Sunday, November 7, 2010

Entire Intro (Rough Draft)

Please to be reading and give the feedbacks.

I worry that it gets a bit repetitive.

Btw, you should notify me if you try any of the recipes so I can put your name on the thank-you page. :)


Food is sacred. It is part of the earth to which we are all connected. Food keeps us alive, comforts us, makes us feel loved. We can also create recipes for magical purposes, such as love and prosperity. The fruits, vegetables, grains and herbs that we use all have magical properties - protection, love, healing, prosperity, psychic development, etc. I take this to be further proof of the sacredness of food itself.

The hearth was a sacred spot to our ancestors. At the hearth they warmed their hands and feet and prepared their simple meals, using what was available to them at the time. Today, in place of the hearth, we have the gas or electric stove - a modern hearth that can be just as sacred and alive as a fireplace.

Today most of us have an abundance of food. We go to the grocery store instead of depending upon the harvest. For most of us, winter no longer carries the risk of starvation. Fruits and vegetables are available all year. Our meat comes pre-packaged in foam and cellophane.

We are not as attached to our food as we used to be. We are no longer at the mercy of the elements for our survival. We have become rather disconnected from the gods in that sense. However, we can easily become connected once again through food, that which is so sacred.

People don't seem to know - or care - where their food comes from. There are some small groups of people who try to eat locally, but most of us wouldn't know where to begin. We, as followers of an Earth-based spirituality, should take pride in knowing where our food comes from, and be thankful. We spend time and energy on finding the perfect ritual tools and robes, or learning Reiki or doing past life meditations instead of finding ways to ground ourselves and really, really connect with Nature. Food.

Preparing a meal can be a ritual in itself, as can eating a meal with loved ones. Using the bounty of each season, you can honor that time of year and what the gods have provided. The evidence of the harvest will be on your plate.

I'm not telling you that you have to move to the country and grow everything yourself, nor am I telling you that you must buy organic. What I do want to draw your attention to is the foods that are in season so you can use them when they are at their freshest, most flavorful, and cheapest. In this way you can connect with the seasons in a way similar to our ancestors. They wouldn't have had a fresh tomato in January, and we shouldn't either!

This book is dedicated to all of you who wish to make a deeper connection with the earth and the seasons. If you think the kitchen isn’t magical, this book is also for you. Inside you will find recipes to celebrate the earth’s bounty, as well as some suggestions for making your kitchen a more magical place. Welcome to my kitchen. Please come inside.

6 comments:

Unknown said...

I like it. I don't know if you were referring to the use of the word "sacred" to describe food when you spoke of repetition; but maybe you could change it up here and there using words like "divine" or "gift from the Mother" something along those lines. I like to talk about the life force that is in fresh food, and how many foods are so processed and pesticided that they no longer have any "chi" left in them. Another thing, do you plan to devote discussion to microwaving? Soooo many people "nuke" their food nowdays and that process itself "kills" the food.
Nice intro, it really shows your passion for what you believe and how you put it into action, I look forward to seeing more!
Blessings,
Nana

Diandra said...

Yes, I like that. :-) And I didn't notice any serious repetitions, btw.

Faerie Sage said...

I liked it, but I like the idea behind it even more, I feel the same about food, you should be proud this is a worthy cook book you are creating!

TheBlakkDuchess said...

I think that this sounds excellent. A bit of repetition is ok, as you're trying to get a point across. The amount that's in there is perfect. Not too much, not too little. The only thing I saw that may need an adjustment is here:

We are not as attached to our food as we used to be. We are no longer at the mercy of the elements for our survival. We have become rather disconnected from the gods in
THAT
sense. However, we can easily become connected once again through food, that which is so sacred.

I would replace the THAT with THIS, just to keep the point of view the same. ^-^

Otherwise, this is a wonderful intro! ^-^

Alyss said...

I just found your blog and am so excited - you speak my mind, sister :)

Jen said...

I just found your blog (courtesy of PaganDad). I really liked the feeling in your intro, but one suggestion I would make is replace the word "cheapest". You could use "least expensive" or "most affordable" instead, while keeping the tone of your intro. "Cheapest" seems to (to me, anyway) disrupt the flow.

Other than that, I think it's great. It really communicates your feeling for food and the kitchen, and helps a non-kitchen person like me to feel what it could be.