Newsletter Spring 2009

Creating Consciousness with Food

BY Justin Fontanini, DOM, AP

Recently there has been access to tremendous information. This information comes from authors, scholars, masters, physicians, and even ancient wisdom that were not well known by the majority. Because we have people from around the globe and access to virtually all information by way of the Internet we get exposed to information that we normally would never have in the past. All this information provides us with guidance that can free ourselves from many levels such as on a physical, mental, and spiritual level.

On a physical level our body has great influence on our mind and spirit. Also our spirit has a great influence on our mind and body. They are all very connected and easily influence each other. Of course if our body is weak and ill our mind will become emotionally disturbed. And if our spirit had a purpose that couldn't manifest physically our body and mind would probably become disturbed and ill.

Just to realize this opens you up to a new understanding that will broaden your understanding and also increase your consciousness. An easy way to understand consciousness would be to think about the amount of your brain you use. The more percentage of your brain that you use should go hand in hand with the level of your consciousness. Consciousness is not linear, but multidimensional. It definitely includes the body, mind, and spirit at all levels.

Consciousness should go along with health, immune system and vibration in the body. If you have good energy your immune system should also be good. If you have a high vibration your consciousness should also be high.

We all know that clothing or cars have levels of quality. A $500 car definitely is not as dependable as a $10,000 car. Food is the same way, some with good quality and some with bad quality, organic vs. inorganic, food grown in over farmed soil vs. food grown in rich soil, live food vs. dead food, refined food vs. natural unrefined, microwaved food vs. regularly cooked and on and on.

Food has quality levels and a nature that can influence us on the physical, mental, and spiritual levels. Low quality food will ruin our health especially if it is inorganic, preserved with chemicals, irradiated, colored, canned, or even microwaved. This food will not add the nutrients, enzymes, phytochemicals, and energy that will reinforce our own. On the other hand, food of high quality that is grown organic, wild, fresh with live enzymes, phytochemicals, antioxidants, and energy will supplement and strengthen our body.

Eating a wide variety of good organic fresh vegetables, fruits, whole grains, beans, nuts, seeds, some high quality fermented foods, and pure clean water will ensure high vibrancy of the body and manifest as health and consciousness.

There is a tremendous artwork to eating well and being well. Vegetarianism is also a great art that one can master through sickness and health and diligent study. One must master what you can and can't eat. From here one must understand the nature of food and the effects it has on the body, and also what effect it has on the body when the climate or season changes. Some foods are better for hot climates while others are better in dry climates. Balance is the key, warm what is cold, cool what is hot, moisten what is dry, and strengthen what is weak.

When you start to follow these ways your body starts to create balance. This balance influences the health of your body, the clarity of your mind and the connection with your spirit or higher self. This sounds simpler than it really is and is simple once you grasp the concept, information, and books that teach this way.

If you can use food as a medicine you can eat wisely and enjoy any way of eating. If you have weak digestion you can eat food that strengthens it and helps you digest better. If you have weak kidneys, always enjoy food that cleanses and strengthens the kidneys.

As you eat more clear and clean foods your body becomes the same and will manifest outwardly in your physique and nature. When your body is clear and clean and you are eating balanced alive, organic, and pure foods your body will become alive with balanced energy meridians and chakras that will create an outward expression of a higher vibration and consciousness. Your third eye will be open, you will see clearly and be able to sense people's intentions and have a clear sense of direction for your day-to-day living.

Evolution is constant. One such evolution is said to be from a meat eater to a vegetarian and finally into a breatharian. Some have met these types of people that only drink water and do qigong / breathing exercises to replenish their energy. Anyway, let's see the evolution and first see how each of us evolves.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Annual Picnic

The picnic will be on Saturday, April 18, at Boca Ciega Millennium Park, 12410 74th Avenue North (Old Oakhurst Road) in Seminole. We'll be in Shelter #7, and we are asking people to start arriving at 11:30 A.M. so that we can be all set up to begin lunch at noon. For people coming from Tampa, exit on Gandy Boulevard from 275, go west toward the beach (Gandy becomes Park Boulevard) and turn left at 125th Street North. Go one block to 74th Avenue North and turn left. Turn right almost immediately into the park entrance. Everyone should sign up and let us know what they are bringing. Everyone should bring a dish that will serve at least six or eight people. If possible, they should also bring a list of the ingredients. Children are welcome at the picnic. There is a non-member fee of $2.00, although children under the age of 12 do not have to pay that fee. Even non-members are expected to bring a dish.

Board Meeting

The April Board meeting will take place immediately after the picnic. All members are welcome to attend.

We need people to help out with various tasks. If you are interested in being a member of the Board, you need to attend two Board meetings first. You don't need to be a Board member, however, to take on one of the tasks.

Next Dinner:

The May dinner will be on Tuesday, May 26 at RUCHI INDIAN RESTAURANT, 8615 North 56th Street in Temple Terrace (adjacent to Tampa). The buffet will cost $13.00 per person plus a $2.00 non-member fee and will include: Gobi Manchurian Cauliflower, Cabbage 65, Vegetable Pakora, Vegetable Fried Rice, Vegetarian Samosa, Lemon Rice, Alu Palak (Potato & Spinach), Naan Bread, and Fruit for Dessert. Speaker will be STEPHAN RADVIC. His topic will be WELLNESS IN THE 20th CENTURY.

Restaurant Committee:

The Committee consists of Sharon Dante, Chairman, Joy Karp, and Fran Naumann. Our restaurant committee welcomes recommendations of restaurants that would be good for a dinner, but they must be able to seat at least 50 of us.

Earthship Update from Michael & Denise Pfalzer:

When last we spoke to you we were in suspense as to whether Manatee County would grant our building permit. Our house which is to be built out of discarded tires, bottles, and cans is so far out of the realm of what the officials are accustomed to dealing with that we really had some anxiety as to whether they could ever find it acceptable. But WE GOT IT! Yeah!!!

As we speak we are gearing up to start the building process. We are grateful to the many individuals who have donated their time via our website, www.earthshipfloridaproject.com to help make our dream a reality. Any day now we will be starting to pound tires!

We are also grateful to the many people who continue to bring us their used bottles and cans. We still need 1000's of them - so all you bring are welcome. Bottles should be at least 4 inches high (not including the spout). Cans should be standard-size (12 oz.) beer/soda cans. Please place all others in standard recycling bins.

Ongoing pictures of the construction of our Earthship can be seen on the web via facebook.com - our id there is Earthship Florida. For info about earthships in general go to: www.earthshipbiotechure.com

About Tampa Bay Vegetarians

Our social group meets monthly, 4th Tuesday, at 7:00 PM at vegetarian or vegetarian-friendly restaurants. Click here for more information.