Lucuma 09

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Editor Steven Nicolaides

Design New Gaia Designs

www.newgaiadesigns.com Contributors Steven Nicolaides

www.lucuma.co.uk Irene Arango www.namafoods.com Rich Havardi www.namafoods.com Joanna Gregory www.smileyjoforever.blogspot.co.uk Hannah Phoebe www.hannahimsa.wordpress.com Lorena Loriato www.lorenaloriato.co.uk Den Poitras www.thestoryoflaurie.blogspot.co.uk Laura-Jane (The Rawtarian) www.therawtarian.com Erini Loucaides www.soaronraw.com

Front & Back Cover ‘Flaming Buddha’ by Steven Nicolaides

www.newgaiadesigns.com

Advertising papillon@lucuma.co.uk Om Noms, Goodies, Adornments creamy@lucuma.co.uk

www.lucuma.co.uk © Lúcuma No part of this magazine can be reproduced without our permission Information in Lúcuma is for information only and no part of it is a substitute for health diagnosis, care or treatment. Lúcuma and its contributors, editors and related parties are not responsible in any way for the actions or results taken by any person, organisation or any party on basis of reading information, stories contributions or advertisements in this publication, website or related product.

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HIGH his is my favourite Lúcuma yet! Jam packed with frequencies that can inspire, entertain and change our reality. It’s so good that I had to leave my favourite article out! It was about an Atlantis synchronicity walk in London where we found an Atlantis portal. Yep real life Indiana Jones stuff! Don’t worry it will makes its way into a synchronicity eBook.

Number 9, the number of completion SInce this is the 9th issue of Lúcuma, I want to reflect on the past a bit. The conscious living movement seems far more powerful, glamorous and united now than it did in 2012 when Lúcuma began. We are far more stronger united and the collaborate group energy can multiply the effects of what we believe in and create. One of our goals was to showcase many of the ‘Conscious Companies’ that are leading the way forward and introducing those products and companies to an audience who may not be aware of them. By bringing all the things that my ‘generation’ are interested in together, it feels more like we are part of a scene.

Can you feel it?

I’ve noticed how people who come across a printed copy of Lúcuma find themselves attracted to it, not just the cover but the colourful products, gorgeous graphics and just the shear vibration of it! Why is that? I think that energetically speaking, people can feel that it’s different to what they may have seen before. This is a conscious creation, part of a new way of ‘being’ - a higher frequency.

A note from Steven Nicolaides Founder of Lúcuma Magazine 27.08.14

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VIBRATIONS

OM NOMS

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10

ADORNMENTS

FLAMING BUDDHA

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JUICY LONDON 4

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VEGAMSTERDAM

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20 FULL MOON FEASTS AT WILD FOOD CAFE

32 THE RABBIT HOLE - VEGAN HAIR PARLOUR

40 UNWRAPPING THE RAW CHOCOLATE COMPANY

SURYA BRASIL

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PARTHENOGENESES PART 2 - THE STORY OF LAURie

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RECIPES # 9

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OM NOMS PANA CHOCOLATE

MUST HAVE

The Australians have been enjoying this raw chocolate brand for a while, but luckily for us its our turn in the UK now as it is now getting stocked in Health food stores on our shores. What makes Pana chocolates so special is the softness of texture almost as soft as butter so bitting into one of these bars is a sensual experience. Add to this the addition of carob and some interesting flavour combos and you have a raw chocolate bar that’s really memorable. Pana is an excellent choice if you don’t want a bar that tastes too ‘chocolaty’ and I can tell you that mixing carob with chocolate is a very special marriage.

All of the varieties in the range are good but the pick of the bunch for me is the Sour Cherry bar, cherries mixed with carob and chocolate is just magical. www.panachocolate.com

MUST HAVE

MIND CHANGING EXPERIENCE This Blue-green algae grows in the pristine, Lake Klamath in Oregon USA. I’ve never been more impressed by a food supplement than with Klamath Blue-green Algae, no wonder it has been hailed by Dr Clement (head of the Hippocrates institute) as “beyond a superfood” and when you try it you can understand why. I notice an increase in mental clarity and focus within 10 minutes of taking it. It’s also very calming and soothing for the brain. Lake Klamath algae contains 60% protein, and is highest beta-carotene content per gram of any food. www.thesynergycompany.com

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EVEN BETTER THAN THE REAL THING Do you ever miss the taste of fizzy soft drinks, like cola? Do you ever wish there was a healthy alternative? Your wish has been granted by Gusto! Completely natural and healthy versions of Kola, sparkling orange and lemonade. But it doesn’t end there. They all actually contain mixes of potent herbs and extracts for energy and immunity like Guarana, Echinacea, Astragalus, Elderberry, Turmeric that make them ‘true’ energy drinks! The Kola contains 14 carefully blended herbs inspired by a 12th Century Taoist recipe to aid concentration, and I must say it really does and tastes even better than the colas we grew up with. www.drinkgusto.com

A “HIGHER” VERSION OF GREEN TEA I never thought it was possible for a classic like green tea to get better, but it has! Thanks to the genius of Higher Living Herbs. Organic green tea mixed with coconut chips to soften the natural harshness of the green tea and gives it a slightly tropical hint. The oils that come out of the coconut when the tea is brewed give the tea a silkiness which I love. But the absolute crowning glory is the addition of lychee! It takes the tea into a different league with an exotic lush aroma and flavour! This is my favourite tea right now and I can’t get enough of it! A brand new classic. www.higherlivingherbs.com

MUST HAVE

LET’S COLLABORATE! When we heard there was a new vegan coconut yoghurt on the market we just had to try them and sent Coconut Collaborative a request. The very next day the co founder shows up with a personal delivery! Now that’s what I call service. So confident they are in there product there was enough for us to share around and test with vegans and non vegans. The feedback was overwhelmingly positive - everybody loved them! You can use the plain ‘natural’ flavour as you would regular yoghurt and the fruit varieties ‘mango & passion fruit’ and ‘raspberry’ make for a light and refreshing dessert. www.coconutco.co.uk # 9

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OM NOMS MUST HAVE

GET YOUR MORINGA ON New from Aduna who previously brought us Baobab powder, is another potent African superfood - Moringa. The Moringa tree is known as ‘the miracle tree’ due to its incredibly high vitamin & nutirent density, protein content and antioxidants. The flavour of Moringa is not as unpleasant as things like Spirulina or Chlorella and has a slight creaminess to it in the same way nettles do, so it wont ruin your smoothie if you some moringa powder to it. I’ve also tried adding it to my Guacamole and pestos and it worked well. Plus Aduna give 10% of their yearly profits to the Aduna Foundation which supports small-scale African producers in marketing their products internationally. www.aduna.com

REBEL YELL A bit like punk music burst onto the music scene in the 1970s blowing away all the old dinosaurs, Rebel Kitchen have done the same for milkshakes.

No more unhealthy refined sugar, pus ridden cow secretion milkshakes for the kids. It’s delicious vegan coconut milk based milkshakes now! Originally launching with banana, chocolate and orange mylks aimed at children, they were so yummy and popular with kids and adults that they have created three more flavours especially for the adults. I sampled them at this years Natural & Organic products Europe expo in April and was totally amazed, especially by the Green Tea and Chai Mylk. I wish these were around when I was a kid! www.rebel-kitchen.com

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MUST HAVE

MUST HAVE

Cooking

Makeup Remover

Coconut oil has a high ‘smoke point’ meaning it is safer to use in sautéing, baking, roasting, and frying than other oils PLUS it tastes GOOD!!

Oil Pulling

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Lubri

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Swish & Swirl 1-2 teaspoons of Coconut oil in your mouth for 5-10 minutes, then spit it out before brushing.

This cleanses the mouth, teeth & gums.

Ha tr ir ea tm

Add to Smoothies

Homemade Lip Balm

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Skin iser tur

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Moi Raw Desserts

Na To tur ot al hp as t

Use in raw vegan cheesecakes, raw chocolates, truffles, energy balls & more

Body/Face Scrub Add some salt or granulated sugar to act as the exfoliant.

The oil moisturises and leaves the skin feeling smooth & soft.

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Butter substitute Coconut oil makes a good vegan spread on toast or substitute for butter in recipes

www.bonpom.com www.instagram.com/bonpomstagram www.facebook.com/BonPom www.twitter.com/BonPomUK # 9

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ADORNMENTS soleREBELS - REBELS WITH A CAUSE Every now and then a brand comes along that really amazes us. This time it’s Ethiopian brand soleRebels, founded by Eco entrepreneur Bethlehem Tilahun Alemu.

10% OFF

Your soleRebels webstore purchase!

Exclusive Lúcuma Discount code: LUCUMA

Apparently it has been a tradition in Ethiopia valid till September 30 to upcycle old car tires as shoe soles, long before it was cool in the west! soleRebels collect & sort used tires and each sole is hand cut, ensuring a perfect fit. Other materials they use are Abyssinian heritage organic cotton, Abyssinian Jute and Koba plant fibre! Their shoes also come in a reusable organic cotton bag instead of a shoe box.

There is is a bewildering vegan range, and each style is available in different colour combinations! soleRebels are designed to be worn barefoot ‘Walk Naked’ and are extremely comfortable to wear due to soft mid sole.

th

2014

pp Mens - x TAHH see pureLOVE Organic Cotton, outsole recycled car tires $85 USD

soleRebels show they have a really good SOUL too by paying their staff four times the minimum wage and giving staff and their families free medical coverage! www.solerebels.com

pp Mens - pureLOVE tAlent Organic Cotton, outsole recycled car tires $85 USD

pp Womens - tooTOOs Talent in PINK Organic Cotton, outsole recycled car tires $80 USD

pp Unisex - runAROUND FREEDOM series 2 Organic Cotton, outsole recycled car tires $85 USD 10

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pp Womens - coZEES pureLOVE Organic Cotton, outsole recycled car tires $105 USD

CALIFORNIA DREAMIN Bright & bold colours from American brand Goose Organics. Made in the San Francisco Bay area their styles exude the relaxed California vibe. www.gooseorganic.com

pp The Cruz 55% Hemp and 45% Organic Cotton $95 USD tt The CLASSIC 87% Organic Cotton and 13% Hemp $35 USD

Carrey Maxi Dress (Summer ‘14) u 70% bamboo 30% organic cotton £59.90 GBP www.braintreeclothing.com

tt STRIPED NETTED PULLOVER Organic Cotton.

Fair Trade $210 USD www.indigenous.com # 9

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Adornments

Vegan, Eco Friendly Belt Picks A good belt can really bring an outfit together. But what if you don’t want to wrap the hide of a dead animal around your waist? Are there any nicely designed and cruelty free versions out there? Yes, indeed there are and once again alternative ethical brands are leading the way in new ideas and style.

qq The Dexter 100% Polyurethane $56 USD www.truthbelts.com

qq The Gemini REVERSIBLE BELT (BLACK ONE SIDE AND BROWN THE OTHER) 100% Polyurethane with recycled car tires as the filler $68.00 USD www.truthbelts.com

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Adornments

pp The Maria WOMENS BELT 60% Acrylic, 40% Cotton $40 USD www.truthbelts.com

qq The Shanti WOMENS BELT 100% Polyurethane $45 USD www.truthbelts.com

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Adornments

spare tyre belts Handmade belts made from upcycled, bicycle tyres, fire hose and water hose.

10% of the price of the Fire Belts goes to the Fire Fighters Charity helping bereaved families. www.facebook.com/sparetyrebelts www.ebay.co.uk/usr/sparetyrebelts

tt FIREHOSE BELT £17.50 GBP

qq BICYCLE TYRE BELT £17.50 GBP

pp BICYCLE TYRE BELT £17.50 GBP

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Adornments

tt THE BROWN WESTERN EMBOSSED BELT $29 USD www.couchguitarstraps.com

pp WOVEN FABRIC Hemp Belts $21 USD www.rawganique.com

Hemp Authority u Hemp Weave Belt Available in different colours $12 USD www.hempauthority.com # 9

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Adornments

Ombre Poncho u organic cotton. Fair Trade $205 USD www.indigenous.com

Drawstring Dress u organic cotton. Fair Trade $105 USD www.indigenous.com

tt Cold Shoulder Tee organic cotton and eco-friendly tencel. Fair Trade $76.20 USD www.indigenous.com 16

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Have you got PAST ISSUES? Don’t worry, read Lúcuma!

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VIBRATIONS desert rock Amazing desert groves and beats with Nouris passionate vocals soaring above it all. This album reminds me of the sound that Led Zeppelin were looking for when they travelled through north Africa.

Eventually they introduced that influence into Led Zeppelin and Robert Plant and Jimmy Pages later solo projects and collaborations - but this is the real thing!

www.nouramintseymali.com > Soundcloud

> Watch ‘Tzenni’ album teaser video > Listen to “Tzenni” (album title track)

“TZENNI in Hassaniya means ‘to circulate’, ‘to spin’, ‘to turn’. It’s the name for a whirling dance performed to the music of Moorish griots, often under khaima tents thrown up for street gatherings in the sandy quarters of Nouakchott and out across the wide deserts of Mauritania.

Tzenni is an orbit, the movement of the earth around the sun, the daily progression of light and dark, lunar cycles, tides and winds. Tzenni, the dance, comes forth as the cyclical trajectory of a Moorish musical gathering builds to a fervorous pitch. It’s a word whose expansive valence reminds us how only the most basic reality can create such romantic metaphor.”

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tt Left: Noura Mint Seymali Right: Jeiche Ould Photo Credit: Matthew Tinari

A BELOVED ALBUM This is a very tender, gentle yet powerful new release for Jai Kartar. This is an album you can enjoy over and over again as it grows on you with each listening. There are a few tracks on the album that have a mantra element and those that don’t have conscious loving lyrics and themes. It could be used as background music for your home yoga practice. Jais voice is a mix between Dido an Enya which suits the big atmosphere many of the tracks have. I love the sprinkling of electronic or interesting guitar sounds in the production which helps add another dimension to the gentle pace of the music.

www.jaikartar.com

FAWNS WHITE RUSH The star of this debut ep by Fawn is lead singer Becks Johnstones powerful etherial voice, which I’m sure gets more powerful with every listening! She has and incredible range and although she has a very clean operatic voice she still manages to convey lots of emotion over this collection of dramatic tracks.

