On Sharing Fortitude

Tags

cultures, festivals, food, fortitude, resilience, sharing, spirituality, spring

No matter when we deem that spring has finally arrived for us, her message of resilience and fortitude is unmistakable in its definitiveness. The greening of the trees, the search for a temporary home by geese and mallard ducks, the industry of cardinals in building new nests… if one were to have been traveling when spring arrived back home, we would return to something akin to ‘magic’.

Perhaps the real ‘magic’ is in our being aware of, being attuned to the sharing of the message of fortitude by these messengers. They are like ‘radio stations’ transmitting their messages, while we may be tuned into our own (inner and outer) world (of noise). It may take great focus and attention on our part to try and decipher the ‘tricks’ and ‘sleight of hand’ of human magicians, but nature is fairly transparent by comparison.

One example of fortitude shared by nature is through the symbiotic relationships of many plants and animals. Where one is ‘weak’, it yields to the ‘strength’ of their symbiotic partner. Birds feasting on the ticks residing on the skin of cows is one example. The cows’ fortitude is increased by their willingness to partner with birds – the win-win of symbiosis.

Friday evening, thirty minutes before sunset, sipping my tea on the porch, I was reflecting on the fortitude of spring. She had shared much with me in a week where I was able to return to the forest and take two long walks. I was wondering about dinner, when I saw my neighbor from across the street walking my way with what looked like a small container of… could it be food?! Yes! Freshly made potato-filled balls deep fried in chick-pea flour. Aloo bonda. I offered him a chair and some tea in gratitude, but he said — I’m sorry, but I am fasting till sundown.

What followed was a fifteen minute conversation about fasting, building resilience in heart, body and mind, and much more. He had come to share Ramadan greetings through a sharing of good food! What I received was a deep appreciation for the sharing of his fortitude with me. As he was leaving, he said – there is much more food at my home – come on over.

Not today, I said. I will join you for a breaking of the fast on the evening when I observe a day of fasting with you… we will share some fortitude, and break fast together.

Kumud

Join us for #spiritchat on Twitter – Sunday, May 20th at 9amET. Share your #fortitude stories with us. Namaste!

On Spiritual Nutrition

Tags

food, nutrition, purity, spirituality

We often hear the adage that “we are what we eat”. If we believe that there is any truth in this adage, it is perhaps useful to (occasionally) examine “what we eat”. If we can honestly examine our “eating habits”, we can correlate our observations to our moods, our energy levels and our general health. An examination may reveal answers to questions like “who are we”? What are we eating? What nutrition is our ‘food’ providing us? Are our ‘food’ habits sustainable for the health of the individual, for our communities, for planet Earth?

“I cannot remember the books I’ve read any more than the meals I have eaten; even so, they have made me.”
― Ralph Waldo Emerson

The relationship that we have with food is indeed complex. It is influenced by our upbringing and what we were fed as children. The eating habits formed during childhood can be difficult to change in adulthood. It is often a health crisis or the onset of a chronic illness, accompanied by chronic pain, that may pull us towards change. However, food and nutrition are often neglected in the healing cycle in favor of modern medical intervention. We often pay scarce attention to the nutritional profile of our food as a link to illness.

Growing up in India, a large part of my diet – almost 99% of it – was based on fruits, milk, vegetables and plant based products. As a resident of the USA, the balance of my food habits shifted. I often oscillated between ‘pure vegetarian’, ‘no red-meat’, ‘chicken and fish only’ and (currently) back to ‘100% vegetarian’. It has been a long journey, but I can say with reasonable certainty that I feel most at ‘home’ with my current ways of eating. My energy level and overall health, not to mention my emotional and mental well-being seem to be uplifted, ever since I returned home to my ‘eating roots’.

But what does ‘food and nutrition’ have to do with spirituality? It is no secret that if we eat well and feel physically well, it can have a remarkable impact on our spiritual practice. It is very tough to focus, to meditate, when the mind is being attacked by (physical and emotional) pain signals. In addition, the states of health of our immediate family members affect our ability to create time and space for spiritual practice(s). Our state of health affects all those we are connected to. Our personal ability to maintain a good state of health frees up community resources, and we lighten our ‘footprint’ on the planet.

Please indulge me as I ask some ‘nutrition’ questions. What is the state of the quality, the vitality, the purity of our food and nutrition intake? Are we mindful of the impact of our consumption habits on our own selves? How much awareness do we have of the sustainability of our (re)sources? What aspect(s) of our ‘nutrition’ could we change to make ourselves feel physically, mentally, emotionally (and spiritually) better TODAY?

As is often the case, asking one question leads to many. The ‘easy’ way out is to simply bury that one question. But you didn’t read this far to take the ‘easy way out’, did you? Your well being, the well being of your family, your community, of the planet depends on asking the question – what am I eating?

