Personal transformation is a process of blooming and it can happen in many ways. The most powerful sensations of transformation happen when many parts of the person are addressed in an intensive and supportive setting. Specifically, transformation is the process of change. And that can happen on many levels. 
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This is the process of DETOXIFICATION. This word is used widely to describe many different things: a drink, a cleanse, a topical product, abstinence from an addiction or habit. In reality detoxification is a ubiquitous process continually happening in the body, specifically, the liver. In a 3 step process the liver uses to remove toxins from our blood, all day long; a series of biochemical reactions using amino acids, vitamins and phytochemicals. Our bodies derive these substances from the food we eat. 
Increasing the rate of detoxification is possible using food, nutritional supplements and herbs. For food, raw food diet, is a detox booster, containing live enzymes, nutrients, minerals and the amino acids required in all biochemical reactions.




 
​Getting rid of the toxins stored in our bodies helps it  run better.

What does that look like? It could mean a complete resolution of an illness.  For example, hormone conditions respond very well to a liver detox such as: acne, PMS, irregular cycles, eczema, psoriasis, digestive issues (reflux, bloating, constipation). It also means increased energy, better bowel movements, less seasonal illness, improved sex drive and nicer skin. 

​Raw food also helps to lose weight. Nothing feels better than reducing inflammation and getting rid of excess weight. Without the hard to digest aspects of processed or allergenic foods, every part of the meal aids health. Whether it is the actual nutrient content or soluble and insoluble fiber, or live enzymes, the body is given a tool to succeed. 

Reducing toxin load, eliminating inflammation and lowering weight can be a total transformation on its own. But there are 4 other parts of a person that can have a dramatic effect when addressed. 

 
What processes do we have happening in our minds that feel good, and which feel bad?

What does the bad feel like?
Anxiety? Stress? Fear?

Suffering is not actually an action but rather our own thoughts about a particular thing, person, situation. Even if we are in pain, but we perceive it to be helpful or for our benefit, we are not in suffering. Suffering comes from wanting a situation to be different from what it is or believing it should be.

Mental changes happen through discussion and intentional examination. 

Is what we think true?
This is an excellent first step.

What meaning are we making about someone else's action or in-action, person, place or thing?

Through investigation we can illuminate some of our deeply held belief systems and then make a choice about whether they are helpful or not. Mental transformation can, on its own, feel like we have lost weight, when in reality we have just lightened our mental burden. 

The Work by Byron Katie is a helpful tool we use on our retreats as well as journalling,  Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), the work of Dr. Lissa Rankin and other tools.

One of the hardest things in life is to feel discomfort in its varied intensities. Learning how to process emotions is a necessary tool to minimize the actions we take to avoid possibly feeling it. 

Once we are free of the need to avoid emotional discomfort (fear, guilt, anger, shame, rage) we are transformed in how we live our daily life and how we make decisions. 
We are able to live a more open hearted life, experience courage and a sense of self worth. 
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Emotional change can happen in many ways: talk therapy, plant-spirit medicine ceremonies, breathwork, hands on treatments such as massage and colon hydrotherapy , group support and many more. 

Why not examine what exists deep down in the matrix of your being? Maybe once it is identified, you can be free?
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Today's culture in North America is one that is largely devoid of a unified spiritual practice. Most people do not devote a portion of their day, month or year to a spiritual practice, whatever that may be: praying in community, meditation, ceremony, yoga, mantra reciting, retreat, singing or being in nature. 

But for centuries humans have acknowledged a spiritual realm, a part of our make up that is unseen. Something that leaves the earth when our earth suit dies. Spirituality can be based on a one or many-god theory, idols or people worship. 

One benefit of a spiritual practice is faith. Faith is something we call on when our mental faculties can't solve a problem or guarantee a favourable outcome. With faith is another principle called trust. Trust is the antidote to fear and anxiety. 

Spiritual change can also be an acknowledgement that there is a unifying force in all living beings.

Addressing the spiritual realm is an important part of a personal transformation if not to broaden our view's of the world, to plant the seed of faith and trust in this unknown and ever changing process called life.   

Personal transformation can happen in any or many areas of the human experience. By bringing awareness to each area, and effecting positive change we are able to move through difficult or disease states at an appreciable pace. Personal transformation is the movement towards freedom.

Being supported through change is important, both by a trained professional and community. Using these principles of change, doctor guidance, group support and nature's abundance, we offer retreats to help you achieve a more radiant state of health and wellness. 

