Healing Path

This is just a bit frustrating - but I am in the midst of trying to organize a hand reflexology class and have been receiving huge lessons in frustration and overcoming the obstacles. So although I see I can cc and paste in the link section, I haven't figured out how to manage it in the text section. Unfortunately, the link won't work unless you come join the discussion group, so if any new people out there reading would like to, please feel free to come join.

In brief, Leora mentioned how she enjoyed the comment from another link discussing osteoporosis how important it is to listen to our bodies. I replied how not easy that is - how many have no clue with what is going on inside and are searching everywhere for help.

Just now Mother in Israel reported on the breast awareness movie, Flat (how do I include more links, never mind - will learn later) and I just watched and am so glad more and more people are becoming aware that we just can't continue living (and dying) as we have - but how sad it is that it takes becoming sick to become aware.

My probing was how do we change? how do we learn what our bodies need to really be healthy? We have so many different theories, so many healing stories, so many alternative ideas - one can just drown in it all.

I came to macrobiotics by chance, was looking for more interesting vegetarian cooking ideas. I had no idea that at the time it was considered by many as a "cancer" diet. It isn't to me. It's a path to a healthier life, no matter how healthy or unhealthy we are, we can always use more energy, be more alive, be more aware. To me being healthy is not just about not being in pain. But sadly, that's what it has become for so many today.

Healing Path

I've asked you more experienced bloggers if there are any rules here - the consensus was there aren't. I don't know why I don't believe that, but to test it, here goes.

I'm going to just copy what I've written on my discussion group - right now that's where I'm comfortable writing - on my group and other groups. OK, I promise I won't copy all that I post, but this one was on a topic that I think alot about, how we all search for healing.

Leora, thanks for the stimulus.

How funny, I can't do it. Well, I still have lots of technical things to learn here. Leora, can you do it??

So if anyone would like to come to my group, macroloversofjerusalem - go to yahoo discussion group and search for it there - ok, I can't copy but I can retype - http://health.groups.yahoo.com/MacroloversofJerusalem

you need to join to read the posts - I'd be happy to welcome you to the group. Just whatever you write for the reason for joining, I will post to the group when introducing you - please don't write because Klara told me to :>)

Time for something NEW

OK, Rosh Hashana has past, Yom Kippur has past and now starting Sukkoth - looking for what to do and RivkA is having a picnic for bloggers - so am I a blogger? can I become a blogger? not sure, not sure the rules of the game yet

but with many other posts I've written to sites I've been told I should blog

so should I blog because others say so??????

I don't know - but do know feel the Chag feeling of something new in the air - ready to grow, expand, bring something new into my life

Is it sharing with the whole world??? not sure, but I'll see after the picnic

Anyway, glad I found my own blog :>)

Abundance or waste??

There are many new age philosophies around which center on the idea that there is plenty and we shouldn't be concerned with lack. That works if one is in the mind of what I have is all I need, but doesn't work when ok, ditch it, there'll be more.

At the same time as those who have too much, there are those who are poverty stricken and must depend on others for charity.

Something is wrong with this picture. I've gone through many periods where I have taken boxes of vegetables that are thrown out by health food stores, by green grocers, and by local markets and brought them home to compost. Lately my local small supermarket (makolet) has been saving me the vegetables they deem not worthy of being sold anymore. And there are boxes and boxes and boxes of them. Every week!!! Why can't they lower the price (as it is, the local produce sells for much more than those sold in the open air farmer's market (shuk), when the produce begins to lose it's "first rate" quality, so then perhaps they can sell it all. Why have higher prices to make up for the loss of all the vegetables thrown out? We who buy the produce are the losers in the end.

I also wonder how many people at home use up all their vegetables - or like the market mentality, throw out alot because of poor planning.

I have seen some stores be more efficient. One store I knew saved the produce for the poor who came to get it. Another store saved it for their restaurant which used the vegetables for the food they cooked. In America I'm sure there are plenty of sales of the kind when things are starting to get old. I remember special discount stores that sold day old breads and baked items (you don't see that here). Now at least the idea of giving leftovers from simchas to the poor is starting to catch on. But don't even get me started how much is wasted there!!!!

