The Window & The Mirror

As Brooke and I rode thru Surry, VA for the Autumnal Equinox, she reminded me that I needed to finish this composition. “Why hadn’t I finished this?”, I asked myself. A few Months back a  RAW! Patron shared an analogy of the Window vs. the Mirror and I loooved the concept, so began spreading it to others that crossed my path. My father even suggested I send him an email breaking it down- hence the start of this blog post. All the while I was SPEAKING this Mirror vs. Window principle, but my mind, body, and spirit hadn’t fully internalized it. 

The Window

One who looks through the "window" of opportunity is objective to their decision making process: in business, relationships, finances, and all things universally. They see the opportunity their choices will create for the collective- not just themselves. The window perspective is one that will change the world; self just happens to be a by-product of that world.

The Mirror

A mirror onlooker only sees themselves. When we only reflect self, there aren't enough variables to accrue collective results. This person is subjective to his/her own needs and chooses not - or doesn't know how - to see the holistic outcome. They will look in the mirror to confirm all decisions. Does this benefit me? What's in it for me? How will this decision affect me? These are common thoughts of a mirror thinker. 

With that understood, and applying it to my life, I like to view myself as having window logic. Looking out the window doesn’t insinuate putting everyone else BEFORE you, but it does balance your input and your output. 

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In Surry County, the night before the Equinox fell, I had an experience that gave me the clarity I needed to complete this.

We arrived in the small rural nook of VA, where peanuts, pork, and pines are a popular favorite. Suddenly, hunger took over me.  This would have been a casual experience if there were fruit, seeds, and chia pudding remaining from the 3 hour ride. As Raw Foodies, Brooke and I are taught to bring our own snacks and cuisine when traveling ANY-where. Being equipped with food kept us from compromising our dietary goals in public (and private) when transitioning into the raw lifestyle years ago.

When eating out, we use Google to seek Live Vegan cuisine in varying zip codes. Surry did not make the cut. Between peanuts, pork, and pines there were no veggie related places to chow. Nevertheless, there was a higher probability of encountering local farmers for fresh produce down there, but I wanted something instant- especially after driving.  

Looking at Brooke, here's what came flying out of my mouth: “I can’t wait to have an infinite amount of money, so no matter if it’s a vegan restaurant or NOT, we can call in a special order anywhere. You know how when your favorite superstar comes in town and the chef at their favorite place is prompted to make something custom for their arrival- well, that’s how it will be. We can eat anywhere hassle free because money will make people fulfill our intricate requests.” There was a pause in the air. "That's selfish", Brooke stated. My mouthed dropped open a little bit. I replayed this dialogue to myself and it hit me like an epiphany.

"Wow! People with financial abundance really do have the ‘power’ to make shit happen, but I don’t want to make shit happen like that,” I thought. I was staring in the mirror. All I could think of was myself and fulfilling my appetite in that now and premeditating how to make it easier to fulfill MY appetite in the future. I detached from feeling hungry to forgive my sub-conscious mind for thinking so selfishly. As a window thinker my thought process probably should’ve went something like this:

“You know Brooke, it’s very inconvenient for this town not to have any vegan options on the go. Soon, we’ll have an overflow of financial abundance, so we can open such an establishment to introduce healthier options to the entire community. In fact not only could we open a walk-in place; we could educate current establishments on the importance of vegan options, and assist in revising their menus with live vegan additions. This will even create more revenue for local farmers if they all partnered with the local eateries to guarantee fresh produce.”

This window thought process creates a different energy. It creates opportunity to raise awareness in the entire town. Imagine if more of our favorite entertainers and leaders made their personal, health- conscious practices NOTORIOUS instead of privately requesting a better option for the benefit of one, or a few persons. Introducing the better option to the collective would create a standard; it would create a [healthy] trend.

It is proven that those harnessing the window mind frame have a higher success rate. Their friends stick around a lifetime and family members feel a consistent amount of unconditional love. They have unlimited growth potential and value the opinions others. In the workplace window thinkers can shepherd projects and work on team projects with equal enthusiasm.

Mirror intellects on the other hand fall into solitude quicker and are bound to be alone if no transformation is made. No one is an island because the surrounding waters are in place to serve you. In return, you too are here to serve. It’s quite simple, the “me, me, me” mentality is not fit for today's evolving society. It wasn't fit for yesterday's either. We've advanced through leaders, who have plotted to fulfill the needs of humankind.

