Raw Organic Corn Chips by Rawmodel
I've personally never made raw corn chips before, but Anthony's Heavenly Corn Chip recipe has got me curious!
Angel Consciousness
Photo Credit: Jeff Skeirik
For some reason, tourists here in NYC always ask me for directions. I don't mind it a bit though, because it really does feel good to help out. As I was walking home one night, a group of young adults asked me how to get over to the East Village. I stopped and really gave them my attention.
After parting, one of the girls yelled - "You're and angel!!! Thank you!"
You can't buy the feeling that you get from helping others. Seriously. Helping others without expecting anything back is essential to our happiness.
After the quick interaction, I had 20 more minutes until I reached home. This gave me time to think about what the nice girl said to me.
Are we actually angels and don't know it? Who says that angels have to have wings? Is an angel a thing or a state of being? Truth is my authority, not the other way around, so this thought had me going.
What if you believed deep down that you were actually an angel, here on this planet to do good? How would that affect your day to day existence? What if we raised our children that way? Can you imagine the possibilities?
If one reaches "Angel Consciousness", could they create Heaven on Earth quicker for themselves and their loved ones?
Is Angel Consciousness actually god Consciousness? Is it one step away? Do you see yourself as divine? Do you see yourself as an angel? What would ever make you believe that you weren't? Maybe we all are... but somehow we've forgotten.
Here's a story from The Power of Now that Dhrumil shared with me:
The Beggar and His Treasure
A beggar had been sitting by the side of the road for thirty years. One day a stranger walked by.
"Spare some change?" mumbled the beggar."I have nothing to give you," said the stranger. Then he asked: "What's that you're sitting on?"
"Nothing," replied the beggar. "Just an old box. I've been sitting on it for as long as I can remember.
"Ever look inside?," asked the stranger.
"No," said the beggar. "What's the point, there's nothing in there."
"Have a look inside," insisted the stranger. The beggar, reluctantly, managed to pry open the lid. With astonishment, disbelief, and elation, he saw that the box was filled with gold.
I am that stranger who has nothing to give you and who is telling you to look inside. Not inside any box, as in the parable, but somewhere even closer: inside yourself.
Like the beggar sometimes it's easy for us to think that we're living a life filled with void and un-happiness. But when we start to look inside, and awaken that Angel Consciousness, magical things start to happen to us an the people around us. I say awaken because just like the beggar who has no idea what he's sitting on, we too have forgotten what treasures lay deep inside of us.
Just some living food for thought. Your reality is really yours to create. I believe this down to the core of my soul.
Be the source of light for yourself and others around you. Awaken your Angel Consciousness!
Anthony
The Trap of 100%
Anthony at the Raw Spirit festival sharing authentically about his raw journey
When I first learned about eating raw, the clear logic totally convinced me and I went into it 100%.
I felt AMAZING within 2 weeks, but because I didn't have the social support or culinary knowledge, I found myself very vulnerable. If I would have let go of the "all or nothing" mode of thinking, I could have allowed myself to have some cooked food once in a while, and simply got back on track afterward. No guilt, no stress.
But I was convinced that 100% was the way to go. Since I was still addicted to my old eating habits, my old self was NOT letting go. I felt denied... abandoned... full of lack. So I would binge on cooked food and put myself into a downward spiral. I should have just had a little bit, but since I felt so deprived, I would always go to the extreme.
Learn from my early mistakes. Please don't feel that if you have something cooked that some how you are no longer "raw". Be 100% yourself and 100% healthy. If you feel that some cooked food will help your social life and your sanity, by all means have some. Notice your desires because, as the old saying goes, "what you resist will persist, what you accept you rise above". Remember to enjoy your journey. If you are feeling deprived something is definitely wrong. Eating healthy isn't supposed to be a struggle.
Getting some good raw food prep books and finding awesome recipes online helps so much. Keeping recipes simple earlier on is a good idea too. When you do things like green smoothies and eat properly combined food you'll certainly increase you changes of success. Also, making quality raw amigos will give you the chance to eat raw food around people who relate your journey. Community support is always key to one's evolution in the area of personal development and health.
Listen, we won't love you any less if you aren't "100% raw" and you won't be judge by anyone other than people who don't matter - people who are probably themselves struggling in secret! We want you to be happy and healthy.
