To all the multi-tasking mamas who are the peacemakers, the boo-boo kissers, the tear wipers, the lull-a-bye singers, the grocery shoppers and menu makers, the domestic engineers and working Wonderwomen, the visionaries who see the best in our children and work tirelessly, invisibly…the list of our titles and duties goes on and on…
TODAY is International Woman’s Day! And I invite you to join with me and about 10,000 other women around the world, in a celebration of our womanhood! We are gathering like women have done since time immemorial to tell our stories, share our collective wisdom and concerns, offer support and solutions, and have communion- united communication in the spirit of building community.
Tera and I have been excitedly working together to produce the biggest, most world-class event of its kind to celebrate Women’s Day. It’s called WISH Women’s International Summit for Health.
If you enjoyed the raw Mom Summit you are going to love this!
We have included over 40 of the world’s most sought after speakers for this, in and outside of the raw community including Marianne Williamson, Dr Mercola, David Wolfe, Janet Attwood, Tonya Zavasta, Marci Shimoff, Victoria Boutenko, and many, many more!
We discuss all the things on the minds of modern women today: Finances, Health, Beauty, Relationships, Self-Worth, Parenting, Sustainability, Spirituality etc etc and yes, it is available for FREE over the next 10 days.
WISH Women’s International Summit for Health
They say it takes a village to raise a child, well, the global village just got smaller because we are bringing a stellar line up of world speakers right to you. With this online banquet of delicious topics and speakers, all made with love for you to be lavished with and enjoy, my hope is that you feel as I do, that the world is getting smaller and that women are getting closer. Our connection regardless of our physical proximity is enhanced when we can come together in the spirit of celebration and empowerment, and that is what WISH is all about.
These people I interviewed and their contributions just opened my world to so many things, it is truly a gift that will keep on giving as I continue to assimilate everything I learned. For example, I’ll leave you with this teaser which came from one of the calls that just blew me away that will be made available as a BONUS~
One of the key distinctions I became aware of just this week which has actually CHANGED MY LIFE came as I interviewed Christine Arylo who wrote the book Choosing Me Before We- It is that Self-Esteem is NOT the same thing as Self-Love…Do YOU know the difference? Overwhelm and exhaustion are sure signs you may not…Please post your answers below.
Happy Women’s Day!
xoShakaya
My mom used to whisper sweet things in our ear when we were young, and I love to do this too whenever my boys are falling asleep or heading out the door…One day I must share with you our night time ritual which is just so special…Even though my boys are getting bigger at 10 and 12, they still ask for it and says it helps them fall asleep.
Have you ever written out what you wish for? What you dream of? Have you given any loving attention to your rich inner world? Women have the power to birth life and build communities; we are naturally imbued with a sacred heart. If we do not take time to center ourselves there, the inheritance of our ancestors cannot prevent that power from being leaked and drained away from us.
We have gathered together some of the most activated beings on the planet to support and inspire you on your mission: Marianne Williamson, Marci Shimoff, Janet Attwood, Victoria Boutenko, Rainbeau Mars, Barbara De Angelis, and nearly 40 other luminous minds and hearts! Please join with thousands who have already signed up and tell all the women in your life to join you! 
Have you noticed there seems to be a movement sweeping through the raw community..? Many people are discussing it, many are doing it, and some are advocating it. I’m talking about the idea of widening our conception of what in fact is the healthiest diet. Let me ask you something, do YOU know what the optimal diet is? Most of us here would say a raw diet. Buuuuut, what exactly is a raw diet? How raw are you supposed to be to be considered raw? Is it all or nothing, or how important is the percentages of raw to cooked ratio for health? Does being raw mean being vegan? How healthy is the struggle of striving for a particular ideal, only to fail time and time again? How about when you desire certain goals, but the stress of striving for them outweigh the results? What about if there is judgement from other people or YOURSELF? Are there issues that lie underneath that aren’t being addressed through diet alone? Is focusing solely on diet as the means of obtaining health balanced? Or can it become toxic? What about the kids?? What does all the hyper-focus on the food mean to them? Is being raw a rawligion? What does it really mean to YOU?
I have always wondered…just because it worked for some, does that mean it will work for you and me? These people found what worked for them. THAT sounds like the real message to me. I don’t think anyone can say for sure what the perfect diet is for everyone, at every stage of their life.