The songs all seem to be about longing and lost love which makes them seem even more haunting.

Tommy Sheen’s guitar work is great too and a perfect complement to Becks vocals and gallic melodies.

www.musicglue.com/fawn www.soundcloud.com/fawn-official www.facebook.com/fawnofficialuk

GOLDEN PLEASURES If you grew up in the 1980s like me you may remember an excellent childrens cartoon series called ‘The Mysterious Cities of Gold’. The story of a young boy named ‘Estaban’ (the child of the sun), who travels to South America from Spain with ‘Mendoza’ (a navigator), ‘Zia’ (a young Inca girl) and a group of conquistadors in search of the fabled ‘Cities of Gold’. It was an epic adventure story influenced by the lost civilizations of Atlantis and Lemuria mixed with the excitement of an Indiana Jones movie. Plus it had a beautiful and memorable soundtrack by legendary childrens cartoon music writer Shuki Levy (whos other works included He-Man, Inspector Gadget and many more). This cartoon was a huge influence on me and I was ecstatic to hear of a sequel thirty years later!

MUST HAVE

This time it is set in China and our familiar characters are searching for the second of seven Cities of Gold. The animation is done on a computer, but it still retains that 2D anime look of the first series, although brought it up to date with perfectly executed subtle 3D effects and glorious smooth motion. The sequel has been criticised for using a woman to voice the two main boy characters ‘Esteban’ and ‘Tao’ which is annoying at first but you get used to it. Mendoza is a bit broody and takes more of a back seat in this series which is a shame, but the real surprise is ‘Taos’ pet parrot ‘Kokapetl’ yes that squawking green bird that kept repeating everything! He is far more cute and likable this time and I think he actually steals the show! He has some funny scenes and is truly lovable, even for an adult watching!

Yes it is ultimately a kids cartoon but one for intelligent conscious kids with a sense of adventure. I love how they weave Atlantis and Mu into a cartoon and they even have holographic beings, Shaolin monks and mention superfoods maca and ginseng! There is even some shocking plot twists and cliffhangers towards the end of the series so it’s definitely one people of all ages can enjoy.

www.themysteriouscitiesofgold.com Facebook page

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‘The wild ones’ over at the Wild Food Cafe in Covent Garden have introduced a monthly raw-food fine dining experience to celebrate the full moon.

Each menu is unique and lovingly put together by raw food alchemist Joel Gazdar (founder of the Wild Food Cafe). Joel is the ‘Willy Wonka’ of the raw food world. Easily one of the worlds best raw food chefs, Joel has an encyclopedic understanding of superfoods, wild foods and unusual ingredients, but above all, he always manages to weave them into a delicious edible work of art.

As Joel says “If it’s not the best thing you’ve ever tasted, then there is no point in making it!”.

Full Moon

FEASTS at

THE

WILD FOOD CAFE

French figs stuffed with coconut cream cheeZe & Wrapped in Fresh Coconut ‘Bacon’ on a bed of wild samphire, foraged flowers and greens. Served with artichoke, fresh peas, cucAmelon AND Fig Balsamic Glaze # 9

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WILD FOOD CAFE: FULL MOON FEASTS

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lthough raw food has become popular in recent years, raw food fine dining experiences are pretty much non existent. So as a raw food enthusiast I made sure I was at the Wild Food Cafe for the first of these ‘Full Moon Feasts’. The night reminded me of the very first ‘pop up’ evenings Wild Food Cafe started with before they officially opened in 2011. In those first pop up events the food was more daring and relied on more foraged wild food ingredients than the current main menu.

Since then Wild Food cafe has become a roaring success... (or should that be RAWing?) Satisfying everyone from hard core vegans, raw fooders, celebrities, passers by to tourists. But they did so with a more simplified menu - something someone who has never heard about raw food or indeed healthy eating can understand. The current menu favourites - Raw Burger, Falafel and Raw Pizza, though excellent are not as intricate and unusual as some of the specials Joel Gazdar and the team come up with for these special events. If you want to taste the real essence of what Wild Food Cafe is about, you need to try this!

“

If you want to taste the real essence of what Wild Food Cafe is about, you need to try this!

“

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The other guests and I were in awe the entire evening as we were treated to magnificently crafted meals. Every mouthful was a blissful experience and thanks to the large communal seating we could share our appreciation with one another. There were gasps of joy and wonder when we discovered surprises like the young coconut ice cream waiting at the bottom of the watermelon soup, and conversations on how in the world they managed to make the asparagus coated with ‘bread crumbs’ taste like it was fried. And to top it all we were gently serenaded by live music whilst we anticipated the next course.

Feast your eyes on the Wild Food Cafe ‘Full Moon Feast’...

WILD FOOD CAFE: FULL MOON FEASTS

Joel Gazdar u Briefing the Wild Food CAFE TEAM For the evenings banquet

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WILD FOOD CAFE: FULL MOON FEASTS

The 1st

Starter

WATERMELON ‘WHIRLPOOL’ Watermelon soup with a wild nettle & mint pesto and young coconut ice cream base

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Full Moon Feast 12th June 2014

WILD FOOD CAFE: FULL MOON FEASTS

Mains

Pink Olive ‘Steak’ Tartare with Truffled Black Garlic Shiitake Mushrooms

Mains

White Welsh Asparagus ‘Fries’ Wild Shatavari Aioli & Forrest Salad. SERVED WITH COCONUT CREAM # 9

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WILD FOOD CAFE: FULL MOON FEASTS

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An astounding achievement

WILD FOOD CAFE: FULL MOON FEASTS

Dessert

‘JOLA COLA’ AN INVIGORATING SPARKLING DRINK MADE FROM A POTENT MIX OF MEDICINAL MUSHROOMS, HERBS & SPICES. PLUS A SURPRISE CACAO BROWNIE IN THE BASE

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Hard to believe a tonic exilir can taste like cola!

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WILD FOOD CAFE: FULL MOON FEASTS

The 2nd

Full Moon Feast 11th July 2014

Starter

WILD SEA BUCKTHORN COCKTAIL Sea buckthorn juice, turmeric and organic sake cocktail

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Sweet, with hints of sourness, zest and a deep warm flavour from the sake

WILD FOOD CAFE: FULL MOON FEASTS

Main

French figs stuffed with coconut cream cheeZe & Wrapped in Fresh Coconut ‘Bacon’ on a bed of wild samphire, foraged flowers and greens. Served with artichoke, fresh peas, cucAmelon AND Fig Balsamic Glaze

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WILD FOOD CAFE: FULL MOON FEASTS

pp A FRESH CACAO POD CUT OPEN. THE BEANS COVERED IN THAT GORGEOUS SUCCULENT WHITE FLESH WOULD LATER BE PART OF THE DESSERT COURSE

CHECK THE EVENTS PAGE OF THE WILD FOOD CAFE WEBSITE FOR INFORMATION ON THE NEXT FULL MOON FEAST OR CONNECT VIA FACEBOOK

WILD FOOD CAFE 1st Floor 14 Neal’s Yard Covent Garden London WC2H 9DP www.wildfoodcafe.com

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Wow! That dessert was a supernatural experience

“

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WILD FOOD CAFE: FULL MOON FEASTS

Dessert

FIG, CAMU CAMU COCONUT ICE CREAM WITH FRESH CACAO BEANS, CHOCOLATE, PECAN BROWNIE BITES, SEASONAL FRUIT AND CHAGA SYRUP DRIZZLE

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nm

n the heart of west London on Goldhawk road is an unmarked yellow door - quite a famous door in fact, one that made a cameo in ‘the Whos’ movie ‘Quadrophenia’.

Once you enter the rabbit hole and walk down its long dark corridor, you will find your self in a cosy contemporary ‘Alice in Wonderland’ themed unisex hair salon! The Rabbit hole is a vegans dream come true as not only is the founder - Dori, a vegan, but the products used are all vegan and organic.

She even provides plant milks for your tea or coffee, and of course - vegan biscuits!

nm

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() Diving through the Rabbit Hole and emerging with a

New Haircut!

() by Steven Nicolaides

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THE RABBIT HOLE

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he Rabbit Hole is the creation of Dori. Even as a child growing up in Hungary, she always knew that hair styling was her passion “I’ve pretty much my whole life wanted to be a hairdresser”. “When I was a kid and someone asked what my favourite toy was I said ‘scissors!’ ”.

Dori realised her dream of ‘playing’ with her favourite ‘toys’ full time.

She worked briefly for salons here in the UK but realised it didn’t make sense to be using products that were not vegan or indeed organic. She wanted to become self emplyed as soon as possible and began to research suitable suppliers of high quality products that were ethically produced. “I found a supplier that satisfies my high ethical standards as well as performing well.”

As I lean my head back for my hair to be washed ready for my hair cut, Dori tells me that the idea for the name ‘The Rabbit Hole’ is due to the long corridor that leads to the stairs of the salon. The ‘Alice in Wonderland’ theme evolved slowly as more artifacts were collected and renovations to the space continued. She is especially proud of the rabbit mosaic below the antique fireplace. I love the cosy atmosphere of this place and I know other clients feel the same. In fact some clients travel from other cities, even other countries to experience this place!

This is not only a testament to the Rabbit Hole but also to the work of Dori.

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THE RABBIT HOLE

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When I was a kid and someone asked what my favourite toy was, I said “scissors” # 9

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THE RABBIT HOLE

pp Above: Dori aged 4 styling her cousins hair

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pp Dori and a client

Opening this salon is living my biggest dream: combining my vegan lifestyle and my love for hairdressing

THE RABBIT HOLE

Dori is very good at what she does, she listens to what the client wants and knows how to get the best look for her clients. She is famous for her hair transformations, some of which can be seen on the Rabbit Hole Facebook page. She regularly receives excellent feedback, and that’s quite rare in the hairdressing world as we are all so fussy about our own hair!

As I sit in the chair sipping my coffee made with almond milk Dori begins to work on my hair. It’s interesting how more peaceful it is having a hair cut with no large windows where strangers can look in or noisy traffic passing by. The only sounds are from my conversation with Dori and the sound of ‘The Pixies’ . No cheesy pop music here just relaxing alternative music! In between nibbles on my vegan biscuit we talk about the famous Shepherds Bush market opposite. Dori tells me there are many exotic fruits for sale including cheap young coconuts!

The conversation then turns to music history as I point out that this is an old stomping ground of the Sex Pistols.

Drummer Paul Cook and Guitarist Steve Jones grew up in this area and they can be seen in a documentary pointing out their old haunts such as Goldhawk Road tube station a few doors away from the Rabbit Hole, the Shepherds Bush market and a historic pie & mash shop (Established in 1899) called ‘A. Cookes’ opposite the salon.

Who knows, perhaps they got their hair cut here back in the 1970s when it was a barber shop? Dori tells me that the pie & mash shop also featured in the Whos ‘Quadrophenia’ movie and the yellow door of the Rabbit hole makes a brief cameo!

As Dori puts the finishing touches to my hair I feel inspired to go on a walkabout - perhaps a time traveling young coconut synchronicity walk! With the magic of the Rabbit Hole and a new look putting a spring in my step. # 9

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THE RABBIT HOLE

The Rabbit Hole 49A Goldhawk road London W12 8QP Tel: 07450 225 230 www.therabbitholelondon.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/veganhairsalon

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available in print www.lúcuma.co.uk

• Order your own print of Lúcuma from our website • Great for Raw restaurants, Yoga centres, Juice bars, Retreat Centres, spas

pp LÚCUMA 06 AT LONDONS JUICE TONIC

tt DISPLAY COPIES OF LÚCUMA - NAMA in London 39 # 9

Unwrapping

Interview by Joanna Gregory

L

The Raw Chocolate Company holds a very important space in many peoples hearts. In a time when it was easier to find live unicorns in the woods than a decent raw vegan chocolate bar, RCC were producing not only great tasting chocolate that you could actually buy in your local health store, but chocolate that was properly ‘tempered’ too!

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Joanna Gregory gets to talk to founder Linus Gorpe as well as other key members of the team to find out more about the fantastic world of the Raw Chocolate Company.

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UNWRAPPING THE RAW CHOCOLATE COMPANY

It must be incredible playing around with raw chocolate in the kitchen and being a mad cacao scientist! What do you enjoy the most within the creation process of making your raw chocolates?

Well, it’s just magic isn’t it? You have an idea in your head, a flavour, a texture an experience. Through years of learning and practice, through wonderful communication with friends, colleagues and fans, through the invention and mastery of specialist machines interacting with the human condition and consciousness that idea can become chocolate! A solid thing that makes people smile, makes the heart soar, luxuriates on the tongue and laps meltingly down your throat, also giving life force and energy at the same time, fuelling many thousands of people on to do amazing things themselves.

To think all this comes from a seed. A seed of an idea and a physical cacao seed. That seed is mixed with water and air and soil becomes a wonderful tree bearing these fantastic gifts. We could have nothing, or we can choose to have everything. It’s just magic.

That’s what I enjoy.

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What do you feel makes The Raw Chocolate Company chocolates extra special?

That’s very kind of you to say that. I can only think it is because they are borne out of love, passion, nopreconceptions and no limits.

As things have moved on over the years, our suppliers now understand us and we have also forged some relationships direct with growers. We are in a very exciting phase now where our suppliers are sourcing products for us specific to our needs.

For example we will shortly be launching our Raw Chocolate Golden Berries. These are no ordinary Golden Berries however – they are from a very small area of Peru and are unique to that locality. They are particularly sweet, but also zinginly sour and work perfectly as a sun-dried fruit. They are also the result of some long term work by some fabulous entrepreneurs that taught traditional farmers how to coordinate, work together and create a viable, sustainable business for themselves and for their future families and workers.

UNWRAPPING THE RAW CHOCOLATE COMPANY

What message do you believe or hope to provide to the world, energetically through the pleasure you provide to all within your chocolates?

How are you aspiring to see The Raw Chocolate Company evolve? Do you have any new and exciting flavours to share with us?

Positivity. To carefully and consciously enjoy life to the fullest.

We want to always create fun, but conscious foods that are high quality, highly nutritious, made from the heart. People should have freedom to enjoy food and create their own food too, whatever their dietary backgrounds. We’re going to grow….we are growing, doubling in size again this year. But these elements will remain at the centre of what we do. This also affects how we grow and the rate at which we do.

How do you decide on new flavours and what inspires you in developing these ideas?

