I were to stay here it would be easier, I know. I would probably be happy and definetly wouldn't have any problems in school. But if I did that it would feel like I let myself down. I have been fighting all these years, following my heart and taking the risks that have led me to this beautiful state i am in now. I feel like it is my mission and my purpose in life to do this. If I didn't it would be like I had given up on something I have worked and sacrificed for all these years. I love you and I always will, but I have to go."
So we headed south on I 29 and over the course of a week and some very interesting travels we landed in Pennsylvania at the National Rainbow Gathering. This year it was held in the beautiful Allegheny National Forest. I was there for three and a half weeks. Out in the middle of this incredible forest hiking and running and singing songs everywhere I went. At the end of the week or whenever I could I would find a ride to take me the 35 minutes into Warren, Pa. Once there I would spend all day, and once I even slept in the park there to spend two days, doing my homework. The only place in this tiny town that had WiFi was McDonald's. You would think it pretty ironic that a healthy traveling woman like myself would be spending all my time sitting at a McDonald's and researching how to be truly a healthy you. Honestly, I find it ironic. Yet, that is exactly what it was, and has been quite a few times since.
I stayed to do cleanup and watched the forest turn from a very busy, tents and kitchens everywhere area into a peaceful valley and river nature scene that settled a soul into total calm. Camping that last week there I met a beautiful group of people and in the end decided to travel with them to West Virginia to be a part of the birth of a new community. So we left in three vehicles. 4 of us in a Ford Ranger, the back piked high with gear, 3 in an old Ford Pickup, piled outrageously higher with only God knows what, and 6 in the small SUV in front. We ended up picking up two more hitchikers on the way to WV and so they too piled into the SUV for the last two hours. Hah, can you just imagine our caravan? We should have taken a picture!
We ended up gaining 7 more people in Richwood over the next three weeks. It was a sight to be seen the way that we loved and respected each other. Even when we didn't treat each other optimally we would recognize it and then acknowledge the fault within ourselves and learn from it so that we might together grow more enlightend and pure. It was truly a growth and a challenge to continue to be so honest and open when you are dealing with 17 travelers and all coming from different backgrounds, different ideals. We would sit at night and pass the feather in our circle. The feather being this beautiful foot and a half work of art that we acknowledged as many things. We saw with this feather our respect for each other, the joy of our community, the ability to be honest and open and unjudged. Each person who held this feather had the right to speak uninterrupted and as they felt they needed to. Topics would come and go and we would shed many a tear over those weeks, as well as many many laughs and inspirations. It was such a powerful connection that it took us four days to leave. Oh wow, and for me those four days were just dragging on as I was often the one keeping everyone on track as best I could.
Now, remember my schooling, my books and laptop and the need for quiet and internet. Well, in a community that large spanned only throughout two houses next door to each other peace is hard to come by. The internet at first was an incredible challenge, my computer being broken and the internet at the house being down. I had hope of being at the library for hours on end. Then I discovered the hours of the library definetly had an end. I ended up spending much of my time in a friend's house up in a bedroom doing my work. I had begun just working til I fell asleep, waking up in the middle of the night and doing more school work, and then falling asleep adn waking again to do more. I would continue this pattern while during the days working to help repair the houses, garden, help with meals, be a part of the multiple hours of concils we had at night, and try to fit in just having fun in the middle somewhere. Hard to say, but the fun always took back burner. I heard more times than not "Hey girl, aren't you done with homework? Can't you come play with us?" It was sometimes really difficult to tell them no, but most times I had to or I wouldn't be able to get it all done.
Then all of a sudden one night the truck was loaded up and we were driving away from that beautiful house on the hill and those beautiful people. We lefty with 6 of us in the Ford Ranger. We had built a stash away space in the bed of the truck so that three people could be in back while 3 of us would ride in front. All of our bags and tents and instruments we loaded on top of this wooden rack we'd built above the open space. It was a tight fit but it made us all the way to Toledo, Ohio one full day later.
We stopped in Toledo so that Raw Soul could see his parents, drop off some of his stuff, and rearrange the truck. It was Raw Soul's truck that we had been riding in the last month. Here is a good place to insert a timeline real quick. I had left Sioux Falls on June 21rst, arrived in Pennsylvania at the Rainbow Gathering on June 28th, left the Gathering and arrived in West Virgina on July 18th, and left West Virgina on August 8th. It was now August 9th and we were in Toledo.
Toledo had some power moments. Some times of true strength and compassion shing through. I remeber one distinct memory of me running through the rain out in the great stretch of land that Raw Soul's family owned. The rain was pouring down and I had been feeling so much stress and so much anger and tension and I couldn't shake it. And then it rained and thundered and the lightning came in between deep breathes across the sky. And half an hour later I found myself totally soaked, barefoot and jumping on the wet skin of the trampoline laughing and shouting to the sky that this is me. THIS IS ME!!! Yea,m this woman, this strong sure happpy glowing soul that I am blessed to have access to, this is me! Then there was the day before that when I had broke down. I had been sleeping the afternoon away while everyone ran around doing whatever it was they do. I had been up early doing homework so found myself tired and needing sleep. WhenI awoke there seemed to be this electricity in the air and I sensed just as surely as the next day I knew the rain was on it's way. We all sat down to council, I had to fight to get the feather involved, and then I just let it all out. That is the beauty of the circle and the feather, we are able to express our truth even if we don't know how to be so open beforehand. I had been feeling so broken, so scared and so unsure. I felt the pressure of my homework not getting the attention it needed, the importance of my best friend's wedding in South Dakota, 900 miles and three days away, and the fear of losing the closest friends I had had in a long time. And then, when it was all over I again saw the power of our strength and the belief we all had in each other, and though i was still tired and still had pressing issues, I felt safe and happy. That was a powerful lesson in Toledo, honesty and rejuvenation. And most importantly of all that I should have faith in the souls I found myself around and in the hearts of. We discussed the many options of me making it to my best friend's weding at the West end of South Dakota and the next night my sister and I got dropped off at a truckstop and began our journey alone.
