Food is our life source. The food we eat impacts in every area of our lives even though sometimes we are not aware of this. It is not just about filling our stomachs and satisfying our appetites. There is a link between the food we eat and how it affects every level of our being. If we are aware of this then food becomes a powerful force in our lives to propel us forward on our journey.
Food and spirituality
Vedic culture looks at food in terms of how it affects our disposition. Food is divided into three sections – Sattva, Rajas and Tamas. These are Sanskrit words that have a depth of meaning. Tamasic food is heavy. It is laden with empty kilojoules such as pasta, pizza and foods that carry an energy of dead matter – like meat. This sits in your gut and creates a heaviness. It has little nutritional value for your body and on a deeper level also ‘weighs’ down your energy field. After a Tamasic meal you will probably feel like sleeping. Processed and artificial foods also fall into this category of course. Rajasic food is spicy. It has the effect of making you ‘racy’ as in speeding you up. Garlic and onions, chili and jalapenos for example would fall into this category. These are therefore not good for meditation because you want to settle the mind at that time. On the other hand, Sattvic food such as whole, natural, organic foods – fruit and vegetables from Mother Earth are good for calmness, peace, digestion and health. The division of food in this way reflects on our physiology, psychology, thoughts, emotions and of course our attunement and interpretation of our spiritual nature.
Learning about Sacred Food
On a recent trip to Byron Bay the universe put the true meaning of food in my face (pardon the pun). It was in an organic restaurant and I had ordered a chicken and haloumi salad. We also ordered organic juices. For those of you that have not been to Byron Bay it is an education in itself. Just the vibe there, if you are sensitive, is something to pick up on and let it filter into your perspective. There is a magic there of serenity, wholesomeness and clean air unlike that in my busy Sydney street.
When the salad came it looked absolutely delicious but there was something different about it. I became aware of how the waiter acted towards us even before the order. There was a calmness and gentleness about him. There was no rush as to ‘what’s your order’ and a helpfulness in explaining the menu we don’t often see in Sydney nowadays. He placed the meals before us as if it was to be a feast. On the first mouthful I knew it was a feast as I had never tasted anything like this. So drinking our ginger, turmeric and apple juice and eating our salad whilst enjoying each other’s company with quiet peaceful music in the background became our personal festival in a crowded restaurant.
=Q=Whether it was the restaurant, the guy who served it, the streets of Byron Bay or the fact that the universe had a message to deliver I don’t know.
However this day the message of why food was spiritual was delivered to me loud and clear.
Why food is sacred
Think about it. The food you put in your mouth is there to sustain you (a gift from God Vishnu the Indian tradition tells us). It builds a fire in your stomach for good digestion (Goddess Agni – fire) and then splits itself into the many elements needed to build good healthy cells. If you eat junk food you get junk cells and the simple explanation is that makes you sick.
On an emotional level if you eat Rajasic food you have a racy mind which leads to racing emotions. Not good for creating calmness and peace in your life. A touch of it will give you motivation, too much a mind that flies around too much.
Psychologically you will also be affected by the food you eat as your healthy cells go deeper than just the physical body. They feed your mind. Similarly, if you input unhealthy mental information into your mind your mind becomes cluttered and confused with unhealthy thoughts, negative emotions, worry and the like. This makes for lack of sleep and upset. A cycle begins and it affects your nervous system.
Energetically if you mix with people who give you negative input or feedback you become affected by this. You will absorb this and it will either depress you or you may decide subconsciously to join your negative friends and become like them with your life.
=Q2=So food is not just what we eat. It is about what we feel, what we think. What are we feeding ourselves spiritually and how are we using our energy to either serve us or drain us? This in turn means that the people who cook for you who feed you your food, who grow your food, their energy, their vibes, their knowledge, thinking, emotions and care for the quality of the food all goes into your dish.
Food and your connection
We are all interconnected and rely on each other to co-exist on this planet. Whether it be relying on your fruit and vegetables to be at the shops, the petrol to be at the bowser, your mobile to work or the food on your restaurant plate to be good, we need to be aware of our interconnection. In this way food takes on a new meaning on all levels – energetically, spiritually, mentally, emotionally and physically. So if you are not feeling well begin to look at more than just your physical body. What is not working for you on these other levels? It can be difficult to work this out so seek out a practitioner that can help you whether it be a counselor, psychologist, energy worker, nutritionist or spiritual adviser. Whatever input they give you will be ‘food’ for your future perspective and help you on your future journey.
