Being Given the Gift of Pain

As someone who is not quite yet 28 years old, I would not initially think that I would have to be worrying about back pain just yet. After all, I eat well, move my body daily through yoga and qigong, and see a chiropractor on a regular basis. So when I began to experience pain and spasms in my lower back two weeks ago that can be best described as crippling and mind-numbing in their severity, I can say it took me quite by surprise. I can vividly remember one instance when I felt a pain so severe in my sacrum that it felt like an electric current exploded up my spine and caused my jaw and teeth to lock. It was so bad I literally saw stars and swear I could actually taste it in my mouth. It took nearly two weeks to finally be back to the point where I could move without wincing, bend over without a lighting bolt shooting up my spine, and walk across a room in under 2 minutes. And during this time I have been reflecting quite a lot about what brought this pain upon me.

Initially, for the first 3-4 days, I was sent into a very negative spiral of the common questions a person may ask themselves when a shift in their health occurs seemingly out of the blue (which of course it wasn’t, but more on that in a bit). Why is this happening to me? I’m better than this! I’m too healthy to be feeling this horrible…But after this initial period of “poor-me” mentality, I took a breath and a step back, and tried as best as possible to meditate on what brought this about. After going back to basics on some of my earliest lessons learned in macrobiotics, I was blessed with a deeper understanding of these foundational truths. And this allowed me to not only accept my current situation, but to do so with an open heart and a grateful mind. I now see that this episode was a gift from my body, and allowed me to move deeper into my understanding and practice of macrobiotics.

There is No Such Thing as “Out of the Blue”

No matter how many times I am taught this lesson, it seems it hasn’t quite stuck yet. Hopefully it will this time! One of the first bits of wisdom I learned as I began studying macrobiotics is that we are all responsible for our health. Nothing just occurs with no reason, for that is not how nature operates. There can be no reaction without an initial action to have caused it to occur. So often in Western vernacular we talk about people who “got” cancer or “caught” the flu. Or that arthritis just “runs in the family” and there was nothing to be done. If there is one thing that practically every holistic philosophy shares in common, it is that we create our reality, and that includes our health. I think the Indian spiritual guru Dada Shri said it best, “The fault is of the sufferer.” I remember when I was first introduced to this phrase, I thought it was a bit mean sounding. But as I contemplate it more and more, I begin to see the incredible wisdom behind its meaning. If I find myself in a state of suffering, I allowed it to occur.  I don’t personally believe that this means we always want to become ill, although perhaps that is the case sometimes on a subconscious level, but rather that ultimately the circumstances that lead to our current state of suffering was due to our decisions and actions. I don’t see this as a critical or judgmental state of mind. Rather, a simple truth that forces us to reflect on what we individually did to bring about our current reality. When I began to look back at what I did to allow this incredible pain to develop within my spinal column, what fault I committed, I began to see how I allowed for this to occur. I had allowed myself to become overwhelmed by stress due to the education center I worked for being closed and losing my job as a result. I began to make excuses as to why I should skip yoga today or put off my qigong practice until tomorrow. I would sit in front of a computer for hours on end job searching, working on graduate school assignments, and not giving myself time to rest. I would work right up until bed, so that my head was still swimming when I attempted to sleep which lead to poor quality rest during the evening. This all occurred over a period of about 5 weeks prior to my spasms beginning, so how could I ever think that this just occurred out of the blue?

The Body Always Knows Best

My body isn’t stupid, so clearly it knew what it was dong. That must mean there was something important in this recent episode that I needed to learn or at least experience. The pain forced me to rest, to stop overworking, to take time to meditate and reflect and think gently about these questions. If I wasn’t experiencing this pain, I would have just continued on at the same frantic pace. So my body literally threw me to the ground and kept me from going over the edge of the cliff to something potentially much more severe and serious. And why back pain? Why did it not manifest in some other part of my body or as some other symptom? Considering it was directly in my lower back and causing deep pain in my bones and spinal column, this would be a sign that I my Kidney and Adrenal energy was experiencing an assault by what I was allowing into my life. After deeper reflection, this made perfect sense. I was experiencing Fear due to the impending impact on my income and financial stability, and Fear about finding a new job that would allow me to do the kind of work I wanted to do and still engage in my private work and classes. And I was exhausting my Adrenals through constant work without nearly enough rest and rejuvenation. My body was showing me that while I may be eating well, food is not the end of the story. Macrobiotics teaches us that while food is important, it is just one part of the greater picture of the influences on our health and our lives.

