It’s a title chapter in The Yoga of Eating. I’m digging this book so much that I’ve had to skip to the back just to see if Eisenstein stays consistent. Whew, a relief.  It looks like he does when it comes to being, for one thing, compassionate in one’s approach to health. I’m so used to reading a text then slowly but surely, towards the end, the author wants me to ‘evolve’ by doing whatever s/he thinks that means. Frankly, I think we’re already “there” because we’re here! :-)
I’m weary of the battering around this topic of  ’health.’  It’s not healthy the way its being done. I listen to women saying, “Oh, that was so good. I shouldn’t have eaten the whole thing.”  Huh?   If I didn’t have such a dark sense of humor, it would be sad, but instead its oxymoronically funny.  I am now focused on the positive with an intention to gently, compassionately raise consciousness about what we say to ourselves around our health: mental, physical and spiritual.Â
I had a burst of energy in the kitchen while making tea tonight. My life is unfolding before me. What I could not do for myself, the Universe did for me to pave the way. I don’t even know ‘what’s next?’ but I’m excited about it anyway.
Krishnamurti , an Indian philosopher, believed that authentic change requires not willpower and forcing but surrender, acceptance, trust and courage. Change requires the willingness and courage to let it happen!! ” [Source: The Yoga of Eating] Rockin’ cool! Courage is one of my favorite attributes.
When I think of the body, I think of its fabulous, well-designed and functioning immune system, lymphatic system and what a self-healing organism it is if given half a chance.  [Maybe next time I'll see past this compartmentalization]. Eisenstein says and we know this by heart…..’We wonder doubtfully, “If I let my body have its way, will it lead me astray?” We know the media’s message and the allopathic world view towards us: neither are healing, useful or the truth. We’re on our way!
I had the experience of deep relaxation while looking at the Yurts on the home page here. I sensed they were made with care and affection. The environmental settings were lovely as well. I knew I could live in one instantly and in one fell swoop, ‘retiring’ earlier became possible. We don’t need another house: a yurt will do. That means we need a piece of land that’s safe for the felines and what ever else wanders by and wants to stay. This is do-able. Now to sell my husband. :-) He used to be a long-haired, hippie-type and all that went with that in the 60’s. No longer…but all the good things about that era are within him. Its not going to be a hard sell.   *chuckle*…I’m giddy with excitement.
My next learning adventure is going to be energy medicine. How the work manifests in the world, I don’t know yet, but I’ll find out eventually.  I have a desire to help others help themselves.Â
 I don’t know how long its taken you to feel better on this path of “nourishing traditions” but I’d love to hear about that next. It’s been almost a year for me and the fog is lifting. I don’t even like to eat out anymore! No taste, no depth of energy.  And, I no longer divide my food into carbs, fats and protein: its called “real food!”Â
Tomorrow, I’m *surrendering* [not forcing myself to quit] to the epiphany that I don’t need a daily dose of coffee.  It’s expensive, addictive and I can do without the twitches! One of my teachers said today when I mentioned it, “Oh, okay, and enjoy it socially once in awhile if you want to.” :-)
Well, off to practice heat differentiations with my palm.
Remember to tell me how how long it took you to feel better.   Better still, start your blog & let us all know.  :-)
As always…..delightful chatting with you.
About the Author...
It has taken me years to unlearn much of what I learned about psychology and health. Suffice it to say, I believe in home schooling, the work of Price, Fallon, Enig and Cowan and one's right to be happy in one's life. My husband and I live in Sunnyvale, CA with seven fabulous cats. They teach us to take a nap when the urge strikes, to eat heartily when hungry and to stretch into the new day. La Vida es Bueno!
Apr 8th, 2007 at 12:29 pm
Keep us posted on how you go with giving up the coffee Karen. Coffee is a tough one cause it does smell and taste so bloody good. I gave it up completely last April and it helped a lot, though I did replace it with drinking more Black Tea. Today is day 2 for me of no caffiene and I must so saylast nights sleep was much deeper. I do feel a little tired and less sharp though. Hope that part dimishes.
