When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. 1 Corinthians 13:11
There are many things I have “put away” as I have grown. I no longer feel guilty when I masturbate, or sleep in on Sunday. I no longer cower before an angry patriarchal deity in anticipation of hell fire for each flaw. Now I embrace my animal self. My mother and father are the earth and sky.
However, there are some truths that have remained sacred to me– compassion, reverence, spiritual awareness– to name a few. And occasionally a “new” revelation will bring me back to a discarded bit of wisdom.
My path is eclectic, and a while ago I started watching a spiritual guru on YouTube. (I am not going to post his name, because I do not endorse everything he believes.) In this particular video he spoke about various metaphysical and pragmatic ways that food can be rendered “lifeless”. (It is so frustrating to eat, and then feel empty 25 minutes later.)
He suggested that this occurs because the food has failed to deliver any nutrition (life-force) to your body. An obvious cause of this phenomenon is eating over processed, canned, convenience and/or junk foods that are that are simply void of nutritional value. But there can be other, subtle influences.
When a person prepares food– whether intentionally or unintentionally– they impart their energy into the dish.
I remember meals from my childhood– prepared in strife, slammed down on the table. No matter how much butter I put on it, it tasted like fear.
I also remember meals eaten at my grandmother’s table. Food with such benevolent power it could melt an Irish war tribe into a cheerful, loving brood. At least for 30 minutes.
It made me think, what kind of energy is the economically enslaved factory worker bestowing on that canned or frozen concoction I buy at the local market? Or the taciturn adolescent bringing to my fast food meal?
The guru suggested that whenever possible food should be prepared either by oneself (mindfully bestowing nutrition and blessing into the food while you cook), or by a loved one who will bring positive energy into your meal. In lieu of that, he suggested blessing the food, in order to cleanse it of negative energy.
I thought it was horribly fascinating, and then promptly forgot all about it.
Then I began working with Ana Purna, the Hindu goddess of food. In an effort to eat from a place of awareness and gratitude, I began to consecrate my meal time to Ana Purna, rather than eating zoned out in front of the television.
It has had a remarkable effect. I am satiated on less food, for a longer periods of time. I simply don’t get hungry as often.
Although the divine manifestation that I connected with was Ana Purna, the principle was one from my youth– giving thanks and asking for blessing before each meal.
Suddenly I have a new appreciation for the practice of “saying grace.”
Grace. Why eat without it?