This awareness of not only where the pain was originating in the body was important to not only know how to treat the local discomfort, but also to discern the energetic and psycho-emotional origins of the issue. In this way my body was giving me exactly the information needed to treat the root cause of the pain to and facilitate healing on all levels. Relying only on methods that reduce the symptoms of the pain, even if using so-called “natural” methods, defeats the wisdom of the body. While seeing my acupuncturist was a true Godsend in terms of pain relief and releasing the energetic blockages, if I had stopped there I would not have learned anything. Using arnica gel helped me to sleep at night, but at the end of the day many of these remedies are following the same thought process as just popping an aspirin to kill the pain. My body didn’t create pain just so I could numb it, it was trying to tell me something important.

Getting Sick Doesn’t Mean You Failed

Macrobiotics seems to have been developing a very intense preoccupation with disease management. This is concerning to me, because macrobiotics is not medicine. And while it is a truly spectacular thing that so many physical ailments can be reversed and managed through a macrobiotic approach to life, limiting our application of macrobiotic theories to disease management is the same view that Western medicine takes to viewing the world. Instead, isn’t macrobiotics really about expanding and evolving as a human being, and allowing our individual growth to facilitate the growth and healing of the world around us? Some articles in this very magazine, especially those recent interviews with William Spear and Bill Tara, have articulated this idea perfectly. We have become too focused on how macrobiotics can shrink tumors or strengthen the lungs, and have lost the greater purpose of personal development and expansion of our consciousness to something greater than ourselves. If we keep this more narrow and limited view, every time we get a headache, backache, or stomachache we will naturally feel as though we are failing our purpose and that our macrobiotic path “isn’t working.” But why can’t illness be a part of the journey and important steps on the path to personal evolution? Maybe illness is a requirement to do so? So instead of thinking, “My back is on fire, what did I do wrong?” perhaps I should have been thinking, “My back is on fire. How about that? What is this trying to teach me?” Admittedly, this is easier said than done, especially in the throws of the pain, but that’s the challenge; to stay mindful and present and see the larger picture in all events, even those that we label as bad. If everything truly has a Front and a Back, what is the Front and Back to illness? Couldn’t one side of that coin be a positive and necessary experience? How many people have said that their cancer, heart attack, or other illness was the best thing that happened to them? Developing an illness isn’t a failure, it’s the initiating step needed to get our journey going!

Lessons Finally Learned

Now that the pain has been healed, I have developed a much renewed sense of joy for the moment to moments events of the average day. To be able to get up out of bed without wincing or tearing up makes the day suddenly seem all the more joyful and full of promise. Meals being prepared without pain make them all the more celebratory and enjoyable. And this has certainly helped my mind refocus its priorities to return to placing my self-care and growth above all else, which has (no surprise) only helped me do better quality work in those other areas of responsibility.

I feel all the more relaxed and energized and healthy from this experience. Who knows, perhaps the past two weeks were my body’s way of releasing an old blockage that has now been successfully discharged. And if that is so, than why would I ever have wanted to wish that experience away? I should embrace it joyfully, knowing again that my body is doing its job expertly. Hopefully I have learned whatever lessons I needed to learn from this experience, and can carry that knowledge along the rest of this journey. And if I haven’t, or l lose my way again, I feel confident that my body will give me another loving reminder to help me out. Either way, I know deeply within my soul that whatever it is, it’s exactly what I’ll need at that time.

The Nature of Energy

We talk about energy so much in the Macrobiotic community, but what practical purpose does an understanding of energy have to living a fulfilled and joyful life? Yes, we may study energy and energy medicine if we are practitioners of energy healing (Qi Gong, Reiki, Acupuncture, Marma Therapy, etc.) and so we commonly think of energy as this mystical force to be controlled and directed for physical healing.

 

This is certainly an important aspect of energy (the healing aspect, that is), but an understanding of the nature of energy goes so far beyond that! And whether or not you are a practitioner of energy medicine makes little difference in the importance of at least having a basic appreciation for the nature of energy.

