Tag Archives: Lifestyle

The Heart of Judgment

Dear Friends,

This blog is actually coming as a surprise to me and emerging as a result of a recent series of not merely coincidental events. They all happen to circle around the same theme: judgment.

I have always been completely honest with you all–both because I have nothing to hide and because I have always felt that the more we share openly, the more we can help one another heal and become more free. I have openly shared my life’s journey, including the physical, mental, and emotional anguish that fueled my indefatigable search for answers.

As you might imagine, for all the people who are attracted to the wisdom of this work, there are always going to be some people who are offended or threatened by it. Sometimes these people express their criticism to me in highly unconstructive ways (fortunately not that often). I usually consider their comments, appreciate their perspective even if I don’t agree with them, and move on with my day.

Recently, I stumbled upon a litany of really callous remarks on the comment area of a video interview I did last year. My initial reaction was to feel hurt (I’m human), but then I thought about all the judgment and confusion that haunted my childhood and young adult life. And I thought about how painful it was to be under the shadow of all those projected expectations. I don’t have that experience anymore. What’s more, I realize that all the harsh words and criticisms were merely a reflection of these individuals’ wiring–a result of a culture of immature judgment. A knee-jerk sense of entitlement to judge without facts is all too common among people in our cuture–particularly when armed with letters on a keypad and undisciplined opinions behind the anonymity of the internet.

I have learned over the years not to take these comments personally. Their words are like swords that they have pointed at themselves, albeit unconsciously. How can one not feel compassion for that kind of pain if one has suffered it oneself? Such comments serve to remind me of the wide variety of people out there who are observing this work, peeking in to see what we’re up to over here.

On this particular occasion I was criticized by about a hundred viewers for the following reasons: first of all, because my breasts are way too small (assumed to be a result of the detox lifestyle rather than my genetic dice); next, because my chest bones are visible on my décolletage, I am far too thin, and I look unhealthy; because I am a poor public speaker and use my hands too much when I talk; and, finally, one person even commented that I didn’t seem like a happy person. Well, I certainly hope no one is going to them for psychic readings! I resisted reading further.

My first reaction was a deep disappointment. I wanted people to take in the information, not my cup size. But I guess this was naive of me, given our cultural attitudes. The point of these critics’ commentaries was to dismiss the ideas about cleansing by systematically stripping away my credibility based on my on-screen image–in their estimation, not what a healthy woman should look like.

As you have been learning here, most people do not know what a healthy body looks like because they are either overly conditioned to accept the norm of overweight, puffy mainstreamers or they assume that anyone who is of a lean girth is a disordered dieter. We don’t see many truly healthy specimens–male or female–in our culture. Strip away the gas pressure, yeastedness, and water retention and what’s left are tight but healthy, energetic, clean cells. Without those acidic waste by-products, the body will look more contracted. But despite leanness, the skin and eyes should be clear, vibrant, and bright. This is not to discount the day-to-day fluctuations in the body (please refer to my blog on the motion created by living foods: A Salad in Motion Remains in Motion), but overall the net result is often (not always, but often) a surprisingly slender physique. Most women don’t complain about this!

I was teased in middle school for having virtually nonexistent boobs. It’s interesting to see that some people are still in the middle school mind-set. Perhaps if I had elected to surgically enhance my breasts, that would have secured their approval? I respect everyone’s right to elective surgery, but that’s just not my beat.

Frankly, I like my boobs. They are small but they fed my two babies who are now thriving children of 7 and 9 years old. My breasts have served their purpose as breadbasket to them, sealing their future health. Moreover, the man I love adores them and has for 18 years. Need I say more? Eating a cheeseburger (as several of the commentators recommend I do) or accumulating gas pressure and bloat will not serve my highest good (though it may make my critics feel better about their choices). And it’s certainly not going to make my boobs grow a cup size.

I’m not here to make the authors of such thoughtless comments feel more comfortable. If I were to strike back, I might suggest that they consider their own body fixations, since they appear to be the ones with the issues. Of course, it is not my place to force anyone to look at their issues. I can only be true to myself and be of service to those who want this service.

