Sattvic Food

 

When people first learn about Ayurveda they are drawn in by the feeling of peace that surrounds everything about this ancient science. This peace is far different from the way much of the world operates these days, one that fluctuates between extremes of too-much-to-do-too-little-time and “vegging out” in front of the television with a dinner of microwaved leftovers.

Sattva in your life

Ayurveda was originally grounded in the idea that we can experience freedom from suffering by coming into harmony with the four pillars of health, which include:

Ahar: Eating foods that nourish our bodies and minds

Vihar: Living in alignment with nature's rhythms

Nidra: Appropriate sleep

Brahmacharya: Management of our energy, particularly sexual energy - both in our physical actions and in our minds.

We come into balance in these four areas of life by increasing sattva.  This guide aims to provide information on ahar - eating sattvic foods that connect you with your higher consciousness. Sattvic foods are grown with mindful practices (organic, non-GMO, ideally from your own garden). They digest easily and provide the strength and vitality you are meant to naturally have.

The three gunas

Ayurveda and Yoga are built on the philosophy of the three gunas: sattva, rajas and tamas. These concepts represent the qualities that are present in food, nature and actions, as well as our body and mind.

TAMAS

Tamas is inertia, darkness and dullness. When a seed is resting inert in the darkness of the earth, it is in a state of tamas.  When we sleep, it is tamas.

When tamas is dominant in our lives, there is heaviness, sleeping too much and eating leftovers, meat and deep-fried foods. It leads to lethargy, lack of purpose and depression.

RAJAS

Rajas is activity and movement. When a seedling cracks through the endosperm and pushes through the earth to reach the sun, it is in a state of rajas. 

When rajas is dominant in our lives, it looks like stimulation, stress and overexcitement. Too much rajas imbalances the body and mind, leading to anxiety, disturbed sleep and overindulgence.

SATTVA

Sattva is balanced and harmonious. When a seedling has turned into a beautiful flower, unfurling its petals to soak in the beauty of the sun, it is in a state of sattva.

When sattva is present, it looks like lightness and grounding, peace and serenity in the body and mind. This is our ideal state, one that defines true health.

Sattvic foods

Sattvic foods are balancing and harmonious, and they are plentiful; this is only a partial list to have you think about the qualities and how they make you feel. Sattvic foods can be loosely categorized as most fresh fruits and vegetables, most whole grains, legumes and nuts. How they are eaten, for example cooked versus raw, can make a difference in whether they add sattva or rajas to the mind and body. A vegetable may have all of the possibility of sattva but if it is eaten raw then it may be rajas for the body and mind.  Many fruits are also sattva for the body and mind when cooked lightly with ghee and spices. 

In all cases we are assuming food that is fresh, not genetically modified and without chemicals in the process of growing and delivery.

Fruits - apples, apricots, berries, dates (fresh), dragonfruit, feijjoa, figs, grapefruit, grapes with seeds, longons, lychee, kiwifruit, mangoes, melons, nectarine, oranges, peaches, pears, persimmon, pineapple, plums, pomegranates, prunes, starfruit, tangerines (sweet), raisins

Legumes -  adzuki beans, anasazi beans, black beans, black eyed peas, broad beans, brown lentils, cannellini beans, edamame beans, fava beans, green lentils, lima beans, mung beans, fresh snap peas, split mung beans, split peas

Nuts - almonds, brazil nuts, cashew nuts cooked, chestnuts, coconut, filberts, gingko, hazelnuts, macadamia nuts, pine nuts, walnuts, pecans, pistachio, tahini, tiger nuts

Oils - almond oil, coconut oil, flaxseed oil, ghee, macadamia nut oil, mustard seed oil, sesame oil, olive oil

Other - honey, maple syrup, raw milk, raw sugar cane, watercress,  fresh wasabi, rose petals, lavender flowers, fresh almond milk, fresh rice milk, fresh coconut water

Spices -  anise, basil, black pepper, brown mustard seeds, cardamom, carob, cilantro, cinnamon, cumin, coriander, dill, fennel, ginger, mint, lemon grass, sesame seeds, sorrel, turmeric, vanilla bean

Vegetables - artichokes, asparagus, bamboo shoots, beets, bitter gourd, bok choy, broccoli, brussel sprouts, burdock, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, celeriac, celery, corn, courgette (zucchini), cucumbers, daikon, fennel bulb, flowers (edible), green beans, dark leafy greens, jerusalem artichoke, kohlrabi, lotus root, okra, parsnips, snow peas, spinach, summer squash, sweet potatoes, turnips (sweet), yacon, yams

Whole grains - amaranth, barley, rice (high quality, basmati, jasmine…), buckwheat, cornmeal, farro, kamut, millet, oats, quinoa, rye, spelt, teff, wheat, wild rice, fresh pasta, fresh noodles

Is magic real?

