My Journey from PAIN to Self-LOVE

Welcome to the Soul-filled CAFE Christy!  Thank you so much for sharing your BIG TEXAN HEART and story with us.  I am also grateful for the Cleanse that you are inviting people to take on with you.

I did a powerful cleanse this summer (called the “Master Cleanse,” that I did for 10 days while in the Catskill Mountains) — and in a wonderful synchronicity is happened to be in the middle of it on the day you and I first connected.   It wasn’t my first cleanse ever, but it was the most rigorous.  And I know from getting to know you Christy, that cleansing has been an integral part of your own life transformations and the work you do with others.

So — first question is more of a request — just would love to hear you share more in your own words (and with what ever you feel inspired to share) — what cleansing has taught you about this life journey we are on. (I know, not a small Q to start with here…)

Maybe an easier Question — what are you having for breakfast down there in Texas?

Off to make my own breakfast and walk a greyhound. 

Thanks for being here.

Thank you for sharing a piece of your journey Christy and connecting the dots between the soul, the chakras and living life here on planet earth! It is so important to know that as wonderful as we may feed ourselves and take good care of ourselves, sometimes we do fall out of sync with living in a holistic way, but better to know that one can get back into the wellness mindset too.

Good morning!  So happy and grateful to be here today at the Soul Filled Cafe! I’ll be here all day to answer your questions and to share virtual ((((hugs)))) so please leave a comment and ask me anything that your heart desires!  

Heather, to answer your question.  YES, cleansing has been a huge part of my journey in healing myself from major depression and anxiety. I’ve cleansed every year (sometimes a couple of times a year) for the past 10 years… and I’ve tried just about everything.  Will share more about that in a few minutes.  But want to check in and let me people know that I’m here and excited about connecting with them today.

And I just made myself a double chai latte (with honey, almond milk and Purely-B) an energizing whole food supplement that contains lots of B-vitamins, maca and chaga!  I’m also sipping on a beautiful dark purple superfood smoothie (acai, goji and mixed berries with coconut oil, almond butter, almond milk and a bit of honey).

What are you having for breakfast today?  Tell me and I’ll tell you which chakras you nourished!

I really appreciate your sharing your experience Christy, wow, so much loss at one time. So glad you could honor the breakdown with compassion; and interupt the downnward spiral, achieving breakthrough to health/balance again. I of course, I think like most women know that cycle well. Luckily I am in the breakthrough, green drink/consistent exercise side of some challenges/opportunities now. Need the reinforcement of other womens stories to stay there. Great to meet you at CIP. Peace.

Feeling inspired to share a quote I read this morning by Jeff Brown.  I’m currently reading his book SoulShaping which is about his spiritual journey of connecting with his authentic self.  

I have finally found my guru- my toes, my feet, my hips, my hands, my heart. What a thing to imagine our guru as intrinsic to who we are rather than external to our embodied experience. If we really listen to the body, its truth aches will remind us when we are walking in the wrong direction, its truth chills will remind us when we are walking true-path. Thousands of years of knowing in our body temple, eternal wisdom as to directionality. No need to attach to anyone else’s knowing. We are living in a castle of awareness. The Body of God. http://soulshaping.com/

When we honor our bodies as the temple of our soul then they serve as vehicles for the expression of our soul’s truth. 

Good morning!  So happy and grateful to be here today at the Soul Filled Cafe! I’ll be here all day to answer your questions and to share virtual ((((hugs)))) so please leave a comment and ask me anything that your heart desires!  

Heather, to answer your question.  YES, cleansing has been a huge part of my journey in healing myself from major depression and anxiety. I’ve cleansed every year (sometimes a couple of times a year) for the past 10 years… and I’ve tried just about everything.  Will share more about that in a few minutes.  

First want to check in and let me people know that I’m here and excited about connecting with them today.

And I just made myself for breakfast a double chai latte (with honey, almond milk and Purely-B) an energizing whole food supplement that contains lots of B-vitamins, maca and chaga!  I’m also sipping on a beautiful dark purple superfood smoothie (acai, goji and mixed berries with coconut oil, almond butter, almond milk and a bit of honey).

What are you having for breakfast today?  Tell me and I’ll tell you which chakras you nourished!

Thanks Callahan, It was really great meeting you at CIP too http://irresistiblepresence.com/!  

Yes, I think that all of us can relate to the image of the downward/upward spiral and the cycles and seasons that each go through… We are at all times either choosing the foods and activities that nourish, sustain and bring us greater health, energy, vitality, peace, joy, etc or foods and activities that do the opposite.  

And whether we are taking quantum leaps or it feels like we taking 3 steps forward and 2 steps back – nothing is ever permanent and we are always experiencing progress and the things that are exactly what we need for our soul’s growth.

It feels great to be on the side of the breakthrough – and the green drinks and movement are wonderful ways to keep the energy flowing. The green drinks keep the heart chakra open and the body alkaline. They help us to crave healthier foods and the exercise also keeps the vibration high.

http://youtu.be/5nRwn7VRvb8

For breakfast I had Trader Joe’s organic coffee with milk, an egg over easy and a 7 grain waffle w/ slices of banana and a bit of organic maple syrup.

Thanks Susan,  The beauty of our bodies is that are highly resilient and they do our best to love and support us no matter what we are feeding them.  That being said, we can make their job so much easier by offering our bodies healthy food and drink and living in harmony and rhythm with the cycles and seasons of nature.  

At the time I was experiencing the loss and grief, my body was simply not interested in the high vibrational foods and activities to which it was accustomed.  I did not want green drinks or to go to ecstatic dance.  It really was craving the lower, heavier vibration foods – perhaps to numb the painful feelings – or perhaps as a way of slowing down my vibration and help me to go inward – a bit like the caterpillar does when it goes into the cocoon.  And I believe that it is important to honor the messages that our bodies send us – even when it sometimes seem counter-intuitive.

Trusting in our body’s innate wisdom to serve as our guide.  Trusting that there is a time to slow down, go inward and retreat – and also knowing that we have an array of tools available to help to ship our vibration to higher levels and help us to expand.

