Spiritual Eating
October 15, 2007 by zmama75
Thanks to Bliss Chick I had the pleasure to read this post over at Goddess In A Teapot. Lots of Food for Thought to chew on.
It has also made me want to find a book on spiritual eating, if that makes sense. How to make food more than just something to obsess over and, also, more than just fuel for my body.
Something to celebrate with the Lord and Lady.
Not sure if I have mentioned on this blog that I am a very laid-back, eclectic (neo)pagan. A little too laid-back, I feel. I need to get the goddess back in to my daily life. It all seems too fleeting, too random. I am making a point to go for a walk with Z in our park first thing in the morning. By making a point I mean today was the very first day. 
But it was nice - we crawled out of bed, got in to warmer clothes, and she got to enjoy a snack of raisins, plantain chips, and cashews as I pushed her along in her stroller. I am hoping this time will get me some much needed exercise but also will be a time I can commune with the trees, the fresh air, etc… I have read a bit about walking meditations but I don’t know if I would be able to manage that while also interacting with Z. Maybe a moderate version of that. Conscious walking?
In the spirit of regaining some of my footing on my spiritual path, I was wondering if there are any books/blogs/websites/whatnot about eating spiritually? I am thinking that if I get my head wrapped up a little more in the trees, sky, wind, and fire I would spend less time thinking about how fat I look.
Ooh, that is so cool. I never heard of spiritual eating. Um…google? Please let us know what kind of spiritual eating you get into. Fascinating topic.
I’ve been spending lots of time walking among the trees the past few days helping my son with a school science project, so your post was really timely. I do think that replacing our focus on eating with other things can be helpful. Though, I also always try to remember that the ideal body image we carry around with us is created by society — in other times and places a little roundness is or was considered healthy and attractive.
In any case, you asked about “conscious walking” and it reminded me of a Navajo Prayer I love. Something to think about as you walk —
Beauty before me I walk
Beauty behind me I walk
Beauty above me I walk
Beauty below me I walk
Beauty all around me
I walk In beauty all is made whole
In beauty all is restored
Here are some books that might fit in a spiritual eating category:
The Yoga of Eating — I love this book! It’s not about yoga.
http://www.amazon.ca/Yoga-Eating-Transcending-Nourish-Natural/dp/0967089727/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/702-6693485-9598416?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1192536606&sr=8-1
Eating in the Light of the Moon: How Women Can Let Go of Compulsive Eating Through Metaphor and Storytelling
(I have not read this, but it sounds like it might be good)
Body Sacred by Dianne Sylvan (have not read this yet either, but it is pagan oriented)
I’ve been meaning to ask, is your wordpress avatar photo your avatar in SecondLife.com? That is if you even know what that is! It looks like an avatar that would be in there.
I don’t know if you already got this comment, but it didn’t seem to post, so here it is again.
Books that may be what you are looking for:
The Yoga of Eating — not about yoga, but about transcending diet dogma. The author is a pantheist, so that comes across quite a bit. I love this book.
(have not read) Eating in the Light of the Moon: How Women Can Let Go of Compulsive Eating Through Metaphor and Storytelling
by Anita A. Johnston
(have not read) Body Sacred by Dianne Sylvan (a pagan author)
Hello,
First time reader here, enjoying checking out the blog of a laid-back eclectic (neo)pagan.
I recently ran across this article “A Spiritual Way of Eating” that you might find interesting, I did anyway
http://www.selfgrowth.com/articles/Holmes6.html
Just a quick comment as my son is screaming from the crib, but as I found your blog, and tried to read as much as possible. I completely get the intuitive eating thing and am actually trying to stop the insanity of dieting myself! I look forward to reading more (after the crying stops!!)
Thanks for the comments, everyone! I really appreciate them.
Bliss Chick - I own Eating in the Light of the Moon. I totally forgot!! I read most of it back in my OA days and remember liking it. I definitely am going to hunt it down and reread. I feel I am in an even better place now, than I was back then. Putting those other books on my list as well.
Beautiful prayer, Carolyn. Going to copy that on my Treo so I have it on my walks. I bet it won’t take me too long to memorize.
Ladyaeris, thanks for the article link. That’s right along my thinking - someday being able to enjoy whole foods while connecting to the goddess. Due to my disordered eating, it would definitely take some time to rid myself of the “shoulds”, but I hope to.
Thanks for the comments again, everyone.