indulgence

[Curious]

haha. this may sound like a silly question, but what is the macrobiotic cure to indulgence (eating when one is not hungry?). i thought there may be some type of explanation involving the interplay of yin & yang!

[Klara]

GREAT question!!!!

But I think more details are needed.

For myself, I eat at night, I don't feel like sleeping, but don't have interest in doing anything active. I understand eating or overeating creates a yin effect, so my guess it's needed for a yang condition. I was told good quality desserts or having sweet vegetable drink will also bring balance.

But it's still a mystery that I would love to hear more people's opinions on.

The word indulgence seems to have connotations. More facts without judgments might help bring light to your situation.

Klara

[Manymoons]

Curious & Klara

I hope I'm not shooting over anyones head here!

The most immidiate manifestation of yin/yang, that forms each of us as individuals, is our mother and father. Both impart unique qualities and properties that contribute to the whole of what we are. When one or the other, or in combination are out of sync or balance in relation to us and each other, we are compelled to pursue the direction toward that diffiency, in an attemp to re-balance. My own observations suggest this is the root of compulsions and indulgences. They can be either artificial compensations for a particular yin/yang (yinization) or a sincere attempt to remediate an imbalance (yangization). Being fallable human beings doesn't make this an easy jouney.

The mother and father factor, I think is the key to making this food/understanding work with the potency with which it is capable. It is no accident or whim that states we should honor our mothers and fathers. They are after all what we are made of. Understanding the inplication of mother/father relatedness surely takes this food beyond the mechanical, sensual and sentimental level of judgement and establishes a concrete point of referrence by which we can make objective judgements about our own balances. One can get nowhere unless we start from where we are.

This food does not support or nourish illusion or deception and is therefore an incredibale tool to aid in self reflection. When we are confronted with our own need for indulgence it is a reflection on us that we are missing something. Find what is missing and the indulgence disipates. One can mechanically look to see what is missing from the food, but a deeper search would be to explore mother/father relatedness.

If what I say is not clear, let me know----I can always use the reflection!

Manymoons

[Curious]

Thanks for the responses!

I am still trying to find the root of my indulgences - or specify it, rather. Right now I regard it as a mush of feeling I'd rather avoid than face. I think the mother/ father factor works great. Let me just clarify my own situation better, to give some perspective.

When I don't eat for extensive periods of time I been to "feel" everything around me increasingly intensely. Emotions, feelings affect me more. Even sensations are more pronounced. Sometimes I wake up in the middle of the night and feel overwhelmed by the 'feeling' that surrounds me, which I seem to lack control of. I'm just immersed in a sea of strong feelings that frighten me. I find that eating anything will almost null the depth of my sensations, will normalize and flatten my perception of the world. In fact, eating can subsequently make me feel depressed because I'm aware I took the measure as an escape to some bland frame of mind that I feel more comfortable in. Does this make sense?

Upon reflection, I feel like the issue involves the father figure mainly - I feel like I need to regain control, and like I need something to stabilize myself. Surprisingly, I easily become overly- yang after eating. Overly contracted and stiff. I feel like I lose touch with my most sensitive feelings. It's such a strange play of events.

Perhaps you can give me some suggestions or some guidance as to what is going on? Much thanks!

[Manymoons]

Curious

Feelings are certainly a function of the body--the body being the yang (father) generally, as compared to the spirit (yin-mother). As one contracts (yangizes), feelings can become more accute and intensely expirienced. How intense and deep feelings can become is not really limited since the universe is infinite.

Your need to control your feelings seems to be a key factor. I suspect that as you contract and come down into your body more, which is a good thing as it affords being more in the moment, you feel uncomfortable because your spirit
and body (mother and father--yin/yang) are not as integrated as they could be. It seems your spirit is not able yet to deal with the bodies intensity.

This is not unique to you alone. Rest assured that this is what everyone on this earth has to deal with. We are living human beings made of body and spirit (yin/yang). The closer together our yin/yang become the closer we come to the center of ourselves and the universe at large. They are probably one in the same. This is the game of life.

Do not feel guilty that you are not able to deal with all of your feelings. To varying degrees---who is? Certainly not me. There is much integrating and growing to do, but this is the "meat" of being alive. Realize that what you are expiriencing is your truth and feel no shame for that, but look as best you can at it and learn. The process of integrating yin/yang is the path of living. We can choose to avoid the process and go on a yinnizing spiral or confront our limitations and go on a yanizing spiral.

It is important to not go beyond ourselves. Takeing it slowly and carefully is the best. Remember the bigger the front the bigger the back--easy come easy go.

A small speck of what could be volumes.

It is devine to be human
Manymoons

[Curious]

Hi Manymoons, I just wanted to say that your posts are continually full of great insight. If you were ever to begin a blog or write a book (which I highly reccomend) you should let us know! Because it would be extremely enriching to read. Much thanks - Curious

[lysia jones]

Klara, I think you just want love... maybe. For me that time of the evening is when I need to rest but I already stayed up a bit longer trying to feel satiated with readind, movies and yeah a snack. But truthfully than is when I feel like sharing loving healing touch. Or if I am alone a nice bath w a good book and tea gives me the good cozy feeling I need for restful sleep. Treat yourelf w other sensuous pleasures and save the food for when your day. But do go to bed or you will get hungry if your up too late. Lysia