Heather, That sounds very nourishing.  
Eggs as a healthy form of protein support the 1st chakra and help us to feel grounded and focused.  The multi-grain waffle supports the 3rd chakra which helps us to feel powerful.  

If that type of combination (protein/grain) gives you nice, consistent stable energy and you find that you feel good immediately afterwards and for the next couple for hours – you are most likely a “mixed” metabolic type.

Some people are more “protein types”, some are “carb types” and some  people do best when they give their bodies as fuel a mixture of both.  

Did you have any healthy fats with your breakfast? ie. coconut oil, ghee, butter, etc?  Healthy fats help to nourish the 2nd chakra, our center of feelings, flow, pleasure and creativity.  They also help to satisfy our appetite and keep our mood and energy levels high.

The coffee (and all forms of caffeine) nourish the 6th chakra, our source of intuition.  It helps to uplift and expand our energy field and helps us with our focus and clarity.  Since it’s very expanding – 1-2 cups are good for most people.  Too much and we start to feel scattered, ungrounded, etc.  

Thank you for sharing so profoundly Chrisy.  What a big ah-ha it is to connect chakras to my food choices. What a great new tool you gave me for my energy management tool box.  Best to you and thanks again

Hi, Christy,

Thank you so much for sharing your story and your journey…clearly you are here to share something very powerful in your work!

I certainly recognized that our food and our bodies are linked to so much more than we realize, but you bring an entirely new, fascinating perspective to the phrase “you are what you eat.”

Or maybe it’s more “you eat what you are?”

You also mentioned that fall is a great time for a cleanse…I love that you brought that up, because my body and mind have felt a bit hay-wire with the change of seasons and especially with the dark mornings (messes with my love of very early walks with my dogs!…we need to go much later now).

What are some simple ways to gently take our bodies into each new season?

Thanks again, Christy!

Warmly,
Sue

I enjoyed this, Christy. Thank you, Heather. After years of a horrible junk food diet, I began eating healthfully and mindfully in 2008 (thanks to help) and noticed big differences right away. I’m currently going through an extremely stressful season in my life, and I’m so tempted to go back to my bad habits. Fortunately (unfortunately?) junk food no longer comforts me at all.  This is great in that I’m avoiding adding more weight, but it’s kind of difficult in that I have to face challenges without the numbing. Healthy/earthy food makes me feel more at peace, but I still feel like I’m associating food with feelings – relying on it for comfort. Not really a question. Just a thought that came up as I was reading. 

What cleansing has taught me about this life journey we are on. 
Cleansing has taught me that it is possible to reverse many forms of dis-ease and allow the body to heal naturally.  I was first introduced to the world of cleansing in 2001 – in a book on natural healing written by Gary Null.  At the time I was on six medications for the treatment of depression, anxiety and sleeping issues. One of the meds had recently caused me to gain 30 pounds in a month.  Before that time I knew nothing about cleansing or alternative health – just Western medicine and pharmaceuticals.  But when I read that book everything resonated deeply and instantly.  (I know now that I’ve had many lives as an herbalist, naturopath and holistic healer which explained my deep love for biology, chemistry, nutrition and natural ways to heal the  body).  

I took my first trip to Whole Foods that night and I remember it well.  They were playing a song by the Indigo Girls and I remember standing in awe in front of the bulk herbs section.  I KNEW I WAS HOME.  It was the first time that I ever enjoyed being in a grocery store.  It felt natural and real.  That night, I went home and brewed a tea that caused me to sweat my ass off almost instantly upon drinking it and I set off on a journey to heal myself naturally and get off all of the medications.  

Since that time I’ve cleansed at least 1-2 times per year.  The longest was a 21-day Master Cleanse that was preceded and followed by a period of juice feasting.  So that total cleanse was a little over a month which is the longest I’ve ever fasted.  The reason I chose to go beyond 21 days is that I had heard that when you cleanse beyond that time period it starts to release old emotions that are trapped and stored in the cellular memory.  And it really did work. I completed that cleanse having both huge physical releases of mucoid plaque (old gunk that gets stuck to our intestinal walls) to feeling the lightest and brightest I’d ever felt in my life.

In addition to fasting and the Master Cleanse, I’ve tried just about every type of colon cleanse available and have done the liver/gall bladder flushes, and other types of full body herbal cleanses such as the 30-day Herbal cleanse by Blessed Herbs and The Cleanse of Santa Fe which cleanses the colon, liver, kidneys, lungs, blood, etc.   I’ve also done a variety of food-based cleanses including gluten-free, dairy-free, raw-vegan, etc.   

In addition to cleansing the body, I’ve also done a lot of cleansing of the energetic body, through things like homeopathy, energywork, sweat lodges, bathing in essential oils and other types of purification ceremonies.  

Cleansing supports release of the things that are no longer serving us, helps us to shift our patterns and embrace healthier ways of living and being.  Each time I’v cleansed, I’ve emerged lighter, brighter, healthier, shinier and happier.  It’s helped to create the space for positive new things to enter into my life… including reconnecting me with the wisdom of my soul.  

So many positive things to say about my experience with cleansing.  What are your thoughts about cleansing.  Do you have any questions or experiences you wish to share???

Hello
Thank you for Sharing your wonderful experience.
My breakfast was coconut milk and kashi cereal toasted berry crumble it says it have oats seven whole grains . I want to ask you what food are good for your throat and thir eye chakra.
Thank you thank you

Wonderful news, Christy.  

How interesting that food choices align with the chakras.  I do my best to steer away from dairy, gluten and non-organic meats (the diet I was raised on!) and find my cravings lean toward lettuce, cukes and avocado when I do.  Of course, my husband being French/Italian and loving cheese and pasta, it’s not easy!!

Thanks for sharing your wisdom.  Really enjoy your post.

Love, Cherry

Christy, it was an awakening to read about cravings and how they relate to where we are vibrationally.  Has me looking at certain aspects of my experience in a whole new light.  Thank you!