Ask the question. Keep a ‘log’ of the answers. Change one habit. Observe. Ask the question again. Compare with your previous answers. If you observe a positive change, change another habit. Repeat the observation. Who knows. In the short span of a few months, you could create a “circle of health excellence” around you.

Namaste,

Kumud @AjmaniK

P.S. I want to acknowledge and express gratitude to @VegyPower on twitter, who inspired me to return to the 100% vegetarian habit about two years ago. Thank you. Please follow them, if you aren’t already. If you are in the Chicago area, please visit the upcoming @VeggieFest (August 12th and 13th). And yes, do join the #SpiritChat community on twitter, Sunday August 7th as we ask some questions about Spirituality and Nutrition. Perhaps this topic will become the theme for the month of August. Namaste.

Planet Earth Blooms. Keep it blooming!

Let us walk lightly, gently…

On Food, Freedom and Spirituality

Tags

food, freedom, spiritchat, spirituality, sustainability

Our featured guest on our weekly twitter chat #SpiritChat this week is Anandi Premlall (@AAPremlall). We will discuss Food, Sustainability, and its connection to our ability to live the (spiritual) Life that we wish to live. Join me and Anandi on Sunday, February, 1st at 9amET in #SpiritChat on twitter. Anandi has shared a bit of her story, and her connection to food in the context of growing it, harvesting it, and sharing it! Please read, comment, share, and join us. Thank you! ~ Kumud

Food, Freedom and Spirituality – Anandi A. Premlall

Having been born in the tropical land of many waters known as Guyana, I had an early taste of the agricultural life, surrounded by coconut trees, mango trees, guava trees, banana trees, and the Amazon Rainforest as my backyard. I was then raised in Southeast Queens, and have lived here for most of my life where I sought ways to add more greenery to my neighborhood, to recreate an incredible edible paradise in a third-world girl turned city-girl turned urban-farmer kind of way.

Being a graduate of Farm School NYC, as well as an advocate of food justice and food equity, I’ve seen first-hand how disconnected we are to our food systems – where in the world our food comes from, how our food is grown, what our food is fertilized with, and what kind of measures are taken to manage soil and control pests. I have no doubt that a loss of our roots and disconnect with nature is a cause of some of the nutritional, environmental and social degradation affecting us today. Access to edible schoolyards, green space, and public gardens to grow local food in a way that respects our entire ecosystem is something that is often missing in our communities. Every time I plant a seed and come back a few days later to watch the tiny bits of green push through the dirt, I am in awe. I love the magic of the seed, soil, Sun, and water – and how they come together to create such tender moments of beauty. And I am grateful to not only play a part, but to take part in this bountiful harvest, and enjoy the fruits and veggies of my labor.

When I think about our food system, I think about the suffering imbibed in each bite we take. That is why I want to plant flowers to protect my sisters from the panty fields. And why I want to grow my own food to prevent my sisters from being slaves. I can see my ancestors in each face of the workers along the food chain. I am confident that when we have the right to grow our own food, to nourish our own bellies, and to make a living from the dirt between our fingernails, with the sun scalding our skin and greenery surrounding our knees, we will own the power to be whoever we want to be. We will then be in control of our bodies, of our lives, of our abundance, and of how our children and communities grow. We can create the world we want with each tiny seedling that cracks through the seed coat and stretches into the warmth of the sun. With each fruit tree we plant, we prevent hunger. Nature gives us all that we need in abundance.

Once we realize that the power to create change in our food system and waste stream is literally in our own hands and right under our feet, we will be unstoppable! Being able to visualize and experience our food cycle with all of our senses is not only wondrous; it also begs the question, why would we do it another way and toss our valuable resources into the landfill when we can heal our soil and grow more vegetables, fruits, herbs and healthy ecosystems?

– Anandi

Anandi A. Premlall immigrated from Guyana at age 5 and as a true Indo-Caribbean, she didn’t hesitate to make a name for herself when her first poem was published at age 8 and her socially-conscious art was showcased in New York City venues including the Queens Museum and the United Nations by age 9. And so, her dream life continuously unfolds with colorful experiences and bold adventures while making a difference around the world.

Anandi is the consummate eco-agricultural citizen of New York City with experience in urban farming, composting, ecological design and environmental education.

Anandi is Sustainable Communities Consultant and Artivist of a grassroots initiative known as Sustainable Queens (SustyQ),which promotes health and community engagement by integrating artistic creativity, holistic wellness practices, and ecological principles of building healing spaces. She envisioned a “Queens High Line” once upon a time and has been an enthusiastic Founding Member of the Friends of The QueensWay Steering Committee ever since. When this Guyanese native is not playing with dirt or crafting shenanigans through tactical urbanism; she devours books and uses social media for good.

Anandi on About.Me

SustyQ on FaceBook

SustyQ Website
and SustyQ on Twitter