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This year has seen the creation and implementation of the Introduction to Water Fasting 7 Day Retreat created by Dr. Ariel Jones in response to the interest in fasting. 
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A bite sized amount of time to learn about fasting without having to commit to a length that feels intimidating or impossible. The 7 day water fast has a particular structure. Starting with juices to cleanse the gut, we gently transition into the water fasting and finish with reintroduction. 
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​Here is the formula:

The reintroduction of foods must be done to transition back into regular eating following the fast. The length of the reintroduction should be half the length of the water fast. Enjoying fresh made vegan meals together at the end of the retreat is a celebration of pleasure as all the senses are heightened from the fast. Food has never tasted as fresh and delicious!

2. Enemas

Enemas are administered in the morning and they help to move bile out of the body which is a byproduct of all the hard work the liver is doing, detoxifying our blood from the toxins and waste materials that are mobilized during a fast. Bile irritates the small intestine and can make people feel nauseous and uncomfortable. Learning how to perform an enema is a good skill to have especially for green coffee enemas, which can be useful for: detoxes, headaches, body pain, cancer, arthritis, liver issues, acne and hormonal imbalance. 


3. Colonics

This is a good opportunity to have colonics or colon hydrotherapy. Since we are not eating, and the body is already in the process of expelling unwanted toxins, it is an effective time for a colonic to have maximal benefits. Colonics remove built up fecal matter from the large intestine. 

Do I have built-up fecal matter in my intestine??
Yes! And it can be pounds of it. This fecal matter sits in the crypts and crevices of the large intestine. The problem is that it impairs the optimal functioning of the large intestine which is primarily water reclamation. 


4. Earthing & Forest Bathing
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Taking the time to go outside, barefoot, and reconnect to the earth is something the ancient Japanese called Shinrin-yoku. It has been proven to lower heart rate and blood pressure, reduce stress hormone production, boost the immune system, and improve overall feelings of wellbeing. The essential oils produced in defence by plants, wood, some fruit and vegetables help to increase our immune system, in particular the Natural Killer cells (NK).

Forest environments also help to reduce stress by promoting lower concentrations of cortisol, the stress hormone produced in our adrenal glands, lower pulse rate,  blood pressure, increase parasympathetic nerve activity, and lower sympathetic nerve activity than do city environments. It also decreases incidence of depression

​Earthing is walking barefoot on the earth. Absorbing the negative ions on the earth surface combats the positive ions produced by electric current.
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​5. Meditation

Our days begin with a short meditation reminding us to reconnect to our inner selves before starting our day where we focus externally. There are over 3000 scientific studies on the benefits of meditation. Some of which include: increasing focus & memory, decreasing anxiety and depression, improve the immune system, enhance self-esteem and self-acceptance, prevents emotional eating and smoking. 


6. Yoga


Gentle yoga is a great way to improve the detoxification process. In yoga we contract our muscles which helps to move lymph through our body. Increasing flexibility and strength is a common outcome from the daily yoga, helping people feel more energetic, and capable in their daily lives. Restorative yoga teaches us how to deeply relax and connect to our breath. Learning how to deeply relax is where the majority of our healing can take place.

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​7. Saurkraut Making Class


There are many foods we can make at home that have powerful healing qualities and sauerkraut is one of them. Saurkraut is a lactofermentation of cabbage in salt. The result is a probiotic rich food that acts to heal the cells of our gut, and rebalance our flora for proper absorption of nutrients from our food. 
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9. Community Sharing


In community we heal. By sharing our real-time experiences we practice opening and being vulnerable with others. In return we are offered support and guidance from our peers and a shared sense of community. During community sharing we offer others the gift of our presence so that they may heal too. 

10. Doctor Lecture


Once a day Dr. Jones offers a short presentation or lecture on a subject to do with: water fasting, detox, health & wellness, juice cleansing, a particular disease, mind/body medicine, or spiritual journey. Education continues and builds over the course of the week. ​​

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Water fasting is for everyone. Where it is done depends on your state of health going into the fast. People on medications, or with serious conditions should always fast in a medically supervised facility. To read a complete list of who should not fast click here.

Because of the protective effects of fasting, it can be considered the greatest tool in preventative medicine. A 3 day water fast can offer a total regeneration of the immune system. Who doesn't need an immune boost to prevent seasonal illness?

Fasting also has regenerative effects on the brain, and positive effects on blood glucose and insulin levels, blood pressure and cholesterol levels. 

As a medical treatment it is curative for autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus (SLE), MS, irritable bowel disease. Fasting improves chronic pain, migraines, osteoarthritis, fibroids and restores sleep cycles. 