We left Toledo on August 11th. We caught a ride with this character of a man named Sunny and were headed for Omaha, Nebraska in a semitruck. In Nebraska it took us two rides to get to Sioux Falls, Sd. Sioux Falls is on the East end of the state, and though it is our hometown and we really wanted to see all of our friends, we could only stay for a few hours. We arrived in Sioux Falls at 6 pm and at 2:30 Am we were back at The Flying J and hoping for a ride.
It was now August 13th, the day of the wedding. We sat at that table outside of the truck stop with little anxiety and a lot of faith. And ironically it was probably faith that got us onwards. We ended up getting a ride from this man, Milton, who had the ultimate 'Jesus' semitruck. Writing on all the sides, religious quotes and symbols everywhere. He told us that usually he didn't take riders but as soon as he heard why we were headed to Rapid City he just said Oh Lord, and come on then. Even now I can't help but smile and laugh at the great journey with Milton the Faithful trucker. On the trip I was shocked and surprised at how much Milton knew about nutrition! He was incredible! I was so tired and I just stayed up as long as I could as he poured information into my burning ears. He shared so much great info and had me take some Vitamin C Absorbic Acid and a couple of cleansing pills as soon as he found out I had been sick for a month with this cough and weakness all around. I truly felt like I was robbing myself by falling asleep. When we got to Rapid City Milton was so worried I wouldn't make it to the wedding that he actually got us a cab ride the 25 miles to the wedding. Wow! I was sso grateful and felts o blessed by his generosity and understanding that even now my heart soars a little.
So we made it to the wedding in plenty of time to set up a tent and relax with some old friends. Tucker's wedding was incredibly laid back and there were points in the day that I jsut stopped and had to remind myself that there was going to be a wedding. Hah, my laid back friends!! Neeedless to say the wedding was quick, beautiful, and strong with love. We all celebrated throughout the night and I couldn't have been happier to be with my dear friend on that powerful day! We spent the next day romping around the Black Hills and then felt it was important ot hitch back to Sioux Falls to meet up with the rest of our crew from Ohio. We headed back to Rapid City in my Brad's 1930's era truck and spent a long 5 hours waiting and hoping for a ride. When we did catch a ride, it now being 11 pm, we were a little unsure of the man but I was so tired that we took it anyways. Well, sure enough the guy turned out to be pretty creepy and maybe a drug addict so 3 hours shy of Sioux Falls we said NO THANKS and got off at a rest area. It was now 2 in the morning and we wer anxious to be on our way. Luckily, at the rest area was another traveler (how ironic!) and we had so much fun playing music in the building and chitchatting that the time passed quickly! We didn't have to wait very long, or so it seemed, before this awesome guy came in and offered us a ride. His name was Russell and he was so funny! Oh, and our friend's name was Teddy like Teddy Bear. So Russell offers us a ride under the agreement that we would drive and he could sleep! Aha, how funny is that!! So Gena, my sister drove, and I sat in the middle on the middle storage, and we all crammed in with Russel sleeping in the backseat of the truck. We had a great ride, smiling, laughing and truly enjoying life. We even stopped just as the sun rose on this little deserted highway and did laughing yoga and ran around like kids for awhile. Then, all too soon, but yet just on time, we were at my Mom's house and she was smiling and laughing as she came out to greet us. Ah, how beautiful mother's can look as the morning sun shines on their smiling face!
So we truly enjoyed our time in our hometown, seeing family, friends, and the favorite hangout spots we missed so much! I got to meet up with th band, Harriet Tweed, that I have been working with doing booking and promoting and that was so great. Our crew met up with us from Ohio a day or so after we got there and then we all ended up spending the next two days at my friend's house playing music, eating good food and laughing early into the morning.
And then, finally it seemed, we were off. This time two of the pack, Raw Soul and Shining, decided they wanted to hitchike to Montana and meet us there. So We dropped them off at the interstate, gassed up the ol' ranger and headed out onto the interstates again to adventure.
It is so crazy that as I write this I reflect on the fact that somehow I was able to still be doing school. Even if I was slipping a little, which drove me nuts, and still sticks to my thoughts like glue when I have assignments due, I still did it! Whoa! I keep just pressing on and believing that this is my divine path, my lesson to be learned, and a challenge to give me strength as well as inspire others. I love this school and what I am studying so much that yes, I could spend all day, everyday on it. I could literally have spent the last few months with my nose in the schoolwork and been completely happy. I have no doubt my friends would dwindle away as I happily stayed on my work and let them go off on their own to play and enjoy the sun. And often I do definetly crave that, wish for it, wonder how crazy am I to put myself on the line so much. But then, it is my nature to push myself, to find my strengths through trials, and to get the total satisfaction when I have completed something totally unbelievable.
So there we were, to bring the story back. 4 of us in a much more comfortable ride and heading West to Montana. We stopped to see the sights along the way, and believe me, when you are traveling cross country it is a bit difficult to know which ones to choose. But we decided to go to Mount Rushmore in the Black Hills and one of the coolest spots I have found in Sd. The Cosmos! This place is perplexing and magnetic in it's unique experience waiting to be found there. I highly recommend anyone passing through the Black Hills to go to this bizarre and gravity defying place. We found ourselve there two hours before opening hours and anxious to go in, knowing we wouldn't have the time to wait for the opening. So, being mischievous and dedicated we just walked over the short and easily passable rope and ran up the mountains to the crazy structures that lay tilted on the side of the hill. Oh man, even thinking about these buildings makes my head spin and get dizzy! We laughed so hard we cried and then went back through them three more times! Ahah, we could not stop giggling and belly laughing for a long time!! We ran, trying to be quiet, but still we laughed and laughed. It was such a joy filled experience! Seriously, don't miss it if you go through West South Dakota!!