Have fun with it... there should be no struggle. If your social life demands a little fire to your food... do what you've got to do. Or if there are some meals that are cooked that you simple enjoy, do what you got to do. Add in some greens later on to balance it out or take some digestive enzymes. This journey is not about perfection, it's about constantly improving.
Remember... the 100% mentality can trip you up. If you are ready for it, by all means go for it, but make sure you are happy. Eating exclusively raw makes me so happy now, and I enjoy it so much more than anything else, but eating 100% raw four years ago made me feel left out and deprived. That's no way to live.
You do what you can, with what you have, where you are.
Here's to joy,
Anthony
Anthony the Raw Model on his Eco Sanctuary, the 20/20 segment and enjoying your journey
Download the interview | 45 minutes
Topics Covered:
- Anthony's Eco Sanctuary updates (the challenges he faced putting his project together and how far it has come)
- Our reaction and comments on the 20/20 Raw Food / Orthorexia segment
- Enjoying your raw food journey and breaking free of the "need to get somewhere"
Anthony at Raw Spirit
If you're planning on being at the Raw Spirit Festival make sure you hit up Anthony's session. He goes on right before Philip in the Discover Dome on Friday.
- Anthony Anderson on "Making Your Raw Journey Fun"
- Friday September 12th, 2008
- 2:00pm in the Discovery Dome
Note: Hey everyone, Dhrumil here. Sometimes I curse when I get excited - especially when I'm talking to a close buddy. Anthony is a close friend and yes, I do get excited in this interview. Just so you're warned, I think I cursed 1 or 2 times in this podcast. 1) sorry if you're bothered by that and 2) that's how I roll. If you disapprove of my language don't worry about emailing me. In fact I'm so spiritual that I'll be able to feel your vibrations of disapproval via the field!
Thank ya and much love.
[Restaurant Review] Ecopolitan in Minneapolis
Since I've been going through Minneapolis lately on my way up to the permaculture project area, I've been fortunate enough to stop by Ecopolitan a few times.
This is Minneapolis' only raw vegan restaurant, which is surprising, because that city has such a large vegan-vegetarian community. What's great is that when you go into this place, you see a lot of people that you wouldn't expect to see. Maybe I've been in NYC too long, but you start to imagine only young people go out to eat at raw spots. Maybe it's because I only go during mid day?
When you get right down to it, its just amazing vegan food. Raw or not... doesn't matter, and I think that's why it brings in so many different types of people. They have a nice store inside and, connected inside the same building, is a colon hydrotherapist's office. They are also really good about bringing the community in with get-togethers and informational lectures.
So lets get down to the food, shall we?
Good, but not Great
- Burger: again like every other place besides Quintessence, its okay, but not at all mind-blowing.
- Falafel Wrap: skip
- Pizzas: so-so
- Tostada: my friend Aaron really digs it, but I've yet to partake.
Okay, and now for the dishes that I really enjoyed!
The Cashew Cheese Roll pictured at the top of the post is a MUST. If you don't mind cashews, that is. We get this every time we go. They roll the cashew cheese ball in olives, basil, and sundried tomatoes, plus some amazing seasonings. Those flax chips are superb too.
Last, but certainly not least...
The Raviolis, ASTOUNDING. This, and the cashew cheese roll would be my two picks every time now. The sauce on top was so great... we were really happy we found this one.
There is hope for the great white north! Would someone please keep this trend going in Minneapolis? Even just a nice vegetarian restaurant with a few superstar dishes like these would totally suffice.
I'm just dumbfounded when we go to vegan restaurants and they don't have one raw option, except for a dinky salad. Vegans WAKE UP! Why not have some LIVE options?
If you are ever in Minneapolis, check this place out. Isn't it so great how raw foodies will make raw restaurants VITAL stopping points when they are traveling? Its so true. If I am in a new city and there is a raw restaurant, I will do whatever it takes to get there. Love the passion!
Big ups to Ecopolitan for bringing a fresher consciousness to the Twin Cities... go support them!
Anthony
p.s. And maybe you might run into Heidi and JS while you're there too!
Hard at work manifesting my eco-sanctuary
But its a labor of love! Here is what has been going on with the eco-sanctuary project.
Now
The inner garden is completely set up. Its all covered with straw to keep moisture in and weeds out, and there is now a rock pathway to give it a nice polished look. 
