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HOWDY, livefoodfactorfriends!
ISN'T THIS SPRING OF 2012 SO WONDERFUL?
High is shedding a thick, fluffy, furry winter coat. When he shakes all over, a 4' high cloud of thousands of white hairs goes up! His Arabian genetics make sure that he never gets cold here in the Pacific Northwest. And every year, he sheds for 2 months until a sleek, shiny, spectacular white form emerges -- so bright in the sun that it is blinding to look at him! I, too, have had to shed my fur vests and fur hats and fur headbands. I love the winters, the falls, the summers. BUT I THANK GOD, FOR THE SPRING! We made it! We get to live out another season of Skagit Valley grown strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, cherries, fresh-picked corn, and swimming in the lakes and riding the trails and writing to ya'll!
I have wanted to share "THE FULL JOE SARELLI STORY" with you ever since I shared it with Susan Schenck. She chose to just give a couple sentence summary in THE LIVE FOOD FACTOR. So, tonight, up with the owls and the bats, I have typed up the story for you. The occasion is the celebration of the idea of quitting smoking and all The 10 Energy Robbers while at a Natural Hygiene retreat and by taking a fast. This month, little Mary Reeney returns. She came. She quit smoking for 6 weeks. She returned to the smoking. Now, she is checking in for 4 weeks. This time, we agreed: she will not sit outside the entrance gate to Our Hygiene Homestead in The Woods and smoke 5 cigarettes until she gets sick. THIS TIME, SHE QUITS FOR GOOD! All of the rehab centers in the last decade have a new attitude: "Going back to the addictive substance on the road to recovery is part of the addiction process." Mary checks in for a second go-around this month. We have had several conversations about pulling out all the stops this time and making this the first step to a permanent non-smoking life for her. Here is Mary's story, as a prelude to "THE JOSEPH SARELLI STORY!" Please send this to every person you know who smokes, smokes, smokes those cigarettes!
"DEER" LIVEFOODFACTORFRIENDS...
Mary Reeney Quits Smoking & Goes Live!
"It's Easy to Quit Smoking!
I've Done It Thousands of Times!"
Mark Twain
At the age of 50, I decided it was finally time to embark on a journey to wellness. This body had been crumbling for years with various illnesses, surgeries, overwork, stress, chronic fatigue, and a strong addiction to nicotine and whatever else they put into cigarettes. I could no longer dance or even exercise. I was sick all the time and felt a sense of hopelessness about my current situation. I prayed and meditated for answers.
The first question was: "Where do I start on my road to health?"
They say: "A journey of 1,000 miles begins with the first step." My first step was reading a book called Roger's Recovery. The second step was listening to my friend who told me about Victoria BidWell and her retreat. The third step was reading a book she recommended: THE LIVE FOOD FACTOR. And so, my journey had begun with these 3 steps!
I learned about a diet of raw foods and Nerve Energy and how you need to restore energy and conserve energy in order get well. This regenerated and conserved energy, as the theory goes, is used by the body for detoxification and healing. I was inspired! I began to read other books on Toxemia (The 2nd Stage of Disease) and on The Natural Hygiene Fast (for fastest recovery). It was time for me to act or become totally incapacitated and go from using a cane to living in a wheelchair. I knew what I had to do: change my diet, quit smoking, and regain my health. These 3 steps had woken me up, gotten me out of denial, and given me inspiration!
The fourth step was to start researching various clinics and centers that could provide me with a place to rest and learn. After calling many centers, my friend recommended calling Victoria BidWell who had a center in the State of Washington. Her cost per week was just a fraction of 2 other Natural Hygiene centers. And neither of those were in a natural setting! (Since I am an animal and a nature lover at heart, my decision was easy when my alternatives were an institute and a revamped hotel on busy, noisy streets.) Victoria and I engaged in many telephone conversations about Natural Hygiene, The Natural Hygiene Fast, and giving up addictions. I decided to go to Victoria's "Our Hygiene Homestead in The Woods" for 4 weeks.