And then we were in Wyoming and at a cross point. Should we go to Montana directly or take the longer route, out of the way a bit, and see Yellowstone? Oooh, I don't think we had too much to think about on that one! We headed west instead of North and decided that Yellowstone was definetly calling our names! And then we found the Medicine Wheel. We were drving down the highway and then all of a sudden a sign said Medicine Wheel to the right 100 ft. Ok, Medicine Wheel, seriously how could we pass that up?? I had no idea what it was but once we got there, up a two mile gravel and winding rode into the mountains, I understood. We had landed at this ancient native sight similar to Jerusalam for some cultures. Or so it seemed to me to have this importance. Some people would prepare for one year to come to this place and pray. It was a mile and half walk up this road and then at the mountain crest their lay a wheel pattern with I believe 24 pieces.
All along the circle fence that protected the wheel itself were scarves and crystal bags hanging from the old wooden posts. On the posts themselves were rock sanctuaries and many shells and symbolic pieces of the peoples lives who had left them there. Although I describe the wheel first, it took me an hour to get there, when usually it is only a half an hour or less walk. I could feel the sanctity of this place and wanted to prepare myself for what I found at the end of that walk. So I meditated and burned the sacred sage I had been carrying for over a year first. Opening my eyes I smiled and felt ease as I looked over the valley and the mountains beyond. I walked further and stopped where these old worn trees had grown into a circle and created a space of spiritual life in the middle. I felt as though I was in the presence of some great elders of time and was humbled to be welcomed into the purity there. I walked down that loose white rock road with a powerful sense of fulfillment and the desire to be more in tune, more true to soul, and willing to learn. I was humble in this place, and serenity grabbed me by the spirit and lifted my feet as I thought myself to be walking further along the road. I meditated for awhile on this rock free standing almost entirely out fromn the rest of the cliffs as the wind feriously waged it's anger into my body, pulling me sometimes so much that I clung to the rock for safety. I felt as though some ancient spirits were acknowledging my presence, yet testing my strength and dedication. I held on for awhile just in awe of the power of this place. My eyes feasting on the site of the valley far below me and the trees scattered along the mountainside. The clouds were beginning to darken and I could see the rain falling across the mountain range so I walked up to the Medicine Wheel site. I didn't feel as much spirituality and power as I had on the walk up when I got to the site. Nonetheless I placed my burnt sage ends as offerings and walked around the circle in homage to the true consciousness that lay waiting there. AS I left the site I, and I alone, saw the most unbelievable and truly ispiring double rainbows of my life. The bottom rainbow was just barely above the tops of the trees in the valley in front of me and the second rainbow vaguely winked to me from the sky above. It looked like an orb of rainbow distortion in the valley, not much like the rainbows I usually see at all. There truly was a mist all around that valley within the scope of those rainbow walls. And within the misty grasp of this rainnbow sensation I could see the trees change color and absorb, literally it looked as though they absorbed, the colors of the rainbow and over more than a minute the trees still maintained those colors even after the rainbow was gone. I felt incredibly honored to be the soel witness, if I wasn;t the sole I was one of only a select few due to the placement of the rainbow in the valley in between two mountains and a lot of trees. Yet... I stood there and soaked itin, smiling and breathing and feeling blessed. And then I returned to my friends awaiting me in the truck, the sun shining down upon my back all of a sudden.
And we headed to Yellowstone then. Just jumped right back in and left. We drove for awhile, I think two hours and then found ourselves in the Rodeo capitol of the world, Cody, Wyoming. We also found ourselves a new friend in a hitchiker from Switzerland by the name of Luke. He also was going to Yellowstone adn didn't mind spending the night in the truck as I stopped off at a very cold hotel to do homework.
We awoke the next morning, I did a little more homework, and then we left, the four of us in the ranger, to Yellowstone National Park. When we got to Yellowstone we almost soared through the gates. We continued soaring and smiling andlaughing right up to the point were our truck stopped running. Then there was s lag for a moment as we pondered our next move. We pushed our truck to the pull off, right next to a bison that was walkingand eating grss, and were lucky enough to have someone right there willing to tow us to the auto repair 4 miles away. And so we got the tow and spent the evening selling painted rocks and rearranging the truck. In the morning we hitchiked out of the auto repair parking lot, having packed our bags and cleaned out the truck, and headed off with a park employee to continue our journey. We had also ordered the timing belt for our friend who was going to come pick up the truck in a few days.
So we saw the rest of Yellowstone a little too quickly, and accidently got a ride all the way to Missoula, Mt instead of to the nearest Hot Springs in Yellowstone. Just our luck, but really was it?!?! We pulled into Missoula, Mt at 2 AM in the morning on August 25th, lazily picked up our bags and eventually found ourselves sleeping down by the river underneath the full moon. In the morning I awoke to my sister at my feet and the river swaying in the sunlight not too far from our site. Oh, it was gorgeous! And after a walk and some clever stashing of my pack, I find myself here, in this library and finally doing my much desired homework. Ahh, I reflect on these times, can hardly wait to tell more, and sit back for a breathe before jumping back in....
More to Come....
