Food and The Soul Selves
Bodily Self
It was a crazy idea but I had to find out what would happen.
I ate only beets for three days. And what did I learn?
I think about eating a lot! I drank a lot more water than usual. And I see how food fits into the Soul Selves
Framework.
I hoped that knowing exactly what I would be eating would free up some space for other thoughts. Except, my thoughts about food changed.
There are times I feel like a slave to eating and other times I eat without being mindful at all.
My relationship with food has barely evolved past my Bodily Self; Eating without a reason; Unhealthy eating;
Stress eating; and choosing what is quick and easy.
But I have to ask myself, what does eating look like when you align with your soul?
This shift in perspective is changing my relationship with the food I eat, and I have beautiful beets to thank for this!!
Vital Self
In the Bodily Self, when we are fully in our ego, we often feel like a victim. We blame others for what is happening to us. Our eating habits mirror these emotions and we react to our environment rather than take responsibility or create our reality.
When we shift into our Vital Self, we begin to become aware of energy beyond ourselves. What does it look like when we bring this awareness to our food?
-We find a new appreciation for food.
-We begin to see food as fuel and the quality of our food is as or more important than the quantity.
-We spend more time or make more time on food preparation; there is pleasure in this.
-We do meal planning.
-We consciously drink more water.
These are a few examples of the eating habits of the Vital Self.
Thinking Self
When we are in our Thinking Self, we are becoming aware of our mindset. We recognize that our thoughts are powerful and separate from ourselves. We try to take responsibility for our thoughts and feelings and choose the ones that make us feel better.
How many of you said grace or gave thanks for your Thanksgiving dinner? Practicing gratitude is a behaviour of our Thinking Self. As we bring our awareness to the food we eat, we might slow down and notice how different foods make us feel.
We might also become aware of how different emotions encourage or discourage us to eat. Taking responsibility for the food we consume and how it makes us feel is a Thinking Self habit.
Observer Self
Emma and I were baking muffins the other day (with all my leftover beets!) and I was totally triggered.
It was amazing to observe myself in this state and explain to her why I was reacting the way I was. I was getting irrationally uncomfortable by the mess we were making. Spilt flour, overfilled muffin cups, cocoa powder on the floor...you know, usual baking accidents.
But for me they were gargantuan and totally avoidable if I baked alone. I’ve felt this way many times before and usually avoid activities with the kids that are “fun” for them but “awful” for me.
It is these moments, while being triggered, that my shadow self emerges. I love these moments. When I can observe my thoughts, emotions and behaviours surfacing from a place buried long ago. There is so much to learn about myself, so much opportunity for growth.
So when we are in this Observer Self state, what does food and our behaviours around food look like? We are more connected and aligned with source energy/soul/higher self in this soul self.
That means we are more connected and aligned with the soul of the foods we choose. We may eat food that nourishes our chakras. We may eat foods that bring us joy. We may eat foods that we used to fear.
In the Observer Self, we have control over our thoughts and emotions around food. We are conscious of our triggers and have awareness of food-related behaviors caused by or that result from these triggers.
We create God/Goddess menus. We choose foods based on what they bring to us rather than what they take away from us.
Let me know if any of these Soul Selves have resonated with you and your food or eating behaviours!
Transcendent Self
There is an episode of “Chef’s Table” on Netflix that speaks to the Transcendent Self and our relationship with food.
In season three, episode one, Jeong Kwan approaches cooking as a spiritual practice. It is the most beautiful and thought provoking episode to watch.
If I could describe one transcendent eating experience, it would be Alex’s and my wedding dinner at Strathcona Park Lodge. It was a phenomenal meal to celebrate our union. Each dish that emerged from the kitchen was a surprise and a sensory experience made purely with love.
It has been rare in my experience to spiritually connect with the food I am eating. To appreciate the subtleties and nourishing qualities.
Transcendent Self - eat what you want when you want and know that when you fall back into old patterns of eating you are OK and can return anytime to this transcendent state.
Find food that you enjoy preparing and enjoy eating.
Eating can be blissful.
Tell me your blissful food experiences.