I most care about creating a safe haven for mothers on their journey. If I can do anything, it would be to support and encourage, offering some inspiration perhaps. But never to tell anyone what to do. I will always share what I do or what I would do in your situation if you ask me. And I would love to see other raw moms here with a variety of approaches so people can gravitate to what they resonate with. This will become a living community with a diverse and vibrant approach reflecting the evolution of sacred parenting at every stage. I’m not an authority. I’m no guru. Gosh, I’m so bored of gurus, aren’t you? I’m just like you- a mom- who loves my children dearly and wants to give them the best foundation I can in life.
Even though I have been running rawmom for quite a while behind the scenes already, now that I am officially the owner, it feels like a thrilling but daring adventure, and I feel excited and nervous! I do not consider myself a business woman. I identify with one role, my calling, being a mom. However, I’ve have heard that people born under my sign in both the Western and Chinese horoscopes make good leaders and can lead successful enterprises, and as my children are growing up, it’s the perfect time for me to gradually transition back out into the world…I’d like to believe I can learn what I need to, and attract people to help me. If am to grow to the corners of my potential as a fully realised woman, as well as facilitate my mission to make a difference, I must have courage. I feel alot of changes coming…it started with changing my name from Shannon to Shakaya, and even endowing myself with a second name, one of the elements, Breeze. I didn’t consciously choose these names, they seemed to just find me. 
It’s helpful to dive into the waters of our sub-conscious to see our patterns clearer and examine them so they aren’t controlling us. I think it was Anthony Robbins who said an unexamined life is not worth living and Byron Katie says that to engage in inquiry brings us emotional freedom.
Tomorrow I have the honour of interviewing Marianne Williamson for WISH.This is kind of a miracle to me as through her work she is the one who has mentored me most throughout the years since I lost my mom at 16. Her words of wisdom have always brought meaning and solidness to my life. I’ll leave you now with a few of my favourites, In-Joy! Shakaya
This is a little ceramic (there are plastic ones too for travel) that looks like a little white tea pot without a lid. This a nasal irrigation device based on Auyervedic tradition that helps with sinus problems or allergies. I don’t have either problems- maybe that is because of my healthy diet, or maybe its because I use my neti pot. I only use it once in a while though, unless I’m doing a cleanse, then every other day. It’s super easy to use. You fill it up with warm water and a small amount of ground sea salt and ensure that the salt is dissolved. Then tip the spout into one nostril as you lean over the bathroom sink, and just allow the water to travel along the nasal passage and flow out the other nostril.
Oil pulling is another ancient Auyervedic system that is used to remove toxins from the body by way of the saliva. Swishing about a tablespoon or 2 into your mouth for about 15 minutes first thing in the morning on an empty stomach is all it takes. You do not gargle with the oil, just vigorously swish it around in your mouth while you open the mail or file your nails or whatever multi-tasking you like, and then spit out into the sink and rinse. It is apparently good for just about every condition known. The theory is that it exerts a powerful detoxification effect on the entire body through picking up germs and bacteria in our mouth and even beyond by pulling them through the mucous membranes in the mouth from the body. These toxins enter our saliva through a process of enzymatic action in the bloodstream and are drawn up and eventually out of our body with the oil that captures them. Never swallow the oil as it becomes toxic. And the key with this as with most health practices is consistency. Apparently, it is really effective. I am doing it several times a week and am enjoying it. Use cold pressed organic sesame oil (un-roasted) or Olive or coconut oil. This is an act of self love.
You are already doing this daily I hope. It’s as simple as taking a spoon and scraping your tongue to remove excess film that is loaded with bacteria and plaque building micro-organisms. I use an actual device called a tongue scraper that I got from the Health food store and that and brushing/flossing my teeth first thing in the morning is the KEY to me waking up my body-temple in the morning and feeling ready to face the day. Oral hygiene is so important. I have a heart condition which makes it even more so, but anyone will add years to their life if they take good care here. That is an actual fact. Affirm when you do it ‘I enjoy taking care of my self.’