Sunday, August 22, 2010
Comparing the past with the Now
I remember those pancakes in the morning. The smell lifted through the air like angels singing and my heart soared as I mixed in the blueberries, walnuts, honey, and flax seed. I even had yogurt to go with it and some fresh fruit on the side, well actually on the top to complete my satisfaction. And for lunch? A salad with the variety of color I probably dream about. Ahh, just a minute while I catch my breathe remembering. Mm hmm, that was good! I even remember the supper without looking at my chart. It was salmon with leeks and kale tossed in the wonderful combo of olive oil, garlic, lemon juice and love. It had felt like an amazing day. My body floated through the moments and my mind was breezing through one assignment after the other.
Now, here I go with my meals today. I had an apple for breakfast with some mixed nuts. I snacked on salt and vinegar chips, more mixed nuts, carrots, which I shared with my sister, and had apple juice to drink. The diet of the road. I think I might have had more somewhere, it feels like I should have. I sit and try to remember. Oh yes, and I had organic peanut butter and just recently I had some sprite with cranberry juice. Wow, what a difference. I knew it was going to be and I kept thinking in my head how much has changed since my days in June. So I wonder now, what is the true health in where I am now and where I was then. Dare I say it may be an interesting expirement of me losing most ground in the middle of this program only to feel even better at the end when I can finally buy, prepare, and invite my friends to share the incredible nutrion I love. Oooh, and sit down in a chair and watch the world go by as I eat it too. Mmmm, in a beautiful, calming space all my own! Ah yes, it shall be interesting to see, but for now I turn to getting to the core of my diet.
Excuse me while I run and get the details~
UPDATE-
So I just spent the last hour and a half getting great info on the vitamin content of all these foods and it just got deleted! Oh my gosh... So I am going to take a deep breathe and start all over agian... OUCH!
WEEK 1
Blueberries -
Vitamin A - 217 IU
Vitamin B1 (thiamine) - 0.055 mg
Vitamin B2 (riboflavin) - 0.061 mg
Niacin - 0.08 mg
Folate - 9 mcg
Pantothenic Acid - 0.184 mg
Vitamin B6 - 0.077 mg
Vitamin C - 14.4 mg
Vitamin E - 2.29 mg
Vitamin K - 28.6 mcg
Contains some other vitamins in small amounts.
Walnuts -
Vitamin C - 0.4 mg
Vitamin B1 (thiamine) - 0.097 mg
Vitamin B2 (riboflavin) - 0.043 mg
Niacin - 0.319 mg
Pantothenic Acid - 0.162 mg
Vitamin B6 - 0.152 mg
Folate - 28 mcg
Vitamin A - 6 IU
Vitamin E - 0.2 mg
Vitamin K - 0.8 mcg
Contains some other vitamins in small amounts.
Flaxseeds -
Vitamin C 0.1 mg
Vitamin B1 (thiamine) - 0.169 mg
Vitamin B2 (riboflavin) - 0.017 mg
Niacin - 0.317 mg
Pantothenic Acid - 0.101 mg
Vitamin B6 - 0.049 mg
Folate - 9 mcg
Vitamin E - 0.03 mg
Vitamin K - 0.4 mcg
Contains some other vitamins in small amounts.
Whole Wheat -
Vitamin B1 (thiamine) - 0.504 mg
Vitamin B2 (riboflavin) - 0.11 mg
Niacin - 5.71 mg
Pantothenic Acid - 0.935 mg
Vitamin B6 - 0.336 mg
Folate - 43 mcg
Vitamin A - 9 IU
Vitamin E - 1.01 mg
Vitamin K - 1.9 mcg
Contains some other vitamins in small amounts.
Strawberries -
Vitamin A - 17 IU
Vitamin B1 (thiamine) - 0.035 mg
Vitamin B2 (riboflavin) - 0.032 mg
Niacin - 0.556 mg
Folate - 35 mcg
Pantothenic Acid - 0.18 mg
Vitamin B6 - 0.068 mg
Vitamin C - 84.7 mg
Vitamin E - 0.42 mg
Vitamin K - 3.2 mcg
Contains some other vitamins in small amounts.
Blackberries
Potassium - 233 mg
Phosphorus - 32 mg
Magnesium - 29 mg
Calcium - 42 mg
Sodium - 1 mg
Iron - 0.89 mg
Selenium 0.6 mcg
Manganese - 0.93 mg
Copper - 0.238 mg
Zinc - 0.76 mg
Also contains small amounts of other minerals.
Spinach -
Vitamin C - 8.4 mg
Niacin - 0.217 mg
Vitamin B1 (thiamine) - 0.023 mg
Vitamin B2 (riboflavin) - 0.057 mg
Vitamin B6 - 0.059 mg
Pantothenic Acid - 0.02 mg
Folate - 58 mcg
Vitamin A - 2813 mg
Vitamin K - 144.9 mcg
Vitamin E - 0.61 mg
Contains some other vitamins in small amounts.
Tomatoes -
Vitamin A - 1025 IU
Vitamin B1 (thiamine) - 0.046 mg
Vitamin B2 (riboflavin) - 0.023 mg
Niacin - 0.731 mg
Folate - 18 mcg
Pantothenic Acid - 0.109 mg
Vitamin B6 - 0.098 mg
Vitamin C - 15.6 mg
Vitamin E - 0.66 mg
Vitamin K - 9.7 mcg
Contains some other vitamins in small amounts.
-
Salmon -
Vitamin B1 (thiamine) - 0.275 mg
Vitamin B2 (riboflavin) - 0.487 mg
Niacin - 10.077 mg
Pantothenic Acid - 1.92 mg
Vitamin B6 - 0.944 mg
Folate- 29 mcg
Vitamin B12 - 3.05 mcg
Vitamin A - 44 IU
Contains some other vitamins in small amounts.
