Raw Foods Diet & Raw Food Weight Loss Blog

Day 9: It’s the final day of Navratri, often the largest day of celebration. On this day in India new businesses are started, children begin their formal education if they are at the right age, and past regrets (and many times debts) are left behind. It’s a new beginning, fresh start, and is celebrated as such. Today, Pure Jeevan is celebrating in a big way, too!

Yesterday, Jim handed in his resignation where he works. He was closing old books, imagining new ones, and today markes his first step of his new life. He gave the office one month’s notice, after which he’ll be here in Portland. Our new life has officially begun!

Change isn’t always easy. It can be scary to leave what we know so well, especially if we are relatively comfortable (even if that comfort doesn’t bring happiness). However, when one is living a health-conscious life, acknowledging that to fully be happy we need to be balanced on all levels (mental, spiritual, emotional, intellectual), accepting imbalance isn’t a comfortable thing to do. Repeatedly we sense that something isn’t right and we strive to figure it out, to make changes that can bring rebalance and complete happiness.

Jim was ready for this, however. He was very comfortable handing in his resignation, since he’s know for a long time that a different lifestyle is waiting for him. It doesn’t mean there aren’t somewhat scary aspects of this huge shift in our lives, since there are quite a few unknowns. However, it feels so very right and we know that things will work out. Are we blindly looking into the future, just trusting that somehow things will be okay? Well, it may look that way, and it may feel that way at times, as well. However, at the core of my being I know that I have an inner direction, one that has never failed me. Making drastic changes requires that we tap into the feminine qualities of creativity and intelligence — creatively thinking up ways to put the pieces together, to continue making changes and finding a way to have things work out well. And we need to rely on our female intuition to continually guide us in the best direction.

Jim and I encourage all of you to look within, listen to that inner direction, and consider making changes in your lives, as well, if you aren’t already doing so. It’s important to not live a stagnant life, for it is in stagnant waters that disease can breed (in the body, mind, spirit, emotions). We’re not suggesting that everyone follow our lead by selling their homes, quitting their jobs, and just walking away from the lives they are currently living.

For many, that may not be the best choice for balance and happiness. For us, however, that is what we have been working on for many years. Some can make drastic changes overnight and never look back. For us, particularly with an adolescent to think about, the change needed to take a little longer.

If you’ve been a Pure Jeevan family member since this site first began, you know that we’ve been working on this big change for a very long time. We knew a change was necessary, and that it would be a big one, but we didn’t quite understand the steps that would take place to bring us to where we currently are. Some of our plans changed, some were placed on hold, some were dismissed as no longer an option. We never gave up, though, and hope you’ll never give up, either!

We’re not at the end of this journey; we’re simply at the point where we’re taking the first steps on a new path. I feel, in every cell of my body, intense excitement and a peaceful understanding that this is the right path for us at this time. We’ll be sure to continue sharing with all of you as our lives shift and change, yet again. It’s all so thrilling, isn’t it?!

So, for this final day of celebrating Navratri I’d like to acknowledge the feminine energies that both Jim and I called on, within ourselves, to make such bold changes in our lives.

Yes, there were masculine energies, as well, but during this nine-day celebration we are focusing on the feminine energies that we all hold within ourselves. Some people are uncomfortable with images from religions different from their own. For us, we’ve always viewed them first for their aesthetic beauty, followed by the meanings behind them. We don’t have to worship or even fully understand something to find beauty and inspiration.

For me, the female qualities that are celebrated with the various Goddesses in Hinduism have always brought about a deeper understanding of myself and others. When I see Durga, I am reminded of the qualities of fearlessness, compassion, fierce strength, and self-sufficiency that are a part of all of us. Likewise, I can appreciate wealth, fertility, and inner light/insight, as represented by Lakshmi, and the force of creativity and knowledge/intelligence of Saraswati that we all hold within.

May you all embrace your feminine sides, allowing the powerful female energy to repeatedly birth the changes that are necessary for your continued growth and happiness.

Happy Navratri, everyone! We love you so very much and are immensely thankful to have you in our lives!

Wendi and Jim
XOXOXO

Day 8:
Let’s focus on creativity for a bit. This is an area where many men have been comfortable expressing a feminine quality, especially when done through art and music. I say many, because we all know at least a few men who were raised to believe that a strong, powerful man doesn’t spend his time with such frivolous things. Instead, he works hard to earn an income to support his family. In the past, and still sometimes today, creative men were viewed as weaker and less masculine, not practical and in control. The feminine quality of creativity was, however, encouraged in women who were afforded more time for such “frivolity.”

We are all creative beings, however. Even those who claim to “not have a creative bone inside” are still creative beings. It’s a part of us, an inherent energy, that we choose to either repress or express. Since I was born, I’ve seen a shift in the area of creative expression. To me, it seems that more and more individuals are feeling comfortable expressing themselves in a creative way. Creativity is what will eventually lift us out of the dull, day-to-day work-to-pay-the-bills mentality. It’s creativity that, when accessed from deep within, will allow us all to find ways to live happier, more fulfilled lives.

If you’re currently in a state of feeling like your life doesn’t have much meaning, or feeling depressed and lifeless, it’s a wonderful time to call on your creative energy to begin thinking of ways to change your life in ways that can bring about more meaning, more life, more happiness. Even if you are currently happy, you can still call on your creative power to bring you even more happiness (because who can ever say there is such a thing as *too much* happiness?)!

Get giddy with excitement about the ideas that are brewing in your subconscious mind, allow that creative thinking to enter into your mind and then begin working on a way to bring it to life. You are so very much worth the time and effort that you give to yourself. For, it’s truly only *you* who knows what will bring the most happiness in your life.

