On arrival, a Hispanic cab driver picks me up and asks me where we’re headed. “The Tree of Life” I tell him. He’s got a strong accent and an attitude. His cab looks like something out of an old Western movie. As I ride along the winding road to Patagonia Arizona, alongside my musings about whether I’d ever seen so many cactus trees in my life, I start thinking about the four weeks ahead.

I arrive at around three o’clock in the afternoon. It’s a remarkably simple place; red stone buildings set amongst the scenic Arizona desert. The weather in summer was hot, but dry. Thankfully, there was plenty of reverse osmosis water to go around, and a pool to cool off in.

The next few weeks were a download of nutritional and lifestyle information which was nothing less than sensational. The experience of being amongst health and spiritual enthusiasts from all around the world, having the chance to do my first seven-day juice fast and detox program all set the scene for what was to be a life-changing experience.

The intensive four week program, a requirement of the Masters Program in “Raw & Living Food and Spiritual Nutrition” offered through the Tree of Life Rejuvenation Centre and the University of Integrated Science was my first real contact with Dr. Gabriel Cousens and the start of an inspiring friendship.

The point of difference that has impressed me the most about Dr. Cousens’ work is that he successfully integrates the most cutting edge nutritional information into a strong spiritual framework where the divine element within all beings is at the centre of a truly holistic model of health.

What Dr. Cousens promotes is the idea that what we eat and how we live is not just about longevity, feeling great or looking good – it’s about using the physical body as an optimal vehicle for working towards spiritual liberation; something spoken about by the adepts of all spiritual traditions throughout the ages.

Ultimately, we cannot separate the mind, body and soul; we cannot separate our connection with the physical body or our connection with the living planet – to do so both diminishes and depletes us, both individually and collectively.

Dr. Cousens promotes the idea that both personal and planetary enlightenment is attainable, necessary and a responsibility that we can all actively participate in and provides a rationale and practical model for how this can be achieved in his inspiring books titled “Spiritual Nutrition” and “Conscious Eating”.

Dr Gabriel Cousens will be speaking on the topic of “Spiritual Nutrition” and the effects of food on mind, body and spirit in Brisbane on Thursday December 1st at 6.30pm.

Book your place.