I’m off to do a bit of yoga, and then eggs with a hash of greens, potatoes, onions, etc. and a coffee with stevia and a splash of cream.

Interested in hearing more about your cleanse together deal coming up.

Hi Christy – Do you have a basic diet that you recommend to women who are sensitives? And how do you incorporate your philosophy with philosophies of others toward diet? 

And, role the drums…..Christy, I am so thrilled you are making history with Spirited Woman and will be one of the first 100 women to be in the first ever Spirited Woman 2012 Directory: Resources for an Inspired Life! set to launch on 12/12/11. You are an every woman visionary changing the world one Spirited Woman step at a time. Your story is amazing. Nancy Mills, founder of http://www.thespiritedwoman.com. Go Christy!

“You eat what you are”…  Love this!

Yes, it’s really important that we shift our diets in honor of the changing of each seasons.  The two most important times of the year to do this are in our transitions into fall and spring.  

With the shift to cooler weather it is good to shift to more warming foods and spices. (think teas with ginger, cinnamon, cardamon, etc.  With the fall also comes an abundance of root vegetables and apples.  The root veggies are very grounding and help to support us energetically during the shift to cooler weather (think carrot-ginger soup and roasted root vegetables).  Apples are also very good at helping to gently cleanse the liver… so eat a fresh apple a day, or enjoyed baked apples with cinnamon and coconut oil or apple juice with warming spices.  Citrus is also in season in the winter time.  So lots of fresh squeezed grapefruit juice or lemon juice helps to keep the body feeling light in the winter.

In the spring, things are bright green things are growing like crazy out of the earth…and our bodies are begging to be cleansed from the heavier, richer foods that we indulged in throughout the holiday season.  The spring is a perfect time to enjoy lots of fresh green juice or to embark on a fast such as the Master Cleanse. This should be done after the colon has been cleared and one has been on a food-based cleanse – (lots of fresh green leafy vegetables and been on a clean diets of mostly fruits, veggies, nuts, seeds, etc).  

I am offering a gentle food based cleanse starting Nov 8th to support people transitioning into fall and lightening their loads before the holidays.  I’m hosting a Free Call called this week called Why Now is the Perfect Time to Cleanse.

You can register at http://www.feedyourchakras.com/fall-cleanse-tele-class/?ap_id=2000

FYI:  Christy is offering a free preview teleclass for her fall cleanse (I just signed up).
Go here to join and sign up:  http://tinyurl.com/fall-cleanse-teleclass

I love this review!  I did have butter. I used to use ghee when I was in NYC (appreciate the reminder of that…)  and I love  coconut oil too. When I have it available I like to cook my egg with it. 

xoxo

Hi Monica, Thanks for sharing and congrats to you on shifting to a place where your body/being is no longer interested in heavy comfort foods and numbing as a way to avoid your feelings.  I also love how your body is giving you the message that earth foods will help you to feel more at peace.  In general foods that walk on and/or grow below the ground help us to feel really grounded and rooted.  They support the first chakra which is our sense of stability, safety and security.  

When going through times of extreme stress or transition our body usually crave more “earthy foods” as a way of keeping us grounded and feeling safe.  Healthy ways of nourishing are clean animal proteins (organic eggs, grass-fed meats), or veggie sources of protein such as tempeh, tofu, hemp seeds, beans, root veggies, or vegetarian protein powders.   While it’s important to feel safe and grounded during times of stress it is also helpful to support our hearts in staying open.  

We can do this by adding lots of fresh green vegetables to our diets, such as kale, collard greens, arugula, watercress and mixed green salads.  Adding a daily dose of green powder to your diet that includes some super greens like spirulina, chlorella and/or blue green algae will help to keep the vibration raised and heart chakra open.    

Love and blessings to you!!!

Thanks Donniece,  Let me know if you have any questions about how the foods related to your energy centers!

Fascinating insights and feedback, Christy!  Love to get the chakra scoop on my morning breakfast. Today it was slow cooked rolled oats with walnuts, dried blueberries, cinnamon, and almond milk.  I also brewed a cup of mocha teeccino with coconut milk creamer.

In general, whole grains nourish the 3rd chakra.  The more whole/less refined the grains are the better they are for giving you stable consistent energy.  Once converted into a processed cereal or bread – even if it is made from a “whole grain” source – the foods lose their ability to give sustainable energy. 

The reasons why whole grains are so good for us is that in their unprocessed states our bodies have to do some work to digest them and break them down over a period of time – so the energy is release into our body more slowly. Once converted into cereal or bread, the surface area is decreased and what were once whole grains get converted into simple sugars much more quickly.  

For those who are gluten sensitive, gluten tends to slow down, gunk up the 3rd chakra – and causes digestive issues, bloating, cramping and effects the energy levels, mood, etc.  The best grains to nourish the 3rd chakra are gluten free grains (quinoa, buckwheat, millet, oats,granola mixes, etc )  and you can use these to make your own breakfast cereals.

The throat chakra is nourished by soups, sauces, juices, high-water foods and sea veggies. Sea vegetables provide us with the highest source of minerals that our body can most easily absorb which is really important because most folks are deficient in minerals due to years of consuming highly processed foods.  

Sea vegetables help support thyroid functioning which helps to regulate energy levels. An easy way to include sea veggies into your life is by replacing bread or wraps with nori, which is what sushi is wrapped in or enjoying miso soup!  Another easy way is to keep a shaker of dulse flakes or gomasio near where youcook or eat and use these as condiments to lightly season and mineralize your soups, salads or steamed leafy veggies.

My favorite sixth chakra superfood is raw cacao, the unprocessed form of chocolate, and yes it is very good for you. In its unprocessed state it helps you to feel relaxed, energized, focused and in a very positive loving mood all at the same time. I had one of my favorite sixth chakra smoothies today for breakfast - a third eye opening nutrient rich blend of raw goji berries, blueberries and acai.

Christy, what a powerful tribute to living a life of truth. In your openness and sharing I know you will touch many lives as your story resonates with so many including me.  Keep up the blessed work you are doing in the world.

