For over two decades, I have supported clients, students, and community members through birth, life, and death transitions. One fascinating observation is how souls who have passed on crave foods they can no longer experience. Yet, their mind stream, their soul, is drawn to the familiarity and memories embedded in their eternal being.
Before meeting with a family or individual for a grief session after a loved one’s passing, the departed soul often connects with me in dreams and then in my waking state. What astonishes me, even after all these years, are the specific cravings they inspire me to create or buy foods (I do not eat). Sometimes, it’s a dish I’ve never tasted, which makes it stand out. When I ask the client, “Did your mom love .…?” the answer is always yes. The specificity of these cravings is remarkable.
I’ve also noticed this phenomenon in young children. They crave foods from a past life or light up with joy when tasting something familiar from before. These soul memories serve as conduits for comfort, communication from the unseen, and a simple way to connect with those who have crossed over.
This pattern extends to mothers carrying a soul (a baby) within them. During pregnancy, they often crave foods their baby’s soul yearns for, reflecting a profound connection to memories beyond this life.
So, if you suddenly experience an unusual craving, pause and reflect: Is this me or who could this be? It might be an ancestor, family or friend, from another time.
This reflection inspires me to share a recipe from a family member who recently passed. I’ve been preparing a series of dishes she loved, sparked by subconscious moments that make me chuckle and whisper, “I cook recipes for the dead.” I’m grateful for this unique gift. While I cannot speak for these souls in transit, I sense that fulfilling these cravings offers them comfort as they navigate the in-between.
Transcendence
These soul-inspired cravings remind us that love and connection transcend physical boundaries. By honoring these culinary memories, we build a bridge to those who have passed, finding comfort and communion in the simple act of cooking and sharing their favorite foods. In this way, food becomes a sacred thread, weaving the eternal with the present, guiding us toward transcendence.
Rose California
Cooling with Rose Hips: A Nature’s Gift for Summer
Rose Hips, California Rose. Guided by Ayurveda, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), and nature’s wisdom, I recommend clients choose foods and herbal supplements sourced locally and suited to their constitution. In summer, or for those with a naturally hot disposition, cooling the body is vital. Rose hips, abundant locally and worldwide, are ideal when sourced nearby. Enjoy them as rose hip sun tea or a hydrosol mist to balance inner heat.
Pin
Pan-Crisped Potatoes with Tilapia & Cabbage Slaw
Servings
4
servingsPrep time
20
minutesCooking time
15
minutes
In Loving Memory of Sylvia, Queen of Fried Fish & CA Tacos
Ingredients
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New potatoes, sliced
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Himalayan pink salt & black pepper
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1 tbsp olive oilIngredient
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1 tbsp butter
- Slaw
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Shredded cabbage
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Chopped sweet peas
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1 cucumber, thinly sliced
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Juice of 1 lemon
- Tilapia
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Tilapia fillets
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Juice of 1/2 lemon
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Himalayan pink salt & black pepper
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1 tbsp olive oil
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1-2 tbsp fresh pesto (+ extra for serving)
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Cloud 23 habanero hot sauce
Instructions
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Potatoes: Heat skillet with 1 tbsp each olive oil & butter. Add halved potatoes, cut side down, season with salt & pepper. Cook 8-10 min, flipping halfway, until crispy. Keep warm.
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Slaw: Mix cabbage, peas, cucumber, lemon juice, & pepper in a bowl. Toss & set aside.
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Tilapia: Pat fillets dry, season with salt, pepper, & lemon juice. Heat 1 tbsp olive oil in skillet. Sear fish 2-3 min per side, adding 1 tbsp pesto per fillet after flipping. Cook until flaky.
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Serve: Plate potatoes, slaw, & tilapia. Top fish with extra pesto & a drizzle of hot sauce.
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Enjoy with love, honoring Sylvia’s passion for fresh fish & tacos and/or someone like her.
