Number 7 Rice Fast

[Bill]

Hello All...

In case anyone is interested, several of us are doing a group #7 brown rice fast on Rosanna's list (www.rosanna.com) starting today or the next several days. This time of year around the fall equinox is a good time to do this fast. Brown rice nourishes and supports the lungs and large intestines which are the seasonal organs at this time of year according to the seasonal transformations. This season began at the equinox, @September 20/21.

In case someone isn't familiar with #7, it's part of 10 different diets that Ohsawa proposed as covering the relationship between eating food, the human being, and macrobiotic yin/yang. -3 is the most yang/more yang and +7 the most yin/more yin. These are listed in a number of Ohsawa's books, one of which is Zen Macrobiotics (I think).

Short grain brown rice is the most balanced of nature's foods. We can live on it, along with water and air. The idea of this fast is to bring one's body closer to balance. It is also good for intuitive and self-reflective practice. It is not to be taken as a magic bullet approach, but as a way to get more in touch with your natural rhythms and feelings. Ohsawa says you only have to do one in a lifetime to get the idea. You can also do more if you wish.

Some of us will be describing what is happening as the days go by. I am offering support to those who need it. Please join us if you want to.

Thanks,

Bill

[Bill]

Hello again...

I was thinking that we could do the fast here as well if there is anyone interested. It consists of short grain brown rice and maybe a little pickle along with some twig tea or hot water and lemon. The one thing I keep running across when doing these is not getting enough liquid, which shows up in me around day 7.

I eat at approximately the same time I always do, which for me is lunch and dinner. I eat as much as feels right, chewing well (50+ times), and relaxing. There will most likely be discharges and the idea is to let them progress unless I feel too uncomfortable. In any case, you can either ask me or do what you think you should about them.

This whole idea of healing is to become more confident in how your body works and moving towards control and responsibility while moving away from fear and dependency. The fast is a great way to get a feel for this.

Bill

[Roy Collins]

Bill, I'd prefer not to experiment with the rice/fast diet you have outlined as I believe that not all people should be doing this due to differences in health history, age factors, and also because it
may trigger discharge symptoms which will become compounded from normal discharge mechanism brought about by the changing of the seasons. The lemon in tea idea I don't think is appropriate
as it is too extreme as is the diet itself.

While brown rice is balanced in many ways it is not nutritionally complete, lacking two essential amino acids that can be found only in beans. There are a number of vitamins and minerals that are also lacking in brown rice. That is why I, along with other macrobiotics have made certain modifications to the brown rice diet (also called number 7) to insure a more varied nutritional profile. See my former post that discusses this:

http://www.cybermacro.com/forums/for...x.cgi?read=454

I suggest you experiment with this elsewhere or at least on a different forum from the one I am moderating.

In peace, Roy

[Bill]

Roy,

It was only a suggestion for an opportunity to do it however one wanted to do it in a sharing atmosphere, no requirements. Each person can make a decision for themselves as to how. The experience is the only real determining factor as are individual differences.

I will refrain from this sort of thing on your forum in the future.

Thanks,

Bill