Learning how to do a fast and practicing it one time per year can dramatically alter the quality of life and prevent age related, degenerative diseases. 
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There are many great textbooks about fasting, here are a few:

1. Fasting Can Save Your Life - Dr. Herbert Shelton
2. Fasting and Eating for Health - Dr. Joel Fuhrman
3. The Transformational Power of Fasting - Steven Buhner
4. The Complete Guide to Fasting - Dr. Jason Fung

You Tube videos of note:

Mark Mattson at TEDx Johns Hopkins - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4UkZAwKoCP8
Dr. Goldhammer - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y5s3UUPXj6Q&feature=share
Dr. Jason Fung -  Therapeutic Fasting: Solving the Two Compartment Problem - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tIuj-oMN-Fk

If you are interested in exploring the different options for fasting, visit our retreat page for information about the Introduction to Water Fasting Retreat in various locations around the world. 

Shamanic journeying with plant spirit medicines is a long practiced ritual in many cultures across North, Central and South America. The plants that take us on a journey to another realm are called Entheogens "that which bring us closer to god" or "generating the divine within". These plants have medicinal properties that are easily identified such as alkaloids or tannins which act on the physical body to promote healing. They also work on an emotional and spiritual level in ways we haven't yet been able to quantify. Science will talk about DMT, the spirit molecule, as the reason behind our colourful experiences with plants like peyote, san pedro and ayahuasca. while other modalities such as homeopathy will attribute a plant's effect on our mind and body to its energetics, and the imprint it makes on the vibration of water. 

What makes a plant, a plant spirit, may be due to several attributes. Plants with hallucinogenic properties such as DMT qualify. Perhaps its use in a ceremonial manner in a space made sacred by being dedicated to the event, cleansed energetically, and orchestrated by a shaman or mystic as with cacao, ayahuasca, iboga and peyote. 

Some plant spirit medicine's ask that the participants do a diet before to help the medicine work. Cleansing the body in this way is ceremonial and practical. Removing toxins and heavy food from the body allows the medicine to be taken up easier and work deeper. Some foods can inhibit certain properties of the plant medicines such as food high in tyramine with the plant medicine ayahuasca. This is where water fasting may play a vital role.

Water fasting on its own is transformative. It has the power to detoxify the body of years of toxins, heal illnesses and make a connection to the greater life force known as the Universe, Creator or God. Water fasting is a stand alone treatment. So what if it was used to clean the body and get connected before journeying with a plant spirit? 
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This February we are combining the sacred act of water fasting with the transformation and healing power of plant spirit medicine. The water fast will be used as the cleanse before the plant ceremonies as a dieta would commonly be used for. Only this is as high level dieta. 
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At this point our participants will be ready to go deeper and experience the plant medicine. Three ceremonies separated by 24 hours of integration, talking, and spending time in nature. The medicine guide for this part is none other than Christina Sol. She has been working with the medicine, The Paloma Blanca, for over 15 years. She is a medicine guide, a shaman and mother. She'll be the first to tell you that she is ALSO a grandmother. Having Christina hold the space for the work that happens during these ceremonies is integral. As a mother, Grandmother and shaman Christina sets a safe space, held in loving strength for the difficulties on the road ahead. Ceremony can last between 2 and 5 hours (sometimes even longer depending on the person). The experiences can be ecstasy, difficulty and anywhere in-between. 

This is the first time that water fasting will precede any of Christina's ceremonies and the results will be interesting to behold.

If you are interested to learn more about Sacred Medicine Journey and being part of the retreat we would be happy to hear from you. Our results will be shared here for everyone to read about so stay tuned. Fasting as a dieta before plant spirit journeying is a unique field to explore. We begin February 4th! 

Sending Love and many blessings,
​Ariel

Three friends met on quiet, sunny, peaceful Mayne Island to explore the sensation of water fasting. 

