Like I mentioned, this week was the first week of May term, and I am helping with the Eco-Logical Eating class and reading Eating Animals.
In the first class, Michael Vought mentioned something I had never realized before. He said that in looking at the majority of religions or life philosophies, there are guidelines on what to eat, or how to eat it. And there are spiritual rituals tied to food as well, like fasting, and sacraments in Christian religions.
And Rebecca Brenner, the nutritionist and urban homesteader extraordinaire (who I've blogged about before), was turned onto eating healthy because of yoga and the mindfulness that brings.
I was thinking about the spiritual practice of yoga and its focus on our breath. And I realized that breath and food are some of the most basic things that keep us alive. If life is sacred, those practices that sustain and enrich our lives are spiritual. It just brought eating healthfully and in ways that are conscious of ecological and social justice to a whole new level of importance in my life. And I want to renew my commitment to the process of changing my diet to reflect what I am learning and what I believe.
Thursday, May 6, 2010
Eating and Religion/Spirituality
Monday, January 18, 2010
Yoga Journal #2 : Wellness + some recent life stuff
Do you ever have those days/weeks/months/semesters where everything seems to fit together from different areas of your life? For example, one class you're in might talk about a topic that you later discuss in a completely unrelated class, or you talk about something with your family and then there is a big news story about a similar thing. I love those types of moments. They feel serendipitous. They remind me that 'it's a small world' and that nothing happens in isolation.
I had one of these moments yesterday. On Saturday, I wrote my second yoga journal entry in which we were asked to write about classes, our readings, and wellness -- what it means, and practices that lead to wellness (here is a shortened version that is still long):
I thought classes this week were challenging. It was physically challenging to maintain alignment and the rhythm of breath while moving into and holding new
poses. There is also the mental challenge of staying present. The exercise of both mind and body is intense and compliments each other.I have been reading Donna Farhi’s third chapter in Bringing Yoga to Life. I love it; she has a perspective that just feels right. I especially love how she talks about our
innate natures as being good. Society tends to view the innate nature of humans as corrupt and base. I find Farhi’s perspective refreshing and hopeful. She explains that, "all of the volatile and destructive emotions – anger, jealousy, envy, greed, and hatred – are born of [an] involuntary ignorance in which we perceive an ‘other’ and therefore a need to propagate and protect ‘our’ self" (29).
In the few weeks I have been practising, I already feel like I am returning to a deeper self that is good and selfless. I am seeking to incorporate that version of my self into my life more and more.
I think wellness is attending to our physical, emotional, mental, spiritual, and social needs in a way that keeps us balanced and healthy as individuals. I think yoga is certainly a practice that will support wellness. Any practice that helps a person grow, reconnect, or reflect with themselves and others in any of the areas I identified can support wellness.
So here's where one of those serendipitous life moments comes in. On Sunday I went to church with Kelsey. I don't think I've mentioned this before but we are in a "Preparing for Eternal Marriage" sunday school class that I have problems with sometimes (another time I might explain a few of them) but yesterday's lesson was about preparing for life/becomming independent/developing as a person. It felt very much like the wellness reflection I had when writing my yoga journal. It was wonderful to mentally connect part of my new spirituality that I am finding through yoga with the church that nurtured my spirituality in previous years.
In other news, I am enjoying my new semester so far. I have mostly fun, artistic classes and I am also trying out new things. I have a drawing class, yoga, acting, art history, and photography. I am also doing an internship with Ririe-Woodbury Dance Company and writing a thesis (specific topic still tbd -- I need to get on that quick).
I tried out for the play that Westminster College is putting on in March -- Red Noses. I got call backs which was a good sign but still don't know if I got a part. I'll let you know when I do - should be either today or tomorrow. It's a new thing for me so I was very nervous and excited. Even if I'm just a little extra person singing in the chorus or something, I'll be happy.
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Questions
The Faithful Dissident is a blog I've found in the Bloggernacle (see wikipedia for a definition of that term). I am a fan of said blog and particularly was interested in FD's post from yesterday, Orthoprax Mormonism.
My personal experience resonated with the history related and it touched on some topics that have occupied my thoughts of late. And although not directly on topic, it resurfaced some questions I have been struggling with. For instance: Is it wrong to be part of a community when you don't necessarily hold the same beliefs of that community? How do you stay true to yourself within that community while not offending others? And will said community ever truly embrace you as a member while you hold estranging beliefs?
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Margaret Merrill Toscano
As I have been contemplating religion, Mormonism, feminism and my place (or lack thereof) in all three of those areas, I have discovered a Mormon history I never knew about. This history includes Margaret Merrill Toscano. She is a wonderfully intelligent and well-spoken woman whose strength of testimony and character is admirable. I'll let you find out about her yourself if you feel so inclined but I wanted to share some of her words that resonated with me.
First is a talk of hers given at the Sunstone Symposium in August 2006:
"Are Boys More Important Than Girls? The conflict of gender difference and equality in Mormonism"
This quote from about halfway through the entire talk is one of the problems I see in Mormonism that I can never fully articulate to my member friends and sisters:
Men define doctrine, policy, and practice. They define normative behaviors. They create the moral context for all departments of Mormon life. They literally hold the keys of the kingdom on earth and in heaven.
The second thing I wanted to share is an interview she gave to PBS for the documentary "The Mormons."
I think the interview is a good summary of her history with the LDS Church and her subsequent excommunication.
I wonder how I never knew there were (and are!) people -- women more specifically -- that had the same concerns I do now. It is a comfort to find them. But the question I struggle with is how to act and react, and where to turn in the future. This is a troubling mess of its own and one too big for me to get into right now, so I'll save it for another day.
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Mother Eve
So, I haven't spoken to many people about this, but I have been going through a religious upheaval. (Is that the correct spelling?) I've decided to "come out of the closet" and talk to people about it here.
I have a lot of questions and many more doubts about things I have been taught as Truth as well as things that are more implied/socialized than taught under the same category.
One of the things I struggle with about the LDS church is the role of women. I label myself a feminist. I think men and women are equal. I believe the church would claim that as well but I think in practice, there are some discrepancies between what is said on the surface and what is actually done or expected of both men and women.
Being under the impression at an early age that my religion was flawless and guided by the direct influence of an all-knowing God, I was disappointed to find flaws and inconsistencies. I still struggle to reconcile what can be considered revelation and what are simply the feelings and (presumably good) intentions of old men.
I'm starting to get a little side-tracked so I'll try to focus again. One issue I have struggled with is the story of Adam and Eve. I had become frustrated with the Creation story found in the Bible and the contradiction of the two commandments. There also is a dichotomy with Eve. LDS people say they honor Eve for her forsight in the garden but then also say she was punished for it, even though it was right. Eve's power and intelligence were never made clear to me until I read this article.
In Copper Woman, Old Woman says that women from all corners of the world have bits and pieces of the truth that we once had about women. There is Truth in Copper Woman and there is Truth in that article. I am just starting out on my journey to find my spirituality and truth again. I wanted to share the revelations I found with you.