 

Yes it—here’s what magic, or “magick,” truly is, why it’s the world’s most misunderstood spiritual path, and how it can radically, profoundly and positively change your life!

Is magic real? That’s a question that I asked myself many years ago, when I was a young man. I wanted to know so bad, that I ended up spending two decades searching for an answer. And amazingly enough, it turns out that yes—magic is real.

So real that I decided to dedicate myself to studying, mastering, and practising it, because I discovered that it was the key to life itself. 

Magic is also a topic that’s easily misunderstood, and that so easily gives the wrong impression—immediately conjuring images of goofballs in black robes hanging out at the local mall’s food court, or silly New Age nonsense.

Is magic real? Yes, but it has nothing to do with any of these things. It’s sacred, deep, and truly profound.

Magic—or, as it is properly called, Magick, the art and science of causing a change in conformity with will—is, in my opinion, one of the great gems of Western culture.

It’s the tradition that some of the great geniuses of Western history—including the originators of science—were involved in: Francis Bacon, Daniel Dafoe, William Butler Yeats, Dr. John Dee, Giordiano Bruno, Pythagoras and many, many others, whether remembered by history or not.

So is magic real? It’s certainly been real enough to shape history, and be a subject of fascination for some of the greatest people in history. “Magick” is the long-running sacred tradition of the West, in the same way that esoteric yoga or Tibetan Buddhism are sacred traditions in the East.

Practically speaking, it’s the path of enacting your spiritual growth ritually, in the day-to-day world, because that’s what tends to be healthy for people in Western cultures.

Dropping out of life and sitting up on a mountain top meditating for the rest of your life is, by-and-large, an Eastern path. It’s an outgrowth of Asian culture and a path that can work remarkably well in the cultural context of Hinduism or Buddhism.

But people living in America, the UK, Europe or other “Western” locales by and large do not live in a culture that supports that. (Just try it!) We live in a culture that forces action in the world, where the path to independence, self-reliance and happiness tends to rely on rolling up your sleeves and getting stuff done in the real world.

While the Western tradition incorporates a lot of meditation, it isn’t a path that allows escape from reality. It’s the path of directly confronting reality, the circumstances of your life, and using those circumstances as the raw material for your spiritual growth.

Consider the legend of alchemy, in which the practitioner is spoken of as having the “magic” power of transmuting lead into gold—or even, in some versions, turning shit into gold.

This is what it’s about—taking lead, which represents mundane, boring existence, and turning it into gold. Taking the shit that you’re given, and turning it into gold. Taking the raw matter of existence and making something incredible out of it.

Broadly, you live a magical life by:

Disciplining your body, mind and spirit;

Figuring out what you’re here for—your unique purpose for existing (note that this is a continuum, and evolves over time);

Using the discipline developed in Step 1 to accomplish Step 2, understanding that when you Do your True Will, or engage in your reason for existing, life makes a whole lot more sense.

It’s not necessarily easier, but it’s infused with meaning, a major accomplishment in a world where people drift through seas of endless meaninglessness.

Is magic real? Yes it is, if you actually practice it, and have the discipline to make it real!

Awakening Exercise

Free Yourself from Your Mind

Every time you walk up and down the stairs in your house or place of work, pay close attention to every step, every movement...even your breathing. Be totally present.

When you wash your hands, pay attention to all the sensory perceptions associated with the activity: the sound and feel of the water, the movement of your hands, the scent of the soap and so on.

When you get into your car, after you close the door, pause for a few seconds and observe the flow of your breath. Become aware of a silent but powerful sense of presence.

A few times a day, listen quietly for the voice in your head, the stream of continuous self-talk. Then ponder the following questions. Just be with the questions. Don't necessarily try to answer them

• Am I the thoughts that are going through my head
• Or, am I the one who is aware that these thoughts are going through my head? 
• Pay attention to the gap between your thoughts—when one thought subsides and before another arises. In this way, you draw consciousness away from mind activity and create a gap of no-mind in which you are highly alert and aware but not thinking. When these gaps occur, you disidentify from your mind and feel a certain stillness and peace inside you. This is the essence of meditation and the single most vital step on your journey toward enlightenment

LET GO AND FEEL LESS PAIN

Though it may sound simple, Ajahn Chah’s advice speaks volumes:

“If you let go a little, you will have a little peace. If you let go a lot, you will have a lot of peace.”