The key to any perspective is balance. Frequent the "window" of opportunity, while sustaining values true to who YOU are. Standing in the mirror should be an act of brief assurance - Reminding yourself that you are who you intend to be when stepping out into the world. Choices made in that world affect everyone collectively, either directly or indirectly.

I experienced this narrow-minded moment to truly comprehend the heart of what it means to be a window thinker. The strategy is to quickly open the window and not meander in the mirror too long. You’ve got a world to change.

Love and Wellness,
-Johnee'
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 I could tell you a story in hopes that you'd better relate to me, but the relation is the fact that we both have a story.  Aside from that there is only this present moment that we share, so let's live fully in it. From  here- this very point in time- we can grow together furthermore. Oh, my name is Johnee'. And it's a pleasure meet you.
  - Peax

jwilson@rawexclamation.com
www.RAWexclamation.com

Tracing our Roots - Nottoway Pow Wow 2013

Happy Autumn Everyone! How was your Equinox?
Between the Full Moon on the 19th, and the Fall Equinox on Sunday, the energy was flowing and full of change.

I don't know how many of you know what Autumn is like in Virginia but it is simply GORGEOUS. Johnee' and I both have deep roots in Southern Virginia and the Tidewater Area, right in the cradle of America's beginnings. We now reside in the Northern, VA which is cool, but the hustle and bustle of DC city living can be draining.

This past Saturday, we decided to head south to attend the 2013 Nottoway Indian Tribe Pow Wow in Surry, VA. It had to be fate how this came about.

A bit from our Healing Quest. Click picture for full album

In April, we embarked on a 30+ Day cross-country RAW! Healing Quest, while sharing raw food knowledge and holistic practices in exchange for lodging. We met a ton of beautiful people and new friends that we still keep close contact with. We love you all! Stay tuned for our RAW! Healing Quest Part 2 :)

But any who, while making our way through VA we decided to get off the main highway and take the scenic route into NC. On the way, Johnee' read a sign in passing that said something about Nottoway Indians. I quickly encouraged her to make a U-turn so we can go explore, persistent on the fact that it was fate.

I've had an on and off infatuation with studying my family's ancestry. I'll periodically move full speed ahead with enthusiasm until I hit yet another census glitch and racial roadblock. Native Americans, or as I like to call them, First Nation people were not allowed to claim their heritage and would either claim mulatto, negro, or pass as white so not to be apart of their peoples genocide. This makes it extremely hard for those of us from Native and African decent to trace where we come from and essentially to know who we are.

My sister, Mother, Aunt (her twin), & my Father.

My mother often speaks of visiting a native reservation with her father (my Grand-Daddy) as a child up until she was about 10. I thought of this and a chilling feeling went through my body as we headed toward the Nottoway house.

We experienced a bitter-sweet anxious-excitement upon entering the house. There were many artifacts, documents, and remaining pieces of the culture that they managed to hold on to but it was the PEOPLE that stood out the most. These people resembled various parts of both Johnee's and my own family. They were thrilled to hear of our Quest and raw food business and invited us to their yearly Pow Wow in Surry.

Now, here we are.

It was a pleasure connecting with various peoples at this Inter-Tribal gathering. Many elders and attendees were storehouses of information. I discovered that the reservation my mother visited was of the Mattopani and Pamunkey tribes. They were acknowledged as honorary tribes BEFORE the incorporation of the United States. My family is OF this land! This explains the lack of slave records on my mothers side of the family! We're getting somewhere..

My dad even found out that his mother's (my Nana) grandfather was 100% Cherokee, originating in North Carolina! That's another genealogical adventure in itself!. I can go on and on about the thrill of uncovering such information.

But back to the Pow Wow..we had a blast! There was dancing, drumming, arts and crafts, stones, medicine bags, dream catchers, books, fresh herbs and more! Here's a quick photo recap:

Pictures can't describe the energy & humility of this experience. It was an honor. We'll be attending yet another Pow Wow this coming November which will likely put us directly in touch with the Mattopani & Pamunkey tribes. We openly welcome this unfolding of our history and learning the roots of our beginnings. Every little bit of information counts on this journey to knowing thyself, you know?

Until next time...

Love and Wellness, 

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Brooke Johnson aka Brooke Jay is a Social Entrepreneur, Certified Nutrition Consultant, and Wellness Coach for RAW! on Wheels., a DMV based live vegan service. 

RAW! offers Coaching, Catering, Juice Cleanses, & more! Click the link below for more info! http://www.RAWexclamation.com

Contact her directly at BJohnson@rawexclamation.com

Autumn Equinox 2013

Happy Equinox!