There's plenty being written how the economic times are getting harder. How come people aren't getting smarter in not wasting??

it's all relative

A friend with cancer wrote how one bottle of the medicine she needs costs over 11,000 shekels - wow, I have nothing to complain about how expensive organic food costs.

Daring

Do you know people who scream at the television when they don't agree? Or people who make comments as they read the newspapers of all the insane things going on in the world? Almost every week I have thoughts about something written in our local English newspaper, but the truth is it isn't always negative. Lots of great eco stuff has been happening lately and it makes me proud that people are being so innovative.

Usually by the time Sunday comes around I never actually write to the paper - lost opportunities. But this time I finally did (ok, Monday now) - and with it, made a copy and tied it together with a health seminar that I'm part of the organizing and have sent it to everyone I know - except on facebook. Facebook and blogging still presents technical challenges - but for those who have discovered my blog (and haven't received it through email) here's what I wrote to the Jerusalem Post - now to see if they'll publish it.

From: Klara LeVine
Subject: money does not equal health
To: maglet@jpost. com
Date: Monday, December 1, 2008, 6:47 AM

To the editors,

I know the Jerusalem Post is not responsible for the contents of their ads and that ads are needed to continue the business of publishing the paper. But the two full page ad from Telma on November 21 must have cost quite a few shekelim - which makes me wonder if perhaps Telma isn't doing so well. And I felt took great advantage over those truly looking for health - healthy foods coming from the whole grains, beans and many vegetables do not have big corporations behind them and are much healthier than a processed food which may contain sugar and preservatives and who knows what else. The exaggerated first page does make a point - the world of alternative health perhaps has gone overboard - which only goes to show how desparately people are searching for health. Perhaps the magazine can help by having more articles on the simple ways people can regain health - as mentioned by eating natural whole products.

Klara LeVine
Har Adar

privately to the editors: I can understand if you do not want to publish the above letter as it may be shooting yourselves in the foot by offending Telma and therefore taking away much needed income - if so, please give me the opportunity to rewrite it a bit tamer, tho I think it's a responsibility to all mankind to let them know that health doesn't need to cost so much. Processed foods always cost more than natural foods and are never truly as healthy.

I think it's a very important issue that needs to be brought to the public's attention.

Klara

not Thanksgiving delight

I don't do Thanksgiving here in Israel - not that I have anything against it. The idea of appreciating and giving thanks is quite Jewish (ok, New Age is catching up also), in fact religious Jews begin each morning by giving thanks to our Creator, and actually give thanks all day long (depending on how much you eat and how much you, umm, how do I say it, the bodily functions after you eat :>) ).

But Thanksgiving sort of fades into the background here. There are enclaves of people celebrating, holding on to the Old Country ways.

But tonight I have the privilege of celebrating someone's 70th birthday, and for that occasion I made a very special dish (would go well in any Thanksgiving feast) called Enchanted Broccoli Forest with Pumpkin Creme. It comes from Ilanit Tof's book, Seasonal Variation: Wholesummer Meals (ok, not summer now, but still works). The special feature of her book is to show the inexperienced cook how he/she can play and exchange ingredients for unlimited variations. She gives the basics and then shows the different variations to start and hopes the new cook will go on and take it from there.

So this dish isn't as hard as it looks, but has different parts. The first is a bed of grains, she suggests polenta (coarse cornmeal), cooked with onions and fresh corn (off the cob), and after it's cooked, mixed with chopped parsley and spread in a baking dish. I used millet instead, it's a whole grain and therefore more appealing to me. The next step is to simply blanch small heads of broccoli. And when done to one's liking, to stick them into the grain bed (that's the forest - the next time I do this I'll reverse it and put the creme (cream?) on first and then stick in the little trees). Next comes pumpkin and onions steamed, then blended with a little tehina and fresh ginger juice. That gets poured on.

It's such an attractive dish - and so so so delicious.

As this blogging is still new for me, I'm not sure how to give references - I'm afraid if I post the address it won't go thru - so I'll put spaces in between - and you can close them up - on this site is a shop where you can find Ilanit's book and lots of other great books. www cybermacro .com - will that work??

Happy feasting everyone - doesn't have to be unhealthy for it to be a feast.