It really can be anything. My mind is like a butterfly, sometimes consciously moving from flower to flower and sometimes blown along by the wind. Some times I am a rock in the river which flows around me, other times I am the river flowing around the rock. I am constantly experimenting with new flavours and even tweaking our existing recipes. It’s also not just about the ingredients.

It’s about how you make it, when you add certain things or do certain things. I’m being deliciously vague, because making chocolate really is alchemy, there are an endless variety of changes you can make, even when only using three ingredients.

Soon we will be launching an expansion of our raw chocolate snacks range – to the raw chocolate mulberries, goji berries and raisins we are adding raw chocolate almonds, sweet apricot kernels, golden berries and Vanoffe mulberries. The Vanoffe mulberries are great because they have been designed by our fans. We had been asked to make them for years. We made a batch and released them to fans and got their feedback,

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tweaked them and sent some more back out. After four iterations of this we send out two versions of the nearly final recipe to 50 people to test with their own peer groups. In total we’ve had over 500 people contributing to the design of the Vanoffe mulberries.

We’re really excited to launch them.

We’re also going to be adding to our supreme foods range – giving people more possibilities to enhance their food and create amazingness for themselves.

What is the most valuable lesson you have learnt in all of your experimentations and brand developments?

Don’t put mulberries in a conche! Haha. The conche is the special and very expensive machine

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that grinds all the ingredients for the chocolate.

Originally we wanted to sweeten our chocolate with fruit so we thought we would try white mulberries as they are very sweet and taste nice with chocolate.

So we threw all the ingredients in the machine and after a while there was a very loud clunk. All the cacao, cacao butter and mulberries had turned into a massive solid chuck, almost as solid as concrete.

It took us ages to release it form the machine and causes a lot of damage. But that chunk was super tasty! We knew the combination of raw chocolate and white mulberries was a winner, just not in that form. That is how the raw chocolate mulberries were born. So we set about inventing a way to make raw chocolate mulberries. We even had to invent the machine to make them.

UNWRAPPING THE RAW CHOCOLATE COMPANY

e and iv t c u d e s l l a g in Vanoffe look me” I can hear it attractive. “Lick y blue wrapper”... m say...”Take off

Vanoffe is one off the most loved and best raw chocolates in the world, what can you tell us about its creation and evolution?

Thank you! Vanoffe sort of sums up our entire philosophy. Before we started, the only chocolate available to people that wanted to avoid dairy was either very very dark and bitter, or full of nasty things that we really shouldn’t be eating. So one of the things we wanted to do was to make something light, creamy and fun.

Have you ever smelled plain virgin cacao butter? It is soooo heavenly, it almost knocks you out. I knew that that would be the basis for the bar. I also knew that vanilla would be involved somewhere, as it is so sensual and love-giving. I came up with the idea of a vanilla-toffee tasting bar and decided to call it Vanoffe. The extra ‘e’ in the pronunciation didn’t want to hang around, so we set it free. Over the years as we found better and better ingredients, the recipe was refined until a few years ago we found the most amazing Vanilla powder from Uganda which is fairtrade as well as organic. It is much more intense and pure than anything else we have tried, plus the foundation of the cooperative that grows it is amazing as well – check out Ndali Vanilla.

Linus and Sara, I see that you have many wonderful eclectic and valuable skills ranging from wood work and underwear design. What wisdom from your incredibly varied past experiences do you feel you have been able to incorporate and bring with you into The Raw Chocolate company?

Linus: Before the Raw Chocolate Company, I had never run a company before. I had no idea what it would take to do and if you had showed me a picture then of me working now with this amazing company and wonderful set of people around me then I would not have believed it. My previous experience had taught me to be open to new paths, to communicate and to walk lightly. I have learnt so much from so many people and the Raw Chocolate Company is my gift to the world for all the wonderful gifts it has given me.

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d very n a d e v o l h The muc popular rries!

Mulbe e t a l o c o h Raw C Sara: Thanks to RCC’s founder Linus Gorpe’s belief in the me 8 years ago, I’m now a graphic designer...

Much love to Linus! I had only just bought my first ever laptop and had NO experience with any graphic software when Linus suggested I’d design the wrappers for his first raw chocolates to be sold (in a shop in Brighton). Crazy one may think but I was so excited by the idea, and the chocolate, that after hours and days and nights the first Raw Chocolate Co. logo and wrapper was born. And so the story continues..... Thank you Linus Gorpe

What is really great for us, is that this award is just about great taste.

We set out to make great chocolate.

We have taken no shortcuts, in fact several long ones, and it has been very very difficult. The Goji and Orange bar is raw, vegan, organic and fairtrade. It is also now worthy if two gold stars in the Great Taste Awards, an accolade that translates in their eyes as ‘Faultless’.

Your ‘Goji & Orange Raw Chocolate’ was awarded Two Gold Stars in the 2013 Great Taste Awards.

(Also the ‘Pitch Dark’ & ‘Mint Raw Chocolate’ in 2014) How does it feel to witness conscious food and The Raw Chocolate Company penetrating into the mainstream and creating expanded awareness within society and the world?

Where did your love affair and passion for raw chocolate originate from?

It was a great privilege to receive the two gold stars from the Great Taste Awards. Can you imagine, this is like getting two Michelin stars! The 12 judges blind taste the products, so the award is purely given on taste, flavour and sensation. The 2 Gold Stars it was awarded means that it was the highest rated chocolate bar in the UK. This is what the judges said: “A well balanced chocolate bar, very rich and bitter.”

“The goji comes through the dark chocolate nicely.”

“Well tempered with a good snap. Gorgeous.”

“Lovely crack when broken, high quality chocolate.”

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It started with looking at our own diets and a concern for those of our children. So many ‘healthy’ snacks and alternatives just aren’t much fun at all, they are more like wearing (or eating!) a hair shirt.

So we started creating fruit and nut/seed balls and coating them in chocolate. They were a massive hit at school fairs, so we started to think about how we could make the chocolate better. Years and years of learning, experimenting, making mistakes and chocolate messes passed by. We came around to realising that ‘good’, ‘healthy’ and ‘high quality’ chocolate meant raw, organic, fair-trade vegan chocolate, so we set about inventing a way to make it.

NEW VANOFFE Mu ! lberries!

It would be fantastic to have some raw chocolate workshops and courses to attend with you guys! Is this something you are considering for the near future?

Haha, I would love to have enough time to do this.

There are lots of very good raw chocolate classes out there these days, I’m not sure I would be as good as them  At the moment we are expanding a lot and creating some new products. Maybe when the Raw Chocolate Company has grown up and left home, then I can relax a little more and start some classes.

How do you feel about introducing The Raw Chocolate Company to more local and mainstream shops and supermarkets? This would make your products more accessible and help to raise consciousness.

Well this is really tricky. We are not founded on taking over the world or making mountains of money. We are founded on positivity and giving people choices. A natural progression and traditional marketing would be for us to aggressively get ourselves into mainstream stores. However this is not our way. We only want people to sell our products that truly love our products. There are some stores that we won’t be sold in, and others that we will be soon  Taking raw, vegan, organic food that was previously ‘alternative’ into the mainstream is exactly where we want to be, but not at the expense of quality or our ethics.

tt RAW ORGANIC CACAO NIBS READY TO BE GROUND & MOULDED WITH LOVE

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UNWRAPPING THE RAW CHOCOLATE COMPANY

DID YOU KNOW?

In 1999 although Linus was vegetarian, he did not really like vegetables and had an internal resistance to most of them. His friend Kris McGowan (and now Customer Insight manager at TRCC) started out converting him to being able to eat fruit and vegetables by introducing micro amounts to his diet!

LINUS (Founder of the GORPE Raw Chocolate C om

pany)

It is truly wonderful to hear how considerate you are regarding the planet with your eco-friendly production and product developments.

Please will you be able to share a little with us about the processes you choose to utilise in order to maintain further peace on our planet.

We like to inspire people to look at food and conscious living in a new way, with love, kindness and laughter. It permeates everything that we do. We aim to live and act lightly. Our factory is renewably powered. Where fairtrade ingredients are available, we source them. All our products are vegan. We make our products with love, and that is not said in a glib way, it is really important to consider the mood you are in when approaching anything in life.

If you are making chocolate, then you certainly need to be thinking thoughts of love and laughter as this will infuse the chocolate. Take one of our bar wrappers apart. On the label where it is stuck together there is a message that every packer reads when putting the label on.

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Discount: 15% off Vanoffe and Vanoffe Dark 44g Code: LucumaBar Valid until end of October 2014 The code is case sensitive and gives 15% off our 44g bars with LĂşcuma in them!

www.therawchocolatecompany.com www.facebook.com/therawchocolatecompany www.twitter.com/TheRawChocCo www.instagram.com/therawchocolatecompany www.pinterest.com/TheRawChocCo

UNWRAPPING THE RAW CHOCOLATE COMPANY

POURING THE CHOCOLATE INTO MOULDS

THE FINISHED

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BARS!!!

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Juicy Our top 5 Juice Bars

P

P

London There is a saying here in London that “you wait ages for a bus to come then a whole group come at once!”

Well just like the buses the juice bars have all arrived!

It’s amazing to think that just a few years ago there were no decent modern style juice bars in London.

The ice was broken in 2012 by ‘The Wild Juicery’.

For a time it seemed like one was popping up every week! Many are obviously influenced by the quality juice bars of the USA, but some our done in our own ‘unique’ way.

With that trademark London flair and creativity, the Juice bars of London are ready to cause “Detox in the UK”!

by Steven Nicolaides

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Juice Tonic is exactly the way juice bars in the 21st century should be. All the juices and smoothies are not only potent but they are also some of the best I’ve ever tasted. I also love the fact they make use of superfoods and wild & unusual ingredients. Where else can you get a Durian in your smoothie? The founder Marco and staff are all passionate about juicing and knowledgeable in herbalism, longevity, nutrition and healthy living. This passion is a joy to behold and inspiring to the customers too. I’ve seen total newcomers to juicing walk in and not only be totally blown away by the juice itself but also the enthusiasm and excellent informed advice of the staff.

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Juice Tonic 3 Winnett Street Soho London W1D 6JY www.juicetonic.com

JUICY LONDON

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JUICY LONDON

Quirky, funky and spacious. Lab Organic is the perfect place to rest and rejuvenate over an organic cold pressed juice or smoothie after a hard days shopping in Covent Garden!

The ‘Laboratory’ theme is something that fits perfectly amongst the small unique shops and boutiques of the area and is a tempting spot to the many tourists of Covent Garden. There is plenty of choice in the chiller but there are also teas, coffees, plant milks healthy snacks, chocolates and raw desserts to satisfy your taste buds!

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Lab Organic 58 Neal street Covent Garden London WC2H 9PA

www.laborganic.co.uk

JUICY LONDON

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JUICY LONDON

Roots & Bulbs is the creation of husband and wife team Laurent & Sarah Cadji. After Sarah encountered a number of health issues through overwork and stress she decided to take matters into her own hands and change her diet and lifestyle. Some of the juices and smoothies at Roots & Bulbs are recipes Sarah & Laurent used at home to change their lives and to detox, so they are tired and tested! Now far more happier and healthier the couple want to help bring some healthy alternatives to busy London.

We love the earthy but modern look of Roots & Bulbs and when we say earthy we mean it! The bar is made out of compressed earth!

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Roots & Bulbs 5 Thrayer Street Marylebone London W1U 3JG

www.rootsandbulbs.com

JUICY LONDON

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JUICY LONDON

With its ‘New York’ vibe and set in glamorous Chelsea, its no wonder The Good Life Eatery attracts health conscious jet setters. On my first visit there were so many American customers I almost had to look outside and check I was still in London! This is the kind of place you can bring your notebook, relax and work all day.

There is plenty of choice for great tasting juices, smoothies, and desserts on the menu to keep you fueled. They are also serve healthy meals and salads all day (though not all are vegan).

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The Good Life Eatery 59 Sloane Ave Chelsea London SW3 3DH www.goodlifeeatery.com

JUICY LONDON

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JUICY LONDON

Juice Well is a collaboration between restaurateur Will Ricker and Joe Cross (famous for his documentary ‘Fat, Sick & Nearly Dead’ and www.rebootwithjoe.com). ‘Fat, Sick & Nearly Dead’ has been viewed by over 10 million people around the world and an inspiration to many.

So this juice bar could well be some peoples first introduction. I like the way Juice Well has simplified juicing for the newcomer. There is information on the walls about the varying benefits of different juices and their juice range is simple to understand and clearly branded.

There are also some interesting additions that you wouldn’t normally find in a juice bar like Spicy Gazpacho and Pumpkin seed milk.

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The Juice Well 4 Peter Street Soho London W1F 0DN www.thejuicewell.hk

JUICY LONDON

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Flaming

BUD D H A u The story behind this image by Steven Nicolaides

TAR!!

A SUPERS YOU’RE t constellations of etic Differen e different energ s stars hav s and their motion attribute r emotions. To affect ou d think how your t n understa change in differen ferent mood can oods, how the dif ecture neighborh of people, archit your variables tructure affect e how s and infra lace. Now imagin fect on p sense of e powerful the ef ment much mor be from the move the you would rs and planets in a of the st nstellations. o we , various c s r a t s e from th We create a e m a c e W hem. ations based t f o e d a are m with constell y we synergy e feel and the wa on what w urselves. express o

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FLAMING BUDDHA

T

he idea for this image dates back to 2011 and was inspired by a real life experience of mine.

One night I popped over to a friends house and we got talking about deep spiritual themes.

The ‘transformational times’ (no, that’s not the name of a newspaper) we are living in. She offered me a mixture of cannabis filled out with a bit of raspberry leaf in a vaporizer.

It was only the second time I’ve taken cannabis so I was keen to explore its effects more. Let me first of all clear up some antiquated false myths about this divine plant. Firstly all things in nature including plants, fruits, seeds, nuts, flowers etc have an effect on the state of the humans being... (curious term that is...’Human BEING’ we would not call a Giraffe a ‘Giraffe being’) We are called Human Beings because we reinvent ourselves from day to day moment to moment, through thought, action and meditation we change our state of being, and yes, what we ingest can also change our state of being. Therefore all things we put in our bodies are ‘drugs’. Cannabis is one of those plants that helps connect us to higher realms of awareness.