My fifth step lasted these 4 weeks and began with my pick-up at the airport. I will never forget my first encounter with Victoria! She wore a puffy headband with little glittering stars embedded in it and drove a truck with American flags painted on the hood and the roof! "Patriotism Personified" was my thought! Well, I might have also been thinking: "This woman is wild and having fun!" They both turned out to be true, as I was about to have a wellness adventure of my lifetime with a wildly fun woman who lives in the wild!
During our drive to Our Homestead, I learned a little bit more about Natural Hygiene and The 10 Energy Enhancers as I took in the beauty of the scenery around us. Nature! I could hear and see birds and see squirrels and butterflies, too! Going down the long driveway, I saw the house had a wonderful wilderness theme enhanced by life-like statue "critters" everywhere! My private "Howling Wolves Room" off the back deck continued the theme, and my big window looked out to the back yard where I spent many hours resting and watching birds and squirrels forage for their live food and play.
Due to certain health issues, I could not fast. But instead, I could juice and take other beverages and eat raw foods with an emphasis on vegetables and lesser sweet fruit. Victoria made the most delicious drinks. Later in the stay, she gave me instructions and demonstrations. At the end, I was making my own. Victoria showed me not only how to make great beverages from her HEALTH SEEKERS' BEVERAGEBOOK manuscript, but how to make the most simple yet delicious raw food dishes. I loved her Banana-Pecan Ice Cream and Unsplit Pea Soup. And everything was served in the cutest glasses and dishes!
I am coming to clearly understand now, the differences between The Raw Food Movement Recipes and Natural Hygiene Recipes. Since Victoria is going to make a list of the differences, I won't go into that except to recount my "A-Ha LIght Bulb Experience" with a lone piece of Romaine lettuce. Who would think that a moment with a piece of Romaine lettuce would be a highlight of one's visit?
Victoria may be "The List Lady" in Susan's book, but she is also "The Basket Lady" at Our Homestead. She had just brought over her usual basket of mostly vegetables. I had gone from mostly juices or beverages and was easing into more and more whole, raw foods with an emphasis on vegetables. As she unpacked the basket, Victoria put a head of Romaine on the table. I was eager to eat and picked off one lovely leaf and ate from the top down to the base. We talked. Victoria watched. With just a few inches of the lone leaf left, I entertained mind-expanding questions: "Just a plain leaf of lettuce? Just "as is"? With nothing with it? With nothing on it? Could taste so good?" I uttered these questions.
And Victoria simply stated: "That is Natural Hygiene. I'll never forget Dr. Vetrano saying, 'When you are genuinely hungry, even an old piece of dry lettuce tastes scrumptious!' Natural Hygiene ain't called 'Natural" for nothin'! Simple, quick, easy-to-fix, with few food items, with no toxic ingredients, and full of flavor when you are genuinely hungry! These are just some of the qualities of The Natural Hygiene Recipes. And they are wonderful!" We savored the moment as my consciousness altered to this new input. After that day, Victoria would occasionally introduce me to another "veggie" and ask me casually, "How is your love affair with veggies going?"
I have to confess that the first 3 days of my road to recovery were very rocky hard and bumpy and with huge stumbling boulders of anxiety at every turn. I smoked 5 cigarettes in a row before entering "the straight and narrow gate" at Our Homestead -- and got dizzy and sickly. The next day, I told Victoria I was thinking about leaving and asked if I could not have "just 1 cigarette." After 3 days, the very worst was over. The road had turned from bumpy and full of boulders to an underlying, muddy matrix of cravings to "Smoke, smoke, smoke that cigarette." I started chewing on plastic straw surrogates -- kind of like Kojak sucked on his Tootsie Rolls. It worked good enough! I recall my talks with Victoria on the phone before coming. I told her, "Quitting smoking is going to be so hard." She playfully answered back: "No! It is going to be easy! There won't be any cigarettes here! So, how could you possibly smoke?" It will be easy because it will be impossible!"
