What do I mean, juicy? In last week’s post, I spoke of wanting to be “a juicy tidbit” as food for the universe. Or whatever it is that is higher and “eats” me. What do I mean by that?
I noticed that the food on my plate nourishes something in me just by looking fresh, by holding a vitality and a life-force in it, even before I eat and digest it. That “something” translated one day into an energetic exchange. The energy of the life-form I gazed upon intermingled with the energy of my appreciation—my seeing it. There was a recognition.
The Container
By feeling that energetic exchange with what was feeding me, I felt a symbiotic connection to the food I was eating. That was when I realized, in both an organic and energetic way, that I am food, too. My physical body is essentially compostable, ashes to ashes. Alive, I am also a container of energy. The more qualitative the energy I contain, the “juicier” I become as nourishment for something higher.
In the Gurdjieff work, we speak of “leaks.” This is one of the first notions that we are presented with. Especially true on the course at Sherborne with Mr. Bennett. Becoming aware of automatic behaviors, like unnecessary inner and outer chatting, physical tensions, and negative reactions, we see how we unconsciously spill energy.
Plugging those leaks is especially possible in a setting where everyone is working together to be more present. But there’s more to it. At the end of the day, there’s a time to cork leaks intentionally and a time to let go. I’ve come to think of the Work as an isometric exercise. One works hard, working against automaticity, but one can also intentionally let go of making efforts. It’s during the times of letting go that the muscle grows. It’s important to find a balance.
Becoming Juicy
By plugging leaks, we accumulate energy. There’s also the work of enriching our energy. Both are needed if I am to become a plump and juicy morsel. When I work physically, I try to stop leaks. I sense my body, I focus my attention, I take stops to come back to myself. When I sit for an exercise or work inwardly, I deepen the quality of my energy. When I can do both, I get a vitamin dose. My wish is to be more than organic matter at the end of the day. My wish is to grow ripe, full of an appetizing energy that the higher powers would want on their plate.
I too have been cupping my plate-bowl before meals in reverence since you introduced this to me as a practice that was shared with you at a Claymont celebration. As a child, my family always shared a blessing before every meal. This is a nice remembrance of that.