FAQ

• How Will Neil Prepare for the Fast?

  Diet in preparation for Fast:
  For a month prior, Neil will begin systematically restricting his diet to prepare for his fast. He will have a personalized tailored nutritional diet from professionals that will basically look like this: Four weeks out he will remove caffeine, alcohol, red meats, cheese and dairy, pasta and breads. At two weeks out he will stop eating poultry, fish, and eggs, eating now only fruits, veggies, fruits, legumes, rice. At about a week and half he'll eliminate all oils. One week out, he will switch only raw foods. 3 days out only juice, and then throughout his fast he will drink water and coconut water. During this strict preparation time, Neil will also subject himself to a colonic and to hydrotherapy which should further cleanse and detoxify his bowels. Throughout the fast Neil will be carefully monitored by trained professionals. We are working with two different groups of doctors that specialize in fasts that will develop a system to measure the changes in Neil and allow us to know instantly if Neil goes into crisis. The data we receive from these tests will help co-author a case study to be published in medical journals.

  Meditation and exercise prep:
  For the month leading up to the fast, Neil will learn various styles and methods of meditation, as well as low impact yoga, stretches, and exercise techniques. We will document his conversations with individuals who have participated in long fasts to help guide him on his journey with what to expect.

  Last updated: Saturday Jul 2, 6:53pm EDT
• Will Neil be Under the Tree the Whole Time?

  Yes. He will have a platform and a bit of cover from the elements, but basically will be outside and exposed the whole time.

  Last updated: Saturday Jul 2, 6:55pm EDT
• What Will Neil be Doing Under the Tree During This Time?

  Life under the TREE:
  Neil will be visited by teachers of various religious, spiritual, secular, scientific, and medical modalities, granting him the fruits of their wisdom, giving him advice, and discussing his journey. When not visited by teachers, Neil will have a steady regimen of meditation, prayer, and various spiritual practices to utilize each day. Additionally Neil will be journaling his experience via pen and video, sharing how he feels emotionally, physically, and mentally each day of the journey.

  Last updated: Saturday Jul 2, 6:55pm EDT
• When Will Neil's Fast Begin?

  His first day is scheduled for Sept. 19th

  Last updated: Saturday Jul 2, 6:57pm EDT
• Who are some of the experts you have on board already?

  The list is ever expanding, but here is a good cross-section of the people we intend to talk to.

  Eve Hogan http://www.evehogan.com/
  Eve possesses a rare and deep understanding of human behavior and is a true example of the principles she shares. As an inspirational speaker whose charismatic style captivates listeners, Eve ignites people’s enthusiasm and joy for life. Her special interest is in helping people to discover their own inner resources, thus expanding their strengths and life skills. She leaves her audiences empowered with the skills and the tools to effect positive change in their lives.

  Dale Halaway http://www.seminarsthatinspire.com/
  AS FOUNDER & DIRECTOR OF SEMINARS THAT INSPIRE, DALE IS DEDICATED TO HIS OWN PATH of spiritual growth and personal empowerment, Dale left his lucrative career in professional speaking and business consulting in 1992. He then embarked on an intense journey of self-discovery and transformational healing which has included Conscious Breath Work, Vision Questing, inner release work and the completion of a 49-day fast. This led him to discover valuable insights about the unlimited human potential for greater creativity, abundance, and joy. He returns now to the public arena having integrated these insights into teachings that are certain to create a major transformation in our collective world consciousness. The dynamics and clarity of this communication are destined to awaken and facilitate progressive change for the creative spiritual evolution of humanity and our precious planet.

  Stewart Blackburn http://stewartblackburn.com
  Stewart has studied Tantra for many years with a number of teachers, including Dr. Jonn Mumford and his Om Kara Kriya courses. He has also worked with the erotic extensively, much of that through the work and teachings of Dr. Joseph Kramer and The Body Electric School. He has studied shamanism for over twenty years, most recently with Serge Kahili King for the last eight years. In 2006 he was ordained as an Alaka’i in Dr. King’s Aloha International, making him a minister and teacher of Huna, the remarkable Hawaiian healing philosophy based on Aloha.

  Stewart now lives on the Big Island of Hawaii where he daily enjoys the delights and wonders of his gardens and the excitement of living close to Pele’s nearly-constant lava flows into the ocean. He teaches Huna, the Blackburn Method of Manifestation, Chocolate Meditation, and various pleasure-related classes. He also counsels and mentors people looking to increase the level of pleasure and joy in their lives from the perspective of self-empowerment and personal responsibility.