Water fasting consists of drinking water only for an extended period of time so that the body can enter ketosis and heal.  In the absence of glucose and glycogen (the storage form of glucose) the body makes energy using ketones. Ketones are derived from fat tissue and created in the liver. 
Why is this such a good thing? Breaking down fats regenerates and heals the body. Fat is found as adipose tissue (what we think of as fat) and plaques in the arteries. Even scar tissue is broken down. That means injuries heal from the newest to oldest throughout a fast. 
There are other benefits of water fasting which include stimulation of new brain cell growth. This can be a prevention and treatment for neurodegenerative conditions like Alzheimer's, dementia and Parkinson's diseases. 
Digestion is metabolically expensive, meaning it requires lots of energy. The body expends energy breaking the bonds between food molecules. Water fasting gives the gut a chance to heal.
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Sleeping and Waking Everyone wakes up at different times. During a water fast less sleep is often needed because the body is not burdened with breaking down food. But sleeping during the day is common. Waking up can feel great, it can also feel difficult - with nausea or body pains. After 3-4 days energy increases and the body feels great. 
Meditation allows each person to get in touch with their inner journey. When you are fasting the mind is quiet and there is a sense of calm. Messages are easier to download and interpret which means lots of journalling happens also. 
Nature is the source of all things. It is where we come from and what we are made of. Spending time in nature is essential during a water fast. We spent time at the ocean, park and garden, appreciating the endless beauty of the island and tranquility around us. 
Skin Brushing is a post I have written about before here. It is the act of physically brushing your lymph fluid from the extremities towards the heart for eventual elimination by the gut. The lymph system is the body's sewer. All the by products of cellular metabolism and toxins get pushed out into the lymph. Because there is no pump for lymph fluid, like there is for blood, it relies on muscle contraction to move. Often times it sits and accumulates in distal tissues like hands and feet. 
Infrared Saunas promote detoxification. Infrared is a light wavelength that we interpret as heat. It penetrates 6 cm into the body to force toxins out. Infrared saunas can help with heavy metal detox, tissue and injury repair and mental relaxation. Its an excellent space to meditate, especially if you add some crystals!  Essential oils can be diffused in a small dish of water to enhance detox. Make sure to skin brush just before.  My favourite essential oils for detox are: Fir balsam, lemon, eucalyptus and lavender. 
Morning enemas are a water, non-retention enema. They are used to continue to move waste out of the colon for comfort and to reduce the symptoms of detox. Enemas help with nausea by reducing the amount of bile that builds up in the digestive tract. Enemas can help with brain fog and headaches. As a morning ritual it is done until the water flows out clear. We buy our enema kits here. 

Water fasting has been used for centuries by most religions as a way of purging the body and getting closer to god. Today is no different. Water fasting opens a portal to the seventh chakra allowing for a more direct connection to Source. 
Water fasting is also a time of deep transformation. Ideas about yourself and old stories are especially susceptible for release. This water fast we did a gentle release of that which no longer serves us. The ceremony went like this:

Japanese Garden, Mayne Island

• Walk the path of the Japanese Garden
• Think about something you no longer want to carry forward into your new life
• Pick up a piece of nature that represents this idea, image or story 
• Together we each said what we were willing to be free from and created an affirmation. The gathered item was discarded into the pond, or gently placed as a symbol of leaving it behind. We each chose: A rock, a leaf, pieces of old bark.

What we all ended up leaving behind were old ideas of ourselves that were no longer in purpose. The shared affirmation:

Short water fasts can be broken easily with the broth of 5 Element Soup. It is a delicious vegetable recipe broth created by Dr. Tateishi Kazu, a Traditional Chinese Medicine Doctor.  From the Hawaii Naturopathic Retreat Website:

"(5 Element Soup) was created by Dr. Tateishi Kazu who based the soup on the principles of the five elements theory in Chinese medicine. The harmonizing balance of the forces of yin and yang, acid and alkaline, that generates health; in contrast to the imbalance, which leads to disease."

"He researched, studied and tested over 1,500 types of herbs and plants to come up with the unique healing vegetable soup. Each essence possesses its own color: green, red, yellow, white and black. These relate to the corresponding internal organs: heart, liver, spleen, lung and kidneys. Dr. Kazu used the concept of the five different colors as matched to specific vegetables:

• Daikon Radish Leaves (Green element)
• Daikon Radish (White element)
• Carrots (Red color element)
• Burdock Root (Yellow element)
• Shittake Mushroom (Black element)
  

Water fasts can be broken with other foods such as fresh & juicy in-season fruits, steamed soft vegetables like zucchini or carrots and other broths, like Hippocrates Soup. 