Hi Kerrie, You breakfast was very balanced supporting the 1st (walnuts) 2nd (coconut milk) 3rd (rolled oats) and 6th (berries, cinnamon, teeccino)…  Supporting you in feeling grounded, creative, powerful and intuitive today!

Christy – So good to see you on here! During my period of depression, I also battled unhealthy food cravings. Now that I’m in a better place, I’ve noticed my cravings decrease. But, I’m still not completely sure what to eat to open up my chakras (I’m a total newb). What would be the top 3 things you’d recommend to start incorporating into your diet to feel bright and shiny?

Hi Cherry, Thanks for sharing.  There’s nothing wrong with cheese and pasta… there are  entire societies including the two you have mentioned who have thrived for hundreds of years with these being the staples of their diets.  My philosophy is that there are no good and bad foods – and that our judgments that we assign to foods affect our abilities to metabolize them.  

When we think of a certain food as “bad” and then choose to eat in anyway – then we are also judging ourselves as bad and with every bit taking in the emotions of guilt and shame.  These judgments and emotions actually effect our ability to digest and metabolize our food.   We’ve all heard stories of the people who’ve lost weight while they’ve eaten gelato, pasta and bread everyday while vacationing in Italy. 

Much of our ability to metabolize our food has to do with if we are slowing down enough to really enjoy and savor it.  Pleasure, joy, fulfillment – all these things support us – so does blessing our food and sharing with it thoughts of love and gratitude.   This supports our bodies abilities to metabolize and be nourished by the foods we eat.   

It is possible for you to enjoy your salads, cukes, avocodos and your the pasta and cheese too.  Bon appetit!!!!

Thanks Linda! I’m so grateful for this community space that Heather’s created for people to connect and share and for the work that you do as a source of inspiration!

Thanks Christi,  A very balanced breakfast indeed!  Love that you included the “hash of greens”  - sounds delish and a perfect way to balance the eggs and coffee!  Love to share more with you about the cleanse on the upcoming preview call…. Why Now is the Perfect Time to Cleanse http://www.feedyourchakras.com/fall-cleanse-tele-class/?ap_id=2000

Thanks, Christy!

1) Incorporating lots of Green Leafy Vegetables. (Green Juices, Green Smoothies, Mixed Green Salads, Lightly steamed Kale, Collards, Watecress, Arugula, etc)  Also take one scoop of a green powder each day that includes some mixed veggies and supergreens such as Spirulina, Chlorella, etc.  I like Green Vibrance and Pure Synergy. The greens will help you to feel expanded, lighter, creative, more flexible, etc.   They open the heart chakra, help you feel balanced and curb cravings for sugar, caffeine and less healthier foods.  

2) Movement… any form of exercise or movement that your body loves is good… yoga, walking, running, swimming, dancing, cycling, etc… Physical movement helps to cleanse the energy field and keep the energy flowing between the chakras.

3) Superfood smoothies… blend raw cacao, goji berries, acai, mixed berries, coconut oil, almond milk together sweetened with honey. Loaded with anti-oxidants and feel good chemicals that help to support the brain – raw chocolate is very good for the mood and energy levels, contains PEA (the love chemical) and anandamide (the bliss chemical) plus lots of magnesium which helps you to feel calm, relaxed, grounded and at the same time energized!

Thank you for letting us know which green powders you like. It can be confusing reading through all of the product descriptions!

Is it more beneficial to use the powder or are capsules as effective?

Back from a little break.  I made myself a salad of mixed greens tossed with guacamole, an egg over easy cooked in a little bit of coconut oil and added in some rice/beans in a mole sauce left over from lunch yesterday.  Nourishes the 1st-4th chakras.

What are you having for lunch today? 
Let me know and I’ll share with you which of your chakras/energy centers you’ve nourished. 

Christy – the amount I know about Chakras would fill a teaspoon. What books/resources do you recommend as beginner’s guides?

The first one that I read was Anatomy of the Spirit by Carolyn Myss.   
That one is great to get started in understanding the chakras and our relationship to our body, emotions, etc. If you are a visual learner, check out the Book of Chakras by Ambika Wauters.  I also love her books “Chakra and the Archetypes” and “Life Changes with the Energy of the Chakras”.  Anodea Judith has some books that are a bit more technical in regards to their description of Energy Anatomy – and she offers some great basic training courses online through http://www.sacredcenters.com/.  Carol Tuttle also offers a nice online course and a quiz to help you determine which of our chakras are most open/closed etc. http://www.chakrahealing.com/  For more on how food and supplements relate to the Chakras I recommend the work of Deanna Minnich’s books Chakra Foods for Optimum Health and Qauntum Supplements for Total Health.  

I specialize in teaching sensitive women (and men) how to increase their energy and boost their mood.  Approx 20% of the population is considered highly sensitive.  This means that they are more sensitive to things like chemicals, additives, artificial ingredients, food colorings – basically anything that is not natural.  And they often have sensitivities to things like wheat, gluten, dairy, caffeine, alcohol and have other foods that they simply can’t tolerate very well.   

There are also many people who are highly sensitive but don’t yet know it.  I spent many years struggling with severe fatigue, anxiety, depression, stress, etc before I realized that I was a highly sensitive person.  

The Standard American…ie SAD diet – is really difficult for people who are highly sensitive.  The “basic” diet that I recommend for people who are sensitive is one that is very “clean” – as unprocessed as possible and free of chemicals, additives, food coloring, pesticides, gmos, artificial sweeteners

With a focus on lots of fresh fruits, vegetables, greens and I also support people in finding a the right mix of carb/protein fuels sources that give them nice stable consistent energy and help the to feel peaceful, whole, grounded, balanced and energized.

I also love teaching about superfoods and energizing herbs.  Sensitive people have highly sensitive nervous systems that process a tremendous amount of energy.  It’s not  uncommon for sensitives to have experienced chronic fatigue, depression, anxiety or adrenal exhaustion – so I also teach them about supplements and herbs that help to strengthen their adrenals and boost their immune system and energy levels and help them to intuitively learn how to eat right for their body type and find the right mix of food and supplements to help them feel most energized and balanced.  