I’m grateful for my body. I spent many years being hard on it, and it survived my abuse for eight years from ages 13 to 21. Since then, my body has run on exotic sands, pedaled many hundreds of miles, climbed mountains, borne and nursed children, soaked up sun, and danced all night, many nights. My body also survived a horrible accident when I was a child–I was run over by a bus when I was 4 years old. Both sets of tires crossed and crushed my core, shattering my pelvis and causing internal bleeding that nearly did me in. An entire hospital staff of doctors told my parents that I would never walk again–that was if by some miracle I happened to live. They were also confident that I would never be able to have children. And now there are nearly a hundred comments about my boobs being too small…the irony! On the one hand, it’s comical; on the other, it’s really sad that so many people think and communicate from that space.

The other irony, of course, is that these comments are being made by people who are obviously surfing the web for diet information–not because they are content with their bodies, I can assure you of that.

Our culture is full of people who are ready to dole out judgments but incapable of compassion. Their hearts are wired shut, and perhaps these judgments are their cries for help. This is a group of people who are quick to swallow the advice to be found in eight-second soundbytes spoon-fed to them by their media gods, but slow to take responsibility for the larger context of their personal health. And they are quick to look to the government for social security and Medicare solutions, but slow to realize the impact of their way of life on the next generation.

You or I may never measure up to the standards of these people, who will always find someone to project their own shortcomings onto, but why would we ever aspire to? I do admit, though, that it’s a real disappointment to be confronted with so much ignorance when all you want to do is grow with your community into a more evolved way of life. It’s a very real reminder of what we’re contending with, and that we must maintain a steady course, full speed ahead, even while respecting the fact that others are at different stages of their own journeys. We must remember to honor everyone on their journeys and really mean it.

Those who misinterpret this work and do not understand the context of cellular cleansing have accused me of being anorexic or orthorexic or extreme in some fashion. I understand that this work appears extreme to the uninitiated, but I can assure you that I am not suffering from an eating disorder. My path started with disorder at the tender age of 13. I have been there and know what that is about. I could not in good conscience be a leader in this work if I were still under that influence. I can only be true to myself and in so doing live out my purpose. That is all I can do. Like I said, I understand that this way of living appears extreme to many people. But I caution that it’s the mainstream lifestyle that’s extreme. Reclaiming our natural balance in the face of it only appears extreme from that worldview.

I welcome your questions, and I understand where they are coming from. I will openly and honestly answer any genuine questions you have about me or about this work. My goal is to help illuminate the way, not to shroud it in more confusion or make it seem scary. What I will not do is engage with catty, mean-spirited kindergartners who do not want to understand but only criticize in order to continue courting the old paradigm that feels familiar but not safe, consistent but not liberating.

As you walk this path, I urge you to be thoughtful and discerning rather than self-righteous. We can all be better at this. Whenever we dole out this type of unconstructive criticism, we are usually projecting our own pain, limitations, and self-judgments onto others. We can try to avoid undisciplined commentary, and, when invited, offer constructive, thoughtful reflections. But let’s check our motives and shadows before we judge. If we are to be of any good use, we cannot indulge in dogma, self-righteousness, and lowest-common-denominator criticisms. We do not need to one-up our brothers and sisters. We won’t get anywhere on that merry-go-round. Rather, let’s first look within ourselves for what’s obstructing our ability to see and love one another. Then what we offer can serve the highest good of all.

If you have any questions for me, be they personal or otherwise, I will be happy to answer them. Feel free to post them as comments and I will respond in kind. In the meantime, I hope you will join me in diffusing the unloving judgments that are so common today, particularly in the dietary wars and self-righteous dietary communities. They do not serve anyone’s highest good and they certainly do not make anyone’s blood cleaner (or boobs bigger) 😉

With Love in Unity,
Natalia

Let the Truth Set You Free of Your Diet Obsessions

Have you wondered why many of my blogs seem to have nothing to do with food and diet when you come to this website predominantly for nutrition and diet information? If so, I’m happy to take this moment to explain.

First, the whole reason for cleaning up the diet is to free yourself of concern over what to eat and how to stay healthy so you can enjoy greater contentment and clarity and be more present in your life. This work is not just about healing physical imbalances and looking more attractive. It’s about establishing the very foundation of a richer, more evolved lifestyle.