  Jacob Liberman, OD, Ph.D., D. Sc http://www.issseem.org/
  Jacob is president of the The International Society for the Study of Subtle Energies and Energy Medicine (ISSSEEM). He is is the author of Light: Medicine of the Future, Take Off Your Glasses and See, and Wisdom From an Empty Mind. He holds a Doctorate of Optometry, Ph.D. in Vision Science, and Honorary Doctorate of Science, and has been endorsed by leaders in the fields of health, science, and spirituality. Currently, he is Founder and President of Exercise Your Eyes, Inc. and EYELIGHT.

  Rashmi Khilani http://www.reiki-energy-mastery.com/
  For the last 15 years, Rashmi Khilnani has studied and taught with world-renowned gurus and teachers and has become a specialist in Energy Medicine. She is on the forefront of bringing the ancient mystery school teachings of India, Tibet, China, Egypt and the Teachings of the Essenes into current time and making these teachings simple and accessible to people of all levels of soul journeying.

  Rashmi is a visionary and a mystic. She is a pioneer in translating the ancient wisdom teachings into simple comprehensible manuals for bridging the spiritual with the mundane. These sacred wisdom transmissions assist in day-to-day problem solving in current time.

  Rashmi teaches and practices several healing modalities and has taught Reiki Masters, doctors, scientists and people from many walks of life, the secrets of the Mystery School teachings. She has facilitated the healing and transformation of hundreds of lives through the many streams of ‘Reiki Energy Mastery’ teaching and healing. She is a global metaphysical teacher, urban shaman, international lecturer, artist, seminar leader and TV personality.

  She utilizes her celestial gifts of psychic intuitive channelling, sound, light, breath and vibration to help shift and heal individuals and groups and conducts ceremonies for morphogenic, global, heart healing. She seeks to serve the Ascended Masters in bringing a spiritualization and heartfeltness of unconditional love and Unity Consciousness to people of all walks of life. She also works and trains her Reiki Master Students in the Healing and Rebalancing of the Sacred Elements and Mother Earth Herself.

  Rashmi is the author of the ‘Divine Mother Speaks, the Healing of the Human Heart’ and ‘The Buddha speaks to the Buddha Nature Within’. She is currently working on co-producing a documentary film on God.

  Dick Gregory
  In the early 1970s Gregory abandoned comedy to focus on his political interests, which widened from race relations to include such issues as violence, world hunger, capital punishment, drug abuse, and poor health care. He generated particular attention for his many hunger fasts. At this time he became a vegetarian, a marathon runner, and an expert on nutrition. He soon began a successful business venture with his nutritional product, the “Bahamian Diet,” around which he built Dick Gregory Health Enterprises, Inc. Through his company, he targeted the lower life expectancy of black Americans, which he attributed to poor nutrition and drug and alcohol abuse.

  Gregory has written many books, including Nigger: An Autobiography (1964) and No More Lies: The Myth and the Reality of American History (1971). He made a brief return to the comedy circuit in the mid-1990s.

  Shelley St. John http://www.templeofpeacemaui.com/
  Shelley A. St. John is gifted with the healing hands of angels with innocence, love, and simplicity that reflects the essence of her being. Through her healing arts she supports each being she meets in the unfolding of their personal empowerment and a stress-free lifestyle. Shelley draws on over twenty seven years of training as a holistic practitioner of teachings and techniques that she learned from both eastern and western traditions. Shelley is a certified colon hydrotherapist, alchemical hypnotherapist, aromatherapist, Jin Shin Jyutsu practitioner, and Reiki master. Shelley weaves a combination of mind, body, and spirit to serve each of your needs. She is available for private sessions

  Richard Joseph Bloomer, PhD. www.danielfastresearch.com
  Richard J. Bloomer earned a Bachelors Degree in Health Promotion and Nutritional Science from Buffalo State College and a Masters Degree in Exercise Physiology from IthacaCollege, after which time he began his role as a member of a clinical research team within the Department of Behavioral Medicine at Duke University Medical Center. Following the completion of his PhD training at The University of North Carolina at Greensboro in the area of Exercise Physiology, with supportive training in Nutritional Biochemistry, he served a one year appointment as a Visiting Assistant Professor within the Department of Health and Exercise Science at Wake Forest University, where he worked within the cardiac rehabilitation program. He is currently an Associate Professor of Health and Sport Sciences at The University of Memphis where he directs the Cardiorespiratory/Metabolic Laboratory.