 

The seasons are changing and so are we! Today is the OFFICIAL first day of Fall and the energy is super high!

Just as Mother Nature sheds her leaves, changes colors, and bears new fruit, we too should initiate a similar change in order to release those things that no longer serve us. Clean the house, welcome new seasonal fruits and veggies, but most importantly take time to cleanse YOU!

 

Last week, we had a Clean-a-thon. I’m talking we emptied the corners, cracks, and crevices of EVERYTHING! Even donated a few bags of clothes to Humbly, Peax & Love's own- The People’s Thrift. Click the link if you have articles of clothing you’re anxious to do away with.

 

Since the big clean-up, more opportunities have already begun greeting us. Our creative space feels like new. The clarity and balance have not faded, but in fact been enhanced. So now that the outside is tidy, we must take action towards the internal clutter. We like to approach this seasonally with a full body detox. If you are local to the DMV, check out the ladies of RAW! Inc. They are running a 5 Day Seasonal Autumn Equinox Detox, plus they deliver!

 

Your form of cleansing may differ from ours. Juice cleanse, wash your hair, trim your ends, take a god/goddess bath full of herbs/aromatherapy/candles, dance, or whatever is your preferred form of release. Celebrate yourself!

So, what is an Equinox anyways?

There are 2 equinox's each year, the one marking the astrological beginning of spring and the other the ending of summer.

The word equinox comes from the Latin words for "equal night" and is used to denote the time of year when the length of darkness is roughly the same as the length of daylight in a day. The equinox occurs when the sun crosses the celestial equator. 

Day and night were thought to be in balance hence the balancing scales in the astrological sign of Libra, observed from September 23 to October 23 each year. After the equinox, the length of each day will get shorter and shorter and night will get longer and longer until the Winter Solstice, when the Sun is thought to have been "born again".  From there, the days get longer and longer, while the cycle continues to repeat itself.

The earliest humans spent more time outside than we do today. They used the sky as both clock and calendar. They could easily see that the sun’s path across the sky, the length of daylight, and the location of the sunrise and sunset all shift in a regular way throughout the year. 

 

  

FUN EQUINOX FACTS

1. This year, the Autumn Equinox Falls on September 22, 2013.

2. The autumnal equinox and vernal (spring) equinox are also the only days of the year when a person standing on the Equator can see the sun passing directly overhead.

3. On the Northern Hemisphere's autumnal equinox, a person at the North Pole would see the sun skimming across the horizon, signaling the start of six months of darkness.

4. On the same day, a person at the South Pole would also see the sun skim the horizon, beginning six months of uninterrupted daylight.

5. The term equinox comes from the Latin word equinoxium, meaning "equality between day and night."

6. Our ancestors built the first observatories to track the sun’s progress. One example is at Machu Picchu in Peru, where the Intihuatana stone has been shown to be a precise indicator of the date of the two equinoxes and other significant celestial periods. The word Intihuatana literally means ‘ for tying the sun .’

7. THERE ARE AN ABUNDANCE OF NEW FRUITS AND VEGGIES AVAILABLE!

 

 

Here's a some fun facts about one of our seasonal favorites - PUMPKIN.

• Technically a fruit, this seasonal and holiday treat is a super food!
• We only deal with heirloom varieties of pumpkin which are indigenous and a staple in Native American diet and culture.
• Pumpkin juice is beneficial to the bladder and kidneys and full of antioxidants, potassium, natural sodium, zinc, Vitamin C, and Vitamin A.
• Pumpkin increases the body’s natural insulin making it beneficial for diabetics.
• Pumpkin is an anti-inflammatory and shrinks the prostate making it a great addition for men.

 

There is an ABUNDANCE of other seasonal deliciousness, such as apples, pears, squash, beets, persimmon, collards, cabbage, green beans.... sheesh, the list goes ON!

 

Many medical experts and researchers are preparing you for Winter’s sadness and seasonal depressions due to the end of Summer’s brightness, warmth, and activities. Well, we are here to tell you otherwise. You are abundance! You are warmth and brightness! You light up every room you enter! You are a healthier you for this season and all to come!

You’ve planted many seeds - watered, pushed, pulled, and waited patiently - you will collect your harvest and all of its abundance. What you reap depends on what you’ve sewn - you all know that universal law.. The copiousness, richness and flow will come in various forms for all of us. There's is one thing though. As we collect we must let go of something (s).  Remain open to receiving, without being resistant to change.

Once again, Happy Autumn Equinox!