Through 3 days of sweats and shakes and other miserable tobacco withdrawal symptoms, Victoria held my hand and encouraged me, assuring me: "You will get through this and be victorious!" We spent many hours talking about the nature of addictions. Through all this counseling and assignments that sometimes made me feel like a child not too happy with her teacher, Victoria gave me many helpful tools -- both concrete and abstract -- to combat this devil that had held me in its grip for 35 years. Slowly, I came to see that "to smoke or not to smoke" was a choice that through the years had turned into a physiological and psychological addiction with no choice at all that had now at Our Homestead turned back into a choice. I could keep seeing "to smoke or not to smoke" as a choice. I could choose to be free! FOREVER FREE!
During Victoria's counseling, I learned about "triggers" that set off my reaching for a cigarette. I learned how to use any one of many "tools" when temptation came knocking at my door. Some of these tools were found in books, videos, and audios. Some tools were gifts that Victoria brought to me ceremoniously to symbolize "My Victory," such as a fancy, beaded cigarette case filled with plastic-straw cigarettes. Some tools were kitchen utensils: I am going home to a new VITA-MIX and Green Star Juicer and numerous new gadgets, garnishers, cookie cutters, and 1 of most every flavor of Victoria's special recipe seasonings and The Vittles! "But when all is said and done, your greatest tool," Victoria teaches, "after getting a Natural Hygiene education is attitude. Attitude then becomes everything. Where there is a will, there is a way to stay with The 10 Energy Enhancers."
Our Homestead has an amazing library on wellness and Natural Hygiene and overcoming addictions. While I did pick out many a book on my own, Victoria would hand-pick certain books, videos, and audios for my special needs. I was further amazed at some of the books with titles such as SO, YOU WANT TO QUIT SMOKING? that had come from The Dr. Vetrano Library! They dated back to the late 1800s and early 1900s! I was amazed that they knew even back then that smoking was so bad for you. I remembered that 1950s Congressional Hearing where America's doctors sat there and lied to the public, telling them that tobacco use was not harmful to health.
I watched "right-on," wonderful videos that entertained, inspired, and educated. I got a deeper understanding of how the stresses of life, poorly handled, set us up for addictive habits. I got a crash course in psychoneuroimmunology: on how positive thoughts completely change brain and body chemistry and develop hope and a sense of "I can do it!" -- while negative thoughts, by contrast, completely change brain and body chemistry and develop hopeless and helplessness. Victoria even got excited showing me artistic renditions of bright yellow fireworks going off in the brain that scientists say are quite accurate. The tool to carry home here is easily summarized: to get positive changes in the direction of health, we need to get excited about the positive futures our positive thoughts and feelings will create!
On my first outing, I met the infamous "HighJoy!" A beautiful, white, Arabian horse. HighJoy graciously allowed me to feed him a few carrots. These local carrots were 10 - 16 inches in circumference at the base, and it took serious effort for HighJoy to break off bites and chew. I am an animal lover and vegetarian. And being so close to this amazing creature was a real "high" for me! We fixed meals 2 more times at The HighJoy Homestead, where he and I bonded with big boxes of fruits and vegetables that The Red Apple Produce Man puts out for High. Yes. This horse really does jump up and down for live-food, as Victoria has been telling us! And yes, he really is a live-food eating machine: all business, with methodical chewing and eyes half-closed in happiness while savoring each bite!
Victoria and I also took the famous, scenic drive up into the Cascade Mountains -- all this while the fall colors were at their "Who turned on the neon lights?" heights. The leaves on the trees shimmered in bright yellows, reds, and oranges. The air was so clean and fresh. At the lookout destination of our drive, thousands of feet high and with a deep gorge jeweled by a long, meandering, green lake, I felt I could reach out and touch the mountains! The majesty sort of put things in perspective for me. When I looked to the ground and saw cigarette butts, the question went through my mind: "How could anyone feel so stressed when up in all this spectacular, natural beauty and want to inhale smoke in all this clean air?" Upon sharing this with Victoria, she observed: "Your subconscious is moving in the direction of health and happiness for you to have such a wonderful thought! Good Work! Keep It Up! Go, Girl, Go!" On another outing, I watched a herd of elk in the mist graze in a protected field. The Concrete, Washington, area truly is a protected world.
I have to admit that I also have gained a certain, enhanced appreciation of second-hand stores thanks to Victoria! This tickles me when I think about it -- all those years, I just drove right past so many treasures in the stores in my area. I am sure to stop in on occasion after the adorable, 1-of-a-kind finds like I see at Victoria's.