It can also lift the veil on reality allowing us to perceive more than we normally would, in the same way a bat would hear sounds we do not hear or a cat would see things we cannot. These plants are assigned as ‘teachers’ by creation to introduce us to new information and different frequencies to teach us and show us that we can learn to match those frequencies on our own. We are very much capable of reaching these heights by our own efforts and having been ‘shown’ the way, it makes it that much easier. For me as a regular meditator with a strong imagination it is not that difficult to induce similar experiences on my own, and in fact have only taken it one other time in a smoothie!

The second myth about cannabis is that it is a recreational drug. I do not think that is its true purpose. If you want a recreational drug try tea or chocolate. Cannabis can be a very introverted shamanic experience - if you want it to be. It leads us into ourselves.

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FLAMING BUDDHA

A SYMPHONY OF ORDER Energy flo w body, with ing through your is occurrin in every cell magic g, energy and, transf exchanges thing into a ormations, one not connected her and all of it and self aw are.

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FLAMING BUDDHA

Thirdly addiction. Understand that ALL addiction comes from a persons desire to escape their own selves and their own unhappy lives. That’s why EVERYTHING has the potential to be addictive, from food to shopping. The way out or ‘cure’ is to face up to the problems and imbalances and address them. Restore the balance then the desire for fulfilment or escape through an external ‘thing’ will no longer be there.

Now back to the story... I waited for something to happen and it didn’t! I was expecting something miraculous like my first experience but no, nothing. Understand that psychedelic plants like Cannabis have a consciousness and together with your own spirit guides are there to facilitate with the experience. This is why in humanities history certain people have sought to connect and commune with the invisible realms around us as shaman, to work with the consciousness of nature for the benefit of mankind. On a higher level your experience is controlled by your ‘higher self’ so therefore the experience can be turned on or off like a tap.

Since nothing was happening and my friend was falling asleep I decided to go home. As I entered the underground station and boarded the tube train I was feeling good. I sat on the seat and closed my eyes. Soon I started to hear a ‘whooshing’ sound. I tried to discern whether it was from the train noise or something else.

I listened more closely. It was something else!

Where was it coming from? I listened more and focused on it to amplify it. It was coming from me! Within my own aura. It was louder now like the sound of the wind through the trees on a stormy day. Then suddenly I could ‘see’ it through my third eye. It was fire! Not fire as we know it in the physical world but spiritual fire.

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WHY HA VE YOU CANA SIX PACK WHEN HAVE A CRYS TAL This cryst GEODE! solar plexu al geode repres e because at s chakra. I drew it l nts the i the lightne the time I wanted to ke this e s mastered s s and emptiness a cle xpress our ‘alchem olar plexus feels lik ar and ic e colour. It i al’ centre, hence th . It is point for th s also an important e gold rhythmic e e subtle spiritual b aligning ner odie and exercis gy flow. A well main s and of strengt ed solar plexus is a tained Solar plex h and vitality. See a source ups are a g us health here. Act guide on and physic reat exercise for th ually sital body so a physical e spiritual 6 pa get you a c rystal geo ck can de too!

FLAMING BUDDHA

Consider your limbs as branches and leaves Green and light pink are very soothing to the Heart Chakra, whos element is air. It’s essence is gentle and sensitive and its colour Green. Just like a plant it converts sun energy into growth. The sun in this case being the Solar plexus below.

All it wants to do is LOVE! POWER These thunderb o the power and st lt ribs represent rength flowing in and out of us

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FLAMING BUDDHA

T

It was a beautiful light blue colour, just like the blue flame on a gas hob with almost the same vigorous whoosing sound! I wasn’t new to strange things like this so I wasn’t that excited by it or concerned. Instead I wanted to understand what it was. At first I thought it was my throat chakras response to the things I inhaled as a protective measure.

Blue is the colour of the throat chakra and is responsible for your identity, your sense of self. I think that was part of cause but not the whole of it. What else? The throat chakra is about communication and as I was talking at length just moments ago, it was in use. But I felt there was still more to it than that. The third reason is the raspberry leaf!

Raspberries and Blackberries contain vast amounts of fire, heat, and flame energy (to put it in a new age Chinese herbalism sort of way) - as well as a Pineal Gland (third eye) activator. They are actually quite under used in that respect but in the past during slower softer times it was valued especially for women where raspberry leaf tea is useful in treating a number of female health issues. It is still used successfully for this reason today.

As I got off the train I wondered how odd I must look walking around in the midst of blue flaming energy! I looked around at the other commuters. ‘Could they see this?’

Well no they couldn’t, but lets be honest people on the underground are so lost in their own worlds they probably wouldn’t notice anyway! No, only someone who is attuned to these things would see it.

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The centre HIRD EYE of which alter the third eye black and w nates between indigo colour hite. It has two e I have not d d petals (which r to it which s awn) connected pin a propeller of round like a an airplane.

FLAMING BUDDHA

HE IGNITE T !

PASSION F O FLAMES le say “He’s on When peop now” they are fire right e accurate! quit

However there is a fourth reason for this fire, and that is pure unadulterated passion! Have you ever felt yourself ignited with energy through excitement and passion? Have you ever felt a heat and sense of power when you think about, feel or experience something that excites you? Have you ever felt waves of euphoric energy come over you when you do something you love? Well now you know what it is.

You are igniting yourself! Your passion is expressing itself, life is giving you more energy to express yourself and the fire is flowing through you to create things that are bigger, stronger, greater and more magnificent. To break boundaries and push forward, to make something new and experience things you never thought possible.

People will feel this energy from you. Your words will carry more weight, your ideas will be that much more brighter!

Your presence will be that much more pleasant, everything about you will be better because you are connected to your higher self and grounding it here on Earth.

That’s a Flaming Buddha!

TION! BRA I V YOUR le all t t o b a CHOOSE f o k SO TION, ection, like the nec ace, order, BRA I V WE ARE chakra gives us dir res cleanliness, pe its core Our throat flows through it. It ado auty. It is sensitive at e the energy nds, shape, form and b e of an ocean! u l beautiful so rted island in the midd - like a dese

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FLAMING BUDDHA

Another experience that influenced this image was a short while after the flame incident. I was on one of my ‘vegan food runs’ as I call it. It doesn’t involve any running, just walking. I first go to ‘The Wild Food Cafe’ in Covent Garden for lunch then wander around the long way round to Vantra for a dessert and drink over in Soho. In 2011-2012 Vantra was in Soho Street, next door to the Hare Krishna temple but since the building was demolished for the Cross Rail project, Vantra is now around the corner at the top of Oxford Street. As I walked around Soho I was inspired by the intricate patterns on the fabrics of the Fabric shops. I settled in Vantra and got comfortable over a steamed green tea cake (yes you did read that correctly a spongy texture cake that’s steamed not baked) and a green tea. (I like green).

The original Vantra is a bit mythical in my eyes. It was so amazing, especially for 2011 when it first opened!

Extremely large, with high ceilings and a glass wall facing the road. It could fit nearly 90 people which for a vegan/raw place in London that’s impressive! It had a lovely South East Asian eco chic vibe too (as does the new place in Oxford St). So inspired by all of this, the way I was feeling inside and the memory of the ‘blue flame’. I drew the idea for ‘Flaming Buddha’ on a blank piece of A5 paper I had in my pocket. Apart from taking a photo of the sketch I did nothing else to it until now - two years after the initial sketch.

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If you’re a regular reader of Lúcuma you will know we are famous for featuring visionary art and interviews with the artists. It got progressively more difficult to get this done for the last few issues, not because of a lack of willing artists but problems would arise and it wasn’t ‘flowing’ as it should. Lúcuma is a project that is created out of flow and synchronicity so if this halts I know something is wrong and needs changing.

I had already began the bulk of the ‘Flaming Buddha’ image over winter 2013/14 as the 7th & 8th issues had moments when it looked like there would be no artist featured at all and therefore no cover! So I thought I needed a reserve piece of art. After some amazing synchronicities around Soho and Vantra a few weeks ago I knew it was time to finish this illustration!

VEGAN EAMED T EA & S t the old Vantra.

T REEN AG CAKE - a when I drew the T CARRO n tea cake ame) e s e r e g h t e s h t k o d o a l its (I h sketch but

FLAMING BUDDHA

ANTRA V NEW G , ZIN THE AMA 25-27 Oxford Street at 2DW London, W1Da.co.uk www.vantr INAL THE ORIG ’ BUDDHA G N I ‘FLAM I DREW SKETCH

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FLAMING BUDDHA

, ART ERS T POS ’, S, G BA BUDDHA E G T N O ‘FLAMI INGS CARDS, T LE HERE AILAB GREET V , A S T N I PR CASES PHONE OR IPAD

‘Flaming Buddha’ could be the first visionary art piece created entirely in vector format (this means the image can be zoomed in or out to infinity without any loss of quality - just like a FRACTAL! It does not pixelate like a photo image because it is basically a set of mathematical instructions *. This is why logos and fonts are in vector format) (* although you are viewing it in bitmap format not vector to get it on the web, and the prints/products available are printed from bitmap files). The application I used was Adobe Illustrator and I love the clean feel and look of vector graphics. With all this iconic visionary art out there right now I’m quite pleased with the results and I hope you enjoy it too.

Flaming Buddha on Facebook

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FLAMING BUDDHA

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VEGAMSTERDAM

V EGAMSTERDA M by Hannah Phoebe Bowan

23

British vegan Hannah Phoebe goes on a weekend trip with her mum to sample the vegan delights of Amsterdam.

Which we have dubbed ‘vegamsterdam’!

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VEGAMSTERDAM

RAW DINING I started the trip with a visit to Alchemist Garden, to my knowledge, Amsterdam’s only exclusively raw vegan restaurant, a cute and cosy space a bit outside the centre of town. I took a mixed plate of raw crackers, cashew mayo, sauerkraut, greens and slaw and although I enjoyed it and the presentation was pretty, I wish the flavours were a bit more creative. My mum was less impressed with her raw burger, which she said tasted “too healthy”. Luckily the desserts were far more exciting and the coconut shatoosh (a young coconut and lúcuma mousse) is a must have recommendation! The restaurant is also a shop and stocked an impressive range of herbs, teas and specialty products like MSM and colloidal silver.

Alchemist Garden (Also known as Centrum voor Energieregie) Overtoom 409 (at Schoolstraat corner), Amsterdam, 1054 JP www.energieregie.nl # 9

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VEGAN FINE DINING I always am excited to hear of opportunities for vegan fine dining so jumped at the chance of a five-course meal in a design studio/concept restaurant – De Culinaire Werkplaats. The meal was themed as a “tour of Amsterdam” which seemed perfect for us as visitors. We enjoyed a version of the Netherlands famous ox blood sausage (from aubergine and potato) with black lentil-studded focaccia as an appetizer. The first course represented Museumplein – spinach “grass” with a yellow “sunflower” (like the Van Gogh) that was in fact gently curry-spiced melt-in-the-mouth potato surrounding a picked onion (representing Amsterdam’s Jewish community and tradition) with sunflower seeds, salsify and edible petals illustrating the plate. It was beautiful and quite possibly my favourite course with such subtle, creative and complimentary flavours. Next we were taken to the canals (a green pea hummus foam) with thin slices of bright pink deep fried tomato and beetroot as the boats. The next course “Chinatown” vied for the spot as my favourite with black bean, water chestnut and tarragon-filled wontons, satisfyingly crunchy, on a bed of creamy chewy black rice, next to the “red light district” (a tomato and red pepper sauce) dotted with sea fennel. The flavours and textures were both surprising and harmonious and the plating and narrative of the dishes creation and symbolism showed such love for

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the food and the city. Courses 4 and 5 were a strange mixture of dessert and savoury. We had a cinema experience of Jerusalem artichoke crisps, a “Fanta” of foamy carrot-orange juice that was neither savoury nor sweet, playing tricks with my expectations, and an “ice cream” of orange and pear jelly covered in chocolate. The final course was a humourous nod to the cities famed liberalism around narcotics! We had strawberry and beet (agar) jelly “pills”, a line of cappuccino powder “cocaine” and squares of dark chocolate “hash” and we were instructed to eat all three parts together to create a sweet, bitter and creamy mouthful as the sophisticated flavours combined and, yes, induced a wonderful high to end the meal on. It’s also worth noting that they were able to serve us natural wines (unfiltered and unrefined and so guaranteed vegan). I had a wonderful conversation with the chef about his mission to encourage a greater appreciation of the vegetable. An inspiring night and such a treat to be able to have such a gourmet vegan meal. The final surprise was that although you are billed for the wine, they invite you to pay as much for the food as you deem appropriate!

Photos by: Marjolein Wintjes, de culinaire werkplaats

VEGAMSTERDAM

u De Culinaire Werkplaats

‘unique’ Part of our food = fashion project raw (a forecast for food & fashion, during Amsterdam fashion week july 2012) Ingredients: cauliflower, coloured beans, dim sum, vegetable stock, violets, micro greens

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‘orange’ eat’inspiration ‘think orange, grow green’ (commissioned by NETHWORK) ingredients: 7 textures of carrot

‘Blossoming

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stones’

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VEGAMSTERDAM

‘Rampant growth’ PROJECT: blooming Ingredients: black quinoa, vitelotte noir, leaves of violets, asparagus, fresh herbs

Photos by: Marjolein Wintjes, de culinaire werkplaats

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‘essence’ PROJECT: TIME Ingredients: 7 textures of pear

‘Allotment’ PROJECT: eat’inspiration eating the city Ingredients: cauliflower, spinach, tomato, beluga lentils, fresh herbs Photos by: Marjolein Wintjes, de culinaire werkplaats

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‘Fresh colours vegetable pastry’ PROJECT: inside design amsterdam

Green and white tea tiramisu bites with pearls of green tea & apple

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VEGAMSTERDAM Please note: • de culinaire werkplaats is primarily a design studio and not a restaurant in the traditional meaning of the word.

• The restaurant section of de culinaire werkplaats is vegan friendly, and most eat’inspirations are 100% vegan.

• Please inform de culinaire werkplaats of your dietary wishes when you make a reservation, so that they can prepare an ‘eat’inspiration’ that meets your wishes.

• de culinaire werkplaats is reservations only, (there is no a la carte menu). They provide a 5 course theme based menu.

