When I was doing my meditation with the seed crystal last night, I got very clear indications that I should talk about exactly how emotional cleansing happens and why. Honoring that message I received, I am going to do just that.
During a cleanse, we are pulling toxins from our fatty tissues. Most people are used to thinking of fat as what we see in excess under the skin. This is only subcutaneous fat. But most of our organs are composed in part of fat. The brain is approximately 2/3 fat. The myelin sheath that coats our nerves and allows them to send information around the body is about 70 percent fat. Fat gives us healthy skin, hair, and nails, cushions our vital organs, and protects the bones against impact like when we run. We need fat in our food to absorb vitamins A,D,E,and K. So fat is not an essentially evil thing. But many chemical toxins are fat soluble, meaning they will bind to the fatty tissues in the body. This is a major reason why losing weight quickly is dangerous. It causes a sudden release of toxins into the body, which requires the liver to work overtime to eliminate them.
Ayurveda teaches us that molecules of unresolved emotion are stored in the body. Different emotions tend to be stored in specific areas, which can cause physical ailments. For example, grief is stored in the lungs and can make them vulnerable to asthma and respiratory illnesses.
These molecules of emotion are fat-soluble so they become released during cleansing, just like chemical toxins are released. These emotions which are often subconscious come to the surface, so it is common for people to be more emotional than usual during detoxification.
Cleansing gives us an opportunity to feel these emotions which we may have sequestered for many reasons. Maybe we were not ready for them, maybe life did not give us the time to deal with them, maybe they made us uncomfortable. During cleansing, it is important to take time each day, even 15 minutes, to just be silent and hear your own thoughts. As emotions come up during the cleanse, we should acknowledge them, allow ourselves to feel them, then let them go. To deny emotions because we think they are negative, such as anger, is to store them in the body where they can damage us later in life.
I hope this little bit sheds some light on how emotional cleansing takes place. I am certainly finding that this week I have been able to move through some emotions surrounding events of the past six months. Cleansing, if done properly, is healing for the mind, body, and spirit.
During a cleanse, we are pulling toxins from our fatty tissues. Most people are used to thinking of fat as what we see in excess under the skin. This is only subcutaneous fat. But most of our organs are composed in part of fat. The brain is approximately 2/3 fat. The myelin sheath that coats our nerves and allows them to send information around the body is about 70 percent fat. Fat gives us healthy skin, hair, and nails, cushions our vital organs, and protects the bones against impact like when we run. We need fat in our food to absorb vitamins A,D,E,and K. So fat is not an essentially evil thing. But many chemical toxins are fat soluble, meaning they will bind to the fatty tissues in the body. This is a major reason why losing weight quickly is dangerous. It causes a sudden release of toxins into the body, which requires the liver to work overtime to eliminate them.
Ayurveda teaches us that molecules of unresolved emotion are stored in the body. Different emotions tend to be stored in specific areas, which can cause physical ailments. For example, grief is stored in the lungs and can make them vulnerable to asthma and respiratory illnesses.
These molecules of emotion are fat-soluble so they become released during cleansing, just like chemical toxins are released. These emotions which are often subconscious come to the surface, so it is common for people to be more emotional than usual during detoxification.
Cleansing gives us an opportunity to feel these emotions which we may have sequestered for many reasons. Maybe we were not ready for them, maybe life did not give us the time to deal with them, maybe they made us uncomfortable. During cleansing, it is important to take time each day, even 15 minutes, to just be silent and hear your own thoughts. As emotions come up during the cleanse, we should acknowledge them, allow ourselves to feel them, then let them go. To deny emotions because we think they are negative, such as anger, is to store them in the body where they can damage us later in life.
I hope this little bit sheds some light on how emotional cleansing takes place. I am certainly finding that this week I have been able to move through some emotions surrounding events of the past six months. Cleansing, if done properly, is healing for the mind, body, and spirit.
This was my garden when I finished! I took my time weeding, being careful not to pull up the seedlings that are poking through the winter soil. Every time my mind began to wander from my task, I gently brought it back. I imagined that my mind was like the garden and with each weed I pulled I was clearing my thoughts. Image ©2013 Michelle Dexter
I unearthed this lovely little hyacinth in the garden today! After I finished my meditative gardening, my impulse was to leave the yard waste to deal with later. I checked myself, because Vata dominant people have a tendency to start things and leave them unfinished. A good practice for balancing these types (like myself) is to finish what you start. I cleaned up the yard and put away my gardening kit. I went back inside feeling very accomplished... And then one of the dogs peed all over the floor and I had a chance to test my patience. Image ©2013 Michelle Dexter
Last one for today...this is turnip and fennel bisque, which I made for dinner. If I had any, I would have added 2 leeks to this recipe and caramelized them with the fennel. If I were not cleansing, I probably also would have thrown in a couple splashes of white wine. I don't measure when I cook so I apologize if my recipes are challenging. Here is the recipe: about 6 cups of vegetable broth or stock, 4 turnips, 2 large parsnips, 1 bulb fennel, 4 cloves garlic, pinch of salt. Peel turnips and parsnips and cut into 1-inch slices. Cut the fennel bulb into thick slices. Chop the garlic. In a large pot, place the vegetable broth, turnips, parsnips, and garlic. Heat to boiling uncovered. While the soup is boiling, place about 2 tablespoons olive oil in a pan with the fennel slices and caramelize them over medium-high heat. Then add the fennel to the cooking soup. When the soup boils, reduce heat and simmer for 30 minutes. Blend with a hand mixer and serve with fennel sprigs on top. Yum! Image ©2013 Michelle Dexter