Foods for Spiritual Development

[explorer]

Does what you eat affect on your spiritual development? Oddly enough it doesn't seem to affect athletes and performance. This topic is quite active and you get all sort of views come up. I think that diet can interfere with our pineal gland or minds eye, I'm sure this is why at times mediums will struggle to tap in, or could it just be stress or pressure? I know a few spiritualists who aren't exactly healthy, you know with the smoking and boozing and junk food and they mention there's no such thing as spiritual food and that its all in the mind. It's a very interesting topic which seems as if we are not really 100 percent sure about.

[Kassandra]

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I'm not sure where I stand on this, philosophically. On the hand there is that mind over matter perspective, which seems to imply to me that one's performance, with anything, is really just an outgrowth of where one's head's at, one's attitude and approach, and not so much influenced by the physical environment. Yes, I've seen some people with strong spiritual abilities treat their bodies like sh__, drinking, smoking, overworking themselves, etc. But, it doesn't seem to bother them.

I personally can't function well like that. It not only affects my physical well-being, but I think it also creates undue tension and lack of focus on a spiritual level for me, too. I lean toward a kind of yogic belief that the prana (energy, life force) of a person's body is directly affected by the prana of the food and beverages he or she eats and drinks, "garbage in, garbage out." Maybe that's similar to what Masaru Emoto was getting at with his scientific experiments with water, how it is affected by our thoughts and words.

I also think it's not very self-loving to treat the body poorly, and I'm convinced that the quality of love (or lack thereof) that one is capable of extending to others, is largely modelled on the quality of love one first extends to oneself. Then again, there's the outlook that counts. Maybe someone who drinks, smokes and eats poorly doesn't view that as unloving to oneself as I do, so they aren't bothered by it as I would be. Yeah, I don't know where I stand with this philosophically, but I just know what works for me. To each his own, I guess.




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[Sakura Blossom]

I think this is an interesting topic as well, though I don't agree that it doesn't affect athletes and their performance. It certain does, but not just athletes. I think it can effect anyone from any walk of life. The food you put into your body is what gives you your energy. If you're pumping it full of unhealthy foods then you're going to be experiencing more fatigue than normal and that might be what interferes with connecting to the spiritual "plane". I know from my own experiences that I get really tired after a large meal of carbs because your body works harder to break those down so maybe the fatigue or the feelings you get after eating is what causes this? Who knows! It's an interesting subject for sure.

[Xiao Rong]

I actually would go beyond just thinking about what is inside of the food when thinking about food for spiritual development. (the reductive idea of food as little more than its biochemical composition, like carbs, calories, and proteins, is called "nutritionism" -- I actually wrote my undergraduate thesis on it). In my kitchen witchcraft, I like to think about the whole context in which we eat our food. It's more than simply chemical reactions -- it's emotional, psychological, and spiritual nourishment as well. How does food connect us to the earth, the people who grew, transported, and cooked our food? How can we use it to facilitate relationships with our bodies, our family and loved ones, our deities? How do we cultivate love and gratitude through cooking and eating? How do we give back to the earth, to the plants and animals, and to the people who all had a hand in feeding us?

[corvidus]

I also think it's not very self-loving to treat the body poorly, and I'm convinced that the quality of love (or lack thereof) that one is capable of extending to others, is largely modelled on the quality of love one first extends to oneself.

Very well said Kassandra!

Explorer,
Something you should look into first is the art of Fasting. When you fast, you eliminate toxins from the body, and you clear the physical channels which energy moves through. Less obstruction in the body means less resistance to flow and the potential for a greater flow of energy through the body.

Fasting is a science in itself though, especially if you intend to fast for more than 3 days. It's dangerous to fast for extended periods of time if you don't know what you're doing, because you wont get proper nutrition. You'll end up weak and in the hospital instead of in your favorite asana meditating, or the yoga studio.

[AdastraJunction]

I also think it's not very self-loving to treat the body poorly, and I'm convinced that the quality of love (or lack thereof) that one is capable of extending to others, is largely modelled on the quality of love one first extends to oneself.

Very well said Kassandra!

Explorer,
Something you should look into first is the art of Fasting. When you fast, you eliminate toxins from the body, and you clear the physical channels which energy moves through. Less obstruction in the body means less resistance to flow and the potential for a greater flow of energy through the body.

Fasting is a science in itself though, especially if you intend to fast for more than 3 days. It's dangerous to fast for extended periods of time if you don't know what you're doing, because you wont get proper nutrition. You'll end up weak and in the hospital instead of in your favorite asana meditating, or the yoga studio.

Fasting can be dangerous to your health and should not be done or considered without a professional physicians advice. Please remember there are members with eating disorders.

I understand there have been recent medical journals written on this subject but just like any dieting routine it should be discussed with a professional.

[Naudia Threng]

I also think it's not very self-loving to treat the body poorly, and I'm convinced that the quality of love (or lack thereof) that one is capable of extending to others, is largely modelled on the quality of love one first extends to oneself.

Very well said Kassandra!

Explorer,
Something you should look into first is the art of Fasting. When you fast, you eliminate toxins from the body, and you clear the physical channels which energy moves through. Less obstruction in the body means less resistance to flow and the potential for a greater flow of energy through the body.

Fasting is a science in itself though, especially if you intend to fast for more than 3 days. It's dangerous to fast for extended periods of time if you don't know what you're doing, because you wont get proper nutrition. You'll end up weak and in the hospital instead of in your favorite asana meditating, or the yoga studio.

Fasting can be dangerous to your health and should not be done or considered without a professional physicians advice. Please remember there are members with eating disorders.

I understand there have been recent medical journals written on this subject but just like any dieting routine it should be discussed with a professional.

I don't agree with fasting. As shaman, I'm in fact supposed to fast a bit before entering the otherworlds. But I never understood that. Because if you eat in the otherworld, you can't leave. So, why would I want to be hungry? My point is made. However, I understand that some religions do indeed fast. While I do not at all agree with starving yourself (for any period of time, I've been in that place as have others on this forum and it's unhealthy), I will accept that it can have religious credence. So I basically agree with Adastra.

[Kassandra]

I also think it's not very self-loving to treat the body poorly, and I'm convinced that the quality of love (or lack thereof) that one is capable of extending to others, is largely modelled on the quality of love one first extends to oneself.

Very well said Kassandra!

Thanks, mate.





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[Naudia Threng]

Oh! Herbs! I know that many herbs are have magickal properties. You can use them in like everything! Herb paste, butter, salt, sugar, pesto, salsa, etc. I could share some recipes if you like!

[SnowCat]

Fasting can be a valid tool for some people. It has high disaster potential for anyone with an eating disorder, and could be fatal to people with certain physical disorders like diabetes or cardiac arrhythmia. That's why religions that include fasting make exceptions where medically necessary.

Snow

[explorer]

I'm glad you find it interesting, I sure do. You see I feel when we reincarnate I like to think you have meetings before entering the earthly body. It's like it's a forgotten memory hard to find, but you can sense something there. I think 'old souls' will be vegan with ease compared to younger souls.