• Check the website to find the latest news.

www.deculinairewerkplaats.nl

‘Detail of a dish inspired by Japanese garden’ PROJECT: garden landscapes Ingredients: black venere rice, rhubarb paper with violets.

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‘focus’

De Culinaire Werkplaats fannius scholtenstraat 10 huis nl 1051 ex amsterdam www.deculinairewerkplaats.nl

Photos by: Marjolein Wintjes, de culinaire werkplaats

PROJECT: part of a commissioned eat’inspiration we designed for under armour (sports wear) Ingredients: spinach, black rice, walnut pesto, and micro greens.

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LITE/DARK Utrechtsestraat

LITE/DARK Zeedijk

DR BLEND

Utrechtsestraat 22

Zeedijk 59A

Herenstraat 23

1017 VN Amsterdam

1012 AS Amsterdam

1015 BZ Amsterdam www.drblend.nl

www.litedark.nl

SANE Haarlemmerdijk 136 1013 JJ Amsterdam www.sanefood.nl

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SALAD BARS Salad and juice bars seem to be really catching on in the Dam in a way that I so WISH they were over here. I visited four – Dr Blend, Lite/Dark, SLA and SANE. Dr Blend serves totally delicious and creative smoothies, one I had tasted like a tutti-frutti ice cream and you would never guess it contained cauliflower and beetroot except from its gorgeous pink hue! They also serve wraps labelled “chicken”, “curried chicken” and “tuna mayo” but actually made from a disturbingly convincing soy meat, which got the thumbs up from my mum who said “they hit the sandwich spot”. I was more excited by the salads at SLA and SANE and couldn’t stop grinning at the thrill of being able to go somewhere and get a salad I could call a meal. Both places worked on a “build-your-own” principle. SLA also serves amazing hummus and soups and, with their 5 healthy vegan dressings (tahini-orange-cumin-coriander and a spin on traditional Dutch honey-mustard using spelt syrup and flax oil were my choices) and raw cheesecake, they really win the prize as my favourite find.

However, I would say any vegan visitor to Amsterdam should pop into SANE and get their Vega salad with a delicious raspberry dressing.

All three places had such fantastic chatty staff and even though none were are totally vegan (Dr Blend uses honey, which can be left out or swapped for coconut nectar, SLA and SANE both serve meat and dairy, with SLA having a commitment to “ethical” sourcing) they offered plentiful and well labelled options.

SLA Zuidas Claude Debussylaan 35 1082 MC, Amsterdam

SLA Westerstraat

SLA Ceintuurbaan

Westerstraat 34

Ceintuurbaan 149

1015 MK, Amsterdam

1072 GB, Amsterdam

www.ilovesla.com

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LOVECHOCK www.lovechock.com/en

SUPERFOOD CENTRE EERSTE ROZENDWARSSTRAAT 10 1016 PC AMSTERDAM www.superfoodcentre.nl

SHOPPING On our first sunny morning in Amsterdam we headed out to the famous Noordemarkt. I’m not sure what I was expecting – a farmers market with a few craft stalls – but certainly not two stalls selling everything from nuts and dried fruits to superfoods to juicers! It was fantastic to see how mainstream and upfront it seems. I didn’t get the impression that there are many Dutch vegans – raw or not – but I got the feeling that more and more people are incorporating aspects of it into their life and diet.

There seemed to be plenty of interest in the stalls! One was run by and Englishwoman and the other staffed by a young Dutch man and selling mushroom powders and extracts foraged in Sweden with whom I had a fascinating conversation about Pine Pollen (which included me showing off with the info provided by Four Sigma Foods in Lúcuma 7!). I picked up a new flavour of Lovechock not in the UK yet (Cherry-Chili and my favourite so far, I hope it comes soon) and some kelp noodles for €4,50! I have to say if this was my local Saturday morning market I would be in seventh heaven (and penniless!)

And that set the precedent for a fantastic weekend of shopping!

Our strolls led to small organic shops stacked floor to ceiling with TerraSana superfoods and wholefoods (and ANOTHER new Lovechock product – superfood spiked “balls” which are amazingly moreish!).

One rather magical moment involved wandering in random streets after we thought shops had closed and finding Chocolat’l, a shop that recently made the Observer Food Monthly top 50. They stock amazing dark chocolate (mainly non-raw but carrying Pacari and Booja Booja) from dedicated artisan producers and single-origin farms. With the full attention and guidance of the amazing assistant (full of passion even at the end of the day), I tasted so many chocolates and left with three of the tastiest chocolate bars ever. Like a personal shopper to find your ideal treat, her recommendations were spot on – what a lovely way to spend nearly an hour!

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Parsnip tart, kelp noodles & veggie salad Unlimited health Van Ostadestraat 234, 1073 TV Amsterdam www.vegabond.nl VEGABOND LELIEGRACHT 16 1015 DE AMSTERDAM www.vegabond.nl Far and away my favourite shop was unfortunately a rushed opportunity. Passing by just 15 minutes before closing we decided to “just pop in and have a quick look”. Unlimited Health turned out to be a huge space in the foyer of a yoga centre stocking a number of American brands as well as Dutch and German products, supplements, kitchen equipment and plenty of yoga accessories. I could have spent HOURS browsing and they serve smoothies and take out salads as well and I wish I’d had the opportunity to return.

Another specialist treat was the Superfood Centre, again within a gym. We went here for smoothies - which were delicious, obviously carefully created to maximise the flavours of the superfoods. I enjoyed a wonderful green shake using whole sun-dried bananas and Vitamineral Green and a berry shake with gojis and mulberries. However, they also sell Colostrum, Deer Antler and Whey products.

For a 100% vegan experience there are two outstanding shops right in the centre of town in the popular 9 streets shopping area.

Vegabond is a small café and shop with cosy sofas in the window and coffee, tea and sandwiches. She also sells a range of vegan products – from raw granola and crackers to chocolate bars in all flavours, soy creams, ice creams and cookbooks.

Vega Life, also in a prime location by the canal, mainly sells shoes with a couple of rails of clothes along with wallets and belts and some cookbooks. They also carry some frozen “meats” from the famous Dutch Vegetarishe Schlager (The Vegetarian Butcher – a product derived from Lupini beans and widely available in Europe but not yet over here, I would love to visit their concept “Butcher” shop in The Hague). All the familiar brands like Vegetarian Shoes and Macbeth were represented but they also carry some lovely anarchist T-Shirts and more local brands.

Amsterdam is a wonderful place to go clothes shopping – with not a Topshop or Primark in sight (and H&M easily avoided)! I found many boutiques selling clothes by small designers often with solid ethical policies using organic cotton and European factories.

This is something that is super important to me so I was over the moon to find a gorgeous jumper by a Danish designer manufactured in Denmark with organic and fair trade materials. The shop staff were all chatty and knowledgeable and it reminded me what we are losing as the British high street is decimated by chains.

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•∞•

Surya Brasil A Beautiful business by Steven Nicolaides

At this years ‘Natural & Organic Products Europe’ show in London I received an invitation to meet with Clelia Angelon, who together with her daughter Wanda, created natural and vegan beauty products brand Surya Brasil.

As one of Brazil’s first ‘green’ entrepreneurs, Clelia’s mission is to detox beauty from chemicals and synthetics flooding the industry.

While running one of Brazil’s most successful beauty empires, she is also a highly active campaigner on a diverse range of humanitarian, animal and natural beauty causes too.

It’s not long when two vegans meet that the conversation will turn to food! One of Clelias passions is veganising old Brasilian favourites. When I ask if there are any vegan restaurants in Brazil she replies the best place is her own!

It’s surprising that in a tropical country like Brasil there are not many vegan or even raw food options but at Surya Brasils own restaurant at the Espaco Surya spa they serve a fusion of healthy cooked and raw vegan food (which I’m longing to try out).

Besides veganism Clelias other passions include rescuing and taking care of animals through ‘Surya Solidarity’. Surya Solidarity is the brand’s social division that focuses on animal protection, environmental preservation, educational transformation & human rights. Clelia tells me about her dogs, cats, even wild pigs as Clelia points proudly to the giant photo of pigs on the exhibition stand wall. There were also photos of indigenous people. These were not just generic stock photos. They actually mean something to the company and Clelia was able to name not only the tribe but the name of the girl in the photo! Isn’t it fabulous how conscious companies like this can ‘wear their heart on their sleeve’ and display what they are really about? Clelia and Surya Basil are very impressive and inspiring, this I feel is the future of business, what i call ‘Conscious Capitalism’ businesses that are founded on love and positive values that give back to the planet and exist in harmony with it.

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An amazing natural product with equally amazing packaging made made out of wood resin that is 100% biodegradable.

pp Clelia’s visit to the Amazon rainforest to meet with the Yanomami indigenous people. tt Sapien Mens Range

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SURYA BRASIL BEAUTY PRODUCTS The Amazon provides many of the ingredients for Surya Brasils AMAZÔNIA PRECIOSA range such as buriti, murumuru, cupuacu and Amazonia Preciosa oil. But it’s not just nature that inspires Surya Brasil. Clelia sees three influences in their products - Nature, Ayurveda and Science (as long as its safe & ethical).

pp Clelia Angelon, Surya Brasil President and Founder

Seals & Certifications EcoCert®, Certified Vegan, PETA Cruety-Free, FSC Certification, Cosmebio, FTC

The Sapian Range

* We found the moisturiser smelt lush, moisturised well, was long lasting and we

didn’t need to reapply after washing hands.

The Sapian MENS Range

www.suryabrasilproducts.com Distributor in the UK: www.yourtonic.com 90

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AMAZÔNIA PRECIOSA RANGE

VEGAN LIp BALMS

SURYA BRASIL

What does SURYA BRASIL mean?

Surya “the Supreme Light” refers to Suraya, the solar deity in Hinduism. Here the brand refers to the “sun” of the brand’s homeland, Brazil. Clelia and her daughter Wanda hope to spread a bright “light” and transparency on the natural and organic lifestyle market as well as compassion for all living creatures with the launch of each product.

The Zero Waste project Surya Brasil also proudly operates a project to reduce waste, losses and damages within Surya Brazil’s production chain.

“We want to educate employees, customers and partners the importance in changing attitudes and habits of consumption, minimize waste generation, combat waste in all areas, to encourage the reuse of materials and, lastly, the correct way for recycling,” explains Clelia.

“The survival of the planet depends on simple actions that can be easily incorporated into the daily lives of individuals and businesses, and that will be really different if adopted by a large number of people”.

“Food waste is a kind of loss that we need to address. According to Embrapa (Brazilian Enterprise for Agricultural Research, 2006) daily waste in Brazil is about 39 000 tons (enough to feed 19 million Brazilians with three basic meals per day). According to the FAO report, food waste costs the world $750 billion”.

“Avoiding waste is an act of citizenship. A behavior change can provide significant savings in natural resources, contributing to a better world”.

pp THE LITTLE HOUSE OF PIGS In 2013, employees and volunteers helped save a family of mother and piglets who were fleeing a local pork factory. When the pigs grew, Surya Brasil created a larger ranch in the country side of São Paulo in Mogi das Cruzes, where they built a 500 square meter home for them with an enclosed area to protect them in the winter and summer months. tt Clelia’s visit to the Amazon Rainforest to meet with the Yanomami indigenous people

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The

Espaco Surya

Spa

A Natural, Organic and Vegan Lifestyle Spa in São Paulo, Brazil A template for what founder of Surya Brasil Clelia Angelon hopes to be a global franchise of Spas Inspired by an authentic and unique combination of Ayurvedic traditions and the benefits of sustainably harvested organic ingredients from the Amazon Rainforest

Spa Highlights

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•

The kitchen staff will grace each vegan dish with a blessing to ensure good energy with each meal.

•

Made from freshly hand-ground organic grains, their delicious and nutritious vegan bread is baked daily.

•

Organic Aloe Vera is handpicked from the spas vegetable garden. This natural skin quencher is used generously in face and body treatments.

•

Fresh, organic coffee grinds are massaged into the skin during a detoxifying body treatment to help improve circulation and reduce the appearance of cellulite.

•

Expert aestheticians perform a special signature Maharani massage using Surya Brasil’s Amazonia Preciosa organic skin care and fresh organic fruits with healthy enzymes to rejuvenate the skin.

•

In the same treatment, an exfoliating oat mask is prepared with pure hydrating coconut water, organic oats and fresh fruit to help purify the skin in combination with Surya Brasil’s Amazonia Preciosa Facial Toner

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• The Kitchen serves a healthy menu of wraps, soups, salads, entrees and vegan Brazilian specialties like feijoada, pasta, potpies as well as desserts.

• All organic wheat for the spa’s daily bread is freshly ground with the spa’s hand-mill grinder.

• The chefs perform a ritual blessing before each handmade meal to present the dish with positive energy for each spa guest.

• The beautiful outdoor terrace features a vegetable wall garden where greens for the salad are freshly picked each day.

• The chefs are masters at creating a vegan Feijoada, a traditional Brazilian dish, sans (without) pork or beef.

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Espaço Surya Rua Doutor Fabrício Vampré, 232, São Paulo, Brazil.

Guests can book appointments by calling +55 11 5084-2591 For up-to-the-minute spa events check out www.facebook.com/EspacoSurya

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PARTHENOGENESIS Women’s long-lost ability to self-conceive

=

Part 2 THE STORY OF LAURIE

= A fascinating account of a young woman conceiving

directly with the ‘light of source energy’ in the late 1970s.

An emotional story encompassing Native American tribes, breatharianism and the early days of the Hippocrates Institute. by Den Poitras # 9

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pp Den Poitras in 1975

tt RAINMAKER Painting (detail)

by Den Poitras

I

sometimes wish Laurie’s story was made up. It would be a lot easier to write, and a breeze to forget about, if it were fiction. I could add to it or subtract from it any which way. However, this is not the case. You could put me in a blender and watch the facts get jumbled up but it wouldn’t change anything, and I stake my life on the substance of this story being as true and real as concrete. Having said that, one must bear in mind how memory tends to mythologize everything it gathers and experiences. Be assured that I have tried my absolute best to get the bare bones of it down, no matter my human faults and limitations.

I first met my friend Laurie in the spring of 1976 in Ashland, Oregon. She was 20, I was 25. She had just completed a year of fasting and was seriously wondering if she should continue. A mutual friend, called Ruth, also living in Ashland, told Laurie about “this guy she knew” who was living in the mountains of Oregon, above Klamath Falls, and who might be able to help her out.