I've put up the fencing in the back so melons and tomatoes and cucumbers can climb vertically, and will give the space a nice living wall of green in the later summer months.
All the berries are planted, and Ive already harvested some blueberries! So rewarding!
Every tree is planted. I actually pulled up some of the mail-order trees that weren't looking so hot, and replaced them with healthy trees from my local nursery. I HIGHLY recommend checking local nurseries before ordering online.
The beehives are strong and healthy. Its amazing how well bees will do on a VARIED diet, which is free from chemical sprays. We've already had to add extra areas to give the bees more space and to prevent swarming. No honey yet, but its coming...my dad is building custom hives now that we will fill with more colonies. The more bees...the better. The world needs them.
Next
The deck is coming soon, and the greenhouse is going to be up in August. Now everything can grow, and Ill be in NY catching up on business for a bit. I cant wait to see it in 3 weeks.
There is nothing more exciting than to see your dream become reality. We all talk about manifesting our dreams, but for it to really happen, you have to MAKE IT HAPPEN. Sitting around and visualizing about it all day won't get you past step 1. Mind, Body, and Spirit... don't forget that it takes each part to make the dream come alive.
Huge thanks to everyone who has helped in any way. You are there with me in spirit, and I really hope to have you there in person.
Manifest!
Anthony
Start Planting Now
“The best time to plant a tree was twenty years ago. The second best time is now.”
- Chinese Proverb
People ask me about what I'm up to in Minnesota this summer, and I fear that what I am up to seems too complicated or too unfeasible. Whatever your situation, financially or anything else, there is one thing that I can recommend.
Start planting fruit trees now.
There is no bigger return for your effort or money. Especially if you are into fruit, and especially the best and freshest fruit you could possible enjoy.
But How?
If you have a spot in the suburbs, or even an apartment patio, there is room for some kind of fruit tree. And don't stop with just your personal space. Many of us have parents and siblings with a yard, and for the cost of less than one tank of gasoline (especially these days) you can have a wonderful fruit tree growing and giving endlessly to you and your loved ones.
I bought many of my trees online because I wanted some special varieties that I couldn't find locally. I was impressed by the selection, and the prices were fair, but I didn't know how good the local nurseries could be at the time I ordered everything.
When I was planting trees two weeks ago, I realized I had some extra space so I went to the local nursery and was blown away by the quality and low prices that were being offered. I bought two more apples and two more plum trees. All are blossoming wonderfully now, and I wish I would have waited and bought more of them instead of ordering everything online.
The two sites I ordered my trees from were WillisOrchards.com and GrowOrganic.com. Both offer organic trees and have very fair prices.
Why?
Well think about this.
1) ROI: Fruit trees have a very strong Return on Investment. The fruit that one fig tree will give me in one season is probably worth 3 times the amount I paid for the tree itself. Factor in that the price of fuel keeps going up and man... It just keeps making more and more sense to do this as soon as possible.
2) Local: We are giving ourselves an extremely local food supply. The food has the most life-force when it is just recently picked. Not when it is picked, then packed in crates, then shipped across the country, and finally sitting on the grocery shelf for days, if not weeks. So besides being the freshest, it also took the least amount of fossil fuel energy to reach our plates. Your back yard is as local as it gets.
3) Independence: And probably most importantly, we are securing a dependable food supply that doesn't depend on outside factors. We worry about rising gas prices, and how it effects our wallet, but do we consider the fact that it might soon become too expensive to ship food across the country? When will the price of shipping exceed the price of the cargo? Its happening very quickly. This is no joke... plant now and enjoy the benefits as soon as possible.
Even if the economy was in wonderful shape and gasoline was cheap as it was a decade ago, planting fruit trees could be one of the most thoughtful things you could do for yourself, your loved ones, and the planet. If you received a tax rebate recently, consider buying 10 fruit trees and some grape vines to get things started. You will soon have the freshest possible fruit and will save many times that with all of the fruit you'll soon be getting.
Plant Fruit Trees. It's so simple, and so easy.
We deserve the best and we have to take the actions to make it happen.
Anthony,
the Raw Model
p.s. You can also support the future of our planet by making a tax deductable donation to this fine organization: Fruit Tree Planting Foundation
My Scoop on Cosmetics
If there is one question I get asked more often than any others, it is this:
"What kind of beauty care products do you use?"