Ways to Calm an Anxious Spirit

Everyone feels anxious, nervous, or uncomfortably edgy sometimes. Here are a few suggestions of things you can do to help ease emotional upsets. Having a calming spirit can be achieved by noticing the imbalances in your body and mind and bringing them back into balance through changing your thoughts and actions.

1. Quiet Your Breathing

Observe Changes In Your Breathing 

Whenever you are feeling the least bit anxious or nervous try to take notice of any changes in your breathing. Stress can cause hyperventilation (over-breathing). Quiet any rapid paced breaths by replacing them with steady and slow breaths. A daily meditation practice is helpful for maintaining healthy breathing and is also a good preventative measure for repressing anxieties.

Breathing Affirmation

2. Give Your Mind a Time Out

Clear Your Mind from Troubling Thoughts

Any time you are feeling anxious or suffering mentally it is helpful to temporarily clear your mind of all thoughts that are upsetting you. It is simply not healthy to focus on your problems 24/7. Guided visualizations are excellent mental escapes that can help you to switch your focus away from anything that is troubling you. Picture yourself in a special dream sequence where you can relax and recoup your coping skills. Choose an ocean view, desert oasis, or garden path.

Guided Meditation

3. Pamper Yourself

Pamper Your Mind, Body and Spirit 

Remove yourself from the chaos and give yourself some quality alone time. Lock yourself in the bathroom and take that much needed soak in the tub. A bubble bath is your ticket to serenity. Enjoying a rejuvenating soak is just one of several ways you can pamper yourself. Try taking a solitary walk in the park, or curling up on the sofa and reading an entertaining novel.

Me Time

4. Slow Down Your Responses

Get Your Ducks in a Row Before Reacting 

 Everyone has made the mistake of being over-the top reactive at one time or another. We compound our conflicts by responding without getting all the facts first. When it seems that the whole world is out to get you and you feel like lashing out right away... Wait! The situation at hand probably does call for a response of some kind, but please slow down your response. You'll handle a trying situation in a calmer state, and come to a resolution sooner if you take time to fully assess the situation. Get all your ducks in a row before you decide on a response.

5. Create Boundaries

Keep Your Distance from Others 

 You may need to step back and create some distance between yourself and anyone who is making you feel anxious. It is important to pull back from others when you are feeling overwhelmed so that you are able to reserve your energies. Having protective boundaries in place can also give you a different perspective in order to help you more fully understand and better cope with difficult situations.

Are Your Energy Boundaries Blurred?

6. Nurture Your Inner Child

Be a Loving Parent to Your Inner Child

Oftentimes when we, as adults, are experiencing situations that make us feel anxious or powerless our thoughts will turn to memories from our childhoods when we experienced fear or loneliness. When children feel small and helpless they look to their parents or guardian for protection. Take a moment to be a caring and loving parent to your inner child. Let her (or him) know that you will get the two of you through this rough period. Give yourself a hug. Don't feel silly. You know you want to, go ahead, just do it.

Soothing Your Inner Child

7. Hush That Critical Voice

Hush That Critical Voice Inside Your Head 

Sadly, we can be our own worst enemies. Don't berate yourself for not being able to meet your goals or falling short in some way. You're doing the best you can. Just relax. Refuse to listen to that critical voice inside your head that says you're not good enough. Resolve to transform any nagging words into praise for those things that you have accomplished. You're doing just fine. Affirm yourself daily. You are PERFECT!

Cultivate the Postive!

8. Lean on Somebody

It is OK to Ask for Help 

 Trying to take care of everything all alone can make anyone feel anxious, not to mention exhausted. It can be more of a struggle never asking for a hand than you might have realized. Seek out that soft shoulder to lean on and give yourself a rest.

9. Take a Spiritual Retreat

Treat Your Spirit to a Spiritual Retreat 

 Taking a few minutes out of your hectic day for a mental reprieve or taking a half-hour bubble bath each evening are good stress relievers. But they are probably simply not going to be sufficient for easing those larger anxieties that are slowly eating you up inside. Everyone needs a change of pace to help bring balance to their lives. You may need to take an extended vacation from work, or feel you need go off by yourself away from family members for a few days to find solace. Whereas an ordinary vacation can bring about its own stresses, a spiritual retreat feeds the spirit. You'll come home refreshed and more readily able to face your day-do-day stresses.