I currently offer private coaching and will be launching a group coaching program for sensitives at the beginning of the year focused on food and energy techniques.  My philosophy is very holistic in nature and includes wisdom from both Eastern (Chinese Medicine, Ayurvedic) and Western Science.  I’ve been trained in all diet theories and am also a spiritual healer and intuitive so I help people to reconnect with the wisdom of their bodies and the cycles and seasons of nature to develop a diet and lifestyle that nourishes them at all levels… body, mind and spirit!

Hey Christy, Just wanted to stop by and tell you how much I love what you are doing and especially how you are sharing your pain to purpose transformation story! I get so excited to see women like you who choose to make your healing matter. I have recently started walking, minus the old, “you must lose 20 lbs in two weeks and walk 5 miles a day at a certain pace” chatter It’s been amazing, and as you share above I’ve even noticed that I am NATURALLY eating better. Very cool. Many Blessings and I do hope we get to meet in person some day, Dawn

The link to christy’s “fab free gift”- has been fixed!

Grab it here:
http://www.feedyourchakras.com/fabfreegift/

And sign up for her teleclass here: 
http://tinyurl.com/fall-cleanse-teleclass

(so many goodies…)  thanks Christy!!

Thanks Dawn, Great to hear from you.  Now that I’ve shared some of my sorry, you can see why I resonated so deeply with the stories you featured during the Pain to Purpose tele-summit that you hosted last year.  The work that you are doing is so important to help inspire and empower people by showing them examples of people who have healed themselves physically, emotionally, etc.  For those of you interested in tales of transformation – check out Dawn’s “Pain to Purpose Transformation Kit” and some of her other very powerful offering. http://makeyourhealingmatter.com/  http://makeyourhealingmatter.com/pain-to-purpose-telesummit/your-pain-to-purpose-transformation-kit/  

Also congrats to you for choosing to walk from a place of enjoyment and do what feels good for your body as opposed to a “masculine” must walk x/numbers a day to lose x/pounds a weight approach.  The other is much more feminine, fun and intuitive and our bodies respond so much better when we move them withe love, joy and pleasure as opposed to push, punish, etc.

When I started to shift back into the a higher vibration this summer, I was not attracted to yoga or ecstatic dance, which were my former preferred forms of movement.  Instead I was guided to walk.  So I bought myself a new pair of walking shoes and started to go for walks at our local park.  While there I ran into a woman who guided me to a session with a healer and I was able to learn about a training for an energetic healing modality that I can use to support people remotely in making quantum shifts and changes.  So it is always good to follow our energy and our guidance.   Love to you, C

Hi Christy, 

I’m inspired by your work, determination, and passion!  
And, I have really enjoyed connecting with you through our BYOBA class. 

My eating has shifted this week…  I’ve been exhausted and I notice my eating habits have become unconscious again…  This morning I drank my hot water, lemon and cayenne and then proceeded to eat left over Hallowe’en chocolates!  I couldn’t even stop myself – I just did it.  Then I had a handful of almonds and later had a coffee.  

I proceeded to feel somewhat gross and now I’m thinking about putting together a lunch of avocado and left over basmati rice.  Any suggestions for good ‘power’ foods to get me back on track away from the chocolate and candies?!  :)   I want to lift this ‘fog’ again.

Thank you!  

gillian xo

Hi Gillian,  Thanks for sharing.  This time of the year can be really challenging, the weather shifts and we start intuitively craving heavier foods and the Universe showers us with an abundance of chocolate and sweets for Halloween.  

Sounds like your day started off great with the hot lemon water and cayenne.  

Once you’ve indulged in too much sugar – it’s best to shift to protein/fat to help stabilize the energy (so that you don’t crash)… The avocado will be good – may want to avoid the  rice for today and opt for a more grounding protein (egg, tofu, tempeh, chicken, turkey, etc.)  

You can also drink tea – green tea helps with sugar cravings as does Kukicha, also known as Bancha or Twig tea, which is popular macrobiotic remedy for curbing sugar cravings…  You should be able to find at your local health foods store.  

I responded to someone below that eating a lot of green leafy vegetable and taking a green powder on a regular basis is one of the quickest and easiest ways to shift sugar cravings - We crave sugar when we don’t have enough energy of our own and are looking for a quick fix – so by making sure your diet has enough protein/complex carbs/healthy fat – in a fuel mix that gives you nice consistent stable energy you will reduce your cravings.

Something else to consider would be supplementing with B-Vitamine and adaptogenic herbs.  Adaptogens are herbs that strengthen the adrenals and help restore our internal supply of energy.  They help to balance our hormones, boost our immune system and help us to feel strong and energized.  

Examples include: Ayurvedic Herbs: Amla, Ashwagandha, Guduchi, Holy Basil, Licorice, Shatavari, Shilajit Chinese Herbs: Asian Ginseng, Astragalus,  Cordyceps, Eleuthero, He Shou Wu, Licorice, Lycium, Reishi, Schisandra Western Herbs: American Ginseng, Rhodiola

There are blends that include many of these in a single supplement. 
Reishi powder, chaga, can also be taken like a tea and help with sugar cravings.

Hey Christy! I just got back home and am leaving again soon but wanted to drop in and say hi. So happy you moved through all that grief and sadness in your unique way so that others can do the same. Tomorrow I am beginning a no sugar “diet” for about 2 weeks and I am so excited because I now realize it is because I am vibrating differently. I think I am going to buy a cupcake today and just enjoy it! For years when I was an ergonomist I told my clients to pay very close attention to what they ate because it became part of their consciousness. I look forward to seeing more of your work in the world!! xoxo Wendy
PS. Will you be talking about sugar in your preview call?