Notes
- Adjust seasoning & hot sauce to taste. Serve with joy! Sylvia…Sail free, thank you for the memories and fire side chats.
Why Rose Hips Are Cooling:
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Pitta-Pacifying (Ayurveda): Rose hips balance Pitta dosha with their astringent and sweet qualities, reducing excess heat and inflammation, calming the body and supporting heart health (Journal of Ayurveda and Integrative Medicine, 2018).
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Clears Heat (TCM): In TCM, rose hips clear excess heat from the Liver and Heart meridians, soothing irritability and promoting calm. Their sour and slightly cool nature harmonizes Qi, cooling the body (Journal of Chinese Medicine, 2019).
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Hydrating and Calming: Rose hips’ gentle diuretic effect promotes hydration, flushing excess heat, while their soothing properties ease heat-related agitation, nurturing emotional balance (Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 2016).
Ultimately, rose hips, like laughter’s joyful echo, cool and nurture the body and soul. If you are overheated (emotionally, physically, mentally and/or spiritually) you might want to weave this treasure into your summer routine. This simple effort can help you align with nature’s rhythms, fostering vitality and joyful-peace.
Organic Summer SUNdries
S U M M E R A F T E R S U N | B O D Y B A L M + R O S E H Y D R O M I S T
All these ‘Beauty Is’ wellness products are hand made in small batches by me, Suzanne. They are organic, local/semi-local ingredients and made with love. Earth friendly containers are used for packaging. I love making small batches of seasonal goods, for both your inner or outer world. These two are infused with nutrient food for your skin and supportive of the summer season. Their scent is not over powering so that you can combine it effortlessly with any other scents you love to wear regularly. Please send me a message if you want to learn more about these or the rest of the summer sundries.
Organic After Sun Body Balm | Rich & healing balm for body, with gentle natural tint
Ingredients: (All Organic): Kukui Nut Oil, Coconut Oil, Avocado Oil, Shea Butter, Beeswax, Cacao Powder, Kona Coffee Extract, Sunflower Oil, cold-pressed
Organic After-Sun Hydromist | Cooling, calming mist for sun-exposed skin
Ingredients (All Organic): Rose Water Hydrosol, Beauty Water 6.5PH, Sunflower Oil, cold pressed, Rose-hip Oil and Beet Root Fermented
In the spirit of our collective need for GOOD NEWS to uplift our mental and emotional well-being, I found these stories yesterday and today. While my heart offers prayers daily for all suffering to end in the collective realization that love is the key to freeing us all, until we reach and sustain this state of being, here are a few stories to warm your heart and mind.
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Amazon Rainforest Restoration: Indigenous leaders from the Amazon partnered with UK conservationists to restore rainforests, planting trees and reviving ecosystems. Their collaboration fosters biodiversity and hope, showing how unity heals the planet, much like shared giggles uplift the soul. Team work. GO amazon (forest). (Positive News, June 24, 2025).
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India’s Green Hydrogen Buses: In Leh, India, five hydrogen fuel cell buses powered by solar energy now operate, cutting 350 tonnes of CO₂ yearly—equivalent to planting 13,000 trees. This initiative brings clean transport to high altitudes, harmonizing technology with nature’s rhythm (X Post, June 19, 2025).
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Colombia’s Marine Reserve: Colombia created a new Caribbean marine reserve, protecting coral reefs and wildlife. This sanctuary nurtures ocean life, reflecting the heart’s and ocean’s resilience when we work together, preserving Earth’s beauty for future generations (X Post, June 17, 2025).
Laughter is the sun that drives winter from the human face.” —Victor Hugo
I still hear my children’s belly laughs, moments of pure joy that felt like touching the divine with unencumbered freedom. Those memories, held close to my heart, remind me of laughter’s transformative power.
Laughter is vital for a child’s emotional, social, cognitive, and physical development, fostering growth across all stages. Hearing laughter amplifies these benefits, creating a joyful, secure environment.