 

Energy is, quite literally, everything.  This concept is discussed very frequently in the field of physics known as Quantum Mechanics, but the idea that all physical matter (and we mean ALL physical matter, including our bodies and cells and tissues) is at its core energy is an essentially proven fact in both the holistic and scientific fields. The rate at which energy is vibrating will determine how it manifests as physical matter (whether that energy gives rise to carbon or nitrogen or whatever). But remember, if everything is energy, then that means EVERYTHING is energy.  Our food is energy, our thoughts, our emotions, our clothing and houses, its all energy at the end of the day. So everything that we do, think, say, feel, expose ourselves to, it will all have a profound effect on how our energy field (the energy that is creating the physical body we currently inhabit). 

 

This may sound rather confusing, and that’s because it is.  We’re talking about the very nature of the universe after all! But the reason we bring this subject up today is not to confuse you or give you a headache, but rather to give you an idea of just how interconnected we are to our internal and external environment. As an external example, we so often talk about our food as a collection of nutrients. 

 

But if food, like everything else, is really just concentrated energy, then we need to think about what the energetic quality of that food is and how it will affect our energy level.  Was the food prepared with love (which will impart that love energy into us when we eat it), or was it processed in a giant machine somewhere by stressed out people? As an internal example, do I put up a brave face every day and show the world that I am happy and confident, but inside I am stressed out of my mind and the thought I wish there was a way out of this! constantly running through my head?  If so, is it any wonder that I will get ill and sick despite the fact that I “look” healthy?

 

So the question for us all to ask ourselves: What sort of energy am I bringing into myself today?  Am I surrounding myself with people that will either build up or tear down the quality of my energetic vibration? Do I justify eating food that is rotten because I need something quick and convenient, or am I giving myself the gift of nourishing food? Am I open and honest with myself about my feelings and emotions, or do I pretend they aren’t there? These are not meant to be judgmental or critical questions, rather they are meant to help us gain a deeper sense of self-awareness so that we can realize which aspects of our lives are vibrating at a high level, and which ones need closer attention and care.

 

We cannot escape the truth that everything we experience will affect us in some way. And while we shouldn’t become obsessive or fearful about being exposed to something “bad”, we can at least start the practice of seeing the world at more than just a collection of stuff.  Rather, it is a collection of intricately connected, beautifully dancing energy.  And every day we can make the best decisions that we can to bring in and put out as much healing, loving, joyous energy possible. 

Why Aren't We More Popular? - Identifying Ways to Increase Awareness of Macrobiotic Philosophy

When I first meet a new friend or just anyone throughout my day, I typically am asked the obligatory, “So, what kind of work do you do?” at some point during the conversation. When I say that I teach macrobiotics, more often than not the response I receive is something to the effect of, “Oh, you’re a microbiologist?” This then begins a long explanation of macrobiotics. What shocks me is not that they didn’t really know much about macrobiotics, but that they knew absolutely nothing about macrobiotics. Many haven’t even heard the word “macrobiotic” before. In an age when many people practice yoga, sees an acupuncturist, knows that dairy foods aren’t really so healthy, agrees that food really is medicine, practices meditation, abstains from fast food, and practices many other actions that are frequently found under the umbrella of a macrobiotic way of life, how is it that the term “macrobiotics” can still be so virtually unknown? What is it that we, the members of the macrobiotic movement, are (or are not) doing that is allowing this obscurity to remain? I think that there is much that we can do to not only increase the overall awareness of the macrobiotic philosophy, but also to continue to move macrobiotics in a forward direction so that it evolves as we, as a society, continue to evolve.

We Aren’t The New Kids Anymore

The cat is out of the bag my friends: food is important for health, and more and more people are realizing this to be true. Now, whether they put that knowledge into personal practice is another story, but at least the awareness is there. When the macrobiotic philosophy entered the United States in the 1960s, the concepts of eating brown rice, vegetables, and legumes and saying no thanks to cheese and wine were quite monumental. And from my readings of early macrobiotic educators and their teachings, it was this message of a whole food, plant-based way of eating and cooking, and living a more natural, less artificial way of life that was so revolutionary and counter to what the culture was teaching at the time. But when we skip ahead oh50 or so years, this message of a natural approach to eating and living is no longer so incredible. Now, I am the first to realize that just because the awareness is there, it doesn’t mean people are putting it into practice. But with the popularity of a variety of different approaches to food and life (vegan, raw, Ayurveda, local, organic, sustainable, slow foods, etc.) constantly on the rise, the macrobiotic movement no longer holds the distinction of being the funky face in the crowd. And this lack of newness, I believe, is holding the philosophy back from allowing people from really understanding that macrobiotics is an entire way of life!