Soon after this conversation took place Ruth came to tell me about Laurie which, besides making me extremely curious, further encouraged me to realize that it was time for a change. For I had been living alone, the soul survivor of a group of non-violent American Indian activists, known as the Bear Tribe, and

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with whom I had a falling out with.

The Bear Tribe had come from Nevada, where I had, with my young son and wife, joined up with, to help out in any way we could, Edison Chiloquin and his family, and the Klamath-Modoc tribe, of which he was chief. Chief Edison was trying to get some land back from the U.S. Government, upon which he and his tribe could re-construct a traditional village, consisting of earth-lodges and tee-pees.

Eventually, for various reasons too complex to go into, Edison no longer could see eye-to-eye with the Bear Tribe’s leader, Sun-Bear, and, taking sides with Edison, I had remained behind while the Bear Tribe sought greener pastures in Idaho. Before hearing about Laurie I had been feeling my work with Edison was coming to an end and now, as I couldn’t wait to meet this fasting lady, I soon found myself a resident of Ashland, Oregon.

On the morning of my first day in my new backyard, I looked out the window and saw a lovely, 6 foot, 2 inch tall woman with long black hair. When I went outside to meet her, I saw she was holding a copy of a book called ‘Survival Into The 21st Century’, by Viktoras Kulvinskas, a close friend and mentor of mine, and co-founder, along with Dr. Ann Wigmore, of Hippocrates Health Institute in Boston Mass.

Laurie happened to be visiting my new backyard garden because, for some

unknown reason, when she awoke that morning, she told me she had wanted to see it, as it had been a favorite spot of hers when she had once lived here about a year previous to our present rendezvous.

We both had no idea we’d be meeting up so soon because, as it turned out, Ruth hadn’t had the chance to tell her I’d be moving here! I call this being in the right place at the right time.

Thanks to the personal, eclectic libraries of Viktoras Kulvinskas and Dr. Ann Wigmore, I had already educated myself about fasting, Breatharianism, women’s mysteries, longevity, parthenogenesis, ancient matriarchies, fruitarians, raw-food diets, and having chlorophyll in the diet, via wheatgrass juice, I was able to converse easily and naturally with Laurie.

Chlorophyll was among our first topics. Under the microscope, it’s been said to resemble human blood.

After testing many types of greens for chlorophyll content and taste, Dr. Ann Wigmore and Viktoras found that wheatgrass, when 10 to 12 inches in height, contained 80% chlorophyll and was palatable. Simply said, chlorophyll is sunlight energy trapped through photosynthesis in green plants. Thus, here begins the food chain.

All of this above, and more, was taught to me at Hippocrates Health Institute yet, despite this heady

PARTHENOGENESIS Part 2 tt WHEATGRASS - 2 ounces of Wheatgrass is the equivalent to eating 4 pounds of green vegetables.

background, who was I to tell Laurie what to do about continuing, or not, her long fast? I never thought I’d ever meet a celibate, breatharian woman, whose menstruation had ceased; who did a lot of hiking without becoming exhausted, and whose body-weight never dipped below 135 lbs.

In case you’re wondering, I satisfied myself that she was not suffering from anorexia. One doesn’t have to be a trained psychiatrist to be able to recognize the signs of anorexia. She was never sexual abused. She had a balanced, peaceful, and coherent personality that was apparent to all who knew her. Laurie was comfortable with herself, comfortable to be around, and just plain happy-golucky. She also didn’t have a Holier-ThanThou attitude. Presently, though she isn’t fasting anymore, she still weighs 135 lbs.

Laurie is light-hearted, a chatter-box really, and lots of fun to talk to. For astrology buffs, Laurie is a Taurus woman, a highly evolved one; a feet-onthe-ground, head-in-the-clouds Taurus.

Only a soul grounded in the real can glimpse the unreal. If one wants to fly freely one has to have sturdy wings.

Laurie’s ability to fast for so long only came about after several years of study, preparation, and experimentation.

And it had never been her goal to be a breatharian. It just happened, that’s all.

Now kids, don’t try these things

at home. Raw food, fasting, trying to eliminate menstruation and practicing celibacy is not for everyone. It can be difficult, if not dangerous to do on your own. If you insist on finding out more I’m sure the books and teachers will manifest according to your desire to discover them, but please go slowly and gently.

Back in early 1976 I too was celibate, which, as I’ve said, is easier to sustain on a raw-food diet. Of course, Laurie was naturally celibate too, which was another reason why we became instant friends. Also, growing up, I was, and still am, very close to my sisters, Elaine and Donna. Consequently, it was easy to sense a sister in Laurie, but she was a sister that had advanced knowledge about many of my interests, one of which was parthenogenesis.

Laurie and I used to talk for six to eight hours non-stop, yet we only discussed parthenogenesis briefly, with both of us expressing a belief in its possibility, and that was it. Laurie had shown no further interest, or the slightest ambition, to pursue this strange phenomenon, in conversation or otherwise. We never spoke of it again.

From time to time that Spring I had my four and a half year old son Justin with me, which Laurie quickly and easily managed to get close to. I had married very young. No, I hadn’t been ready for it, and I certainly hadn’t been ready for a child either, but Nature had had her way. The marriage didn’t survive, but fatherhood did. After my marriage disintegrated, my wife and son relocating to Northern California, I recharged myself on a raw-food diet; I became celibate once again and was, in retrospect, unconsciously preparing to meet Laurie.

Sometimes Laurie would take on the symptoms of people who were ill, like she would with many people she knew, and I recall vividly, when I was on my way to visit her, I was suffering with hay-fever.

My eyes were itching and watering but, by the time I arrived on her doorstep, I was okay, for, when I entered her living room, she was sprawled on her sofa with itchy, watery eyes! And she had never experienced hay-fever

A few days later, I found her again

sprawled on her sofa, but this time she was holding a cold cloth on her forehead.

She had just returned from the hospital where she had visited an old, homeless guy who was suffering from hepatitis.

It was just like Laurie to make friends with anyone and everyone. She told me about the horrible aches and pains and high fever she had went through shortly after visiting her friend. The man was released from the hospital a few days later, symptom-free, much to the surprise of the doctors and nurses that were attending him.

Did Laurie want to take on the symptoms of people that were sick? We discussed this very point and her answer was no. She couldn’t explain why it happened and I didn’t bug her to further explain something she was in the dark about.

She went to public school and was raised with no particular religion. She had no orthodox bearded guy hovering over her, no sky-god she had to please or be afraid of. I was getting to know her, her whims and interests, her humor and habits.

“

“

Only a soul grounded in the real can glimpse the unreal

If there’s one quality that stands out about someone who is fasting it is that they are like clear crystal glass. As food and toxins are eliminated, ones emotions become calm. Fears, phobias, mental confusion, and emotional disturbances evaporate. A fasting person becomes a vessel of peace and a clear mirror to friends and family. There is nothing to hide, nothing to make you worry, and nothing to lie about. Because I have fasted numerous times, lying about anything became something downright impossible to even imagine doing.

I say all this because you have only little old me to rely on for the truth in this story, just as I only have the words of my dear friend Laurie to rely on for truth in the many things she told me, which you will soon discover. However, I know, beyond a doubt, that she always told me the truth. For, once someone fasts, especially for so long, there truly is

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nothing to hide, and no reason to make up a story about one’s self, or anything else for that matter.

I would have to break for lunch while she would sip on distilled water. Sometimes, out of fear of withering away, she would put organic grapes in a blender and strain them in cheesecloth before drinking it. Yet, even the presence of very fine pulp would be enough to make her stomach regurgitate it.

Everyone that knew her was aware that she didn’t eat. I certainly saw it for myself.

Plus she wasn’t trying to do anything, like become a breatharian, or self-conceive a child. She wasn’t trying to get rid of her period either, nor was she fleeing from sex.

Yes, she had had experiences when she was sixteen. They had been gentle, shortlived experiences, but sex for her just didn’t have the “spiritual treasures” she had been seeking. So, technically speaking, she wasn’t a “virgin” and, like previously mentioned, virginity should be properly thought of as a renewable condition.

I can easily say that she wasn’t spiritually ambitious. Parthenogenesis was never of much importance to her. Above everything else, Laurie is open and compassionate toward all living beings. She is simply and willfully curious; curious with a capital C, as she began to experiment with macrobiotics and basic vegetarianism and fruitarianism when around the age of 14. What drove her to become a vegetarian to begin with was that she felt it was morally wrong to kill animals for food. She still feels this way.

I should confess that I live like most people these days, eating from all the foodgroups, but doing so with moderation, like my mother did, who lived to be almost 96 years old. There were a number of times that I experienced the living-food lifestyle, times that lasted as long as a year, others that lasted six months, three months, or shorter.

Each time I did so I felt full of energy, clarity, peace, joy and love---love for myself, and for everyone around me.

On August 26th, 1976 around 3 pm, my beautiful son drowned in a sluggish river barely three feet deep. I was devastated, to say the least. By then Laurie had returned to

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her hometown in the Southwest. Later on, through friends, she found out that Justin had drowned, and began calling me almost daily, at my parent’s home in New England, where I had fled like a bird with a broken wing. In addition to regular phone calls, we also exchanged many letters, some of which I have kept to this day.

I learned through the years to live with the loss of my sweet, golden son, but it is like an open wound, a wound that can’t be stitched up, and one that can’t be expected to heal. Such is what comes with the loss of a child. Those who have experienced this know what it’s like. Compared to most departures with loved ones, for which we pp Dens son, Justin: seem to possess innately, the mechanisms Jan.4, 1972 - Aug.26, 1976 to help us deal such losses, no such tools can be found to deal with the loss of a child, at least at first.

I found out, much later, one of the reasons it is so devastating a loss, is that a child represents one’s future, which, in turn, represents hope. Much more than we realize, we need hope, like the earth needs the sun. Both are impossible to live without.

So hope can’t be buried along with your child. The loss of a spouse, parent or friend, as tough as it is, can’t be compared to the loss of a child, and hope has to be built up again from scratch.

This tragic event became a somber and gruesome milestone, scarring me forever, and cruelly dividing my life into beforeJustin-died, and after-Justin-died. I say all this, not to evoke your sympathy, but to have you understand that, with all my senses strangely heightened, my sense of reality was sharpened and radically transformed.

Much like a severely wounded soldier returning from war, I had brutally rediscovered what reality was. When I saw Justin’s precious little body, in a clear plastic bag, after he was found by city-hired scuba-divers, almost 24 hours from the time he went missing, and then seeing his body loaded into the back of a truck by the Russian River, in Monte Rio, California, I saw reality. From these bleak moments of shock and anguish, I began to develop a powerful lens through which to view and

PARTHENOGENESIS Part 2

“

I’ve just had an incredible experience with a powerful light, a blissful light and, from within this state of bliss I was told by those same voices heard in my meditations, that I had conceived a child!

experience a new, hard-won sense of reality.

Laurie informed me, more than once, that I was her confidant, the only soul to whom she spoke to about the spiritual voices she often heard late at night, and everything else she was going through. She managed to keep her mom from knowing about her long fast by renting a studio apartment nearby and only dropping by to see her “between meals”.

Her fast had diminished her need for sleep. Instead, her sleep was transformed into a 3 to 4 hour meditation during which, toward dawn, she began hearing voices from spiritual beings. Initially they spoke to her about me and the loss of my son. Later they spoke of future world events and she often received personal guidance about herself, family and friends. One time she gave me comfort by passing down a message to me from my son, saying that he didn’t blame me for his drowning and that he loved me, and that he knew that I loved him just as much.

A few months later Laurie asked me to get in touch with Viktoras Kulvinskas.

Her breasts were mysteriously leaking milk.

Could I find out if this was normal, especially for a woman on a prolonged fast? I explained the situation to him and then he called her, assuring her that, yes, it was okay, and was something that was relatively common among healthy, vegetarian women.

There were things Laurie began hearing

“

at night that she couldn’t even tell me about.

Then her letters and calls almost came to a stand-still. I began to worry. But on December 24th around 10:30 pm, Eastern Standard Time, the phone rang. Laurie told me the following, right away, without even saying hello: “I’ve just had an incredible experience with a powerful light, a blissful light and, from within this state of bliss I was told by those same voices heard in my meditations, that I had conceived a child!”

“Do you think it’s real?” I asked her. She couldn’t say that it was for sure. She just knew how powerful and wonderful that blissful light was, and what the voices had told her, and she was still riding high from it all. Our conversation then drifted around to mundane things. Then she hung up, after promising to call more often in the coming days. To this day I’ve never had a more incredible phone call.

Another of her calls came about two weeks later. After coming down from her experience with that “blissful light”, she too began to wonder if it was real. Had she conceived?

Was she now pregnant? Here is where her torment started, for, she thought, how dare her question “the light”, how dare her wonder if was just a fantasy. Yet, how was she supposed to go forward with these questions and doubts eating away at her?

Despite this battle waging within, she had gone to a pregnancy-testing clinic and got

pp LADY OF THE LAKE (detail)

by Den Poitras

medical proof that indeed she was “with child”.

The doctor in charge found that her blood was “as pure and free-flowing as a new-born baby’s”. Wanting to know why, she responded by saying she was “a vegetarian”.

He then asked her if she’d be willing to visit a colleague of his in Arizona who loved to examine women in unusual states of health.

At the time she couldn’t say yes or no. A short while later, he called her at home and gave her the address and phone number of this colleague of his, who offered to pay for her transportation and hotel room for as long as the examinations lasted.

She asked for my advice on this matter.

She was concerned, once again, about questioning the light and wondered if she hadn’t already gone too far by feeling it necessary to verify her pregnancy at the local clinic. I felt deeply about her dilemma but couldn’t offer her any advice one way or another. Then, the next call I got from her, a few weeks later, was from a phonebooth near the doctor’s office, the one that liked examining women in unusual states of health. He too verified that she was pregnant and was wildly impressed with the pure quality of her blood. Of course, as in the previous clinic she visited, there was no discussion about her food-less diet, or how she got pregnant, so these weren’t among the reasons this doctor in Arizona wanted her

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to stay for more days of testing. It was her “free-flowing, baby-pure blood” that had piqued his interest.