We have actually bought one of the Mongolian yurts advertised on these pages, it will arrive in July. We intend on living in it as it is a huge 7 metres in diameter (roughly 36 sqare metres). They are incredibly beautiful, I can confirm that. And interestingly they are great to sleep in - I am not sure why that would be though. We were fortunate enough to have a lend of one for a month around Xmas and I had the best months sleep I can remember.
Apr 10th, 2007 at 3:30 am
You’re right about the coffee. Sally Fallon made an off-hand comment to me at a conference in Vancouver about it being ’spiked’ w/ extra caffeine. Of course, my first reaction was “can’t be.” But, then I am reminded of the cigs being spiked w/ extra nicotine about 13 years back. I have to say, now I agree that there is a possibility.
Oh! My!! I do hope you’ll post a few pictures once you get your yurt up. How exciting is this adventure!! I’m excited for you. I have to figure out 7meters….we are on the ‘old’ system. :-) They LOOK beautiful.
Do fill us in when you can. I could move into one tomorrow!!
Apr 10th, 2007 at 12:55 pm
I think for me I started feeling better so slowly that I didn’t really notice a difference. I did however notice when I would travel and fall back into old eating habits, I would feel terrible. I don’t know how I did it before. I did notice after a couple months that my eyes were clearer. I was looking at myself in the mirror and I noticed my eyes looked brighter and clearer. I mentioned it to my husband and he said that he could see a difference once I pointed it out.
As far as getting over addictions I cut out white sugar and diet soda one day and man it was tough. On the third day I woke up and felt like I did when I was in labor. I had cramps in my legs and just felt terrible all day. I woke up the next day feeling great. I haven’t had a soda since but I have had some sugar. I used to eat candy all the time but I haven’t fallen back into my old habits. I do enjoy dark chocolate once in awhile but if I’m cooking at home I only use natural sweeteners. It’s hard but you can do it!!!!
Apr 11th, 2007 at 9:08 am
Wow, Lori. Cool..your eyes cleared. I want that.
Gave up white sugar and felt like you were going into labor?? What does that tell me? I don’t think you could explain it any clearer. Impressive. Thanks…I’m going to remember this and when the going gets tough, I’m going to remind myself that I’m NOT the only one to have to go through withdrawal.
On another note, I recently gave a lecture and had a police officer in my class talking about Methamphetamine: its epidemic here in California and I had to bring in help to discuss it as its power as a nervous system stimulant was way beyond my imagination and ability to describe. There was benzadrine and dexidrine when I was growing up. They were being given out as diet pills in the 60’s. Just like the tranqs [Valium, Librium] for depression. No one seemed to *know* at the time the addictive qualities of speed or tranquilizers. [*chuckle* Freud knew though, having experimented w/cocaine for four years!] Frankly, I don’t know for certain if the pharma industry knew: I have my suspicions though. How could they not in the 60’s?
My point: caffeine does not “up my pleasure”  like meth would do to the brain.  Meth lasts 2-12 hours and is substantially more powerful than cocaine. I’ve heard 20 times more powerful, but I need to check that figure out. Â
In my research, I came across the answer to a question I had in my mind: Does caffeine release dopamine ? [Dopamine affects brain processes that control movement, emotional response, and ability to experience pleasure and pain. Meth releases dopamine].    Caffeine does release dopamine on miniscule level, comparably. Caffeine — like any stimulant — changes the way your brain works.   Here is only one study. http://www.jneurosci.org/cgi/reprint/22/15/6321
But caffeine is just a mild example of a stimulant. Still, I find it fasinating that its under the same umbrella with cocaine.
I’m getting carried away…per usual. *chuckle*
Off to the our garden to plant some herbs.
Thanks for being here. Dig it.