After the water fast the digestive system is delicate. Water enemas can be done each day until there is a bowel movement. 
Small portions are very important to not overwhelm a digestive system just beginning to secrete acids and enzymes.
It is necessary to avoid meat, oils and fatty food for a few days after a short fast, and much longer if the fast is over a week. 
Garlic, onion and spices are too corrosive for the gut and should be added in gradually. 
Salt becomes less necessary after a fast as the taste sensation is heightened. 
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Water fasting forces the body to change over from glycolysis to ketosis. This process is that hardest. It is day 2-3 of a water fast and it is when you feel the least energetic. Following this transition, energy steadily picks up. 
The heavy  detoxification of a water fast can feel uncomfortable involving nausea or vomiting for some people. This doesn't last long and wellness returns. Everyone's experience is different depending on their medical history. 
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The length of your fast depends on your health goals. The length usually can be determined by the severity of the illness being healed. A 3 day fast is a good break for the digestive system and an opportunity for the body to learn to regulate glucose metabolism. 
Most medical water fasts should be at least 7 days and probably more like 10-14. This length is where deep healing happens from: osteoarthritis, fibroids, autoimmune disease, chronic pain, migraines and more. 
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Short fasting periods can be done frequently. There is one form of intermittent fasting where one day each week is dedicated to just water. A short 3 day fast can happen many times in a year. 
Week long fasts or more shouldn't happen more than 1x per year. The body needs time to recover and the season for water fasting is important too. Spring or summer is the best time to water fast because it is the time of renewal and rebirth. It is also warm enough in most regions to fast at this time. During a water fast, your body temperature drops making even warm climates like Hawaii feel chilly! 
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Water fasting is done all over the world at home without medical supervision or a guide. The benefits of having a guide are tremendous. Someone with experience water fasting can help ease the process where necessary and catalyze deep emotional shifts. 
Medical supervision is necessary for anyone on prescription medication, fasts longer than a week, history of chemotherapy or other toxic drugs and serious medical conditions. 
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Water fasting is an intensive detox. If it is your first water fast, the chances are you are going to detox heavily. Symptoms can range from: headaches to migraines, and nausea or vomiting. Low blood pressure is common so moving quickly is not an option. 
Experienced fasters can sometimes maintain a job while fasting. 
Taking care of your family may be hard in the first few days of a water fast but will become much easier as the days go on. 
Its my recommendation to take time off during a water fast. There are many more benefits to a water fast, than just relieving the body of food, which come from solitude and stillness, time with nature and relaxation.
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Our water fasts are scheduled throughout the year in various location around the world. If you would like more information about our next fast in November in Hawaii, please send me an email to: [email protected]
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- David Deida

How do we become as loving and kind as possible?

This is a question posed by U.S. researcher and PhD. Brené Brown. In her work, she interviews thousands of people to find out the important answers for how to have the most meaningful and fulfilling life we possible can. Her research has led her to some answers which are both fascinating and inspiring. 

Sustained Kindness and Generosity Come From Setting Good Boundaries

Setting boundaries has a vacuous meaning. It is one thing to declare and another to implement. What is interesting about boundaries is that their need seems to appear out of nowhere, like a mirage. They arise as a function of situations we are in and how it is rebounding off our ideas, feelings and personal traumas. When a personal line is crossed we can feel it: discomfort, anger, sadness, aggitation and rebuttal. When a boundary is crossed we are triggered. While triggered we are in a state of reaction, and mostly likely an ego-storm. Regardless of exactly what happens after a boundary is crossed, we are definitely no longer able to give love or act kindly.

​"Boundaries are not separation or division, they are respect "Here is what is good for me, and here is what isn't". 

Brown's research shows that good boundaries enable us to provide sustained loving kindness and generosity, by staying within our comfort zone.

But what about personal growth?

Personal growth is a time when we leave our comfort zone and embark on learning new things about ourselves. It is a time to fall deeper in love with who we are. The reason it is uncomfrtable is because we live with 1) ideas about who we are 2) ideas about who we should be 3) programmed afinities or aversions to certain traits, in us and others. These human characteristics prevent us from accepting and loving ourselves fully in moments when we are perceiving ourselves to be incongruent with the aforementioned ideas and pre-programming.  

Growth happens in the space between the boundaries. These spaces undefined areas (situations) where we haven't yet seen a need for a boundary. And luckily for us, those situations are always arising. We couldn't possibly set up enough boundaries to never be triggered because triggers are a function of new experiences. And new experiences are happening all the time. So growth is guaranteed.

The Benefits of Boundaries: Sustainable Generosity

Empathy is not feeling for someone, it is feeling with them. With proper boundaries it can be sustaining. - Brené Brown, PhD

Dr. Brown describes compassion as " a deeply held believe that we are inextricably bound together. and empathy as "the skill set to bring compassion alive. It is how we communicate the deep love we have for people so they know that they are not alone". 

Setting boundaries is integral to being able to offer compassion and kindness to those around us in a consistent manner. Perhaps the most beautiful part of this practice is that since we are all "inextricably bound together", we are, in turn, offering that empathy to ourselves.

My Wish For All Of US This New Year

To explode into compassion with empathy for ourselves and those around us. Explore the concept of boundaries and let this video be an inspiration or stepping stone to something bigger. Lets start 2017 off "B.I.G" having boundries with integrity for sustainable generosity!

Thank you to Dr. Brené Brown for her ongoing researach. 

​Love always,

Dr. Ariel Jones, ND