Hi. My name is Susan Cassidy-Ray, and I am so pleased to share my website with other like- minded, like-spirited people. It's been something I've thought about doing for a while and I just hope that it offers valuable information for both those contemplating becoming vegan and those who already are. It can be a very tough journey but one that is so very rewarding. It is one of the best decisions I could have made : )

I have always been a huge animal / nature lover, and at an early age, around 12, I began to consciously think about what I was eating. I couldn't understand why eating meat didn't bother anyone else but me. Didn't anyone else think of what they were REALLY eating? Didn't anyone else realize that that hamburger had been a living, breathing animal, with feelings just as myself?? These thoughts went through my head every day. I expressed my opinion to my family and to my friends and usually got a snicker or a look like I was insane. I'm almost 49 years old and back then, I never heard about vegetarianism, let alone veganism. I just knew that there was something morally wrong with what I was doing when I was seemingly enjoying that hamburger or that steak.

We had no computers for me to research, nowhere for me to get information or support on the subject. I looked in our local library and could not even find a book on the subject. This all began the beginning of 6th grade and I didn't know how to approach my parents about my "moral dilemma". I started sitting down to dinner with my family and not wanting to eat what was put in front of me, and many meal times turned into arguments with my parents and me usually crying.

I must say that my Christian belief's really did have a huge bearing on my "vegetarian" thoughts. I had attended Catholic school for 8 years already and was raised in a wonderful Catholic Christian home, and the commandment that says "thou shalt not kill" meant exactly that to me. I used to think to myself, that commandment does not distinguish between humans or animals............it explicitly says, killing is wrong. I am someone who supports ALL life, no matter how seemingly insignificant. I do believe every living creature was put here by God for a reason, even if we humans, can not reason why. I do believe that God gives life and only He can take it away. That being such a core belief in my heart, meant that eating meat could never be justified.

I remember thinking that I would give up meat for Lent and hopefully my parents wouldn't have a problem with that decision, and then I just would never resume eating it. So, that is what I did. I gave up meat the lent before I turned 13 years old, and it was so easy for me to do. My parents were a little questionable of my decision, but nonetheless, I went ahead with it. When the time came that I could resume eating it again (Easter) I didn't. That did not go over too well with my family. You have to understand that back then, meat was the center of every meal for most people. We were conditioned to believe that a meal absent of meat, could never sustain us, and was not a "real" meal. I honestly think my parents thought I would get very sick or even die not eating meat!

Unfortunately for me, I did not know where to go for support or advice. I had no one to talk to about being a vegetarian. I pretty much figured it out on my own as I went along. I started out eliminating ALL meat, fish, poultry and eggs. Those were the obvious things as a 12 year old I thought I should stop eating. (I also frowned on wearing leather, fur, wool, down) I was not educated on so many other horrors of factory farming, animal abuses, animal products in other foods, like cheese, etc. When I got into high school I found myself in a sociology class with a Vegan teacher. I was in Heaven! I finally found someone who thought like me and he and I had many many conversations about being vegan. He taught me so much and if you are out there Mr. Jacobs, "thank you" for your inspiration : )

Now almost 49 years old, my vegan diet has evolved to probably 50% or more raw. I eat mostly fresh. I eat a lot of nuts, seeds, vegetables, fruit and beans, soybeans, etc. I feel better physically and have as much energy as I did at 20. I rarely get sick and just have a great sense of well-being. I know that many vegans enjoy soy burgers and other meat substitutes, soy cheese, soy yogurt, etc., but my personal choice has been to not eat anything that imitates meat or animal products. I realize there are many variations on a vegan diet, and I highly commend anyone who has eliminated meat and meat products from their diet.......my choice is more a mental thing.

I am a mother of 7, my children ranging in age from 10 - 24, and sadly, none of them are vegetarian/vegan. I was not given the choice to raise them as I wanted, but have always hoped they would develop that level of consciousness that would spark them on the same journey as myself. I use the word "journey" cause that is just what it is. For me it was a challenging, complex and spiritual journey. A journey that has been personally rewarding. As a vegan I have always seen the world differently than a lot of people (and yes, there are those who think I'm crazy, but that's okay : ) I appreciate the beauty in the world around me, I respect all life, and do not believe in killing anything. I only hope that my compassion, sensitivity and caring stretches to not only animals but every human being I encounter in my daily life. Being vegan is SO much more than what I put in my body. It is a level of moral consciousness. It is character defining. It is a belief system and a lifestyle that comes from the heart and soul.

I think the most frustrating reality for me and probably anyone reading this is that we can never really eliminate ALL animal products from our life no matter how dedicated a vegan we are. Animal products are everywhere and in what seems to be just about everything - Click Here for a List! They are in things we would never suspect (like some chewing gums) and in things we must use (like tires, glues, building products, etc.). I have spent countless hours, reading and researching and checking labels, and it can become totally overwhelming, but I have come to the realization that I can only do so much in a world that chooses to treat animals as commodities, possessions and products. I am deeply saddened knowing the horrifying pain and suffering we inflict on these innocent creatures. Animals desire to live in freedom and be loved, just as the rest of us. I can only hope that more and more people wil l be enlightened to the plight of not only farm animals, but those raised for milk, eggs, wool, entertainment, fur, animal testing, ETC, and not just domesticated animals, but also those in the wild. Fortunately today, there is SO much we can read and countless videos online that we can truly educate ourselves if we choose to.

You will find a list of hidden animal products on my website and also recipes for natural cleaning products, and natural scents (many cleaning products and perfumes/cologne contain animal products) along with some of my favorite vegan recipes.

I would love to hear from you! Please Click Here to send your comments, suggestions, criticizisms, questions, recipes, restaurant recommendations, or just a "hello".

Thanks so much and I hope to hear from you!

I would like to add that I have been married for almost 2 years to my husband Tom, who although he is not vegetarian or vegan, encouraged me to do this website. He is very supportive of my endeavours and that means so much to me. He loves to cook and is always trying out new recipes on me , some of which I will include on my recipes page in the future.

Susan

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