Ironically enough, I guess I would have to say..."Just my diet".
Make-up artists and hairstylists always tell me how easy I make their job, and they ask me what I use as well. I tell them that I am a raw vegan, and they just don't believe that it could be the answer. IT IS.
Even in the realms of the organic beauty industry, I believe there is one fundamental piece missing.
As long as you put poor foods INTO your body, nothing that you put ONTO your body will really matter.
No cremes or lotions or magic potions ever made a difference for me. It was not until I cut out dairy and cooked oils that my acne cleared up. Everyone talks about putting cucumbers on their eyes to reduce puffiness...how about EATING the cucumbers? I try to eat at least 1 cucumber a day, maybe 2.
I do believe the external products can help a little. But if we're feeding our skin, hair, and nails nothing but nasty foods, no topical raw, organic or vegan product will help us.
When we get into the cycle of using products, its hard to get off. Here is an example. We take lots of showers and usually always wash our hair. We strip out the natural oils by doing this. Then we have to re-condition our hair. Same with facial products. We use cremes to help with acne but by doing so, dry our skin out, and then we have to buy expensive moisturizers. Let the body do its thing... know what I mean?!
A big "Ah-ha!" moment about this subject happened before I went raw. I was eating healthier at that point, but was not quite there yet. I was on a road trip out to Oregon and lived on mostly peanut butter and honey sandwiches, and some carrot juice. Probably 32 oz of carrot juice a day. My feet, hands, and face started to turn orange.
Simple logic demonstrated that what I was consuming through my mouth was showing up on the surface of my skin. At last, I made the connection. So what happened when I drank 32 oz of milk a day? Oily, pimply skin.
When I was a teenager, my dermatologist told me not to take my acne medication with milk because another patient of his drank milk with his medicine, and the doctor figured that the milk was blocking the medicine from being absorbed, therefore halting any progress he would have made.
When I look back, I think just drinking the milk in general was keeping him from the clear skin. Not the simple fact that he was taking it with his medicine. An interesting thought.
For some it may be a little more complex. I
know hormones affect the skin as well, especially in estrogen
imbalances (high estrogen increases sebum production and taxes the
liver). The roots of imbalances can be caused when taking oral birth
control (though it works, the body doesn't understand what it is and
what to do with it), eating soy products (gmo + high in estrogen), and
a overworked liver which detoxifies everything (support your liver with
dandelion, artichoke, milk thistle- when your liver is over worked-
your body will use the skin as organ of elimination). Also, for women
as they age they tend not to drop an egg every month- which also is a
culprit of throwing the hormones out of whack (when an egg is dropped a corpus luteum is formed which is the natural progesterone to balance
out the estrogen).
So yes, it can be a little more complex, but on the whole, the use of beauty foods will consistently make a strong
difference, much more than a bad diet coupled with beauty products ever
could in my opinion.
So, what to eat?
Like I mentioned before, cucumbers seem to do wonders for me, and there are many female actresses that swear by them as well. I would also recommend awesome raw plant fats that will moisturize from the inside out.
Coconuts and avocados are amazing, and I'm big fan of hemp products too. Every so often I put coconut oil on my face and in my hair for some extra shine, maybe once every 2 weeks.
Any spicy greens like arugula and mustard greens. We are looking for sulfur. Sulfur is the element that is mainly responsible for building hair, skin, and nails. That is why taking MSM is so helpful for people with joint and skin issues.
And believe it or not, anything with fiber is good. It helps you eliminate more which will push toxins out through your colon instead of out through your skin. If you can get to the point of 3 eliminations a day, there should be some big changes happening in your outside appearance by then.
Beauty must come from the inside out. You have to cultivate beauty, just like you have to cultivate disease. We choose our path, whether consciously or not. When you realize that you are beautiful, you will treat yourself that way and eat that way.
We are beautiful, and beauty must be how we define ourselves. We are beauty. Make it your mantra. Cultivate it from the inside-out, and use some external products for "icing on the cake".
Just remember... it comes from within...
Peace and Love,
Anthony the Raw Model
Model for Living: Anthony's Master Project
Our home boy Anthony (the Raw Model) just finished up his first first week in Minnesota working on his master project - a totally off the grid, eco effective, modern sanctuary.
