Where are we hanging out when we are gathered in a party: in the kitchen. For thousands of years the fire in the middle of a home whether a tent, a hut or a house has been the place where a meal would bring people together and share in union, friendship, laughter, news and building relationships. In previous conversations on the important areas of a harmonious house, I talked about three significant spaces: the entrance, the bedroom and the third is the kitchen. When its setting, atmosphere and functionality are nurturing it makes the home into more of a sanctuary. Nourishing food and drink becomes an important value for body, mind and soul.
Some kitchens are so soiled
That they lack inspiring us to actually cook in them and prepare nourishing meals?
Due to living in a fast food society many times the kitchen has lost its place in the living dynamic of a family or has shifted to provide for fast meals on the go. We use the microwave instead of the stove or oven. Does it produce better food? –No. During my twenties my mum and I visited in an American family. When we offered them to prepare a meal for them as a thank you, they were totally surprised that we wanted to cook in their kitchen. This family had never used it except for storing drinks and ready to microwave food and they were eating out everyday morning till evening. I was shocked. I could not believe this existed being from Europe. I remember that I had the best conversations and times of my life in the kitchen of my friends and family.
A friendly and inviting kitchen
Is a space where we connect to mother earth. Anything that reminds us of her such as real plants, flowers, fruits, herbs images of food, animals, gathering around food and nurturing. It combines the energy of yin and yang. The yin aspect is represented by the food that grounds us and by a table with chairs to eat and digest. It allows relaxing and resting with a drink and a book. It invites the kids to be part of the cooking and baking activities and so joins the family. The washing, the cutting, the mixing, cooking and baking is yang active energy. So are the sink, the dishwasher, the fridge, all element of water that help in these processes. In modern kitchens the element of water dominates and thus is important to be placed in the right order with the stove that is element of fire. You want to avoid them being opposite each other because the water extinguishes fire.
The stove plays a central role
As it creates the meals. In former times we still celebrated the connection to fire. It is very archaic and ignites the spirit of our inspiration, of warmth, of community and the heart of the earth. In her womb there is hot volcanic magma. In the five element system the element fire belongs to the heart. We want to place the stove in an empowering position so that the cook is facing the main activities in the kitchen and not having his/her back to the door.
One of my clients was depressed in her kitchen. She had a closed patio in front of her window blocking the view into the yard. I suggested taking it down and making an open deck instead. After the renovations she was so happy looking into her garden, seeing her flowers and vegetable beds. She was inspired now again to cook with joy.
Have healthy and delicious smells in your kitchen instead of rotting of organic waste. Exchange it at least every three days.
Enjoy cooking as an act of love
The more you cook with Mother Earth’s simply organic ingredients and the resonance of her love, the more your family and friends are filling their body, mind and soul with it.
