November
and December are the months for food. Not just a little, but lots and
lots of all types of food. These are the months when we make things we
don’t make the rest of the year, when we experiment with new recipes,
try new foods, buy more than we think we should and spend a lot of time
at the grocery store.
No
matter what your spiritual belief is, Jewish, Christian, Moslem, Hindu,
in these months in the Western world, food is among the many things at
the forefront of your thoughts.
Frankly,
food is one of the most basic, elementary and precious gifts one person
gives to another and this is absolutely a universal gift. All occasions
are marked with food. In certain cultures only certain
foods can be eaten at certain occasions. Some cultures fast - a denial
of food - and then when they can eat again, it is not just a little
food, it is a feast.
Food
at the most basic level represents wealth and prosperity. In Feng Shui,
one of the most important cures involves doubling the illusion of your
cooking burners on your stove from the standard four to eight, using
mirrors. The more burners, the more food can be prepared and shared.
One
of the ways that specifically Hanukah and Christmas, Easter and
birthdays are celebrated is food. The use of special foods, foods that
symbolize culture, tradition and family heritage are prized, cherished.
Recipes are handed down, from one generation to the other, each cook
placing his or her own variation on that theme. Thanksgiving is only
about food and the gratitude of actually having food.
So perhaps it is important to take just a brief moment and ponder how precious food is to us all. Food
is not just for nourishment- providing the fuel to enable all the cells
of the body to fire, to enable our heart to pump and our legs to move
and our mind to function, food is essential to our emotional well being. That
is why some foods - like macaroni and cheese, cheesecake and brownies -
are just comfort food. They may or may not be good for us; it doesn’t
really matter, at some level, they provide emotional nourishment beyond
the physical.
So
during the months of November and December as we plan our meals, ponder
our recipes, watch the cooking channel and imagine all those amazing
foods coming out of our own kitchens, maybe the real lesson of food is
the service of giving.
When
you cook, you give something of yourself - not just when you shred your
fingers grating cheese, but when you think about the process of say,
Christmas dinner - as an example. You think about it. You talk to your
family asking them what they love, or what would they like. You try to
make things that will please everyone. You consider making special
things for each person because it means something. Of course you can buy
food for a person, which is also a wonderful gift to receive as well,
some foods from commercial houses are just wonderful, especially if you
cannot be there with the person.
Back
to your kitchen; so you study your recipes, and plan the meals or party
menu. You shop - mostly repeatedly because some things have to be
purchased at the last minute. When you can, you bake ahead
you plan, and plan. When you are actually doing the cooking, you are
focused on producing the most delicious food possible. That positive
focus is positive energy and you give the food you are preparing
positive energy. Remember: if you are angry don’t cook. People will taste it on a subtle level.
Perhaps
you put on happy music as you cook, perhaps a friend or family member
is helping you to cook and you are chatting and stirring and tasting.
Your kitchen is warm, busy, really messy, and it smells great! This is
love in action. Often what you cook, you give away as a gift, perhaps a
cake, pie, cookies, soup for an ill neighbor. Cooking is
the action of using your energy to create energy for another person out
of the materials you have. You can’t just eat flour or spices, but
combine them in a million combinations and you have a miracle!
So
perhaps long ago, in the middle East another place famous for fantastic
food, people also brought food to that manger to help that young couple
with a new baby. Perhaps every time we share our food, we bring peace
to our homes.
Let
there be peace on Earth and let it begin in the kitchen, let it migrate
to the dining room table and let happy hearts and friendly smiles warm
your home. So over the next several days as you cook yourself silly,
smile - you are love in action and that action is truly the gift of
service.
Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukah, Happy Holidays,
Love, Tina
Photography by Tina Erwin