Green Vibrance is a good broad spectrum green powder.  It’s a very complete and clean formula that contains spirulina, chlorella, grasses, sprouts, probiotics, sea vegetables, adaptogens and enzymes.  You can get it at most health food stores or order it online.  http://www.iherb.com/Vibrant-Health-Green-Vibrance. First time buyers at use the referral code JAJ846 to save $5 off your first order.

Another brand that I really like is Pure Synergy.  They offer a very clean, high quality, high vibrational formula.  http://www.thesynergycompany.com/pure_synergy.html?gclid=CIWZ9IvemKwCFQsj7AodIzNAIQ

I find the powders to be the most effective.  Can stir into apple, grape or grapefruit juice to help with flavor.  But if you don’t like the powder then the capsules would be ok too.  the body is just having to take an extra step to get to the goodness.  You can also find spirulina and chlorella in tablets that are a bit easier to digest than capsules.

Hi Wendy, Yes, I’ll be talking about how cleansing helps to free us from both sugar and caffeine addiction during the preview call.  Congrats to you on the no sugar diet and I know it’s tempting (and if you want to indulge in one last treat before your cleanse that’s ok too…) and it will be easier to be on the fast by choosing not to have the cupcake today.  The way cravings work is we have them psychologically when we feel like we are going to miss something (ie. deprivation) and physically when we have had something so recently that our body is literally driven to crave it at a certain time (ie. the 3pm cookie/cupake/candy bar fix.)   

How I help people to cleanse is to focus on adding in lots of nourishing goodness so that they don’t feel like they are being deprived.  If the focus is on “No Sugar” you just thing Sugar, Sugar, Sugar all the time and you feel like you are being deprived and missing out.  Where as if you offer your body lots of other healthy, yummy, good for your foods then it will not be focused on what it is missing….  

There are also a lot of teas and natural whole foods that will support satisfying the body’s sweet tooth – like fruits, baked sweet potatoes and licorice tea… Keep me posted and we’d love to have you join the cleanse – timing would be perfect as it runs from Nov 8th-22nd.  

Hi Christy, this is Marisa saying hello.  I do appreciate what you said to Cherry about our judgments about food.  It made me think about my judgements and fears about food.  I appreciate what you are doing here today.  Blessings

I’ve been working up to this cleanse for a while now and am actually not going to be eating fruit either but will be eating a lot of veggies and various other things. I think that I crave the coffee more than the sugar but do not even have coffee everyday….but more than I want to want it! I will write you privately. Will be sure to listen to your preview call!
Wendy

Hi Christy!  Thank you for being so open and honest about your struggle.  I share a similar experience recently, so I wanted to be sure you to tell you how much is helps people for you to share the scary stuff but do so in such an uplifting way.  Blessings & Joy, Renee

Thanks for sharing Renee.  Glad to be of support!

You mean the fears and judgments about food that you had in the past, right?  The new story you are creating is one of a healthy, loving, enjoyable, pleasurable and nourishing relationship with food – where you love food and it loves you back.  Thanks for coming by today!  Love & Blessings, Christy

Christy,

What a joy to see you expressing your wisdom here and sharing with people how they can be both physically and spiritually nourished!

I am fascinated by food and nutrition and am currently doing an 8-week eating program for my metabolism that is low-carb to rest my pancreas and liver, I am feeling pretty good but also looking forward to moving slowly back to a more varied diet down the road.

I love the connection you draw between being highly sensitive and needing to take more care with how you feed yourself.

Hi, Christy!

I’ve been doing really well with the greens. I’ve found a smoothie I like for my morning meal. But, I’m struggling with the sugar thing. I seem to have added lots of sugar in my diet in the late-afternoons/early-evenings. It’s not a physical craving. So, it must be emotionally or energetically driven.

Thoughts re: how to ride it out and change the behavior?

Oh, and this is new for me. It seems to have started right after I dropped Diet Coke from my diet.

Thanks Isabel, I’d love to learn more about the program that you are doing to support your metabolism.   It sounds interesting – would love for you to share more here or message me privately. 

Yes, people with sensitive bodies and nervous systems need to pay extra attention to how they care for and feed themselves.  Fortunately sensitives are also usually naturally very intuitive.  It’s just that somewhere along the way the’ve lost connection to their body’s inner wisdom, often by being in their heads, taking in all the information from various experts and trying too hard to figure out what they “should be eating”.

By learning how to understand the relationship of food to their energy centers they are able to reconnect with body’s wisdom and intuitively discover what fuel mix what works to keep them feeling healthy, energized, peaceful, whole and balanced.  

Great to see you here and thank you for your support you offer in helping sensitive healers like me figure out how to say what they do when what we do is deep, powerful and hard to describe.  If anyone needs help finding the words to support their business, Isabel is great!  http://soundbiteshaman.com/

I don’t know you if you are still answering questions, but I had one:

How do you personally navigate all the seemingly conflicting information out there about nutrition?

One person says do high-protein, another says raw, another says food sensitivities and inflammation are the key culprits, others say it’s food combining. It gets pretty confusing!

Right now, I take an approach that makes sense to me and try it for a while and see how I respond. I love the idea of raw food, but my body wasn’t all that happy with it.

Thanks Christy. So glad our work helped you figure out how to tell your unique story, it really is beautiful to witness!

I am trying The Metabolism Miracle by Diane Kress, with a few tweaks (I am not using sucralose as an artificial sweetener and am eating more veggies than her recipes and menus show.) I like the idea of resting the pancreas and liver from their possibly overreaction to carbs for a short while then gradually reintroducing carbs as my body regains its ability to respond to them. I am on Day 4 so we’ll see how I feel in a few weeks!

I think you just answered my other question — “intuitively discover what fuel mix works best” – about navigating all the conflicting information. And I like your emphasis that different foods serve different purposes (comfort or safety vs. creativity, etc.)

Hi Christy – great to read your story and hear you here.  I love cleansing too – I wonder what you think of a winter cleanse.  i’m thinking of doing one in the New Year – and have clients who would like to do it too.  Is winter a tricky time for a cleanse?

Tell me what’s in your smoothie.  
Are you also having cravings earlier in the morning or just in the late afternoon/evenings?  What types of sugary foods are you craving?  

