What's On My Mind...at 59: The inner sun.......

Photo taken on my walk this a.m.

As a microcosm, human beings embody all the phases within themselves. Within each thing is contained all things. In the seed is the tree; in the tree is the forest. . . Life forms are stations for the reception and transmission of forces, through which all are nourished. Each thing exists to nourish all others and , in return, to be nourished itself. In this manner, each kingdom of nature serves to receive and transmit life. . . These forces are not all material, but include subtle energies of. . . a spiritual nature. . . In the inner world, a central sun is also the source of life. The inner sun is our true self. . .

Lad And Frawley, The Yoga of Herbs
(This reading came from one of my Qigong books, Between Heaven and Earth)

Fire (sun), earth, air, water - all transmitting life force to you and me and all of life

Having spent quite a bit of time practicing Qigong with the intention of improving my physical, mental, emotional and spiritual health and teaching others, I wanted to take a few minutes to reflect on one way this practice has changed the way I feel so far.

I have for many years felt physically centered and strong. And even though I've been practicing yoga and teaching yoga it is not until recently that I feel a true internal connection to my own spirit (or shen in the Qigong tradition). For me this is an internal fire within that flows outwardly from the heart center, around the body and back to the heart. It feeds the energy reservoirs that then feed the meridians.

This is how I perceive the "inner sun". Inner sun can absorb energy from the world around us (from nature - water and sunlight for example) and improve our health.

Receiving and restoring energy is very important to keep shen in balance.

How do you restore yourself? Through what do you receive life?

Next time you're out in nature take a minute to take a few deep abdominal breaths while you gaze at a beautiful tree or flower. Focus your attention on that moment to nourish your "inner sun". Know that not only are you being nourished, you are also, through your exhalation, nourishing the trees and other things that grow in nature. You give C02 and receive 02, it's the natural way of life. The energy you receive from nature helps to keep you healthy and strong. The energy you transmit to nature keeps it healthy and strong.

Bring your attention to this process, it will make the energy exchange even stronger.

************************

A quick dish, good and nutritious

Margaret's Italian Delight

I was visiting with a friend Monday and told her I just couldn't come up with anything inspirational to cook for dinner. This is what she told me to do -

*Cut eggplant about 1/4 inch thick (not thin and not too thick), brush with a little olive oil (small eggplant are sweeter and tastier than larger ones; I used 2)

*Bake on 350 until lightly brown

*Like a lasagna layer the following:

Eggplant Breadcrumbs (1 cup course) + Cheese (2 cups) Flavorful Tomato Sauce (big jar)

*With a fork, poke some holes through the layers

*Pour beaten eggs (I used 4) over the dish, allowing the egg to seep down in and even allow some to go around the sides

*Bake 320 until lightly brown

Yummm - and so easy. Because we eat only vegan cheese which is no where near as yummie as cow cheese, to make it a little more interesting this is how I'm going to alter the recipe for next time.

*Chop up some artichoke hearts and maybe some jalapeno peppers and put a scoop in the center of the eggplant

*Use some fresh herbs