Thanksgiving Celebration!

Yesterday, the Tree of Life Rejuvenation Center hosted about 180 people for our annual Thanksgiving Potluck and Celebration.  It was an enthusiastic, festive day filled with activities and delicious, plant-sourced-only, live food cuisine!

The day began with chanting and music in the garden!

After chanting, an hour of group meditation, and then a garden project!  Participants of the celebration helped to plant olive, apple, and walnut trees.

Then, the Thanksgiving blessing led by Gabriel Cousens, M.D.

A feast was laid out on long tables, inclusive of an entree and salad bar made by the Tree of Life Cafe, and delicious contributions from participants.

 

The Tree of Life Entree - "bread" and "butter", stuffing, topped with sweet potato and cranberry sauce

Greens and sprouts all grown by the Tree of Life garden!

We look forward to seeing you for the 2011 Thanksgiving Potluck and Celebration at the Tree of Life!

In the meantime, come visit us for any of our amazing vacations and workshops (click here), or for a day pass or a meal!

Tree of Life Cafe Creations – September 27th

Recipes for delicious dishes like these can be found in the books Rainbow Green Live Food Cuisine, Conscious Eating, and There is A Cure for Diabetes, all by Gabriel Cousens, M.D.

To learn to prepare live food cuisine, call us to inquire about our Conscious Eating Intensives, Levels 1 and 2.

866-394-2520

Shamanic Astrology Course Recap

This weekend, the Tree of Life hosted its first annual Shamanic Astrology course.  Long anticipated, the course turned out to be revolutionary for participants.  Check out a few pictures and hear from the guests who attended!  Then, join us in 2011 from May29th – June 1st!

“Shamanic Astrology is the ONLY astrology practice that is accurate, in my experience, on all levels.  This is an eye-opening course rich in life affirming information.  I look forward to learning more from the charismatic team – Cayelin and Daniel.”  ~Dalia K., Montreal

“Shamanic Astrology with Daniel and Cayelin is an intimate learning environment providing, excellent foundational information for how to tune into the energetic influences on the planet.”

“This astrology course is a wonderful immersion into cosmology, both on a personal and global level.  It has lifted me up to the larger collective level of awareness in which we not only see ourselves as One, but also knowing my place in “the plan”.”  ~Ayn C., CA

Daniel and Cayelin teaching a class

“I feel like I have been tutored by two great magi.  My perspective of our Universe has changed dramatically as has my vision of myself and my place on the wheel.  This material has helped me define my life purpose and set a course more clearly aligned with spirit.  An amazing program for anyone to take!”  ~Mary K., CA

“An incredibly insightful and practical training.  A true adventure in every sense of  the word. What a blessing!  Thank you!”

The Shamanic Astrology handbook - included with course

“Shamanic Astrology with Daniel and Cayelin provided a completely new paradigm for understanding the concept “as above, so below”.  I was gifted insight into my personal relationship with self and my understanding of others, hence increasing my compassion towards them.”  ~Cyndi D., IL

“This course included clear information that opened new horizons with respect to the cosmic energies that affect us and ways of approaching our roles as individuals in supporting humanity and the planet.  Very empowering!”  ~Stella M., CA

Join us in 2011!  Call 520-394-2520 x201 or x216 to learn more!

Conscious Eating Level 1 Genius!

This last week, our Conscious Eating Level 1 participants had a grand time learning how to create low-glycemic, plant based only cuisine at the renowned Tree of Life Cafe.  After days of learning specific categories of dishes, such as pizza and desserts, our group made the day’s lunch all themselves.  Be ready to marvel at the genius that emerged after only 4 days of intensive learning and practicing!

Participants with their live food creation!

The lunch spread - participant created!

Sandwiches made from flaxseed, sesame seed, sunflower seed, hing, miso, lemon, parsley, olive oil, brazil nuts, dulse flakes, cayenne, turmeric, and salt.

"Hot Curry Noodles" - zucchini noodles, cauliflower, almond mylk, brazil nuts, tomatoes, cilantro, indian spices.

Participants happy with the soup they made!

Tomatoes stuffed with almond pulp, black olives, basil leaves, black pepper, olive oil and salt.

Nori rolls with almond pulp, sunflower sprouts, avocado, black sesame seeds, olive oil and sea salt.

Zucchini Alfredo!

Raw Ravioli!

"Spicy Sour Veges" - celery, red pepper with an almond spread with chipotle, cumin, paprika, and coriander.

For more information on the Conscious Eating workshops, Levels 1 and 2, please call 520-394-2520 x201.  Our last round for 2010 starts October 17th.

To learn recipes like these, get the books Rainbow Green Live Food Cuisine, Conscious Eating, and There is a Cure for Diabetes, all by Gabriel Cousens, M.D.

To purchase items such as nuts, seeds, hing, spices, oils and salts used in these recipes, please contact our webstore at 520-394-2520 x223 or visit the Culture of Life Store.

Reversing Diabetes Participants Talk!

The Tree of Life Reversing Diabetes participants are about halfway through their program and having amazing results!  All the participants are seeing reductions or complete elimination of insulin intake and also seeing normalization of their blood sugars.  In this post, we bring you interviews with two of the participants, Pat and Hannah!