Leeks -
Vitamin C - 5.2 mg
Niacin - 0.248 mg
Vitamin B1 (thiamine) - 0.032 mg
Vitamin B2 (riboflavin) - 0.025 mg
Vitamin B6 - 0.14 mg
Folate - 30 mcg
Pantothenic Acid - 0.089 mg
Vitamin A - 1007 IU
Vitamin K - 31.5 mcg
Vitamin E - 0.62 mg
Contains some other vitamins in small amounts.
WEEK 2
Apple -
Vitamin A - 98 IU
Vitamin B1 (thiamine) - 0.031 mg
Vitamin B2 (riboflavin) - 0.047 mg
Niacin - 0.166 mg
Folate - 5 mcg
Pantothenic Acid - 0.111 mg
Vitamin B6 - 0.075 mg
Vitamin C - 8.4 mg
Vitamin E - 0.33 mg
Vitamin K - 4 mcg
Contains some other vitamins in small amounts.
Walnuts -
Vitamin C - 0.4 mg
Vitamin B1 (thiamine) - 0.097 mg
Vitamin B2 (riboflavin) - 0.043 mg
Niacin - 0.319 mg
Pantothenic Acid - 0.162 mg
Vitamin B6 - 0.152 mg
Folate - 28 mcg
Vitamin A - 6 IU
Vitamin E - 0.2 mg
Vitamin K - 0.8 mcg
Contains some other vitamins in small amounts.
Almonds -
Vitamin B1 (thiamine) - 0.06 mg
Vitamin B2 (riboflavin) - 0.287 mg
Niacin - 0.96 mg
Folate - 14 mcg
Pantothenic Acid - 0.133 mg
Vitamin B6 - 0.041 mg
Vitamin E - 7.43 mg
Contains some other vitamins in small amounts.
Cashews -
Vitamin C - 0.1 mg
Vitamin B1 (thiamine) - 0.12 mg
Vitamin B2 (riboflavin) - 0.016 mg
Niacin - 0.301 mg
Pantothenic Acid - 0.245 mg
Vitamin B6 - 0.118 mg
Folate - 7 mcg
Vitamin E - 0.26 mg
Vitamin K - 9.7 mcg
Contains some other vitamins in small amounts.
Pumpkin Seeds-
Vitamin C - 0.5 mg
Vitamin B1 (thiamine) - 0.02 mg
Vitamin B2 (riboflavin) - 0.043 mg
Niacin - 1.256 mg
Pantothenic Acid - 0.162 mg
Vitamin B6 - 0.028 mg
Folate - 16 mcg
Vitamin A - 2 IU
Vitamin E - 0.16 mg
Vitamin K - 1.3 mcg
Contains some other vitamins in small amounts.
Dried Cranberries -
Vitamin A - 60 IU
Vitamin B1 (thiamine) - 0.012 mg
Vitamin B2 (riboflavin) - 0.02 mg
Niacin - 0.101 mg
Folate - 1 mcg
Pantothenic Acid - 0.295 mg
Vitamin B6 - 0.057 mg
Vitamin C - 13.3 mg
Vitamin E - 1.2 mg
Vitamin K - 5.1 mcg
Contains some other vitamins in small amounts.
Orange -
Vitamin A - 295 IU
Vitamin B1 (thiamine) - 0.114 mg
Vitamin B2 (riboflavin) - 0.052 mg
Niacin - 0.369 mg
Folate - 39 mcg
Pantothenic Acid - 0.328 mg
Vitamin B6 - 0.079 mg
Vitamin C - 69.7 mg
Vitamin E - 0.24 mg
Contains some other vitamins in small amounts.
Carrots -
Vitamin A - 13286 IU
Vitamin C - 2.8 mg
Vitamin B1 (thiamine) - 0.051 mg
Vitamin B2 (riboflavin) - 0.034 mg
Niacin - 0.503 mg
Folate - 11 mcg
Pantothenic Acid - 0.181 mg
Vitamin B6 - 0.119 mg
Vitamin K - 10.7 mcg
Vitamin E - 0.8 mg
Contains some other vitamins in small amounts.
Pine Nuts-
Vitamin C - 0.2 mg
Vitamin B1 (thiamine) - 0.103 mg
Vitamin B2 (riboflavin) - 0.064 mg
Niacin - 1.244 mg
Pantothenic Acid - 0.089 mg
Vitamin B6 - 0.027 mg
Folate - 10 mcg
Vitamin A - 8 IU
Vitamin E - 2.65 mg
Vitamin K - 15.3 mcg
Contains some other vitamins in small amounts.
Salt and Vinegar Potato Chips- Vitamin C 10%
Apple Juice -
Vitamin A 22.5 IU
Vitamin C72.38 mg 121% DV
So it will take me some time to fully process all these details, but I can tell you how much more balanced I felt in Week 1 and how my body is low in energy and tired now. I do have much better bowel movements and that is a bonus, I think the added fiber from the nuts has done alot to help me with that.am not as emotionally balanced now as I was week 1. In looking at the facts I can really see how having all those greens and the joy of cooking help keep me in balance. It is ironic that through this class I am actually seeing my health go down and knowing why but not able to do to much about it where I sit now. I can hardly wait to be back in my comfort zone and cooking up a storm... Life is going to get better and better!