If not physical is there something else you could do to add sweetness to your life at that time of the afternoon/eve… ie.  go for a walk, read a book, take a bath, enjoy a cup of tea???

And yes, there’s a relationship to the sugar cravings starting right after you stopped drinking the Diet Coke… your body was used to the caffeine and external source of energy.  It’s still looking outside of itself.  

Smoothie: 2 handfuls of kale, 1 cucumber, 2 celery stalks, 1 green apple, 1 lemon, a but of parsley, 1 cup of water.

Craving doesn’t start until noon or later. I’ve been going for either regular Coke or chocolate (or, both… yikes!).

Ah. I hadn’t thought about adding another type of sweetness to my day. The dogs would certainly enjoy an afternoon walk. I’ll work on being more conscious of doing ‘sweet’ things for myself in place of the sweets.

Other than doing that, is there any other way to help train my body to look inward vs. outward?

Hi Vicky,  Great question! The New Year is a time when a lot of people try to cleanse – and it makes sense to to try clear out some of the extra gunk accumulated during the holidays…  but from a seasonal/energetic perspective cleansing during the winter is actually out of harmony with the cycle and seasons of nature.  During the winter our bodies are biologically wired to conserve our additional resources (ie. fat) to keep us warm, protect us, etc especially if we live in colder climates.  Think of the animals in nature (the bear in hibernation, the squirrel who has stored away its nuts)… they are living in harmony with the season.   
Traditionally spring and fall are known as the best time to cleanse.  And the benefit to cleansing in the New Year is to help rid the body of the extra holiday excess.  Doing so will help to avoid colds and flus that happen in January/Feb which is nature’s way of helping people to cleanse when the’ve put too much stress on their system by excessive eating, drinking, etc.  So doing some sort of food-based cleanse in the New Year is helpful – but I’d make sure it’s a food-based cleanse and not a juice fast, master cleanse or raw food cleanse that would be too cooling and extreme for the winter.   A good winter cleanse is to eat only kithcari for about a week.  This is a mono diet of rice, mung beans, root vegetables and spices that is perfect for the winter.  http://planetgreen.discovery.com/food-health/whats-kitchari-and-why-is-one-of-the-most-detoxifying-foods.html or just shifting to a nice clean diet of beans, grains, root veggies and green leafies for the winter.I’ve created a blog post that speaks of this http://www.feedyourchakras.com/the-perfect-time-to-cleanse/ 

thanks Christy – the one I usually do is a raw food cleanse – just fruit and veggies for a week – and to warm things up a bit so they are not cold – or mix steamed brussel sprouts in with a salad to take the chill off.  Not the easiest doing this in winter but it’s great at helping people get off caffeine when they want to, and to reset your eating patterns.  I’ll take a look at your other suggestion too.  I can see winter isn’t the best time to do this – perhaps I’ll rethink.  

Hi Isabel, I must have intuited this question because I addressed part of it in my earlier response to you.  There is tons of conflicting information about nutrition and its not that some of its is right or wrong… it’s that certain diets work better than other for certain bodies and it really is up to each individual to discover the food/fuel mix that helps them to feel nourished and gives them consistent and sustainable levels of energy and helps them to feel really good.   

There are no good or bad foods.  Some people do extremely well on lots of animal protein and their body types actually require it.  And it depends on so many factors (our dosha, blood type, genetics, metabolic type, location, lifestyle, etc) Some people do really great on high-carbs, low-protein diets (mostly cooked grains and veggies), others as raw food, gluten-free vegans.  What I teach people to do is to get out of their pre-conceived thoughts about food (what’s right/wrong, good/bad, what they should eat/avoid, counting carbs, calories, fat grams, – cause math and food really don’t mix well)  and to get back to connecting with the wisdom of their bodies and discovering what works best to nourish their unique body type, lifestyle, etc.  

And what I do that’s different from other health counselors is that while teaching people to discover what is right for their bodies, I also teach them about how to nourish each of their chakras/energetic centers – so that the discover the foods that best help them to feel grounded, creative, powerful, loving, intuitive, etc.  

I love helping people to create a peaceful, nourishing and sustainable relationship with food that brings them joy and pleasure and comes from trusting in their body’s own wisdom and understanding their cravings as powerful messengers that tell them exactly what they need to feel energized and balanced.

There are some people who do well on a raw food diet year around… and for most folks a raw food cleanse in January would be too cool and intense.  Raw food cleanses, juice feasts, etc are excellent in the spring and summer when it is warmer and it’s the time of the year when nature provides an abundance of fresh raw foods and nature is naturally supporting us in releasing as opposed to encouraging us to conserve. 

Kellie, Loving your green smoothie recipe.  Sounds delish and that it may not be giving you enough energy.  Keep doing what you are doing and add to it a spoonful of coconut oil and some cinnamon.  We’ve not talked about hemp seeds yet but you can add some of those too… and/or a spoonful of almond butter or protein powder.  Adding the healthy fat/protein combo to the green smoothie will make it more filling and give you more consistent stable energy.  The cinnamon will also help with our sugar cravings.  

Do you like tea??? Replacing your afternoon coke with tea would help give you a lift, or you could have a green juice which will also lighten and brighten your energy.  This time of the year teas with Ginger, Cinnamon and Cardamon are very energizing.  Teas with fennel and licorice are also naturally sweet, energizing and good for the digestion.

If you would like cafe a green tea, black tea, chai tea or yerba mate would do the trick.. you ca sweeten with a bit of almond milk and honey.

Sometimes we crave sugar because we don’t have enough energy (are you eating enough healthy carbs/protein/fat at lunch??? And sometimes it’s because we are feeling bored or need sweetness in other areas of our life.  

Instead of the coke/chocolate combo ask yourself – what am I really craving right now? And check into your body to find out what it says.  Does it want to go for a walk, need a big drink of water, need to stretch, take a few deep breaths, give or receive a hug or to connect with a friend.   