Supporting the Next Generation

Many amazing teachers and educators have made macrobiotics what it is today. It is because of their past and present work that macrobiotics has become an international philosophy and approach to living. Supporting the next generation of educators, chefs, counselors, and writers of the macrobiotic community at the same time is an important step in moving forward. We as a community need to actively encourage new teachers and counselors. I know of many absolutely amazing and incredibly gifted teachers, chefs, counselors, and healing therapists just in the New York/New Jersey area alone. However it is rare-to-never that I see their names listed in counseling directories or giving lectures at natural-living events or in macrobiotic restaurants or conferences. In addition to inviting veteran teachers to share their incredible knowledge, perhaps it is time to encourage the new teachers to share their knowledge as well, and work to give them a platform to begin the next phase in macrobiotic education.

Becoming More Inclusive

When I first read You Are All Sanpaku, one of pages that stuck with me the most was George Ohsawa’s admonishment of the macrobiotic community for not doing more to reach out to John F. Kenndey and help him to prevent the tragedy that his sanpaku condition foretold. As he phrased his exasperation in the book, “You are too exclusive!” And I still see quite a bit of this exclusivity today. I worry that we as a community maintain too much of a yang mental attitude, remaining rigid, contracted, and stubborn in our beliefs and practices. Too often I read articles written by macrobiotic teachers and students alike that bash Western medicine as an affront to nature, making us seem angry, bitter, and narrow minded. I cannot begin to count the number of macrobiotic Facebook groups I have left because of overly aggressive and belittling strings of comments between members of the group over a topic as mundane as whether to boil or pressure cook brown rice. And, a conversation with a fellow attendee at last year’s Kushi Institute Summer Conference made me feel almost angry at the way she was criticizing the food being served instead of expressing gratitude towards the many chefs preparing each of our meals. I feel we as a community need to reflect and ask ourselves how we are presenting ourselves to the greater community around us, and even to one another. Becoming more inclusive and less rigid would go along way toward making macrobiotics more accepted by the greater community.

Evolving Beyond Food

It is a basic tenant in macrobiotics that macrobiotics is NOT just another diet. It is an entire way of viewing the operations and order of the universe, and how we as human beings are a part of this incredible and always changing landscape. That being said, boy oh boy do we love to talk about food! Sometimes I wonder if we aren’t shooting ourselves in the foot by always focusing so much of our conversations about food and eating. How much more is there really to be said about the benefits of chewing? Is it still new information that kale is a better source of calcium than milk? There is such a vast and practically unlimited variety of topics that can be discussed within the macrobiotic point of view, why limit ourselves to just one area? It is rare to find a new book, article, or lecture from a macrobiotic educator that focuses on the spiritual and philosophical aspects of macrobiotics. I worry that we focus too much on food and nutrition and diagnostic study and not enough on the greater, global expression and practice of macrobiotics. One of the things that I think keeps other holistic modalities like yoga so popular is that it is always changing. There is still the foundational asana practice, but teachers are always coming up with new sequences of poses, new applications for yoga, going deeper into the yogic philosophy, it is always something new and different and unique. That is a lesson that I feel would really help the macrobiotic movement to thrive!

Going Beyond Self-Study

To keep a movement going, it takes risk that has to go beyond just self-study. This requires an adventurous and entrepreneurial spirit. Every day a new acupuncturist office opens, or a new yoga studio is built, or a fantastic metaphysical shop opens its doors. This takes risk but the payoff can be just fantastic. As far as I am aware, there isn’t a single macrobiotic restaurant in my state of New Jersey, and I know of very, very few others outside of Los Angeles and New York. There are many counselors working in areas like Massachusetts where macrobiotics is better known, but what about Pittsburgh or Little Rock? It is vitally important that we work to keep our own bodies healthy and vibrant, but how can we expect to affect a global shift in consciousness if we aren’t taking on the adventure to try something new and become the new prophets of this generation? Walk into practically any town and you find at least one chiropractor or massage therapist. We need to be able to say the same about a macrobiotic teacher or counselor or chef.

