Our lives,
so seemingly small, ripple out to the whole universe as tiny whispers like the sounds of butterfly wings, and the clear voice of the living truth. -J.L.D. |
If you were going to bring a gift to a temple, or a sanctuary, what would you bring? My first impulse would be to bring fresh fruit and flowers. Many believe that the body is a temple for Soul. We agree, and often ask, how do we treat our body, how to we tend to its needs, how do we make a nest for Soul?
Our thoughts, emotions, and actions are important. What we put into our bodies makes a difference. Whole food, bursting with life, helps to create a healthful glow: the lightness of natural living foods, fresh juices, water, sunshine, deep breathing and laughter, bring purification so that the emotions and mind do not have to work so hard to maintain balance.
Fresh Fruit Salads: Here are some simple salad recipes using ingredients that are normally available, seasonally, throughout the year. There are so many more fruits than what are being suggested here, so use these as guides. Any of these fruits can become a stand-alone meal. These salads are refreshing, delicious, purifying, and make a delightful breakfast, simple meal, or late-night snack.
Vary amounts to serve one person, or to feed family and friends. Buy organic fruits (or pick fresh locally), wash under cool running water, peel if necessary, cut into chunks, put into pretty bowls. You can blend one of the fruits with a few tablespoons of water to make a delectable sauce that is poured over the salad—yummy!
Mixed Fruit Salad
ApplesBananas Mangos Pineapples Oranges, or papaya Shredded coconut Lime juice squeezed over fruits Berry Fruit Salad
StrawberriesRaspberries Blackberries Blueberries—use whole, or blend into sauce Agave nectar splashed over berries Winter Salad
BananasApples Dates—soaked for 1 hour Dried apricots—soaked until soft Dried figs—soaked until soft Cashew nut cream sauce: blend raw cashews with a little water until velvety Cinnamon or nutmeg spice sprinkled over salad Summer Salad 1
WatermelonCanteloupe Honeydew melon Summer Salad 2
Nectarines—use for a blended sauce with a little agave nectar if neededPears Peaches Apricots Plums Cherries A Little Story: Create A Healing Sanctuary Every few months we try to "up the ante", and take our diet to a new level. We're continually revising, improving, discussing what's working, what isn't. Our latest change has been to drink more water because in the past not drinking enough of this "earth juice" has been one of our biggest challenges. Until our health has reached the flawless level, we continue to strive for improvement. If you've been wondering what to do, try making one change a month. Perhaps it will be to get off coffee, or stop using sugar. Maybe it's to eat whole grains, and organic fruits and veggies. Daily green smoothies, or one raw food meal a day will make a huge difference in energy levels. As you become accustomed to each change, add in more. Soon you won't believe how much you have transformed! It's exciting and rewarding because the benefits show up almost immediately. Creating an inner healing sanctuary is another approach: What would your sanctuary look like, where would it be? What would you do there, what activities would take place? Is your temple filled with rainbow colors, flowers, bountiful fruits, or heavenly sounds of music? Is it peaceful—the quietest sanctuary imaginable—sheer balm to counter living in a noisy environment? Perhaps a dove, cooing, alights in the streaming architecture. Or a murmuring flow of water pours into a healing pool in a garden that is surrounded with ferns and sun dappled glow? Dreaming is powerful. Sooner or later, the body will follow the heart's desire. We're learning to create dreams that we feel are worthwhile—manifesting a sanctuary both within our being, and mirrored in our home and the life we live. Peace and joy be with you. |