OOOOoooOOoO I LOVE THIS ONE! Our feet contain many meridians of energy that are stimulated and activated when we walk barefoot which help discharge Electromagnetic Pollution as well as invigorate all the organs which correspond to the reflex points on the soles of the feet. I started doing this several years into my raw life as I noticed I naturally felt so much stronger and heartier especially in the cold weather and even winter snow. I have recently learned that my natural urge to be barefoot is actually a true health practice which people like David Wolfe and Daniel Vitalis have been sharing a lot about recently. This is my 4th year and I have to say its such a pleasure to go barefoot out in Nature. Please do it with extreme mindfulness if you wish to try it. I don’t recommend doing it in urban areas. Learn to step with care and confidence. Love your feet, love your journey.
Wow! The first week in January of 2010. Into the New Year we go! Happy Happy Joy Joy! Holiday time can be very busy and sleep and dietary concerns are not my top priorities between all the raw parties and events, polar bear dips and barefoot hikes in the snow, night skating, tobogganing, visiting old friends and other festivities which included TV appearances, I really let things slip a bit. I am rather strict and disciplined 90% of the time, my diet is 90% raw, and come to think of it, my marks in school were that too… I leave a good 10 % for total spontaneity and adventure. Now it’s time to get back on track! I looooove the fresh start feeling of a clean slate before me to create upon, and I do make resolutions in the form of setting intentions. Speaking of which, I am still loving the Daylight Diet which I started in November that I promised to let everyone know how I am progressing. I have such a long way to go, yet I am encouraged by my progress already. I am making baby-steps and if I didn’t love and honour myself so much, I would think I was pathetic actually because of how slow I am going! Hahaha.
The Daylight Diet explains clearly why anyone who wishes to improve their health would do better to eat the biggest meal earlier in the day and completely cease eating after sundown. So I am getting closer to this goal. I have started the habit of making my green juice or smoothie earlier, around 10am, and although I am not totally consistent with this yet, I am getting there. I am also eating something in the afternoon to get some nourishment in so I won’t be hungry after my next and final meal at dinner. I find eating in the day really different for me being used to not stopping for lunch, and just being very productive. I now realise there is just no point keeping a beautiful home and making healthy meals for my family and working on my rawmom books and projects for my world-family if I am not taking time to properly nourish myself.
It’s a lot of habits I still wish to change… and it isn’t that I didn’t realise this before, its just that I was fooling myself into thinking if I was raw that I could get away with all this late eating and lack of sleep. I feel that as challenging as this is for me to make these changes, that the results will be worth it. I am already noticing that I am waking up more refreshed. And there is a slight euphoria that I cannot totally understand or describe… a physical sense in my body that something HUGE and exciting is happening. I just feeeeeel like my body is happier. And will continue to become happier still as I continue to progress through the stages of the Daylight Diet. Before I can move on to stage one or two or three, I need to really accomplish maintaining my food intake during the day and taper my last meal back from 6 pm to 5 pm before it gets dark.
Whether you notice a runny nose, little cough, or just red eyes, these are all signs that your angel might be coming down with something. I have never taken my children’s temperature other than with the palm of my hand on their face, yet as soon as I feel a fever coming on, or any sign that they might be run-down, I stop everything for a moment and think about the last few days, what has been happening in their reality. Have they been staying up late, getting behind in sleep? Has there been celebrations and other functions where they have been eating differently than usual? Has there been any emotional stresses for them lately? Maybe ther is something going onthat they are anxious about…Just reflecting about their SLEEP, DIET and EMOTIONS gives me just about everything I need to know to understand what has been the catalyst for their physical symptoms.
I do not give any fever medication as I know the fever is ‘burning off’ any little critters and is actually a sign their immune system is functional. To thwart this natural response by giving ‘fever medication’ only serves to reduce the SYMPTOMS and their discomfort, but doesn’t strengthen the body. I like the discomfort! Otherwise, they are still running around when what they obviously need is rest. There are natural ways to keep a fever in check, and still allow the body to let Nature take its course; a cool cloth to the forehead, a cool bath in the tub or sponge bath, wearing wet woollen socks that have some lemon juice or lemon essential oil in the water wrapped in a towel while lying in bed, all these methods work to help the fever stay in safe range while it is doing its work.
Step 1:
which is an online store which offers every hard to find ingredient or perfect kitchen tool, and a host of other goodies. She breaks it all down into simple categories like ‘tools and techniques’ so you can get the skinny on dehydrating or why to use ceramic knives, what is happening to our almonds and vertical indoor farming in urban areas.
