Feed the Soul AND the Body

I've been thinking lately a lot about my physical body and needs; primarily because I'm dealing with several herniated discs in my back and that means I'm also dealing with a lot of pain.  When our physical body hurts we tend to its needs.  When it is tired we seek rest.  When it is desiring fleshly pleasures we gladly appease it to the point of over-saturation of fleshly pleasures.

Why then, when our soul is lacking we do not pay it the same attention?  When our soul cries out we often do not recognize the cry and think it is our physical body once again needing something.  There are two problems here. 

The first problem is that we don't know how to recognize our soul's cry for food.  Recognizing that there is a problem means that we are attuned to the voice our soul has and we accept that voice as coming from deep within us.

The second problem is that we don't often know how to feed our soul.  Sure, we might placate it by giving some "spiritual food" momentarily.  We might take a few moments, hours or even days and go on a retreat.  We reach for that spiritual mountaintop experience and then get filled up for the time being.  But if our physical bodies are hungry we don't make a huge feast and think it will suffice for the coming year, do we?  Of course not!  So why do we treat our souls, spiritual beings, this way and call it good?

Take the following steps to work towards wholeness and health in your spiritual being:

1. Acknowledge that you are a spiritual being, a soul, who occupies a physical body for the time being until this life melts into our eternal life.
2. Once you acknowledge this, recognize that your soul has a voice, can communicate with you and in fact, DOES communicate through various means when we make the effort to listen.
3. Start feeding your soul daily by spending some time in nature.  It is often when we go outdoors and sit for a spell that we start settling down our physical body's antics and can even begin to listen to the soul.  I think there are many reasons why sitting in the outdoors helps to feed our souls.  Often we lead such hectic lives with noises everywhere we turn, that we have even a hard time sifting through the noises and distinguishing that small inner voice from our own greedy pleasures.  This doesn't have to be more than 5-10 minutes to start.  If you say that you don't even have that much time then you should ask yourself what you hold important.  Sure, you have a family, work, church or civic duties, lots of responsibilities.  But out of what are you feeding all those others in your life?  If a woman is on a cold, snowy mountain with only one pair of gloves and one coat to keep herself warm what would happen if she gave these up to another who had none?  She would die of the cold and the other would be extremely grateful for her sacrifice.  When you give away all that you have, sure you would be considered a very righteous and generous person, but some people might also call that move dumb.  Feed yourself well so you may extend a bountiful hand to your neighbor!  Don't live continuously on empty unless you desire to exist on fumes and barely get by!
4. While you start on your journey to spiritual well being by feeding your soul little bits and pieces work on finding those things that feed your soul like nothing else.  Since I have been working with energy I have been learning that when I am spiritually strong and my Ki, Chi, Ruach is flowing freely without many blockages in my body I find myself in a creative mountaintop experience.  It goes without saying that the Spirit that created all there is continues to create as it flows through all matter.  If everything was created by God, then creativity is the very apex of God's Spirit!  Find that creative energy and allow it to work in you  and through you in the unique and personal way that is just you!  That might mean art or music.  It might mean gardening or making crafts.  Perhaps that creative energy in you desires to write poetry or build something beautiful!  Just allow it time and the freedom to have no boundaries.  Pretend you're a child again and take away those grown up inhibitions!
5. Let this be the beginning and don't stop!  Continue feeding your soul alongside your body.  Your life will begin to prosper richly in a way that can only produce more good.  As you spend the time to heal and get healthy explore new things and pour out of your flowing over cup into somebody else's empty cup.  Anytime we receive it is important to pass it along to another.  Stay balanced with giving and receiving and you will be rewarded in ways you never imagined!

God Bless You and Keep You!  Nameste!
Cloud Sun Dancing