Pat A. came to the Tree of Life with Type 2 diabetes, diagnosed six years ago, but Pat thinks she had it far before the diagnosis.  She was introduced to the Tree of Life by a friend of hers, a nurse, who gave h

er a magazine which had an article on the Tree of Life.  She began to research nutrition and natural health and read There is a Cure for Diabetes by Gabriel Cousens, M.D. as well as saw the documentary ‘Raw for 30 Days‘.  Pat came for the Tree of Life 21-day program because she felt she wasn’t following the diet and lifestyle ‘well enough’ on her own, and get fully reversed and learn to maintain the diet and lifestyle afterwards.

Pat has enjoyed her blood sugar normalizing into the 70′s and 80′s, from pre-program blood sugars of between 130 and 170 on a daily basis.  Pat is also noticing that her candida overgrowth seems to be healing.

To those considering the program, Pat says, “Go!  I am so grateful I’ve discovered this.  I’m learning more each day and really appreciating it.  Keep up the miracle work, Tree of Life!”

Hannah K. was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes three years ago, and was immediately put on insulin.  For the last three years, Hannah has been taking between 24 and 45 units of levamir and novalog each day.  By Day 5 of her fast here at the Tree of Life, Hannah was off all of her insulin and medications and had a blood sugar of under 100.  Her average fasting blood sugar since being here is 93.  Prior they were about 140, although controlled with insulin.

Initially, Hannah didn’t see the value of the Tree of Life program because due to the monetary investment and travel logistics, but realized that as a very busy college student, she needed to create the time and space for her healing, out of the context of her daily life.  Hannah came because she was determined to get off insulin completely, and wanted to be in an environment of medical staff and community that understood that despite what is commonly believed, Type 1 diabetes is not incurable.  She wanted education and to be in an inspiring environment.

Hannah loves the people, the conversations, the beauty of the nature here.  She feels the staff are passionate and caring, and she appreciates the support and reassurance that she never has experienced before with health care.

To anyone considering the program, Hannah would say, “It is unique, and offers so much for healing and spirituality.  It is a beautiful environment where people are in tune with their own purposes and are giving.  It is a safe, positive environment for healing and for starting anew.”

Join our LAST program for 2010! It’s almost full! Call us now to join the last Reversing Diabetes program for 2010: October 1st -24th     866-394-2520

Tree of Life Cafe Creations – August 11th

Recipes for delicious dishes like these can be found in the books Rainbow Green Live Food Cuisine, Conscious Eating, and There is A Cure for Diabetes, all by Gabriel Cousens, M.D.

To learn to prepare live food cuisine, call us to inquire about our Conscious Eating Intensives, Levels 1 and 2.

866-394-2520

Modern Essene Gathering

The Essenes were prophetic, shamanic, mystical, spiritual warriors of the desert.

The Modern Living Essene Way is a way of liberation grounded by ancient and basic principles that can guide us to creating peace in our lives and on the living planet.  The Modern Essenes represent a universal archetypical consciousness that can be lived in any context and not necessarily joined.

The Modern Living Essene Way revelation is about inspiration; it is about inspiring ourselves and others to live in the highest degree of peace and harmony with ourselves.

This past weekend, the Modern Essene Gathering attracted nearly 60 participants from all over the world, including as far as the U.K. and !

Following is a photo summary for what turned out to be a powerful coming together of spiritual leaders, providing inspiration, direction, and community:

Classes on Essene history and teachings!

Participants eating at the Cafe

Live food lasagna!

Eating lunch!

Gabriel and Shanti explaining the Mikvah, an Essene purification pool

The female participants of the Gathering after their mikvah

Courtney, Reservations Supervisor, and Aviva, Director of Education

Participants chatting on the mesa top of the Tree of Life

The Peace Pole with the gorgeous Tree of Life panorama!

Live Music from Spring of Song

A gorgeous sunset from the Tree of Life property!

Sacred Relationships

“Tree of Life offers a whole person healing and transformation opportunity.  There is no better place to get real and heal than Dr. Cousens’ oasis in the desert!”  -Alexandra, Sacred Relationships participant

This past weekend, our Sacred Relationships course, facilitated once per year by Gabriel and Shanti Cousens, led eight couples through a profound journey into intimacy.  In the four-day course, our couples explored understanding their partner’s hidden logic, goals, and values, making tantra and eros a way of life, and the connection between health and sexual alchemical union.

Gerry and Lynne

“The Tree of Life experience will change your life.  Whether seeking health renewal, spiritual renewal or both; this is the best place on Earth to find it.  Gabriel and Shanti Cousens will guide you to the strongest relationship you could ever hope for.”  -Gerry

Aviva and Yosef

“The Sacred Relationships course is a wholesome experience.  Gabriel and Shanti created a space in which we recognize our divine essence that allows two complementary wholes to become a greater One.”  -Yosef

“Shanti and Gabriel created a sacred space for my husband and I to look at eachother and dive into the relationship.  The romantic dinner was amazing and learning about hormone imbalances was eye-opening.  I loved it all!”  -Aviva

They learned about the important role of the neurotransmitters serotonin and dopamine in maintaining a healthy relationship, how to activate the highest expression of a relationship, and how to create sacred space and sacred partner practices, such as using aphrodisiacal oils.