We as members of this community are charged with the responsibility to see it succeed, grow, and thrive. It isn’t enough to know the philosophy; we have to then share it with the world if we truly believe it to be valuable. The glorious thing is that we do live in a world where technology has made it so much easier to share knowledge and experiences and information with one another! We are at such an amazingly prosperous time where the greater population is starting to wipe the dust from its eyes and begin to look at the world in a new way. People are more open to the teachings and tenants of a macrobiotic path. But, we cannot expect the greater world to just discover it on its own. I would wager that most (if not all) of us discovered macrobiotics due to the generosity of another person sharing their knowledge and experience with us. Are we doing enough to return that favor? If we really wish to see our community survive, and move onto its next phase of growth and evolution, it is up to each and every one of us to do the work necessary to keep it moving. We have to share our knowledge, create new businesses, invest in new teachers and educators, work harder to create more communities throughout this world, and help to be a part of this greater shift in consciousness. It isn’t about sacrificing quality for quantity, it is about believing in the message of macrobiotics enough to help it survive in an ever beautifully changing world.

Ready Your Soil for the New Year

Happy New Year to you all!

I apologize for the incredible length of time between now and my last post.  As I am sure many of you experienced yourselves, the end of 2012 was met with an indescribable amount of turbulent energy.  Here on the East Coast, we were met with the devastation of Hurricane Sandy, a terrible Nor'easter snow storm, and we all were impacted by the tragic deaths and violence that have happened over the past several months.  With all of this happening, it has been very hard to sit down and put thoughts and ideas into any sort of coherent sense.


With the beginning of the new year, however, the energy around us has begun to loosen and relax. In macrobiotics, the year in which we are living as well as the season in which we are living all play a role in what we can expect to happen in and around us on a regular basis. In 9 Star Ki (a form of astrology commonly used by those who study macrobiotics), the year 2012 was a 6 Metal year.  Metal is the most condensed, hard, contracted (Yang) form of energy.  Now here in 2013, we have entered a 5 Soil year.  Soil is the energy of gentle gathering and condensing, and brings energy to a more general state of balance and a centered quality.  So as we move into 2013, the energy around us is now relaxing and expanding outward, from metal to soil, allowing us all to relax and regain our balance. Metal energy allows us to become introspective and look deep within, whereas soil allows us to move outside of ourselves and see more of the world and people around us. After 2 back to back metal  years (both 2011 and 2012 were metal years) we are now as a planet ready to move outside of ourselves and enter a more maternal and compassionate state of existence.

We also now found ourselves in the season of winter. In the Five Elements Transformation model, Winter is the season of Water energy.  The quality of water energy is one of the utmost fluidity and flexibility; able to move into any situation or environment and literally fit perfectly. The quality of water is to also take all of its energy and settle down into the earth, allowing for the soil and ground to become hydrated and nourished to allow for the growth of new plants. Water brings motion, but controlled and even motion (unlike the Fire of Summer, which can be a bit more chaotic). 

So, we start to get an idea of just how powerful this new year is going to be!  We have two year's worth of dense, concentrated, powerful energy beginning to transform itself into the soil from which all life grows.  Plus, we are currently in the time of year when our soil is being nourished by the energy of water.  All of this is literally priming and readying the soil of our lives from which all new possibilities will grow!

Its fun to look at all of this ancient astrology and energetic symbolism, but......what does any of this actually mean?  It means that we are all of us, right now, at one of the most ready times to create the abundance in our lives that we wish, at least for this new year (but in reality, much beyond just this year).  All year long we will be governed by the gentle and balancing energies of soil.  Moments and events in our lives will be "falling into place", and we are going to be creating the foundation from which our futures will spring forth.  Next year (2014) is going to be a 4 Tree year, and as you might gather, Tree is that energy of upward motion and growth and development and sprouting and creation.  So we have exactly 12 months to get our soil ready, people!  For once 2014 comes, everything we have put into our soil of our lives will be the soil from which next year arises.  And now, for the next few months, we are particularly blessed with the quality of water, so we can really saturate our soil with good quality energy and intention.

