by Gabrielle Chavez

Raw food is not my religion. For me it is a self-care practice that provides the energy edge to fulfill my wildest dreams of human potential and spiritual evolution. I'm sad to see a growing number of spiritual seekers and leaders in my age cohort and younger prematurely losing the oomph, fire and physical vitality to power their work here on planet earth. If you care about helping the planet, please take care of the piece of the planet you have most authority and responsibility for, your own body. That means no more excuses if you know what is best for your own self care, including what to eat and more importantly, what not to eat.

I'm not condemning you or anyone who disagrees and chooses otherwise; just asking you to take responsibility for your choices whatever they are. To consciously choose, even if it turns out to be a "bad" or mistaken choice, is more useful for spiritual growth than accepting your social programming or robotic habit. How we choose to eat is a good spiritual practice because it is so daily and essential, like breathing. However, eating, unlike breathing, is more voluntary and filled with variations of possibilities.

For me the journey of discovering what is best to eat has been a spiritual adventure. I've changed my diet lots of times in my search for enlightened health. Each time there were obvious benefits and learning. One constant has been the fun of it, and listening to my body more than my mind. For instance, I didn't become an ovo-lacto vegetarian 30 years ago because of my political and ecological convictions, though being a vegetarian was certainly in line with them. One day, after a bowl of delicious lamb soup, my body suddenly stopped craving meat, and I just knew I was done with eating dead animals. Never turned back, never had to fight myself or use will power--I was ready for that change. The same thing happened six years ago when I became a raw food vegan "cold turkey". Years earlier, my mind had become convinced of the value of eating more raw food, but the social aspect of eating stopped me from going very far into the lifestyle. I was perfectly happy with my cheese-tarian ways, and healthy enough. Only when raw gourmet food was presented to me as an even happier and more satisfying choice--as well as healthier--did I jump on board.

In my book, I hope to persuade you to give this adventure a try as an added plus to your life, not a deprivation or loss. There are lots of reasons for it, and lots of things to learn about it, which is part of the fun. It's easier than ever now, because the raw food community is expanding at a fantastic rate as more persons seek and find a lifestyle of super-added vitality and sustainability. Here in Portland, Oregon, we are sponsoring one of the many annual international raw food events, Raw and Living Spirit designed to immerse you in all the information, demonstration, and inspiration you need to sustain a living foods lifestyle. We have speakers, raw gourmet chefs and workshop leaders chosen from the best on the circuit coming together in a camp setting designed to enrich community and nourish spiritual awakening. I'll be there; eager to learn and see what inspired and energized humans can co-create next.