From Summer 2003
A lagniappe discussion at CCMA 2002 led many of us to consider the relationship between spirit and food. Some co-ops have started book discussion groups and community gardens because of the impact of the topic, as a way to involve members in the deeper issues of food.
In thinking about how to share the essence of these discussions, I remember a ceremony I participated in several years ago. A friend wanted to use part of her home for public workshops. Her neighbors were upset by the idea and had made several calls to the city protesting her actions. So, she decided to invite a Potowatome elder to perform a ceremony. He instructed her to prepare a meal using local foods. When we arrived, he blessed the food, and we prepared a plate containing small amounts of each food (squash soup, green salad, strawberries and cornbread) and offered it to the spirits of her place by putting it on the Earth outside her door. The elder said some good words about her intentions for this place, and then we ate the food.
Such a simple ceremony and yet, very powerful…connecting each of us with the spirits of my friend’s place through food. My friend never heard another complaint from her neighbors.
To the extent that we are conscious of our intent to connect with the Earth through the food and with the life force that has lived in our food, we can also connect with the life energy of other people. I invite you to bring spirit and food together in your co-op and see what happens.