Day 7: Happy Navratri! It’s the final three days, and today begins the special day of focusing on the attributes of Goddess Saraswati, recognizing those same feminine qualities within ourselves, and drawing inspiration to continue growing and changing in the most wonderful ways.

Saraswati has always held a place of honor in our home. When we traveled to India a very long time ago(*), we purchased a batik wall hanging of Goddess Saraswati and framed it. It’s quite large and we’ve always hung it in places where we wanted to focus on the energy that she represents to Hindus: creativity (particularly in the areas of music and art) and knowledge/intelligence (usually linked with education and literature).

When KDcat/Bailey was born, guess where the Saraswati wall hanging was placed?! It stayed near her, hanging in whatever room she was mostly in (as an infant that was in our room, but as she aged a bit more she had her own room and Saraswati moved into it with her). Once Bailey was more grown, she expressed an interest in deciding how to decorate her own space, and at that time the wall hanging was moved to the library that Jim created in our home.

Creativity and the persuit of knowledge is extremely important to everyone in our home. Those are two of KDcat’s strongest feminine qualities. Maybe it’s because we focused on them all while she was growing, and we encouraged their expression as she aged. Imagine what the world would be like if we focused on equally positive qualities in each other, encouraging the expression of those qualities in one another.

The Pure Jeevan blog is a creative outlet for Jim and I to share the knowledge we’ve gained over the years about health of the body, mind, spirit, and emotions. In what ways do you celebrate the feminine energy of creativity and knowledge within yourself? Do you write, draw, paint, read, play an instrument, etc.?

(*) India, 1994:

India 1994, Cochin and Southern India:

India 1994, Kerala Backwaters:

India 1994, Bangaram Island:

India 1994, Trip to Sri Lanka:

Day 6: Today is the final day of placing extra focus on the feminine qualities attributed to Goddess Lakshmi. For me, going within, shining light on the things that aren’t so clear, the things that I’ve been avoiding, or the things that have been completely invisible is something I’ve revisited off and on my entire life. It’s something that I often recommend to friends and family, as well. It’s what has allowed me to continually improve my life (both physically, emotionally, spiritually, and intellectually), and something I’ll always consider vital.

The more we search within for answers, the more we’ll learn about our true selves. The more we understand ourselves, the more authentic we become in our interactions with others. The more authentic we are with others, the more others can feel comfortable around us. The more others become comfortable around us, the more they can experience their own authentic selves. And the more others experience their true selves, the more we all wake up and truly begin living a life of beauty, grace, vibrancy, and love.

Celebrating Navratri is a beautiful way of getting in touch, on a deeper level, with our feminine qualities. It’s a beautiful way of pausing for nine days to slow down a bit, go within, and acknowledge that we are so very beautiful, powerful, compassionate, and loving.

If you haven’t been taking the time to notice some of the qualities I’ve been mentioning over the past six days within yourself, I hope you’ll pause for at least a few moments and do so now. Celebrate your feminine energy, whether you are female or male, and celebrate that same energy in those around you. When we can all recognize the same energy, the same beautiful qualities, in each and every human being we will be closer to realizing we truly are all one.

I’m sending lots of love to all of you!

Wendi
XOXOXO

End of day 4:
Yesterday I decided to go ahead and consume what my body was telling me it wanted: cooked, fermented rice and lentil pancakes. Well, the restaurant nearby that makes the Uthappam doesn’t serve them until 5pm and it was lunch time. So, I ordered the simpler, steamed, fermented rice and lentil patties called Idli.

After eating three idli (they are small and very light) with a little bit of the lentil soup, I was immediately warm (most likely from the gentle warming spices in the soup) and felt great. Within half an hour, I was feeling energetic again. For now, even though I don’t fully undersand it, 100% raw foods isn’t working for my body.

As I learn more about what is going on, and why certain things work and others don’t, I’ll be sure to share here on the blog. What I learn may be very helpful to some of you in the future, or even now. And who knows, maybe you’ll have some insight or experience to share with me that may shine a light on my own path of learning.

Day 5:
My energy continued through the evening and I felt pretty good. Since I have so many bananas in the house, I ate one for breakfast. Then later I had a home-made utthappam that was okay, but not fermented enough so my tummy is a bit bloated. The energy is here, however, and that is a wonderful thing!

For Navratri, I’m continuing to celebrate the immensely important female qualities that I hold within myself. Every year we celebrate Diwali in our home. During that celebration we light candles inside and outside our home, inviting the qualities of Goddess Lakshmi into the house and deep within ourselves. The candles represent the light we all have within, and the ability we have to shine that light into areas of our lives that maybe need a bit of wisdom, abundance, or a new beginning.

It’s never too late to go within, find your feminine light, and look at things from a different perspective. We all have that ability, that gift or quality, within. Sometimes we get lost in the darkness, however, not using our ability to see there are things we can say, do, or create to make a positive change.

Be sure to go within yourself, full of grace and beauty, and allow your inner light to shine on the areas you are currently struggling with. You’ll find that you have an inner strength that is quite peaceful, one that can comfort you and guide you to a solution to any problem you are currently facing. That is what I have been focusing on during these past five days, and what I will continue to shine light on in the future. Why be stuck in the dark, unhappy, sometimes feeling sorry for yourself when there is always a solution waiting for you to think up? You are strong, bright, beautiful, creative, and hold all the answers within yourself. I say this as much to you as I do to myself. For we are all on this journey together, all filled with such powerful energy that we can utilize to guide us through our lives.

I love all of you so very much!

Wendi
XOXOXO