We all accept fact that lighter backpack, easier and quicker climb to top of mountain. We all understand that lighter load on an airplane, higher and faster it can fly. We pay extra for high octane fuel so our car will operate more efficiently. Then why don't we apply same wisdom to our bodies and our dreams?The Need for Speed
We know that cleaner gasoline we feed our car, faster, further and longer our car will run-and with less wear and tear. Gee, what would our Earth adventure be like if we tried this same approach with our personal lives?
Clean, Lean Energy Machine
When we feed our bodies and goals with clean, lean fuel, we have strength and stamina to create our dreams with ease, speed and longevity-and look good doing it to boot!
Shamanize Your Life
A shaman eats to live, rather than living to eat. A shamaness uses food to fuel her dream, rather than to be her dream. A shaman knows that true purpose of food is to give us energy to express our unique spirit fully and gracefully.
Food is Not Only Physical
I'm not talking only about eating of physical food. Everything we take into our energy field is food-for our body and for our soul. Every thought, conversation and activity either gives us energy, or takes energy away from us.
Self-loving people only eat-take in-those interactions and pursuits that nourish them and increase their level of aliveness. When a relationship, job or belief leaves you drained, tired or confused, that fuel is not nurturing. But when you have a friend who inspires, encourages and validates you, you prosper by hanging out with that person. When you go to a livelihood each day that allows you to fully express your true spirit, you're enriched by that calling. When you have a conviction that bears beauty and bounty in your life, you're served well by that point of view.
Eat What is Most Digestible
Take in those foods, people and endeavors that you most easily digest, assimilate and integrate. The less energy it takes to absorb a certain fare, personality or enterprise, more energy you are ultimately going to get out of it. This is good judgment of choosing "low maintenance" lovers and friends versus "high maintenance" of demanding, discontented partners.
Eat Only What's Necessary
Take in only amount of worldly nourishment, resources and social exchange that is ideal for peak performance. When Jesus advises us to "fast from world," he's not suggesting we refrain from eating altogether, or cease interacting with world totally. The savvy sage uses word "fast" to mean "fast from excess." Eat only amount of physical fuel you need for optimal efficiency of your body. Interact with turbulence of social affairs only to degree necessary to accomplish your goals. Lean and clean.
This is strategy shamans refer to as "touching world lightly." Be involved with cultural conventions only to degree necessary to function socially. Overeating physical food can cause sluggishness, nausea and constipation. Over-absorption with limitations and contradictions of cultural mores can cause you to get confused, drained, overwhelmed, emotionally backed up-and, consequently, very ineffective and unhappy. Be in world, but not "of it."
Go to Bed Empty
Go to sleep with an empty stomach, clear mind, and peaceful heart, so that your body and being have greatest opportunity to rest and recharge. When body has to spend night digesting a stomach full of food, then it doesn't have time or energy to heal and balance. When we go to bed with a troubled mind or heart, we have a shallow, unrestful sleep with many fitful dreams or nightmares. And our spirit has no time to connect with its highest self and intuit creative solutions to our worldly challenges.