by Roxanne -

Babette’s Feast

Photo Babette's Feast

Babette’s Feast (same name as the film) came about when I and two friends decided to prepare an autumn feast. One of us (not me;-))lived in a large, old, Victorian home in Hyde Park, Chicago.

We invited family and friends. I remember that my brother and his kids were visiting Chicago and joined us. We created a menu of autumn foods. Everyone was asked to bring one ingredient. No one knew what their ingredient would be used for.

When everyone arrived, guests were asked to help chop, slice, and prepare the food. People who had never met found themselves sharing a cutting board and cooking together. Apples were peeled. Pies were assembled. Chickens and vegetables were roasted with garlic, lemons and herbs. Rolls were baked.

Layers and layers of linens draped the table. Squashes, pumpkins, and if I recall, wheat, candles and bread decorated the center of the table. We even found Limoges china in a hidden cabinet in the dining room! We used it. Cloth napkins and wine glasses were carefully placed.

We all gathered. Candles were lit. Wine was poured. Thanksgiving was offered. Food was shared. Incense was burned. Cello, voice and piano entertained everyone afterward. It was an amazing dinner. An amazing evening.

Photo Babette's Feast

Over the years I continued to plan Babette’s Feasts. I have organized dozens of Babette’s Feasts with many diverse groups of people. The menu has been completely different each time. Seasonal and local food is used whenever possible.

People come, prepare, share a meal, celebrate and are changed. Many experience the healing of being with a healthy community for the first time in their lives. It is always a powerful experience.

It is lavish. It is extravagant. It is elegant. It is simple. It is not expensive. But it is eucharist, thanksgiving, hospitality experienced in a very profound way. It nourishes the body, refreshes the spirit and renews the soul. God is made present and She is smiling!

Photo Red Couch Recipes

Some of the best ways to get the feeling of Babette’s Feast is to watch the movies: Babette’s Feast, Chocolate, Amelie or Like Water for Chocolate. Some books that are fun and uplifting to read along the same line are The School of Essential Ingredients by Erica Bauermeister and the classic, Like Water for Chocolate.

by Roxanne -

Salut! To Your Health!

Photo A. Meshar

Almost every major religious tradition has an understanding of human health, healing or wholeness as a process of becoming focused on others. In Yoga this is understood as the dharma. The dharma is our duty or obligation to live in right relationship with others. This involves caring for others but also standing up for those who are vulnerable.

Judaism, too, has a tradition of right relationship and preferential option for those who are weak and vulnerable. Many times in the Bible God tells the Israelites that in order to be in right relationship with God they must be in right relationship with others. This entails being able to see the world through others’ eyes. This tradition carries over into Christianity as well.

Even Western medicine advocates volunteering or focusing on others as one of the steps in treating depression.

In our extremely individualistic, North American culture many get caught up in a personal, private spirituality. Christians may refer to “my salvation” or “your salvation.” But theologian Anthony Gittins, CSSp had this to say in his scripture reflection for January 2, 2011:

”Charisms are the Holy Spirit’s gift, but they are intended for others, and thus for giving, for sharing. Because they are not just for ourselves, they must not be selfishly hoarded. Paul emphasizes this when addressing the community at Ephesus, but, in a way, it provides a leitmotif for today’s feast and readings. “For us, and for our salvation” is the way we acknowledge the Incarnation: the coming of Jesus, and that means not simply ‘many,’ but ‘all.’

So each of us, recipients of the divine gift, must also be givers. What we have received, we must give and share with others. The privatization of spirituality – the “me and Jesus” mentality – is bogus and unChristian unless it is counterbalanced by a centrifugal missional outreach. Jesus fills us up so that we can be emptied out as he was, for the good of the world. As we become depleted, God replenishes us; as we are filled, so we can be emptied out again.”

“Salvation” (from the Latin word salve) means healing and wholeness. This is holiness. Service and a focus on others are the means by which we enter into the process of salvation and healing in Christianity. It begins in this life, with our consent, and continues beyond our death. Salvation is both Christianity’s promise and its goal: to make us truly human, who we are meant to be. To make us whole.

Like the orchids in the photo, unless the entire plant system is healthy, none of the individual flowers will bloom or survive. The health of each flower depends on the health of the whole plant.