So what does this mean for our daily lives? Ask yourself this question: what kind of nourishment do I want to be placing not only into my body, but into my life.  I may be eating great quality food, but do I have a pessimistic outlook on life? Do I find myself always complaining, or do I find the beauty in everything? Do I try and make TODAY the only day that matters, or am I always thinking about yesterday or tomorrow?  In other words, what kind of "nutrients" am I putting in the soil of my life? For what I do today (and for this entire year) will govern my tomorrow. 

2013 is going to be a year of great potential energy, and that potential energy will spring forward next year as we move into the qualities of tree. That doesn't mean we can't expect great new opportunities and adventures this year, but it is all just a preamble to what next year will bring.  So as we all go forward into this brand new year, it is important to realize just how special this time is.  We won't have another soil year until 2016, as 2014 and 2015 will both be tree years.  That means that this year will affect the quality of the "Gardens" of our lives for the next two years, so lets all do our best to put down the best foundation we can.

And while many of us can get sad or depressed in the winter, try and see just how important the winter is!  We are are getting the next two and a half months to water our garden and make it as healthy and strong as it can before those first beautiful sprouts peak there little heads out. The time is NOW, we only have the NOW, so what if we all made the resolution to live in the NOW PRESENT MOMENT and create the best quality lives we can just for TODAY.  For what we do today affects us now just tomorrow, but for a very long time. 

So take advantage of these winter months, and allow the energy of your lives to nourish and prime yourself for the next year.  And furthermore, realize that everything that happens this year will affect the quality of the "growth" and evolution of our lives for the next 2 years. Again, I don't want to put too  much emphasis on thinking about the future, as that can get us into all sorts of trouble.  Rather, just think of this year as a terribly exciting and wonderful time that is going to have long reaching affects on us all!  So here's to a great 5 Soil 2013 year, and lets all of us get our gardens ready!

Barley Beauty

Barley is an underused but powerfully healthy cereal grain.  And while many are familiar with pearled barley, the creamy white grain found in many barley soups and salads, it is actually not considered a whole grain.  The term "pearled" refers to the removal of the precious bran removed, which depletes the grain of its complete nutritional integrity. 

Hulled barley is the only kind of barley that can be truly referred to as a whole grain, as only the inedible hull has been removed during its processing.  Two delicious forms of barley are hato mugi barley (also known as Job's Tears) are black barley.  Hato mugi barley is a richer, softer form of barley that is truly delicious but can be difficult to find.  Black barley, on the other hand, is a bit chewier and firmer in texture, but is sometimes easier to locate in stores.

Whichever barley you choose, you are in for a fantastic experience!  Barley provides a rich, nutty flavor that is more full-bodied than other whole grains can be.  And its chewy, soft texture can provide a satisfying mouthfeel that adds great satiety to any dish.

Nutritionally, barley is exploding with minerals, complex carbohydrates, and soluble fiber.  This soluble fiber in particular makes it a wonderful food choice for people looking to reduce high blood cholesterol and blood sugars.  It is also excellent for weight management, as its rich fiber and water content make it a great way to add satiety to meals.

Energetically, barley is nourishing to the lungs and large intestines, by helping to balance the levels of moisture in the body.  It can also work to strengthen the kidneys, particularly black barley.  And as we move into fall and winter, these 3 organ systems are especially in need of tonification.  Choosing barley a few times a week can help keep us healthy and strong during the colder months.

A fantastic fall and winter barley dish is a warm black barley salad with winter squash.  Try out this wonderful dish this autumn and keep your body strong!

Black Barley and Butternut Squash Salad

Serves 4

1 cup black barley

4 cups water

3 cups diced butternut squash, peeled if desired

½ cup unsalted vegetable stock

1 tablespoon curry powder

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1 tablespoon garlic powder

1 cup toasted almonds, chopped

1 bunch green scallions, chopped

Juice and zest of 1 orange

¼ cup cilantro

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

Place the black barley and water in a pot.  Bring to a boil, cover, and reduce to a simmer.  Cook for 45 minutes to 1 hour and set aside, draining any additional water that may remain.

Toss together the butternut squash, vegetable stock, curry powder, cinnamon, and garlic powder. Place on the baking sheet, and bake for 45 minutes. Set aside.