Now, here I go with my meals today. I had an apple for breakfast with some mixed nuts. I snacked on salt and vinegar chips, more mixed nuts, carrots, which I shared with my sister, and had apple juice to drink. The diet of the road. I think I might have had more somewhere, it feels like I should have. I sit and try to remember. Oh yes, and I had organic peanut butter and just recently I had some sprite with cranberry juice. Wow, what a difference. I knew it was going to be and I kept thinking in my head how much has changed since my days in June. So I wonder now, what is the true health in where I am now and where I was then. Dare I say it may be an interesting expirement of me losing most ground in the middle of this program only to feel even better at the end when I can finally buy, prepare, and invite my friends to share the incredible nutrion I love. Oooh, and sit down in a chair and watch the world go by as I eat it too. Mmmm, in a beautiful, calming space all my own! Ah yes, it shall be interesting to see, but for now I turn to getting to the core of my diet.
Excuse me while I run and get the details~
UPDATE-
So I just spent the last hour and a half getting great info on the vitamin content of all these foods and it just got deleted! Oh my gosh... So I am going to take a deep breathe and start all over agian... OUCH!
WEEK 1
Blueberries -
Vitamin A - 217 IU
Vitamin B1 (thiamine) - 0.055 mg
Vitamin B2 (riboflavin) - 0.061 mg
Niacin - 0.08 mg
Folate - 9 mcg
Pantothenic Acid - 0.184 mg
Vitamin B6 - 0.077 mg
Vitamin C - 14.4 mg
Vitamin E - 2.29 mg
Vitamin K - 28.6 mcg
Contains some other vitamins in small amounts.
Walnuts -
Vitamin C - 0.4 mg
Vitamin B1 (thiamine) - 0.097 mg
Vitamin B2 (riboflavin) - 0.043 mg
Niacin - 0.319 mg
Pantothenic Acid - 0.162 mg
Vitamin B6 - 0.152 mg
Folate - 28 mcg
Vitamin A - 6 IU
Vitamin E - 0.2 mg
Vitamin K - 0.8 mcg
Contains some other vitamins in small amounts.
Flaxseeds -
Vitamin C 0.1 mg
Vitamin B1 (thiamine) - 0.169 mg
Vitamin B2 (riboflavin) - 0.017 mg
Niacin - 0.317 mg
Pantothenic Acid - 0.101 mg
Vitamin B6 - 0.049 mg
Folate - 9 mcg
Vitamin E - 0.03 mg
Vitamin K - 0.4 mcg
Contains some other vitamins in small amounts.
Whole Wheat -
Vitamin B1 (thiamine) - 0.504 mg
Vitamin B2 (riboflavin) - 0.11 mg
Niacin - 5.71 mg
Pantothenic Acid - 0.935 mg
Vitamin B6 - 0.336 mg
Folate - 43 mcg
Vitamin A - 9 IU
Vitamin E - 1.01 mg
Vitamin K - 1.9 mcg
Contains some other vitamins in small amounts.
Strawberries -
Vitamin A - 17 IU
Vitamin B1 (thiamine) - 0.035 mg
Vitamin B2 (riboflavin) - 0.032 mg
Niacin - 0.556 mg
Folate - 35 mcg
Pantothenic Acid - 0.18 mg
Vitamin B6 - 0.068 mg
Vitamin C - 84.7 mg
Vitamin E - 0.42 mg
Vitamin K - 3.2 mcg
Contains some other vitamins in small amounts.
Blackberries
Potassium - 233 mg
Phosphorus - 32 mg
Magnesium - 29 mg
Calcium - 42 mg
Sodium - 1 mg
Iron - 0.89 mg
Selenium 0.6 mcg
Manganese - 0.93 mg
Copper - 0.238 mg
Zinc - 0.76 mg
Also contains small amounts of other minerals.
Spinach -
Vitamin C - 8.4 mg
Niacin - 0.217 mg
Vitamin B1 (thiamine) - 0.023 mg
Vitamin B2 (riboflavin) - 0.057 mg
Vitamin B6 - 0.059 mg
Pantothenic Acid - 0.02 mg
Folate - 58 mcg
Vitamin A - 2813 mg
Vitamin K - 144.9 mcg
Vitamin E - 0.61 mg
Contains some other vitamins in small amounts.
Tomatoes -
Vitamin A - 1025 IU
Vitamin B1 (thiamine) - 0.046 mg
Vitamin B2 (riboflavin) - 0.023 mg
Niacin - 0.731 mg
Folate - 18 mcg
Pantothenic Acid - 0.109 mg
Vitamin B6 - 0.098 mg
Vitamin C - 15.6 mg
Vitamin E - 0.66 mg
Vitamin K - 9.7 mcg
Contains some other vitamins in small amounts.
-
Salmon -
Vitamin B1 (thiamine) - 0.275 mg
Vitamin B2 (riboflavin) - 0.487 mg
Niacin - 10.077 mg
Pantothenic Acid - 1.92 mg
Vitamin B6 - 0.944 mg
Folate- 29 mcg
Vitamin B12 - 3.05 mcg
Vitamin A - 44 IU
Contains some other vitamins in small amounts.
Leeks -
Vitamin C - 5.2 mg
Niacin - 0.248 mg
Vitamin B1 (thiamine) - 0.032 mg
Vitamin B2 (riboflavin) - 0.025 mg
Vitamin B6 - 0.14 mg
Folate - 30 mcg
Pantothenic Acid - 0.089 mg
Vitamin A - 1007 IU
Vitamin K - 31.5 mcg
Vitamin E - 0.62 mg
Contains some other vitamins in small amounts.
WEEK 2
Apple -
Vitamin A - 98 IU
Vitamin B1 (thiamine) - 0.031 mg
Vitamin B2 (riboflavin) - 0.047 mg
Niacin - 0.166 mg
Folate - 5 mcg
Pantothenic Acid - 0.111 mg
Vitamin B6 - 0.075 mg
Vitamin C - 8.4 mg
Vitamin E - 0.33 mg
Vitamin K - 4 mcg
Contains some other vitamins in small amounts.
