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Last Saturday was Deepavali and in our community class we explored how attachment can blind discernment. When we are too close visually or emotionally to a situation we lose perspective. This is what conditioning does to us. It makes us lose sight of our priority. Stepping back and observing is required to see clearly and refocus. We also need to act on what we see which is step two.
Churning Of The Unconscious
The unconscious can be looked at like an ocean of flow, of cyclic birth and death and being trapped there which is called samsara. The unconscious can also be seen as an ocean of samskara, or habit patterns and imprints, which need to be allowed into awareness. Sometimes just allowing will take time - a long time. Some conscious churning or effort is needed to detox. This is like churning butter to bring what lies buried to the surface. That is why in all the Arkaya Tantra Yoga practices there is a gentle, conscious churning and clearing that happens through all the reconnective practices. These help us reconnect and churn the body, emotions and mind into well being.
Becoming conscious, of our own unconscious, will help us see the driving forces of our lives and sift through and shift what needs to be soothed and streamlined.
There is a story of the churning of the ocean and that is listed in the Mahabharatha, Bagwat Purana and Vishnu Purana. It is the coming together and tug of war between the devas (celestial beings) and asuras (lightless beings). In the story they actually churn the milky ocean using Mount Mandara as the churning rod and Vishnu takes on the form of Kurma, a large tortoise, to stabilise the mountain below. The snake Vasuki is used for the churning as well and the devas and asuras line up on either side of the mountain, holding onto the ends of the snake to use it as a rope.
Blessings As Well As Toxins
There are many beautiful things that come to the surface as we work the body and move the emotions through the body. However there is hala hala, or poison that arises as well. And Shiva, at the call of his devotees, swallows the poison so it does not impact us. Shiva means “consciousness,” “auspiciousness,” and “change for the better.” So whenever we are faced with old poison or hala hala we invoke this energy to see, sift and shift. Many good things also come to the surface, as depicted by a beautiful kalpavriksha (wish fulfilling tree), a wish fulfilling cow called Kamadhenu, a celestial elephant named Airavatha and other elephants, horses, and many beautiful plants like parijatha with flowers of divine fragrance.
The most notable of what comes to the surface is Goddess Lakshmi and Dhanwanthari who finally appears with the pot of amrit, or the nectar of immortality that heals even death of the body. This is the blessing that comes, however, even then the effort does not stop. One has to feed the amrit or nectar to the devas, or ones in light, and not the asuras who will also ask for their fair share for churning. Yet they have to be distracted and not immortalised. That is where discernment and not always thinking in a linear fashion comes into play.
Continuing The Story Of Rama, Sita And Lakshman Returning Home
Last week we learned how Rama brought his wife back from Ravana, who had abducted her, and how their way back to Ayodhya was lit up by the people of the land. This light shows them home. Even after returning to Ayodhya they do not have a happily ever after tale and there are other challenges to face. However the whole city lit up in deepam (lamps), to welcome the three of them, is a reminder for us that despite challenges we can find our way back home. We can follow the light that many wise people who love us have lit on the path. We can also throw light on this journey of clarifying the unconscious to others, just like we churn and clarify butter and then share it.
Marzipan Recipe
In my early thirties, I loved flying with Lufthansa to Vancouver as the stop in Frankfurt allowed me to get marzipan at the airport. As much as that was wonderful it was a bit too sweet for me. I learnt to make my own soon.
I knew they were simple pure, organic ingredients with no preservatives, if I made them, and if I might say so, tasted waaay better!
Overview
Preparation time: 5 to 10 minutes
Cook time: Zero
Ingredients
1) 200 gms organic almond meal
I used West Point Organics available from Greens Market in Kitsilano, Vancouver. The photo below will show you all of the brands I used.
2) 6 tbsp organic maple syrup (can use less if you like).
I made it for friends, so did not want to go too low on the sweet. You can also substitute with other sweeteners. I used a brand from the farmers market, though I usually get the organic one from Greens. This was from a small family run farm and pesticide free. Please see photo.
3) 1 tsp natural almond extract
4) Pinch of salt (optional)
5) Any additional flavours. Possibilities are:
rose water, orange blossom water, cardamom, black sesame roasted and ground up, cocoa, carob, rose hip, beetroot, hibiscus powder or maca root powder to dust.
Get creative with flavours to mix in and also powders to dust on or coat. You can also add in MCT oil if you feel you are missing healthy fats. Some oils like milk thistle, hemp and flax oil can also be added depending on your needs, but in the beginning keep it simple. Experiment later as some of the oils can change the flavour
Method
Mix the first three ingredients in a bowl.
Make into shapes you like. It needs to be the right consistency to be able to mould it into shapes.
Even if you do not have moulds you can make many shapes with your hand. Roll into balls, flatten the balls into discs, roll them into logs... again, get creative!
Voila! You have marzipan!
Making Flavours
Add half the amount of almond flour to the bowl, 3 tablespoons of maple syrup and one tsp of almond extract.
Roll with your hand into logs. These are the small uncoloured ones you see in the photo.
To the dough that was left, add a tsp of rosewater, some more of the almond flour and maple syrup.
Mix and put into heart shaped moulds and shape it.
Using a sieve, dust rose hip powder and then hibiscus powder on top. Both are very rich in vitamin C and antioxidants.
To the remaining almond meal, I added 1 tsp cardamom powder, rolled into balls and flattened the balls.
I had roasted ground black sesame seeds in a jar already which I used to dust on the flat discs. Interestingly the black sesame, which has a slightly bitter taste, was a hit. The black sesame powder can be added to oat milk or any milk to drink. It is high in calcium and zinc and builds healthy bones for vegetarians. They are also extremely good for digestive health. Sesame seeds and sesame oil are a staple in south India, where I come from. They are also rich in B vitamins and iron. I like the black version on desserts and to embellish as it looks more dramatic :) Plus the darker the vegetable or seed, the more the antioxidants.
I have made cocoa ones in the past as well. Here I coated the marzipan balls with I tbsp cocoa powder added to 1 tsp shavings of cocoa butter melted in a double boiler. Then I add a bit of maple syrup if you want it sweet. The cocoa was too stimulating for me so I ditched it this time :)