In a large serving bowl, combine the cooked barley, butternut squash, almonds, scallions, orange juice and zest, and cilantro.  Serve warm or chilled.

Macrobiotic Lecture this Month!

An Introduction to Macrobiotic Healing

with Anthony Dissen

Certified Macrobiotic Counselor

In this fascinating FREE lecture, we will learn more about:

■ What is Macrobiotics?

■ An introduction to Macrobiotic healing philosophy

■ Primary foods in Macrobiotics for reversing

disease and promoting wellness

■ Simple home-care techniques to assist the healing process

The Macrobiotic philosophy is about balance, and this lecture will

provide you with the introductory tools you need to live in balance

with the Universe. In this way, we can achieve true and long-lasting

health.

Join us at 6:00pm on Friday, September 28th at Acutech

Acupuncture in Quest for Health & Wellness, LLC

315 Highway 34 (opposite Delicious Orchard)

Colts Towne Plaza, Suite 133

Colts Neck, NJ 07722

To RSVP, or for more information, please contact Anthony Dissen at

jerseyshoremacro@gmail.com

Cultivating Your Passion

I consider myself to be passionate about so many things in this life.  Food and cooking, a natural approach to health, science, nutrition, spirituality, so much has fascinated me and continues to do so.  A powerful and principle aspect of our healing and evolutionary journey in this lifetime is not only recognizing what our passions are, but creating within (and around) ourselves an environment that allows those passions to be cultivated and nourished.

It is a true disservice to not only our health, but the health of those around us and the planet itself, that we are taught to tamper down our passions for the sake of logic or security. As children, hopefully, we are allowed and encouraged to explore our passions and imagination and play.  But then suddenly, we are told to put those silly notions aside and start to get serious.  One may love to paint or sculpt or write, but how many times have we heard that there is no "future" in that passion as a career and set those aside for something more sensible. And is it any wonder that this is when most diseases and chronic health conditions begin?  Most serious illnesses take 10-20 years or more to even show the earliest of signs. So if I'm told to abandon my desires in my mid-20s, and start to show signs of heart disease in my mid-40s, could it have had its origins (at least in an emotional or spiritual sense) in the disappointment we felt.  I remember once in college a chemistry TA told the class that if anybody was thinking of declaring art or philosophy or creative writing as a major, they needed to "grow up" and pick something more practical.  Even then I knew what a dangerously damaging that statement was to so many of the students in the room.

We truly must take the time to identify what our passions in life are, and take the time to nurture and develop those joys.  If I love art, that doesn't mean I must become an artist to be happy.  But nor should I abandon all attempts to keep art an active part in my life just because I choose a different career or path.  Yes, financial security is important, but it shouldn't be our primary goal in life. I know this is an overused and cliched expression, but nobody ever goes to their death bed and says, "I wish I would have worked more."

While I have no claim to be a member of any particular religion or spiritual practice (they are all too beautiful to pick just one), I was recently reminded of a passage from the New Testament in the Christian Bible by Larry Heisler, and amazing massage therapist and overall healer and teacher.  Revelation 3:16 states "God spews out of his mouth the lukewarm."  I have heard this passage many times before, and I've never really responded to spiritual teachings or sacred texts that make God sound angry or vengeful.  But if we begin to view these teachings in a less literal sense, I think a greater message can be understood.  If instead of viewing God as a literal figure who decides who's good and who's bad, we view God as a state of being we hope to achieve, this passage begins to make more sense. That state of total peace and connection to the Universe, where there are no anxieties or worries, is God (at least, to me it is).  And what keeps us from entering that state (i.e. being spewed from the mouth of God) is being lukewarm in life; missing that fire and passion and exuberance in exchange for playing it safe or blending into the background.

So how can we hope to enter that state of bliss?  By being passionate!  By warming up that fire of our soul with our joys and passions in life, not only does life become more enjoyable but healing can begin.  We can eat as well as we want, and exercise our bodies, and everything else we are told to do. But if we practice these actions without any joy or fire in our bellies, can we really hope to enter that true state of health? 

So as we transition from Late Summer to Fall, and that quality of introspection and self-reflection becomes more pronounced and powerful, I plan to go within and ask myself if I am truly living my life with passion and doing those things that bring me the most joy.  If the answer is yes: I'd better keep doing them!  If the answer is no: what better time to start?