As the French say: Salut! To your health!

Roxanne

P.S. Tomorrow a short trip to Paris, then I think we shall go to Dublin (via this blog of course!).

by Roxanne -

Isn’t it Romantic?

Photo Apt. Therapy

In a previous post I mentioned that I was searching for a word to focus on for the new year. That word will be romance. The idea of romance and our great life romance has been appearing in many ways.

I think we are constantly being romanced, or seduced if you will, by reality or life itself. A book that explains this well is The Sacred Romance by John Eldredge and Brent Curtis. For me, reading this book was another opportunity to fall more deeply in love. Once we experience this joy we want to share it with others. It’s no accident that we speak about people as being “in love” – because literally they are. We are steeped in it or stuffed in it. Unfortunately we are not often aware of this.

Falling in love with life is a transformative experience. Although this experience creates more joy it also provides clarity. Our connectedness with others and with creation can be felt more intensely. Systems of injustice, discrimination or economic bias can be seen more easily as well. Just as those in love focus on the other, central to this romance is the idea that our well being  depends on the well being of others.

The artist in me seeks ways to create environments that attract and invite others. The pictures in this post show two examples of romantic rooms. While busier than my taste, they do evoke that feeling of romance – of the richness we feel on the inside.

Using items we already have I may try and replicate key elements of this look. Just like romance, these rooms have many layers and textures – rugs, pictures, books (my favorite!) woods, leathers, glass, fabric. However, colors are minimal or neutral emphasizing the layers and textures. The bedding is white, for example. The sofa is a neutral sage or gray. There is a sense of organized clutter along with a sense of calm. They are rooms I would want to spend time in, alone or with others.

Working in retailing taught me that the entire world is a stage or theatre, if you will. Creating a more romantic environment is one step to inviting romance into my life. Continuing to work for the well being of others will be another.

As the year unfolds I will continue to focus, watch and incorporate the idea of romance. Come along  with me . . .

Photo Apt. Therapy
by Roxanne -

Surprised by the Spirit

Photo A. Meshar

For me, the surprise of the Spirit manifests itself in all areas of human imagination. Frankly, God exists in our imagination or God doesn’t exist for us at all. Areas where we see the fruits of the Spirit in the human imagination are especially in education and the arts including music. It’s no accident that artists described themselves as being “inspired,” literally meaning “in the spirit.” Through this manifestation of Spirit we are endlessly surprised and delighted. We begin to see the world, events and relationships in different and unexpected ways. This is what makes art and education so transformative. We are pulled out of our limited way of seeing things.

But God or the Spirit exists beyond our imagination. The world is God’s pallet. Look around. Beauty, surprise and awe are everywhere. Reality delights and astonishes us. But we have to be willing to gaze on it with truly open and loving eyes.

Even the worst and the ugly can be seen as beautiful through the artist’s eye. For example artist Chris Jordan created this gallery Intolerable Beauty: Portraits of American Mass Consumption as a way to help people see the tragedy and devastation of our consumeristic and materialist lifestyle.

Look around today. Spend some time looking out the window. Listen carefully. What beauty and art is presented to you? Drink it in.

You may also like Stars and Spirit Sightings.

by Roxanne -

Yoga Wisdom

Photo Yoga Journal.com

The past few months I have embarked on the study of yoga. While I have been practicing yoga for awhile now I decided to learn more about its philosophy, history and traditions.

Practicing the poses of yoga are only one aspect of this tradition. Through the practice I am really learning about my own limits and how they vary from day to day. I am learning what fits my body and what works best to keep my mind focused and present for each pose. In this way I am learning to be my own teacher. Being my own teacher means being able to recognize what is healthy for me. This wisdom can be carried over into the rest of my life. What choices will keep me present and focused? What choices will keep me physically healthy? What choices will keep me healthy mentally?

Practicing yoga is one way to connect with the teacher within. Deep inside, we have a center point, a place that is our most authentic self. Access it and we can tap into our own wisdom wherever and whenever we need it. Confident in our ability to be present to this wisdom we can work to change systems of poverty, lack and injustice in the world.

Find joy and peace within. Become your own teacher.

You may also like The Human Experience, What Do You Do With Your Suffering? and Spring Cleaning – Saucha.