Gabriel and Shanti guiding Catia and Jose through an exercise

They participated in exercises for stating their truths, active listening, clearing old behavioral and thought patterns which inhibit intimacy, and being present in a relationship.  They also practiced couples  tantric breathwork and couples yoga.

Kathy and Al

They were guided in clarifying, choosing, and preparing for new committments in the relationship, and then made new vows for their relationship.

Kory and Melanie

“Somehow, you have to get to the Tree of Life.  There is no way to convey it in words – you just have to go there.  Give yourself the gift of the Tree.”  -Melanie

“I loved it so much.  Life changing perspective.  Seeing my wife more and having a spiritually awakening experience.  Come to the Tree and take your marriage to a higher level.”  -Kory

Our couples were served a romantic, gourmet live-food candle light dinner with delicious dessert served by the Tree of Life Café, while being serenaded by live music.

Joshua and Mindy

Our chef and musical talent, Aaron, serenading the group

Shanti and Gabriel Cousens

Prashant and Anne-Marie

“The Tree of Life is a place to find and remember yourself.  A place of peace and beauty which has been transforming my life for the last last 1o years!”  -Anne-Marie, return guest

Please sign up for our newsletter to receive notification about our 2011 Sacred Relationships date, to be announced!

Tree of Life Orphanage Adoption

One of the service roles of the Tree of Life Foundation, a 501c3 non-profit organization, is to be a model of compassionate action in all areas of life.  We receive in order to share.

We are grateful to all our guests who have visited the Tree of Life for personal healing, experiential education, and rejuvenation on all levels.  Your individual holistic healing journey always contributes to the betterment of this world, as we create peace by being peace.

Recently, the Tree of Life Foundation adopted an orphanage across the border in Mexico.  This commitment has kept the orphanage from potentially being closed down.  We finance their daily operation and continue to upgrade the facility.  We work on creating a new model for the whole northern Sonora area of Mexico.  Our actions have already attracted the positive attention and support of the Governor of Sonora.

Stay tuned to hear more about the orphanage in our upcoming newsletters.

The children at the Orphanage are of all ages, from infant to teenagers.  It is wonderful to see how the children willingly share everything they own with each other.

About a week and a half ago, a crew of the Tree of Life staff and seva went to the orphanage in Mexico.  We all engaged in volleyball, song singing, yoga, meditation, and face painting with the children.  The Tree of Life Cafe staff also prepared a wonderful raw food meal for the children, and the children prepared a big fruit bowl for the Tree of Life community. The children also performed a play about a tree.  There was lots of love and memorable experiences sharing with one another.  Enjoy the photos!

Spa therapist Joanna distributing her raw vegan chocolate truffles!

Our Director of Education, Aviva, dressed as a clown, giving face paints!

Baby chicks!

Our neurofeedbak and NLP expert, Robert, showing a student how to do the "crow" yoga pose.

One of our nurses, India, showing a chlid how to feel her heartbeat.

Our community member Gerry, a previous Reversing Diabetes participant who successfully reversed his diabetes. He is taking measurements for upgrades.

Waiting for the play to begin

A play about a tree!

Watching the play

A live food meal!

Tree of Life garden-grown sprout salads!

Gabriel and Shanti Cousens leading a blessing circle before the meal

Conscious Eating Level 2

This post is coming a little late, but we have a visual treat in store for you!

Directly following our Conscious Eating Level 1 course, which is a course which people can come for ala carte, and is also a part of our Reversing Diabetes program, our Mental Wellness program, our Cancer Prevention program, and our Transformation program, we offer our Conscious Eating Level 2 course.

Our Level 1 course is part hands-on food preparation, part food preparation demonstrations, and part nutritional lectures and education.  In our Level 2, however, participants dig in with a completely hands on course, personally preparing recipes all day, every day, for seven days.  It is a complete immersion course where participants even prepare full, several course meals at the end of their stay.

To learn about our Conscious Eating Level 1 and 2, please click here.  You may also call us at 520-394-2520.  We look forward to speaking with you!

Below is a photo summary of our most recent Conscious Eating Level 2:

Our participant Jacqueline cutting bell peppers.

Cafe manager Debbie demonstrating putting a nut pate in a nori wrap.

A lot of kale chips!

Our participant Tom whipping up something delicious in a VitaMix blender.

Participant Connie making a salad with Tree of Life garden-grown tomatoes and greens.

Jacqueline with her lunch.

Tree of Life Cafe Chef, Kat, with a pecan pie made by our participants.

Our participants, as well as our cafe manager Debbie and our cafe supervisor Kat.

Our participants made raw vegan pizza to serve everyone for lunch. Here, our participant Petra puts on toppings.

Our participant Jacqueling gardeshing their pizza.

Raw, vegan pizza!

Our Level 2 participant Tom enjoying their own pizza!

Another guest enjoying her pizza lunch.

Our Conscious Eating Level 2 Graduates!