When I was spending time with one of my mentors (Willie -a Haudenasaunee medicine man), the subject of gathering herbs came up.
He told me “You shouldn’t gather if you’re in a bad mood or have other things on your mind. You must be unshakeably present and say Grace over the plants, praying in the language. They are living beings and will understand what you desire and will be willing to help you. The Creator made us for each other. Take what you need, but only what you need, and be always, always be grateful.”
When I can remember to, I try to apply this to everything I bring into my body, from food, water, air, sunlight, herbs. If possible, I make mealtime distraction free, a communion. I deeply witness the sensation of each bite or sip. I feel the light coming into my body and I thank the food at all points along its journey, even back through its DNA, knowing that we are one consciousness. We unify our experiences.
Masaru Emoto has shown the effect of emotion on water, Cleve Baxter and others have demonstrated the same for plants. Other researchers also are looking deeper into how we connect energetically with our environs. Wherever we turn, we find ourselves in the circle of life.
We all know by now the value of eating natural, living foods. What about our emotional diet? Do we dine mentally in harmony with Creation? Even if we follow the purest diet we know of, but have a hate on for those who do not, are we tainting our own health? Are we straying from the Whole Love?
If love is wellness, surely forgiveness is strong medicine and gratitude is the path.
I invite you to play with this and see the results in your mental, physical and spiritual states.
Yours, with a-Tom-ic Love, xo