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Blessed is Our Abundance

Blessed is Our Abundance

Author: Verushka Pather
Date: 2023-05-27

Kasia and I have a beautiful ritual of visiting the Verulam Farmer's Market as often as we can. It's the experience, the sounds, the smell of fresh produce, meeting our charming farmers and the divine exchange that takes place, both knowingly and unknowingly. This past week on my return I laid out all our vegetables on my counter and such a joyous feeling permeated my home, the same feeling when meeting the farmers and packing their veg in my basket has now been transported home. The ambrosia of the Gods, the grace shared by our Provider. Blessed is our abundance.

This bountiful Mother Earth has bestowed upon us richness from Her bosom, every plant, worm, animal born, grows and thrives with Her vibrant energy, a life force. This very life force is what we receive as nourishment and healing. This concept or a mindful approach to consuming our food with reverence, deliberate attention, full sensory embodiment, gratitude, and present-moment awareness is not a religious act, it is the presence of mind, body and soul being aligned in the moment. We pray over and offer our food to our Creator and Provider, but we also to this as an act of service, leading us to 'Conscious Cooking'.

I honour the meaningful relationships forged; from the receiving of money to purchase the produce from these hardworking, committed farmers, the packers and then the preparation of this abundance has my complete attention. As busy as my day may seem, I love cooking, I love eating and I especially love preparing Naivedyam (food prepared for the Gods) now Verulam Market has taught me that Prasadam (food offered to the Gods then shared) is every time I have an intention to purchase produce, preparation and then the actual act or experience of creating nourishing and healing food filled with compassion, gratitude and love. Blessed is our abundance.

Buddhist Monk Thich Nhat Hanh says, 'When you prepare a meal with artful awareness, it's delicious and healthy. You have pt your mindfulness, love, and care into the meal, then people will be eating your love. People can fully enjoy the meal with body and mind, just like you enjoy a beautiful work of art.'