She knew at this point that she had gone too far in questioning the light but she also didn’t want to go home. Since we had talked about the Hopi Indians and their prophesies regarding The Coming of the True White Brother, who was supposed to be in possession of knowledge that would “help them survive the cleansing of the Earth Mother”, she was intent on going there. In fact, it had been what I had planned to do but was stopped dead in my tracks when my son drowned.

I had been saying goodbye to my son Justin when visiting him in California because I had felt somehow that I wouldn’t be seeing him for some time to come. For no apparent reason, I was feeling that I might not ever be able to see him again.

This clairvoyant experience materialized

later that day when he had disappeared and was found by the Russian river. A few dark weeks passed and, having lost heart about living out west, and about living or doing anything, anywhere. I went back east to live with my folks, and to try and nurse myself back toward a reasonable state of psychological and emotional sanity.

Laurie seemed like the perfect candidate for such a mission, even though she wasn’t, exactly, a “true white brother”, we both realized that someone from the white race could fulfill this role. What did gender matter anyway? After all, like me, she knew about sprouts, wheatgrass, livingfood and fasting, and she had been to Hippocrates Health Institute. (We actually mysteriously crossed paths twice before meeting in real time, but that’s another story.) She had also read Viktor’s book, ‘Survival Into The 21st Century’. Laurie was as qualified as me, if not more, to approach

the Hopi with this prophesied knowledge.

Things were getting weird, but it got weirder, like a Steven Spielberg movie!

Picture a 6 foot, 2 inch tall, 20-year old woman, barefoot and pregnant, with long, straight, black hair; she’s clothed in a light-colored cotton dress, its hem past her knees, and hitch-hiking down a road somewhere in Arizona. She was always barefoot, which made her otherwise elegant feet thickly calloused. But this allowed her to walk upon any surface without causing her pain. Of course, for going into stores, or other public places, she kept a pair of light sandals with her. Aside from these sandals, and the clothes on her back, she was carrying nothing else. She also had no money to speak of and wasn’t quite sure where she was heading. She was heading to The Hopi Nation, and that’s all she knew.

The first man who gave her a ride

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found out how broke she was and gave her an old silver flute that happened to be on his back seat. After being let out on the outskirts of some obscure deserttown, she pawned the flute for $20 and bought herself some distilled water.

Her second ride, a hundred miles long, came from an old farmer. He apologized for having to drop her off near the entrance to his farm, which was in the middle of nowhere.

Not much traffic until a pickup truck went zooming by with Indians in it. They went around a bend in the hi-way and came by her again, this time whistling and yelling obscenities--things that obnoxious guys sometimes say to women, especially when they have been drinking, with their dogpack mentality, and no one around but themselves and a lone, beautiful woman for them to harass.

Realizing they were drunk and, seeing them disappearing around a corner once again, she ran off into the surrounding hills following no road, or cattle-path, or dried river-bed. Having walked very fast she felt satisfied that she had lost these guys, then she came slowly upon a clearing and could see that there were tee-pees, and other small dwellings set up in the distance.

Standing on the edge of this clearing was a short old Indian man with long white hair. He spotted her and waved. Feeling welcomed, she advanced cautiously to the campground.

Incredibly, his first words to her were, “Hello little mother.” This took her breath away. Then he said, “You’re the one, you are having a baby, right?” She nodded yes. He then asked her to come and sit for a while. There were things that he needed to talk to her about, things regarding the baby she was carrying, and lots more. Before she accepted his invitation she told him that she needed to get to the nearest phone to call a friend.

He replied, “Oh, you mean Dennis? We know about him”.

It could be that he knew about me because I had written to Thomas Banyaca, who was the spokesperson, at this time, for the council of elders within the Hopi Nation. My letter echoed

“the coming of the True White Brother” prophecy, and I had expressed my desire to visit them to talk about The Essenes, the first Christians, and the recipe they once had for “living bread”, and to communicate my knowledge of sprouts and wheatgrass. I distinctly said that I wasn’t the True White Brother, so much as I was a True White Brother, and that I felt I did have some information that would help them, and all of us, to survive the cleansing of the Earth Mother. I have no idea if this little old Hopi man knew of my letter, which had been written months previous to Laurie’s arrival, and instead, he could have simply intuited the knowledge of my name, and who I was in relation to her.

Laurie did manage to make it to a phone-booth and told me that she was safe, that she had met a 104 year old Hopi Indian, named Greyhawk, and was going to return to him. She told me that Greyhawk said that he had been waiting for her for 60 years! His wife had died decades ago, and was grieving so much that the thought of ending his life had crossed his mind, at least until he had a dream in which he was told that he had to live out his life in order to pass on information he had to a woman, called “little mother”, that would come to him someday, and who would be in need of his knowledge.

I was still living at home with my folks when I had received this other incredible phone-call from Laurie. I remember that I was eating dinner with my parents and that my mouth was full

of mashed potatoes. Before this, the last I’d heard from her was that she was torn about going to see this second doctor, who liked studying women. So, after filling me in with the extraordinary Grey Hawk connection, she told me not to worry about her. I told her how I glad I was she had escaped that truck full of drunken Indians, and hoped that everything would go well with her visit with Greyhawk. Then I finished my dinner, in normal-ville, and called it a day.

After getting this last outrageous phone call from my breatharian, mysteriously pregnant, barefoot sisterfriend, how could I ever feel normal about anything ever again? Not that I particularly benefited from being normal.

It’s just that I had to pinch myself regarding what I was hearing from her as being real, while in the middle of grieving for my son, and living back on the east coast with my folks, away from the mountains, the Klamath-Modoc Indians, and my raw-food diet.

“We speak of what we know. We bear witness to that which we see.”

- St. John Greyhawk knew that he was going to die after 7-days following her appearance.

He knew that she was pregnant and also knew that it had been conceived in the “old way”. Recently I’ve learned that many indigenous peoples, the world over, know that conception can occur normally, either between a man and a woman, or by a woman on her own.

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PARTHENOGENESIS Part 2 tt Conceiving Healers by Den Poitras it she noticed that her hands and feet had small streams of blood flowing from them. I thought at first that it was some kind of Jesus connection but she didn’t think so. It didn’t hurt and the bleeding had stopped after a few minutes.

In the early summer of 1977, Laurie visited me and she pointed out the small brown dots that had remained on her hands and feet. And by no means were they scabs. Instead, they looked like small scars that had healed long ago.

They were about the size of what a finish nail would produce. I took one close look at them as we continued our conversation while walking from the bus station to my parent’s home. She was barefoot, as usual.

For someone like Laurie, that wasn’t raised Catholic or Christian, it is interesting that she conceived on Christmas Eve, via a light of bliss, and had a stigmatic experience on Easter Sunday. I concluded that it has more to do with the equinoxes than anything else.

All I know is that she experienced these things for real, and that’s that.

My sister-in-law, Ellen, lived with Greyhawk told her that her child was as a light, a light that was attached to her uterus by fine strands of light; that this child was going to be “very important”, and that Laurie would be instructed to break her fast when the baby was about to enter its 9-month cycle of physical growth. He told her many things, some of which she was not to tell anyone, not even her friend Dennis.

Seven days later Greyhawk died, just like he said he would. Now he could be re-united with his beloved. Laurie returned home to wait, with patience and love, for further instructions. Her doubts were gone. She questioned the light no more.

We stayed in touch after this episode, but the letters and calls had bigger and bigger gaps of time between them. This was okay. We both needed to digest what had happened and she told me that her voices were asking her to seek solitude.

She found solace, even though she had to work part-time in a small factory. It’s hard to imagine Laurie, in her special condition, having to do this, but that’s what happened. She had to function in the real world, and to be watching for the time when she was to break her fast,

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which would allow her “light-baby” to enter the 9-month physical growth cycle.

Meanwhile my compounded grief erupted into problems with my teeth. A radical change in diet had brought this on and I had to go through lots of pain involving tooth extractions, root-canals and cavities. My brother came to get me at the dentist’s office after one of these sessions. I was on a couch in a recovery room and was drenched in tears because, under the influence of anesthesia, I had re-experienced searching for Justin after he had disappeared near the Russian River. I had seen him in that plastic bag the scuba-divers had put him in and I reexperienced the last time I saw him, all dressed up in a Native American ribbonshirt that his mother had made for him before he was turned into ash at the local crematorium.

Winter passed with sparse exchanges between Laurie and me. In the spring of 1977, on Easter Day, of all things, she called me breathless, once again, and as if she was speaking to me from on top of a mountain. She had just encountered that “blissful light” again. It had lasted about 15 to 20 minutes, though it felt much longer, and when she came out of

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Greyhawk told her that her child was as a light, a light that was attached to her uterus by fine strands of light; that this child was going to be “very important”

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my young nephew on the third floor of an apartment building my grandfather had built. My brother and Ellen had separated. Consequently her apartment had a bit more space. Ellen was keen on meeting Laurie so she was glad to be able to put her up. The week she visited gave me the opportunity to write down the basic times and dates, and the where’s and how’s of her unusual experiences thus far.

I tried being like a professional reporter by carefully going over everything with Laurie, until I got things right. I was amazed that she didn’t remember the day of her conception that was, like I said, on Christmas Eve in 1976. Nor did she recall the day that her hands and feet had bled during that second episode with that blissful light, which was on Easter Sunday in 1977. By the way, the

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stigmatic experience was, to her, further verification that she was pregnant.

Those two dates had stuck in my memory, most likely because of my Catholic background and, once I reminded her that her two blissful experiences had occurred on these special days, she was quick to remember and agree that I was correct.

I had thought to myself, thank God I was finally getting the chance to write all this down.

My parents were concerned that having Laurie around was going to increase their grocery bills. I told them more than once that she didn’t eat, but I don’t think it sank in. She spent most of her time visiting with Ellen and playing with my young nephew.

Laurie and I took walks to all my old stomping grounds, which included a visit to the beautiful Catholic Church I had unwillingly spent a lot of my youth in. Regardless of my past resentments, I still liked to go there now and then.

Why? Because I liked the echo’s that resounded when I played my silver flute in the chapel.

In preparation for Laurie’s visit I had bought two gallons of distilled water and a pound of grapes. By the end of her one-week stay, there remained one gallon of water and only a half pound of grapes which she had put into a blender and strained before drinking. Ellen and my nephew didn’t see her eat, and my parents and I didn’t see her eat---not that I needed further proof of anything from Laurie. She was my spiritual sister and I loved and trusted her completely. The fact that she endured a grueling bus-trip from the distant southwest, to my hometown near Boston, says a lot about her. I think she wanted to bring comfort to me as she knew my wound wasn’t about to heal very soon.

In the early 80’s I returned to the west, residing in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Here I blossomed as an artist and musician and had a much more successful, though childless marriage, that lasted 7 years. It was also in Santa Fe that I joined a small organization called Compassionate Friends, which exists for the sole purpose of helping people that have lost a child. Attending a half dozen or so meetings helped me learn to live with my son’s loss.

Laurie went home, continuing

to work at her boring job and, upon spiritual promptings, further removed herself from her mom and others that knew her. During this time of “going within”, she was finally instructed to start eating again. It was a big change for her. After some false starts and regurgitations, she was able to get back into the swing of things. She had to relearn how to eat and digest food but, like I said earlier, her weight never went above 135 lbs.

Entering this last stage of her pregnancy, she realized that soon she would be “showing”. However, because she was so tall and slim, Laurie knew she had time to get away from everyone without being obvious, especially to her mother.

So much was unclear to me regarding she did during the nine month phase of her pregnancy. And how did she to deliver her baby? Did she have mid-wife? If not, did she safely and correctly give birth herself? How about the umbilical cord and after birth?

Though we’ve spoken many-a-time over

the years, I have never leaned on her to tell me anything she didn’t offer on her own.

All I have left to tell you is that Laurie gave birth, unassisted by anyone, a month or so prematurely, to a healthy but tiny girl at midnight, March 12th, 1978. Her daughter, who she named Shasta, was the result of a direct conception through a blissful union with the creator, then, horror of horrors, Shasta died about four months later!

Oh, I wish I had known! I wish I could have been there for her, though I don’t think I could have changed anything.

More time went by. I didn’t know where she was. In fact, I didn’t learn about the birth and death of her daughter until several heart-aching years later! From about the late summer of 1977 all letters and phone calls from Laurie had ceased. My letters to her bounced right back, marked with returnto-sender and, as I later found out, her mother had moved, and had her phone disconnected and changed to a new, privately listed number.

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Virgin born or not, we are in need of high-frequency beings, gifted healers, 21st century saints, technological geniuses, master musicians and spiritual leaders.

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Finally, around 1986 or so, she got back in touch with me to tell me of her daughter’s birth and sad, sad, death. She said, “The vibrations of this planet were too gross, too dense for her”. Shasta, named after Laurie’s favorite mountain in California, didn’t have the strength to stay on earth. She had returned to the light from which she had come.

Laurie has volunteered little to no information about how and where she delivered Shasta. I continue to wonder, was she alone? Was she rushed to the hospital?

Did anyone of her friends or family witness Shasta’s birth? Did anyone besides Laurie get to see the infant Shasta? Are there any photographs? And how did she deal with Shasta’s remains?

As I know very well what it’s like to lose a child, I also know how hard it was, and still is, for Laurie to talk about. So I’ve never pushed her to give me any more details about Shasta’s birth, or her passage back to eternity. Someday, soon I hope, judging by our last phone call on Mother’s Day of 2013, she will be ready to fill me in. When it happens I’ll update this article online.

Throughout the 1980’s and 1990’s, after somehow surviving a long period of sad darkness and despair, Laurie met a man and started up a small family, through normal means of conceiving, which I’m sure, like me, you wanted to know. She gave birth to and raised three healthy boys. She’s sounds happy enough, doesn’t dwell on the past too much, (except when she hears from me) and continues to pursue New Age, spiritual techniques of healing, like long-distant healing through thoughts and prayers. Before finishing up with our last phone conversation I asked her what kind of healing she is learning about. She said, “I’m learning to get out of the way”.

Ironically, but understandably so, owing to losing Shasta, she doesn’t place much importance on parthenogenesis. Laurie told me, more or less, that all human beings, despite the nature of their conception, are

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“Recorded history starts with a patriarchal revolution. Let it continue with the matriarchal counter-revolution: that is the only hope for the survival of the human race.”

