Food & Our Spiritual Essence

Over these past few years I have given a lot of thought to our Spiritual Connection with food – what went wrong and how to get back to that special place inside of our bodies where eating, drinking, growing, foraging, fasting and anything related to nourishing ourselves - once again becomes a part of our spiritual essence.

One main thing I have discovered is how much my own spirit has been pushed down – pulled apart and broken off over the years, to reach a place where food was just there for ‘eating’ (pushing something down, aside, keeping things in place) and had little other meaning attached to it. 

It has shook me to the core to be able to think of food in a positive way especially in terms of celebration, ceremony and ritual – all coming from a spiritual place. However, working at dropping these old beliefs and building up something new has also taken me on a different journey inwards….

To the soul.

Whenever you think of the word ‘food’ – what is the first thing that comes to mind? Do you draw a blank or do you immediately feel a sinking, deep heaviness of ‘bad’ buried in your gut?

I’ve asked this question of so many people and have had very interesting responses – unfortunately far too often of the ‘bad’ nature. Or at least when describing thoughts around eating, many of us use mixed words & emotions bordering on disordered.

How we got here is another story, however, what we can do about it is all positive! One thing is certain, we are on the upswing moving away from critical thinking around eating & enjoying good food. Especially where rituals and ceremony are concerned. 

I think it is about time we started to discover joy in our lives and food, especially when involved in  celebration - food is a fundamental part of that essence. Perhaps eating, food and nourishing ourselves, is the door and 'the way' in.....

April

Shadows on the wall - Union Hall, West Cork

Fasting & Healing A Tooth - The Root of All Evil

Today is day 4 of my latest fast, another week in this journey towards bringing life back into my gut, body, mind and soul. This time around it has gotten even more interesting – to say the least! My body is balancing it's flora and living organisms - exactly what I hoped would take place.

The details.

This fast started out like any other, all the usual detox symptoms – except on day 2 I got a migraine that was so bad I had to lay low for the entire day. Nothing I did or took or thought or anything, relieved the pain - until I did one thing.

I made the connection to my mouth, teeth, gums.

And this is where things get interesting. I have had a long history of good, strong teeth – thankfully. However, years ago I had a dentist who insisted on putting fillings where they weren’t needed - often starting with a drill - he would find a cavity where there was none.

For that matter I question if they are ever needed at all – over the years I have done my research and discovered so many instances of teeth being able to heal on their own, once we change the pH of our mouths.

However, what happened with me this week is that an old swelling around my tooth I used to have years ago flared up again. More proof of underlying old inflammation that is being rooted out each time I fast.

So, my body pulled out more of this stuff and once I realized I needed to treat my mouth (tooth) – my headache went away in 5 minutes! All I did was make a poultice with Fullers Earth, clove oil and a few other healing ingredients – pack this in place and let it work.

Needless to say my body’s ability to heal itself never ceases to amaze me.

Now, getting back to the fasting – well, actually my mouth and it’s flora have become the central focus of this fast – so I am doing warm salty water daily, still using a poultice on the tooth and all the usual herbal teas, fermented drinks, apple cider vinegars.

I am feeling pretty good so far – of course with all this sunshine it can’t be helped!

One thing I am seriously considering trying is some green juicing with a pile of green leaves, sprouts and herbs – just to see if my immune system boosts even more (if that is possible and I am certain it is).

We have one twist with this fast this week – it will end on Friday in time for our Summer Solstice celebration – where I will cook, bake, eat and enjoy the delights of the season.

So looking forward to this weekend – stop by and see me in the markets!

April

A little fairie girl in the field....

There is a method here...

For those of you who have my book(s) on diet, exercise and life etc, and for those who are currently reading and following The Pagan Diet, just a little bit more on the importance of following a healthy diet.

When you start to make changes to your diet, your body shifts into higher gear, I call it 'detox mode' as well. I realize that there are many people out there who follow intermittent fasting in some form or other - taking time out to just drink and take a break from all that digesting of food.

What is different with my methods is that it comes down to one basic thing - if you put rubbish in, you will get rubbish out. You simply cannot expect to clean your body while your beverage of choice is full of caffeine, or your snack on your food day is full of sugar or processed something or other.

These are NOT foods, they are anti-nutrients, which cost you energy to digest. When you are fasting drink clean water, the Master Cleanse juice, herbal tea etc. Otherwise you are bathing your delicate internal tissues with chemical laden goup. 

The days that you are eating you are boosting your immune system, replenishing your reserves, repairing body systems and adjusting your metabolism in positive ways. Once again this is not the time to fill up on junk, rubbish or anything else that is not really food.

Even on your planned feast and celebration days - there is no excuse to start abusing your body and consuming unhealthy junk foods. I enjoy my meals thoroughly and am not deprived of anything - cookies, cakes, sweets and treats of all sorts. They are just made with natural, healthy ingredients and taste great! 

Once you start incorporating fasting into your lifestyle, your tastes will change and you will crave healthier foods, until then - use some discipline and pass on the sugar.

Have a lovely day,

April

And A Celebration Day today!

Today my son is 12 years old and I am no different from any other parents out there - thinking back to the day he was born and wondering where the time has gone. He seems so grown up in some ways - yet still a boy in others. I just hope that he doesn't grow up too fast, too soon - and that is one of the reasons why I home school my children.

A home is a place where we should be safe, be accepted for who and what we are, yet expected to be a part of a family with a role to play, chores and work to do as well as contribute in other meaningful ways. It is also the one place where you can expect to learn all that you need to know in preparation for the world out there. And that is why I home school my children. 

On our birthdays here we get to choose the menu and eat whatever foods that we want to have - today I have been making macaroon and nut butter cookies, goat's cheese cake, whole grain spelt spaghetti and lamb meatballs for lunch, and then a roasted duck dinner for later tonight! (I will be exhausted LOL)

For me though I have long felt that there are a few significant years in a childs' life and developmental milestones that are reached recorded in those years. Age 12 is no exception - this is the year when the immune system reaches a stage of maturity making the child ready to go out in the world a little more. When fed properly and living in a healthy environment our immune functions in top form. However, when filled with drugs, vaccines and rubbish foods - sadly this is not the case.

This is a big day for him (and me!) and the start of a big year - the first of many, each one better than the last. 

Now, after all of these feasting and celebration days, I will be good and ready for another Master Cleanse. It all evens out, though and I am so glad that I have the fasting to look forward to. Now, I always enjoy my food without giving one thought to putting on weight or that I am eating too much. I love my food and it loves me back.

In a couple of days I will be back to day on/day off fasting and back on track again - what could be simpler? 

Have a lovely day,

April

The birthday boy on Soldier's Lookout Lough Hyne, West Cork after climbing the hill