At the end of my stay, I had gone 31 days without cigarettes. And I now have no desire or inclination to take up this deadly habit again. I also lost about 10 pounds. I regained some of my emotional and physical strength due to practicing The 10 Energy Enhancers. This experience has changed my life and allowed me to take my 6th step on this life-long journey to wellness: going home and doing right.
On a final note, I have to say that I was truly blessed in finding Our Hygiene Homestead in The Woods." Victoria is full of love, she is high-spirited, just like her horse. And she has the capacity to turn negatives into positives! Her perceptiveness and good insight have helped me to look at my personal areas that need upgrading and have helped inspire and motivate me to make the needed changes. She has combined her loves for America and Planet Earth,
the wilderness and animals, The People and Natural Hygiene. I leave tomorrow. But Our Hygiene Homestead in The Woods and Victoria -- "The Wilderness Woman" -- BidWell will always stay in my heart.
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ALL THE FLOWERS OF TOMORROW
ARE IN THE SEEDS OF TODAY.
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No More Insulin!
No More Cigarettes!
Just Live Food & Loving Words!
Written in May, 1984, by Joseph Sarelli
Written upon leaving the California Health Sanctuary
Published in Naturally, The Hygienic Way
I hadn't been feeling so well. Really, I hadn't felt great in a long time. So, I went to the doctor. Of course, he gave me some tests. That was in 1977. His diagnosis was very definite. It was made on the basis of the outcome of the tests. Joe Sarelli, having reached the half-century mark, had also developed diabetes! Hearing this "good news" made me feel even worse! However, I wanted to go on living. And not knowing any other way to go, I started taking the insulin the doctor prescribed for me. I was doing my best. I took it faithfully for the next 18 months.
A good friend knew about my condition, and he knew how much I didn't like feeling the way I felt and doing this insulin I was doing. He told me about something called "NATURAL HYGIENE." It kind of made sense to me. At least, it seemed worth checking out. He directed me to the headquarters of an organization teaching Natural Hygiene in Chicago, my home town. The people there gave me a list of Natural Hygiene institutions. One was fairly close, Dr. David Scott's place in Strongsville, Ohio. So, in 1980, I made a reservation at Dr. Scott's. I placed myself on a supervised fast that lasted for 23 days. I HAVE NEVER TAKEN INSULIN SINCE! Dr. Scott said I probably never had diabetes in the first place. According to his blood tests, he speculated I had some live malfunction that mimicked diabetic symptoms. Diabetics should not fast, but I did fast because the blood tests did not show abnormal sugar levels. The important thing to me was that I didn't need to take insulin anymore. I never will again! Insulin has its own set of unpleasant symptoms. The doctors' cure was just another disease for me!
I went home a new man with a new lease on life, a new diet and no cigarettes, no coffee and no tea for the first time since I had begun all these habits in my youth. But Dr. Scott did not teach any classes. Any education was at 6:00 A.M. and 6:00 P.M. when he did his rounds. I do admit that I did not learn as much as I needed to about staying on the program when things got tough. Everything went fine for 3 months. Then a BIG EMOTIONAL CRISIS came up in my life -- A REALLY BIG ONE! And in a moment of weakness, I added to that crisis. I took a cigarette and had a big meal of the kinds of foods I used to eat. It was downhill all the way after those first 2 wrong moves. Those were mistakes, and I paid a huge price. Pretty soon, I was smoking, eating whatever I wanted, and gaining all the weight I had dropped at Dr. Scott's plus more. I got to feeling really rotten again. I had no energy and was experiencing a paralyzing and increasing malaise. My great adventure with Natural Hygiene had become a dim memory.