- Elizabeth Gould Davis, The First Sex

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important and special. I agree wholeheartedly, and see her point, but I differ in the idea that parthenogenesis is unimportant.

Plus I’m thinking of what Greyhawk said about how her child was “going to be important”. This remains true; at least it has been for me all these years, even though Shasta was here for such a short time. Who knows, the soul reason for Shasta’s existence might have been so I could keep Laurie’s mother-daughter story alive in my mind, heart and soul until I was ready to write it down.

I can’t help but believe that this article is the reason for Shasta.

Virgin born or not, we are in need of high-frequency beings, gifted healers, 21st century saints, technological geniuses, master musicians and spiritual leaders. Yet, I wonder if our 2013 vibrations on earth are strong and pure enough to sustain them? And our record of disposing of such gifted souls doesn’t pose well for us.

Perhaps though, this time around, he or she will resonate easily and naturally with our quickly evolving, accelerated global consciousness many of us are experiencing lately. I don’t think having lots more people around like Mother Theresa, or the Dalai Lama, is going to threaten anyone; not that they are virgin born, or need be, for that matter.

I can’t help but wonder what role, if any, parthenogenesis might have in this counter-revolution.

Further information on Parthenogenesis:

www.thestoryoflaurie.blogspot.co.uk

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Iemanja’s Juice Recipe by Erini Loucaides I love the way this Yoruban goddess’ name rolls off the tongue like soft, lapping waves….Iemanja…Iemanja…

She is adored amongst the people of Brazil and the Caribbean with beautiful floral festivals held in her honour at the seashore –for she is very much a mother goddess of the ocean. The watermelon, coconut and seaweed bring forth Iemanja’s sweet and salty Oceania.

Like the goddess, the watermelon is native to Africa but has spread far and is enjoyed in many other parts of the world. If, like me, you are one of those that nibble away at the sweet middle bit, you can always argue that you need it for brain food as the glucose sharpens concentration.

Watermelon is also the fruit with the highest source of iron - as much as spinach. The white rind and pips are believed to be sex tonics so for those interested, toss these into your blender too.

Coconut water is miraculous: not only is it flooded with electrolytes and acts as a super breast milk substitute for when a mother has difficulty breastfeeding, but its make up is almost identical to human blood plasma and can be used as an emergency intravenous drip!

Ingredients 1 cup watermelon cut up in chunks 1 orange 1/2 cup coconut water

1 teaspoon seaweed flakes or kelp (optional) Method If you are using a professional juicer, add the watermelon and orange and juice both fruit.

If you are using a blender make the fruit juice by adding the watermelon and orange and blending well. Strain with a mesh cloth or nut mylk bag.

Pour the coconut water into two tall glasses. With a spoon, stir in the fruit juice.

If you are using kelp powder, add now, stirring fervently so that it is mixed in well. If you are using small sea weed flakes, just sprinkle them on top.

Drink and savour!

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mediterranean broccoli (Broccoli al Sapor Mediterraneo) Recipe by Lorena Loriato Ingredients: (Serves 6 people) The Broccoli 3 medium/large broccoli Olive oil Salt Lemon juice The sauce 1 Cup pitted black olives 1 Cup (around 10) dried tomatoes rehydrated ¼ Cup olive oil ½ tsp lemon juice ½ tsp nutritional yeast ¼ large red onion 2 tsp oregano 2 tsp capers soaked for 10 minutes Method Chop off leaves and stalks and divide the broccoli heads into small florets. Add a little salt, lemon juice and olive oil and give the broccoli a strong (and therapeutic!) Massage until they become tender.

Mix all ingredients (but for the capers) in a food processor until you reach a “pesto” texture (not a cream). Add a little salt if necessary.

Assembly Pour the sauce onto the broccoli and mix. Add the capers and enjoy!

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photo by Alessio Paratore # 9

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raw pasta primavera Recipe by The Rawtarian Raw pasta primavera... mimicking the taste of good old fashioned Italian pasta in a creamy pasta sauce with fresh chopped veggies. Sounds gourmet, huh? It is! But not as hard as it looks, and no advanced prep is required.

You will require a blender and a spiralizer for this recipe. The blender is required to create the alfredo sauce, and the spiralizer is needed to make the fancy noodles. Alternatively you could use kelp noodles instead of the zucchini noodles. Or if you don’t have a spiralizer you can use a carrot peeler to make “noodles” out of the zucchini, but they won’t look as nice as mine do :) Also, you can make this recipe in advance, but do not actually ASSEMBLE it until you are ready to eat. So... you can make the sauce and spiralize the noodles, but keep them in the fridge separately. (Don’t actually combine sauce and noodles until ready to eat because “sogginess” will occur!)

Note about alfredo sauce: If you make a full serving of the raw alfredo sauce it keeps in the fridge very well for 3-4 days. One full batch of alfredo sauce makes 4 servings of pasta. (Also, do NOT try to make a half-batch of alfredo sauce because there won’t be enough volume in your blender to spin and make the sauce properly, so you really need to make a full batch of alfredo sauce.)

Ingredients Alfredo sauce 2 1/2 cups cashews 1 tablespoon lemon juice 2 cloves garlic 1 1/2 cups water 1 teaspoon thyme spice 1 teaspoon sea salt Noodles and fixins 4 large zucchinis 12 mushrooms (chopped) 20 cherry tomatoes (sliced in half) 1 cup green pepper (chopped) Method Make a batch of raw alfredo sauce.

Spiralize your zucchini.

Chop your “primavera” vegetables by hand. You can use any vegetables that you like. But remember that simpler actually tastes better, so don’t add too many types of chopped veggies. Try to use 3 types of chopped veggies max. Ideas: button mushroom, tomatoes, red onion, green pepper, broccoli, chopped cilantro, etc.

I sprinkled with a bit of pepper once done. # 9

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lúcuma cake Recipe by Nama & Allesandra Felice Ingredients for a 7 inch cake mould For the cake base 1/2 cup almonds/pecans 1 cup sunflower seeds (or all nuts) 3 tbsp coconut sugar 3 tbsp coconut oil 2 tbsp water A pinch of Himalayan salt In a food processor, put the nuts & seed and operate until there are only small bits, then transfer to a bowl and mix in the rest of the ingredients by hand. Press the cake base into the mould evenly.

For the caramel layer 1 cup dates 1 tbsp lúcuma 1/2 cup water ¼ cup coconut oil ¼ tsp of Himalayan salt A pinch of cinnamon Blend everything in a high speed blender until very smooth. This recipe makes more than it is needed for the cake, but the rest can easily be used up as a spread for apples or other fruits or imply eaten in spoonfuls ;) Spread the caramel (as much of it as you like) on top of the base layer and place in freezer/ fridge to set while making the last layer.

For the lúcuma cream layer 3/4 cup water 1/2 cup cacao butter ¼ cup + 2 tbsp maple syrup 1/2 cup lúcuma 1 cup cashews (soaked 20-30 minutes to soften) 1 tsp vanilla A pinch of Himalayan salt Add the liquids first into the blender to make easier for the machine to start the mixing process. Then follow with the rest of the ingredients and mix until very smooth. Pour on top of the caramel and set in the fridge until ready to serve.

Tip- The fresh lúcuma fruit is yellow in colour, so feel free to use a bit or turmeric to make your cake yellow as well!

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raw granola bars Recipe by The Rawtarian Ingredients (10 servings) 1 cup almonds 1 cup dates 2 tablespoons water ½ cup raisins ½ cup unsweetened shredded coconut ½ cup sunflower seeds ½ cup buckwheat groats 2 tablespoons sesame seeds 1/3 cup ground flax seeds (flax seed meal) 2 tablespoons tahini 2 tablespoons honey 2 tablespoons coconut oil 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract 1 tablespoon cinnamon Method Process almonds, dates and water. You don’t need them to be totally processed, just process well enough--similar to how you’d process to make a raw pie crust. You should smallish chunks of dates and raisins.

Transfer almond/date/water mixture into a big mixing bowl.

Add everything else to the big mixing bowl and just mix with a spoon or even your hands.

Spread granola bars into two glass dishes. (This is a big recipe, so you’ll probably want to put it into two separate dishes or else it’ll be really thick in one dish).

These raw granola bars can be eaten as is--undehydrated (taste more like brownies then) or you can cut and dehydrate these raw granola bars to make a more traditional crunchy granola bar. Perhaps leave one dish moist and dehydrate the other! Best of both worlds :) The bars will keep for 5 days in fridge in a sealed container.

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CONTRIBUTORS Steven Nicolaides

Joanna Gregory

Lorena Loriato

Editor & Founder of Lúcuma

Writer

Raw food chef & teacher

Steven is the founder and designer of Lúcuma.

After experiencing an immensely powerful paradigm shift following some challenging life experiences, Joanna openly shares her continual journey of healing and awakening. Her intention is to inspire, empower and allow all the space to reconnect and truly live authentically, in the Now through the heart and soul.

Born in Italy I have a passion for life. I moved to London in 2012 and brought with me my partner, my cat and my big dreams about raw food. Since coming here, I have had the privilege to train with Karen Knowler - who taught me how to “teach” - and with Vito Cortese – who taught me how to “cook”. Thanks to them I became a raw food teacher and chef and I now offer mentoring and cookery classes in UK and Italy both for individuals and groups.

Disillusioned with the conventional way of life he desired to unplug from the illusion and gain more freedoms on every level.

Spirituality, creating, veganism and mindfulness has been his passion since the turn of the millennium. He is a natural creative able to communicate ideas and concepts through a variety of media. He is a graphic designer for eco-friendly/ethical/ vegan companies. He also takes people on synchronicity walks as a coach and guide.

He loves spending time in nature, guitars, drums, chanting, meditating, travelling flowers and nice scents.

My Art and Photography: www.redbubble.com/people/ fizzyimages My Design: www.newgaiadesigns.com My Coaching: www.facebook.com/ mrsynchronicity Instagram instagram.com/whitefender

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Guided to write with passion and purpose, Joanna’s vision and mission is to help elevate collective consciousness through the vehicle of writing. She lovingly shares inspirational and channelled writing received in flow with Source and is currently writing her first series of conscious children’s fairy tales.

Joanna loves practicing Qi Gong, meditation, spending time in nature, experimenting with raw & vegan food, reading, evolving with like-minded souls both as teacher and student and being open to taking part in all which nourishes the heart, mind, body and soul. www.smileyjoforever.blogspot.co.uk Instagram @smileyjoforever Facebook: www.facebook.com/smileyjoforever

www.lorenaloriato.co.uk Facebook Twitter Instagram

Hannah Phoebe

Erini Loucaides

Writer

Author

Hannah Phoebe is currently a blank slate.

2014 is the year she comes out of her cocoon and is reborn, opening her heart to the universe and choosing a more positive narrative for her own life. So far this involves experimenting with travelling and developing a passion for nourishing foods.

Erini Loucaides is the author of ‘Soar on Raw!’ where 100 raw recipes meet over 100 gods and goddess from World Mythology.

She lives in Cyprus, amongst the almond and olive groves with her husband and two fully breast-fed, attachment-parented boys. Erini also hosts talks and picnics, giving people the tips and tools to go forth, deciding how much raw food they wish to bring into their life at their own pace.

She’s a committed vegan, feminist and socialist, yet also something beyond politics and labels.

She loves avocado, coconut and sunshine.

Find me at: www.hannahimsa.wordpress.com

www.soaronraw.com www.facebook/erini loucaides twitter @erinisoar linkedin Erini Loucaides

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CONTRIBUTORS Irene Arango

Rich Havardi

Co-Founder of Nama foods restaurant

Co-Founder of Nama foods restaurant

Irene started her journey into raw food in her search for better health, more energy and ideal weight. Delighted that she found it, she has since then dedicated her life to help others to embark on the same fulfilling path trying to bring raw food and its benefits to mainstream knowledge showing how exciting raw dishes can be using your creativity and imagination.

Rich Havardi has always had a passion for food and nutrition and is a firm believer in the value of a healthy diet for body, mind and spirit.

Irene believes that raw foods are not only a way to become healthier but also to use your imagination and nurture your spirit.

Irene is co-founder of Nama foods in Notting Hill, London, England.

She also runs health related events in the UK and Spain, caters for meetings, dinner parties, conferences and retreats in Europe and runs raw food and chocolate workshops to encourage and inspire more people to embrace the raw lifestyle. www.namafoods.com

In the last few years, he has been bringing more raw foods and superfoods into his diet and has experienced massive benefits to his health since following this path. “My energy levels have dramatically improved, I feel more focused and balanced, my skin feels radiant, I don’t suffer from any digestive problems and can’t remember when I last got sick. By focusing on a path of improving my nutrition, wonderful synchronicities have enriched my life to help me fulfil my dreams.”

Rich is co-founder of Raw Food restaurant Nama, situated in the heart of Notting Hill, West London. At Nama you can buy artisan raw food dishes, attend workshops and enjoy juice/food-cleansing programs. Nama also offers bespoke raw catering for events and retreats in addition to providing a delivery service. www.namafoods.com

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Den Poitras

Laura-Jane

Writer, Artist and Musician

The Rawtarian - Raw Food Chef

Den was born and raised in Fitchburg, Massachusetts. “In 1969 I stumbled upon all kinds of interesting information regarding longevity, fasting, physical & spiritual regeneration, ancient matriarchal cultures, and women’s mysteries---one of them being parthenogenesis or miraculous conception and birth. I am probably the most radical male-feminist on the planet”.

Laura-Jane The Rawtarian is a leading creator of simple, satisfying raw food recipes. She is the host of The Raw Food Podcast and the author of The Rawtarian’s “Raw Food Favourites.” She lives in a renovated farmhouse in rural Canada. She shares 100+ free simple, satiating raw food recipes at www.therawtarian.com.

I ended up pursuing music and art and got to meet and play with many talented eccentric musicians. I love re-inventing musical instruments; including turning the 4-string dulcimer into a versatile 20-string electric/acoustic instrument; developing the washtub bass into a very accurate instrument with terrific tone; electrifying the berimbau (a one-string instrument from Brazil that looks like a bow & arrow);

www.therawtarian.com www.facebook.com/therawtarian www.instagram.com/therawtarian www.twitter.com/therawtarian www.youtube.com/therawtarian www.pinterest.com/therawtarian

www.thestoryoflaurie.blogspot.co.uk My Music: www.reverbnation.com/denz Facebook

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