  He has been involved in personal exercise and nutritional consulting for close to 15 years and has trained and consulted with several hundred clients. He holds certifications from both the American College of Sports Medicine as a Certified Health Fitness Specialist and the National Strength and Conditioning Association as a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist. He has written more than 60 health and fitness related articles for various on-line and print media targeting non-scientific audiences.

  His research is focused on nutrient and exercise interventions aimed at attenuating oxidative stress—ultimately leading to improved metabolic and cardiovascular health. Much of this research involves the use of selected nutraceuticals and dietary supplements in an attempt to improve various biomarkers of human health and performance. Specific to this area of investigation, he has received several industry grants/contracts to support his work. He has authored or co-authored over 70 peer reviewed scientific presentations at meetings of the American College of Sports Medicine, the International Society of Sports Nutrition, and the National Strength and Conditioning Association. He has also been the invited guest on several radio programs nationwide to discuss his research. He is lead or co-author on more than 75 peer reviewed scientific articles, and his research findings have been published in such peer reviewed journals as Nutrition and Metabolism, Lipids in Health and Disease, Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, Sports Medicine, Nutrition Journal, Nicotine and Tobacco Research, Current Diabetes Reviews, The International Journal for Vitamin and Nutrition Research, Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity, and British Journal of Nutrition

  Rachel Gonzalez http://bodyaliveyoga.com/
  Rachel Gonzalez is the founder & owner of Body Alive located in Wailuku, Hawaii on the island of Maui. She has been a certified yoga teacher since 2003 when she completed her teacher training at Kalani Honua on the Big Island. Rachel’s training continued abroad to India, New Zealand and Bali where she deepened her practice through continued education in Hatha, Ashtanga and Vinyasa styles. Rachel’s teaching incorporates the 8 limbs of yoga, and the learning and understanding that the collaboration that the breath, body and mind all create. Additionally, Rachel has background in dance, figure skating, and fire dancing, which she has performed around the world. She is also trained as a Pilates instructor and certified tattoo artist.

  Because Rachel recognizes the physical, psychological, and, spiritual toll that taking oneself too seriously has on the self, she constantly strives to incorporate laughter and excitement in her classes, discussions, and interactions, bringing levity to all her endeavors and social encounters.

  Doctor W. Malik Cotter
  A skilled health care practitioner of natural medicine’s, a lecturer, teacher, author, businessman and administrator, has earned a Doctor of Acupuncture/Oriental Medicine degree, is a Diplomate of Chinese Medicine, holds an Honorary Professorship at the Chengdu Medical University, Sichuan, China for his extensive hospital work and academic achievements.

  Dr. Malik is a Nationally Certified Herbalist, teaches courses in health, nutrition and herbal medicine, as well as ta’i qi and qi gong. He lectures nationally and locally on health related subjects and the principles and practices of internal energy development. He is also trained and certified in Neuro-Associative Conditioning/Neuro-Lingustic Programming.

  His past body of work includes consultation for major herbal manufacturing companies on product development, authoring an Herbal Manual, and a contributing editor for health and medical journals. He has numerous appearances on television and radio. Currently maintaining a successful medical clinic practice which began 1982, and is the herbal director and co-owner of the Dragon’s Den Herb Shop, Makawao Hawaii.

  Having lived, worked and studied throughout Asia with masters of medicine, meditation and the martial arts, Malik is well versed in eastern based esoteric study and practice. He lives with a working knowledge and understanding of a wide variety beneficial life skills. With nature as his primary teacher, he continually updates traditional medical teachings and practices bringing valuable insights into contemporary life. He has mentored many young people into professional careers, teaches in a lively and easy to understand style, focuses on daily life applications and is truly a life long learner.

  Jessica Quinn, CNT (Certified Nutritional Therapist)
  A graduate of UC Berkeley, a credentialed teacher, and a nutritional therapist, Jessica Quinn began her nutritional practice working alongside a Doctor of Chinese Medicine in providing nutritional guidance, assisting group-guided cleanses at Maui Community College, as well as holding private nutritions classes at her home. Today, with the development of her private practice, clientele range in age and wellness and seek her advice to achieve their own personal health goals. Through her consultations, lectures, and cooking demonstrations, clients gain knowledge and further advance their process with services that encompass personal nutrition, vitamin & mineral regimes, guided-personalized cleanses, and kitchen makeovers.

  Last updated: Monday Jul 25, 8:12pm EDT