Here's a little about this Model for Living:
- It yields fruits
- It yields vegetables
- It yields wild greens
- It yields edible flowers
- It collects rain water
- It has a green house for colder months
- It houses hens to eat insects and produce fertilizer
- It has a bee hive to pollinate
- It has multiple sleeping spaces
- It has a yoga platform
- It has an herb garden
And best of all, it's real because Anthony got started.
Here's a photo of Anthony making the invisible visible - planting his first tree during ground breaking.
Many people in the world of raw/eco have great intentions and powerful ideas to bring good things to this planet, but identification with old insecurities and fears prevents them from moving forward and taking the first step. These old fears and insecurities are nothing but a collection of tricks the ego uses to blame others and in turn, suppress the real you - the you that can't be defined with words. When we take an opportunity to bring stillness into our lives, we have a chance to let all those fears melt away and realize that in the present moment anything is possible.
Anthony knew that building his eco sanctuary was going to be a challenge, so he put the spotlight on himself by publicly blogging about the journey. There was no place to hide. Sharing his idea online also allowed Anthony to take baby steps, get feedback and get support along the way. Now his idea, which started off as a simple sketch, is literally coming to fruit.
Congratulations Anthony. I wish you all the best in this project that you've put so much love into. I know you'll stay present and enjoy the journey just as much as you do the final product.
Related
Re-Wilding
I was on the phone recently with my good friend, Raw Vegan Steven... funniest raw-foodist I know! Well, we were talking about his future garden in Pennsylvania, and I mentioned to him that he should buy seeds of wild weeds like dandelion, purslane, lambs-quarters, and plantain. I mentioned that he could have so much growing naturally in his yard that he would never have to replant again, and he would never run out because wild greens are so prolific.
The best possible greens you could dream of, for the cost of a few packets of seeds.
Then the idea came to me. Why stop at just your yard? Why not replant all public spaces with wild greens?
Parks,
vacant lots, anywhere that wouldn't be sprayed by pesticides. Think
about this. We can become the modern Johnny Appleseeds of the world.
Overgrow the pharmaceutical companies naturally by re-wilding the
suburbs, and even the cities.
Is it illegal to plant wild edible greens in public spaces? I wouldn't be surprised if it was. Nevertheless... I think the idea seed has been planted, if you know what I mean. All areas could be available. City Parks, open woodlots, even the neighbor's untended front yard. And once wild greens are planted, they spread.
Their life force is so strong, which is why these pesticide companies invest so much money into killing these plants... because they are just so indestructible. Just imagine if you started eating those (unsprayed) plants on a regular basis. Embrace nature instead of trying to destroy it. What a concept...
I intend very soon to have my eating habits centered on wild greens and fresh fruit right off the tree. If not right off the tree, then at the local farmer's market. I will still grow tomatoes and cucumbers and melons, but I think the essentials will be taken care of with those previously mentioned items.
"One does not accumulate, but eliminate. It is not daily increase, but daily decrease. The height of cultivation always leads to simplicity." - Bruce Lee
Think about it. The best possible foods you can eat are, in my opinion, by far the easiest and cheapest to grow. Wild greens and fruit trees, and I would include hemp (more about this soon) if the United States was sane enough to let the people plant it. All of these foods require very little to no attention and give the highest nutrition.
The modern raw food diet still rests on cultivated plants that need man to survive. And most come soil which isn't the best possible option. What is more natural? What can we eat to mirror the ancient diet? Plants! What contains the highest sources of minerals and life force? Wild Plants! Can't find wild plants where you live? Buy the seeds and plant them. Here is what I just ordered from mountainroseherbs.com
- Astragalus Seeds
- Burdock Seeds
- Calendula Seeds
- Chickweed Seeds
- Dandelion Seeds
- Marshmallow Seeds
- Lavender Seeds
- Nettle Seeds
- Peppermint Seeds
- Passionflower Seeds
- Plantain Seeds
- Skullcap Seeds
- Wormwood Seeds
- Licorice Seeds
- Lemon Balm Seeds
Sound good?
I intend to plant them anywhere I can regularly visit that is not sprayed. No more waiting in line to buy kale...
It's time to re-create Eden here and now! Start living and start planting!
- Anthony, the Rawmodel