Then, from T.C. Fry's HEALTHFUL LIVING MAGAZINE, I saw an ad for the California Health Sanctuary in Hollister, California. I felt attracted to it because of their inclusion of a spiritual ingredient into the Natural Hygiene Program. That seemed right for me. So, 1 and 1/2 years ago, I talked with the Director Art Andrews there and started planning my life so that I could check in. My smoking was at an unbelievable 4 PACKS A DAY! My coffee and tea intake was increasing. My weight was up to 217 pounds, and I stand only 5'6" tall. My abdomen was bloated and stuck out like Buddha's -- but I was not a happy, jolly guy like he. Finally, I got to the California Health Sanctuary on July 22nd, 1984. It turned out to be everything I had hoped for and then some! Once again, I fasted under careful, loving supervision. This time, it was for 27 days. I needed more like 40 or 50 days, but my time was limited. And this time, because of the daily lectures and the 12 Step Program offered there and because of all the one-on-one counseling Art gave me and his library for us to use, I got a good education. I LEARNED A LOT ABOUT HOW TO STAY WITH THE NATURAL HYGIENE WHEN TIMES GOT TOUGH!
So, now, I'm going home. This second time around clinches things for me. (I understand some people take more time than that to learn their lessons.) My weight in 177, a 40-pound drop in 5 weeks. That's still too much for me to weigh, but it is a welcome and wonderful improvement. AND NO MORE CIGARETTES! I may not always be perfect with my diet. BUT THERE WILL BE NO MORE SMOKING, SO HELP ME GOD! That's over. I LEARNED SO MUCH HERE -- not just about food and fasting but about how I got to be the way I was and about how to handle myself after I leave the Sanctuary. I got in touch with myself, my life, and with God. This has been an enormous, a huge and important event in my life. I'll be back to finish what I have started. Next time, I hope to bring my wife with me. She needs this, too. And I expect to show her by my example just how important it is for everybody. Selfishly, I need her on my side doing this thing with me. That's something I learned at the Sanctuary -- most all of us can't do these things alone and do them successfully and consistently. We need support. We need each other.
VICTORIA'S AFTERNOTE: I lived at the California Health Sanctuary on and off for about 4 years. But that is another story. I was there at the California Health Sanctuary when Joseph fasted and vowed to never return. But stress got the best of him again. This time, he did not wait to gain back all the weight back and then some and become a hard-core smoker again. He skeedaddled back as fast as he could. His "BEST LAID PLANS..." had gone awry, but he knew what to do to nip the addiction cycle in the bud!
ODE TO A MOUSE
To a Mouse, on Turning Her Up in Her Nest with the Plough
A Scot's poem written by Robert Burns in 1785
According to legend, he wrote this after finding a nest full of mice during the winter.
Small, crafty, cowering, timorous little beast,
O, what a panic is in your little breast!
You need not start away so hasty
With argumentative chatter!
I would be loath to run and chase you,
With murdering plough-staff.
I'm truly sorry man's dominion
Has broken Nature's social union,
And justifies that ill opinion
Which makes thee startle
At me, thy poor, earth born companion
And fellow mortal!
I doubt not, sometimes, but you may steal;
What then? Poor little beast, you must live!
An odd ear in twenty-four sheaves
Is a small request;
I will get a blessing with what is left,
And never miss it.
Your small house, too, in ruin!
Its feeble walls the winds are scattering!
And nothing now, to build a new one,
Of coarse grass green!
And bleak December's winds coming,
Both bitter and keen!
You saw the fields laid bare and wasted,
And weary winter coming fast,
And cozy here, beneath the blast,
You thought to dwell,
Till crash! the cruel plough passed
Out through your cell.
That small bit heap of leaves and stubble,
Has cost you many a weary nibble!
Now you are turned out, for all your trouble,
Without house or holding,
To endure the winter's sleety dribble,
And hoar-frost cold.
But little Mouse, you are not alone,
In proving foresight may be vain:
The best laid schemes of mice and men
Go often awry,
And leave us nothing but grief and pain,
For promised joy!
Still you are blest, compared with me!
The present only touches you:
But oh! I backward cast my eye,
On prospects dreary!
And forward, though I cannot see,
I guess and fear!
VICTORIA'S AFTERNOTE:
Well, stuff happens.
THANK GOD 4 NATURAL HYGIENE!
We can not like the little mice.
We can choose to Get Well & Stay Well
with The 10 Energy Enhancers --
& a little help from our friends!
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