Walnuts -
Vitamin C - 0.4 mg
Vitamin B1 (thiamine) - 0.097 mg
Vitamin B2 (riboflavin) - 0.043 mg
Niacin - 0.319 mg
Pantothenic Acid - 0.162 mg
Vitamin B6 - 0.152 mg
Folate - 28 mcg
Vitamin A - 6 IU
Vitamin E - 0.2 mg
Vitamin K - 0.8 mcg
Contains some other vitamins in small amounts.
Almonds -
Vitamin B1 (thiamine) - 0.06 mg
Vitamin B2 (riboflavin) - 0.287 mg
Niacin - 0.96 mg
Folate - 14 mcg
Pantothenic Acid - 0.133 mg
Vitamin B6 - 0.041 mg
Vitamin E - 7.43 mg
Contains some other vitamins in small amounts.
Cashews -
Vitamin C - 0.1 mg
Vitamin B1 (thiamine) - 0.12 mg
Vitamin B2 (riboflavin) - 0.016 mg
Niacin - 0.301 mg
Pantothenic Acid - 0.245 mg
Vitamin B6 - 0.118 mg
Folate - 7 mcg
Vitamin E - 0.26 mg
Vitamin K - 9.7 mcg
Contains some other vitamins in small amounts.
Pumpkin Seeds-
Vitamin C - 0.5 mg
Vitamin B1 (thiamine) - 0.02 mg
Vitamin B2 (riboflavin) - 0.043 mg
Niacin - 1.256 mg
Pantothenic Acid - 0.162 mg
Vitamin B6 - 0.028 mg
Folate - 16 mcg
Vitamin A - 2 IU
Vitamin E - 0.16 mg
Vitamin K - 1.3 mcg
Contains some other vitamins in small amounts.
Dried Cranberries -
Vitamin A - 60 IU
Vitamin B1 (thiamine) - 0.012 mg
Vitamin B2 (riboflavin) - 0.02 mg
Niacin - 0.101 mg
Folate - 1 mcg
Pantothenic Acid - 0.295 mg
Vitamin B6 - 0.057 mg
Vitamin C - 13.3 mg
Vitamin E - 1.2 mg
Vitamin K - 5.1 mcg
Contains some other vitamins in small amounts.
Orange -
Vitamin A - 295 IU
Vitamin B1 (thiamine) - 0.114 mg
Vitamin B2 (riboflavin) - 0.052 mg
Niacin - 0.369 mg
Folate - 39 mcg
Pantothenic Acid - 0.328 mg
Vitamin B6 - 0.079 mg
Vitamin C - 69.7 mg
Vitamin E - 0.24 mg
Contains some other vitamins in small amounts.
Carrots -
Vitamin A - 13286 IU
Vitamin C - 2.8 mg
Vitamin B1 (thiamine) - 0.051 mg
Vitamin B2 (riboflavin) - 0.034 mg
Niacin - 0.503 mg
Folate - 11 mcg
Pantothenic Acid - 0.181 mg
Vitamin B6 - 0.119 mg
Vitamin K - 10.7 mcg
Vitamin E - 0.8 mg
Contains some other vitamins in small amounts.
Pine Nuts-
Vitamin C - 0.2 mg
Vitamin B1 (thiamine) - 0.103 mg
Vitamin B2 (riboflavin) - 0.064 mg
Niacin - 1.244 mg
Pantothenic Acid - 0.089 mg
Vitamin B6 - 0.027 mg
Folate - 10 mcg
Vitamin A - 8 IU
Vitamin E - 2.65 mg
Vitamin K - 15.3 mcg
Contains some other vitamins in small amounts.
Salt and Vinegar Potato Chips- Vitamin C 10%
Apple Juice -
Vitamin A 22.5 IU
Vitamin C72.38 mg 121% DV
So it will take me some time to fully process all these details, but I can tell you how much more balanced I felt in Week 1 and how my body is low in energy and tired now. I do have much better bowel movements and that is a bonus, I think the added fiber from the nuts has done alot to help me with that.am not as emotionally balanced now as I was week 1. In looking at the facts I can really see how having all those greens and the joy of cooking help keep me in balance. It is ironic that through this class I am actually seeing my health go down and knowing why but not able to do to much about it where I sit now. I can hardly wait to be back in my comfort zone and cooking up a storm... Life is going to get better and better!
Ph testing and the Surprise of Health
I stared at the strip and my eyes lit up, my mind smiled and the sun even seemed to glow better. I had just got a 7.0 for my ph balance reading. I don't know why it shocked me so much to see such health. I should have known that is what it was right? Yet, somehow ph strips can sometimes really surprise you.
Ok, I have to break and bring you into my moment before I go any further, this is my blog right. SO my mind is weak, my body is tired and I am freezing cold in this icebox of a Holiday Inn in Cody, Wy. I have been on the road since June 21rst and have been in this amazing school program since June 7th. THE amazing school program I have dreamt of and waited patiently to be ready to go to for 5 and 1/2 years. I remember when I first talked with the school with definite intentions of doing the paperwork and setting a start date. I cried. Literally, I teared up and thanked the woman for being so incredible and felt like the World was begininning to turn a little faster now.
And here I find myself, two years later. Freezing and sad and feeling so let down by myself to be writing my PH blog weeks late. It is a shock to see it written down. See, I never view any of my assignments as obligation, as a 'homework' piece. I see the opportunity to have my mind sent in the right directions from the right people with the greatest group to bring enlightenment every step of the way. I see the growth of my soul and happily sit at the computer typing in searches and reading pages upon pages of information. Why? Because it is what I have wanted to do for 8 years. That's right, for 8 years I have wanted to sit here and type this to you. I have been patiently awaiting the time that Dr. H and Linda Bennett were going to open my mind to questions that are beyond me but reachable. Expansion. It's all the beauty and awesome power of expanding the mind.