Second, once you have made this way of eating part of the natural rhythm in your daily routine, it’s time to clear the emotional and mental blockages. Cleansing and empowering your other energy centers will make it easier to release any remaining issues around food.

Third, the specificity of the diet has been fully covered in my books, web content, audio release for women and, finally, in my latest book which will be coming out this spring, Detox for Women. However, the universal laws of the body (which recognize health as clean cells) are what matter most, not the minutiae of new nutrition facts that just distract us from the core truths.

Nonetheless, the minutiae are what many people are seeking. “What’s new in health?” and “Should I be taking a super-food or macca powder or MSM?” are the kinds of questions I’m frequently asked. Try not to fall into this trap. By all means, read and study as much as necessary to digest and assimilate the information, but once you learn the core physical laws, I urge you to stay focused on the method of cleansing. You who have followed this work are no longer “seekers”—you are implementers and adepts. This work is simple and eternal: awaken and release the waste based on your transition level (adjusted for women who may be “yeasted” per my audio release).

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Food has become a social obsession in our culture. I’m trying to set people free of that obsession rather than feed it. This is why I have shown you how to detoxify intelligently and how to keep food simple and delicious so you can enjoy what you eat. Once you’ve mastered these practices, they should no longer occupy your mind—just as should not have to focus on multiplication tables once you have memorized them. It will become a natural way of life, your body will respond with health and vitality, and you will discover that physical cleansing is just a gateway to more creative endeavors.

One reader recently told me she wished I would hold lectures like the major raw food proponents. Since they were actively speaking and she was hungry for more diet information, she allowed herself to be swayed by their fervor that “raw is the law” and can be eaten in any quantities and in any combinations. Now, of course, she was feeling unwell and heavy and she wished she had not listened to them. Fortunately, since our conversation, she has remedied her mistakes and is feeling great again!

I caution you strongly to weigh the messages of these fervent raw food lectures or other dietary messages with what you have learned here about natural law and the “awaken and release” technique underlying intelligent cleansing. I might do more lectures in the future, but for now the information is here for the taking. If you have discovered that it works for you, don’t compromise by changing it because someone can speak convincingly about the virtues of a product or other detox program.

I cannot tell you how many raw food business owners (particularly women) come to me saying they are not feeling well—they are feeling tired, bloated and constipated rather than experiencing the “high” of the raw lifestyle despite their strict adherence to it. I explain why and show them how to fix their imbalances, addressing food combining, the density of the foods they are eating, the importance of some cooked vegetables at dinner, and bowel cleansing. They inevitably look wide-eyed at the mere thought of steamed broccoli or a baked yam and begin to salivate, but then quickly interject “I could never” because they have been preaching a 100% raw food diet to their customers.

The idea that in order to reap the benefits of raw food you must eat 100% raw misrepresents the whole purpose of raw food and ignores transition completely. When 100% raw food fanatics take the leap and indulge in some cooked vegetables, they immediately feel better, their bowels start working again overnight, and they become energized and lean. They are stumped…how could this be? They thought cooked food was evil.

Remember, a person who can get up in front of a crowd and convince you that something is true doesn’t necessarily know the truth. While a lecturer may not be deliberately trying to mislead you, he or she might be wrapped up in a particular agenda and belief system that is not for your highest good.

Politicians, religious leaders, sales clerks, and motivational speakers at large are usually very convincing, and health enthusiasts are no different. But common sense tells us we must be highly discerning. There is a lot of information out there and countless self-proclaimed experts who are vying for your mind and yet know nothing about the true laws of nature. Please be discerning with all that you hear, even with what I tell you. Measure everything against the highest good that you know.

If you have fallen into this trap, remember that the truth will always wait patiently for you to return to it—but it’s not going to chase you either. When you’ve had your fill with all the information floating around, all the sales pitches, all the complicated nutrition advice sending you to this supplement and that super-food powder and that micronutrient, the truth will be here in its simplicity, without any pomp and grandeur, waiting for you to rest your weary dietary confusion on its shores.

Until next time, I remain…

Your dedicated servant,
Natalia