One thing you can do is to create a nourishment list – of all the activities  that would add sweetness to your life.  Type it up and keep a copy on your fridge/pantry and by your computer.   Check your intuition first when having a craving to see if something just comes to mind and if not scan that list… there are so many non-sugary, non-caffeine ways to add energy and sweetness to our lives.  

Thanks Wendy.  You can always replace the coffee with a variety of teas – ginger, cinnamon, cardamon, fennel, licorice – are all sweet and energizing!

Hi, I realize the cafe might be closed for today (time zones etc). In response to your quote below, I used to LOVE things like alfalfa, the last year though I’ve been going through such intense energy clearing processes that alfalfa makes me vomit. I need lower vibrational foods to kind of stablize the super quick and clearing energy flow. Have you found any good “in-betweens”? E.g. potatoes work wonders, and mashed they fill that need for stability yet they are also clean and healthy food…Some days, I just find it hard to create the right food-mix for myself. Did you discover any great combinations /foods from the time that you went through this? “It really was craving the lower, heavier vibration foods – perhaps to numb the painful feelings – or perhaps as a way of slowing down my vibration and help me to go inward – a bit like the caterpillar does when it goes into the cocoon. And I believe that it is important to honor the messages that our bodies send us – even when it sometimes seem counter-intuitive.”

Thanks so much for sharing your story – you are such an inspiration!

I’d never connected the various foods to the chakras and energy vibrations in that way, but it makes so much sense. I think it’s especially important to remember as we go into the winter and holiday months when we’re so easily seduced by all the comfort foods.

xoxo

Christy, I love how you shared your life so authentically…and what you learned from your experiences is inspiring me. I got on the scale this morning, surprised to find I’d gained more weight than I thought over the last few weeks. Your post has me thinking how my eating patterns for the last few weeks are a reflection a more soulful calling. I’m inspired to connect and listen more deeply to what my soul needs to be more fully nourished. Thank you for sharing your wisdom!

Wow Christy! I learned so much more about you! I loved this article. And so symbolic – from “pain” to “love” in changing your name. And your explanation about the hamburgers was so cool. I’m on a cleanse right now and eating only greens with my shakes. Feel soooo clean in my body. I was having a lot of stomach problems but not any more!

Thanks for the additional info/guidance, Christy.

I’m not sure the problem is actual physical energy. I don’t feel draggy or lethargic or anything. I just find myself reaching for Coke or chocolate. I even notice myself doing it and usually do it anyway. I’m happy to try adding some of the things you mentioned, though.

I do like tea. I’ve been trying to keep a batch of cold-brewed green tea in the fridge.

I think it may be more that I’m feeling
bored/need sweetness. 

I love the idea of a nourishment list!!

Thanks again!

Thanks Christy!

Hi Shannon, Thanks for sharing.  I’m curious to know what you discovered about how your “eating patterns for the last few weeks are a reflection a more soulful calling” – if you don’t mind sharing.  You are also welcome to message me privately christy@feedyourchakras.com if more comfortable.  

Thanks Lori,  I trained in holistic nutrition and health counseling the same I was completing a 3 year program in spiritual healing with each month/class being focused on a chakra.  About a month after I enrolled in the nutrition program (which had not started yet) I had the following dream which I wrote about in the Introduce Yourself Section of our online education forum… on 2-18-2007 

last nighthad the most beautiful dream
created a creamy carrot/butternut squash soup
warm, soothing and vibrant orange
paired with a saffron rice with golden raisins
yellow like the sunfood as spiritual medicine
carrying healing intentions
to nourish the sacral/solar plexus chakras
turmeric and saffron to bring strength
delightful balance of salty and sweet 

woke up thinking of the healing properties of foods
imagined a beautiful spread of whole foods
a prism of life representing white light
and all the colors of the rainbow
the earth’s bounty to heal and nourish
our body, mind and soul…..
and so it is.

Awesome Tanya! Curious to know what kind of shakes you are doing? Glad to hear your digestive issues have healed and that you are feeling clean and bright! 

Yep, from Payne to Love – a huge shift energetically and my body always teaches me the lessons I need to learn and that I am here to teach – and through this experience I was able to really understand how we crave the foods that are a vibrational match and how we can use foods to shift and uplift our vibration!  Thanks for stopping by!

Our bodies are incredible wise and will let us know when we are getting too alkaline and clean in order to help us stay in balance.  A sudden aversion to alfalfa may have been your body’s way of saying enough.  I need to feel a bit more grounded.  I had a similar reaction to wheatgrass shots a few years ago.   I know from your work that you are also a highly sensitive person and that you are trusting the signals that your body is giving you. 

Some things that have helped support me when needing to feel grounded and at the same time supply me with energy are superfoods – such as goji berries and hemp seeds which are complete proteins – both grounding and expanding at the same time with an abundance of minerals, antioxidants, good fats and glyco-nutrients.  

There is also a product called Earth by Health Force Naturals – that is meant to ground the body and provide balance to the green powders.  

I often find that too many nuts and whole grains slow my system down too much, make me feel too heavy and lethargic – but seeds work well.  Are you getting enough healthy fats (coconut oil, avocoado, ghee) combined with a protein/carb fuel mix that feels right for you?

I’m also getting that root veggies could be good.  You say that potatoes work wonders.  Have you tried baking sweet potatoes, beets, carrots or other root vegetables?  Carrot-ginger soup?

Let me know if you experiment with any of these suggestions and let me know how they work for you!

Thank you very much for all the good information I learn a lot and I will improve these food changes in my lifestyle. You are awesome

Christy LOVE!!!!

This is so beautiful, touching, and AUTHENTIC.  Thank you for stepping into your Calling, sharing so vulnerably, and awakening my eyes to some Truth within myself that I have been denying.

It is time to start eating foods that match my Vibration or at least where I would like my Vibration to be! 

I AM SO INSPIRED!!

I signed up for your call!

Quick question, do you recommend Juice Fasts?

Love and light!!

Cora

Oh, Christy, you went through some stuff. Hug you! Yes, I feel like a cleanse. It’s spring in NZ!