So I sit here and shake my head. I know I have been downing myself, I know I have been hurt by my mishaps. I know it affects my PH value, yet how do I remedy this unjustice to self? I go back to my travels now. I have been on the road so long now, and not the way I thought I would be. I was planning to buy an RV with my school loans, planning to drive around with a satellite and full time internet wherever my little heart could dare to go. No problems, minor challenges, and the dream beyond the dream. Then the fall began, my computer was dropped and over 4 weeks became unacceptable to use. My school loan was actually coming two months later too. Now this hit me mid July and I wasn't sure what to do but knew I was going to do it and succeed. So I, already having packed all my things and full time traveling, could only send out a prayer and roll with it. I was there having left my job a month earlier, and all of a sudden my plan fell through. So I took what was left of my cash and headed onwards into the unknown. I was up to the challenge then, and for quite some time, despite all the road blocks I faced, keeping up. But it has finally caught me. I know I am strong and driven and will succeed, but I am ready to land. To have my space, to have a time for quiet and for study. To not feel so weighted by something I love and desire so much.
That's the part that gets me. Even in the metaphor the 'weight' of this program is just something I feel shouldn't be there. Could you say your passion was an obligation? That's how it feels and it is making me just feel totally lost.
I take all this in and wonder how does this thinking, this anxiety and sadness affect my PH balance. That's where I was so glad and surprised to see the PH so high. The test having just been taken on the side of the road next to the semi my sister and I had just hitched a ride across South Dakota with. Ha, life is crazy, Ph is truth, and I feel that weight being lifted already. Despite all these crazy emotions there is still the incredible feeling of how blessed I am to have this dilema. I am going to do a more efficient, week long PH test to see where truly my alkalinity lies, but until then I am going to breathe deep, eat as healthy as the road and my pocket allows, and smile. Oh, this crazy beautiful life I live, thanks for being a part of my journey and for reading all this too. I feel better now, I might even be warmer here in this ice box hotel I find myself iin. Hah, dream on kid~
*Update*
The morning Ph is 5.5 and I was somewhat taken aback at having such a low ph. I am going to keep up the testing now that I have the strips and we will see how the ph turns out tonight.
Ok, I have to break and bring you into my moment before I go any further, this is my blog right. SO my mind is weak, my body is tired and I am freezing cold in this icebox of a Holiday Inn in Cody, Wy. I have been on the road since June 21rst and have been in this amazing school program since June 7th. THE amazing school program I have dreamt of and waited patiently to be ready to go to for 5 and 1/2 years. I remember when I first talked with the school with definite intentions of doing the paperwork and setting a start date. I cried. Literally, I teared up and thanked the woman for being so incredible and felt like the World was begininning to turn a little faster now.
And here I find myself, two years later. Freezing and sad and feeling so let down by myself to be writing my PH blog weeks late. It is a shock to see it written down. See, I never view any of my assignments as obligation, as a 'homework' piece. I see the opportunity to have my mind sent in the right directions from the right people with the greatest group to bring enlightenment every step of the way. I see the growth of my soul and happily sit at the computer typing in searches and reading pages upon pages of information. Why? Because it is what I have wanted to do for 8 years. That's right, for 8 years I have wanted to sit here and type this to you. I have been patiently awaiting the time that Dr. H and Linda Bennett were going to open my mind to questions that are beyond me but reachable. Expansion. It's all the beauty and awesome power of expanding the mind.
So I sit here and shake my head. I know I have been downing myself, I know I have been hurt by my mishaps. I know it affects my PH value, yet how do I remedy this unjustice to self? I go back to my travels now. I have been on the road so long now, and not the way I thought I would be. I was planning to buy an RV with my school loans, planning to drive around with a satellite and full time internet wherever my little heart could dare to go. No problems, minor challenges, and the dream beyond the dream. Then the fall began, my computer was dropped and over 4 weeks became unacceptable to use. My school loan was actually coming two months later too. Now this hit me mid July and I wasn't sure what to do but knew I was going to do it and succeed. So I, already having packed all my things and full time traveling, could only send out a prayer and roll with it. I was there having left my job a month earlier, and all of a sudden my plan fell through. So I took what was left of my cash and headed onwards into the unknown. I was up to the challenge then, and for quite some time, despite all the road blocks I faced, keeping up. But it has finally caught me. I know I am strong and driven and will succeed, but I am ready to land. To have my space, to have a time for quiet and for study. To not feel so weighted by something I love and desire so much.
That's the part that gets me. Even in the metaphor the 'weight' of this program is just something I feel shouldn't be there. Could you say your passion was an obligation? That's how it feels and it is making me just feel totally lost.
I take all this in and wonder how does this thinking, this anxiety and sadness affect my PH balance. That's where I was so glad and surprised to see the PH so high. The test having just been taken on the side of the road next to the semi my sister and I had just hitched a ride across South Dakota with. Ha, life is crazy, Ph is truth, and I feel that weight being lifted already. Despite all these crazy emotions there is still the incredible feeling of how blessed I am to have this dilema. I am going to do a more efficient, week long PH test to see where truly my alkalinity lies, but until then I am going to breathe deep, eat as healthy as the road and my pocket allows, and smile. Oh, this crazy beautiful life I live, thanks for being a part of my journey and for reading all this too. I feel better now, I might even be warmer here in this ice box hotel I find myself iin. Hah, dream on kid~
*Update*
The morning Ph is 5.5 and I was somewhat taken aback at having such a low ph. I am going to keep up the testing now that I have the strips and we will see how the ph turns out tonight.
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