I could talk about the spiritual significance of the gut and digestive system for days, but for the sake of this blog post, (and you too, I know you're busy and just want that one golden nugget of wisdom) I will keep these words succinct and to the point.
Your belly. Your gut. That beautiful round tummy of yours, which houses your small and large intestines, stomach spleen, liver, gallbladder and pancreas. These organs comprise what I call your inner alchemist. When these organs and their energetic fields are strong, you have the capacity to transform and transmute anything in your life.
On a physical level, your gut is your bodies best asset. It provides you with a stable and joyful outlook on life (90 percent of your serotonin is created in the gut), and the billions of bacteria which reside there, both healthy and unhealthy, can actually change the way you think. It is well documented that the presence of too may unhealthy bacteria or parasites, or not enough healthy ones, actually cause the brain to function abnormally and exhibit cognitive dysfunction.
When you have a strong energetic digestive system, you are, like the yogis say, "like a lotus growing from the mud." The mud represents all the ungraceful qualities of every day life: the bills, the miscommunication, the heartbreak. But despite these situations you live like the lotus rising above them, as radiant as the sun. You are in the world but not of it, and yet your very nourishment comes from the mud of the world.
Taking nourishment from the mud of the world means we feel connected to life, we experience all the polarity and contrast it has to offer, and yet we move through our days with a resilience and a life force which courses through us and is independent of circumstance.
This is the very crux of the gut: to transform and transmute, to find gold and nourishment from all experiences situations and foods.
If the physical digestion is weak, we cannot break down our nourishment of food, or experiences into the pure potential energy which keeps our bodies vital and our minds awake. We must cultivate the power to completely deconstruct our nourishment to its innermost essence, to find its "gold" and then completely reconstruct it again into the waste matter which is not essential to our fullest self.
If the energetic gut is weak, we are easily depressed, anxious and brought down by the hardships and difficulties of life. Insecurity and a lack of faith in ones self arise from this imbalance.
Below are my three greatest tips for how to bring your physical and energetic gut health back into balance. Try them, they work.
Stop Eating Sugar
This simple yet profound dietary change can completely reset the bacterial balance of your gut for the better. Conditions like Candida (yeast overgrowth) parasites, blood sugar sensitivities, digestive pain, inflammation and discomfort can all be resolved or improved when you stop or limit your sugar intake. Not ready to go cold turkey? Stop eating white and brown sugars, cane sugar or any foods with these ingredients. Rely instead on small amounts of honey, maple syrup and fruits. *Avoid agave if possible, as it produces inflammatory responses within the body.*
Make Your Own Sauerkraut
1. Finely chop 1 head of cabbage. Add cabbage to a large mixing bowl and add 2 tablespoons of sea salt
2. Massage and kneed the salt and cabbage mixture with your hands for 10-15 minutes. The cabbage will become limp, and water will begin to accumulate in the bottom of the bowl. Don't get rid of this liquid.
3. Add your spices! A traditional spice profile which is healthy for the gut is caraway seeds. Add one tablespoon to the cabbage mixture. *A more adventurous and anti inflammatory kraut can be made by adding 2 inches finely chopped turmeric root and or ginger root.*
4. Sterilize a 2 quart sized wide mouth mason jar and lid. Fill the jar about 3/4 full with the cabbage mixture. Be sure to press the cabbage down snugly into the jar so that there are no pockets of air.
5. Once the jar is full, use a wooden spoon to press the cabbage down firmly so that the liquid rises well above it.
6. Put on the lid and place the jar in a cool cupboard, and wait 3 days. Make sure you press down the kraut at least once a day to keep the liquid well above the cabbage, this prevents improper fermentation. If you need to, you can add a little bit of salt water for this purpose.
7. Enjoy anytime after 3 days of fermentation! You can experiment with longer fermenting times to create more intense flavors.
Meditation to Increase the Energetic Power of the Gut.
1. Come into a comfortable seated position, and begin the kundalini practice by chanting Ong Namo Guru Dev Namo three times. This connects you to your own inner teacher, and the lineage of this practice to provide you with the best results.
2. Bring your hands together in prayer mudra with your palms flat against each other, and place this mudra just in front of your body at the area of your solar plexus.
3. Close your eyes and focus your gaze at the point in between your eyebrows.
4. Chant the mantra "Humee Hum Brahm Hum". Pull your navel in towards the back of your spine once as you chant "Humee Hum" and a second time as you chant "Brahm Hum."
5. Continue for 3-11 minutes. When you are finished, inhale and suspend your breath for as long as is comfortable. Repeat this three times.
Please try these out and let me know what your results are!
Share your own thoughts, insights or personal transformations with the gut in the comments below, and as always, share these words with someone who needs to hear them!
All my Love, and in Health,
Anja