Today, I was cooking in the kitchen as I was not able to do anything else at that exact moment. I felt I had to go back to the simplest basic activities of life, those which connect us with our nature, with our incarnation and mortality.
Actions which feed and nourish our bodies and souls, with our everyday repetitive gestures, habits, customs and rituals throughout this terrenal cycle of life.
Being conscious is to me, finding value and worth in the simple things of life, understanding it’s part of the journey to acquire contentment.
Sometimes, not to lose the focus, on your way to fulfil your purpose or becoming aware of your full potential, what you have to do is stop and meditate.
Going back to the cooking, I was reflecting like I usually do, thanks to that capacity to turn the mundane into a special “now” moment.
The moment is our present which is the only power we possess as human beings to develop the ability to make the most of it, being able to stop and feel with every pore, every muscle, every sensation, every bit of consciousness that we are alive and well.
I learned some years ago about the sacred found in the rituals involved with alimenting and nurturing the body, thanks to the ancient practice called Ayurveda and present as well in Buddhism. Finding in every ingredient, in every utensil, Mother Earth generosity, ancestral knowledge passed through the generations to attain a state of bliss, creating, elaborating curative and nourishing nectars and recipes, for health, meditation, nourishment, longevity, fertility as well as cosmetic purposes.
But at the same time, the traditions, the rituals, the know-how, the women secret committee and the kitchen being the heart of the family home, was indeed inherited from by Caribbean background, as well.
While, I was frying some Chinese dumplings, separating leaf by leaf, cutting section by section that Pak Choy, to stir-fry in some cashew nuts and fresh chillies, darkening it with some sesame oil and dark mushrooms sauce.
I was thinking how lucky we are to have freshly made food with so many flavours from all over the world. Visualising a back in the days deja-vu, thinking how expensive it was in London to get fresh and healthy food.
That was my gratitude moment of the day, realising how lucky it was, to know about so many different ways of cooking, being creative enough to keep exploring, from the Caribbean region passing through Louisiana, Africa, Greece, Italy, France, Thailand and India; to show your love and appreciation; to simply be alive.
Even though, we like to complicate much, as I learned as well to feel privileged with a nice piece of bread, olive oil and tomato or my ancestral coconut nut good for virtually everything.
Remembering, when I first arrived here in Spain, some twenty years ago; and people eating that fusion food of mine, freaking out, not knowing exactly what it was, but liking it to the point that I ended cooking on yachts and for private catering.
I was back into my childhood memories in Paris, cutting that last bit of defrosted chilli, thinking how difficult it was then, to find or eat what they called “Exotic” food which to us was our own traditional dishes, it was our piece of home.
We always had a bit of a connection with the Asian community, because even home which is Martinique, they were importing and trading those golden spices, rare ingredients and rich flavours.
After all, our national curry is from Sri Lanka and is called “Colombo” made from the powder known under the same name.
I’ve always been a curry myself, between all my ethnic and cultural mixes, in my home, I grew accustomed to dishes from a different part of the world every day.
Maybe that’s the reason why, I embrace so quickly differences, and I don’t see the need for privileges, special status leading to injustices.
I don’t believe in gurus or influencers, or in elites or fame; let alone in an intelligentsia or in the existence of a special human breed.
I believe every human being in this world has something to contribute in his own way, even if it doesn’t go your way or favours yours.
Even the bad or evil, for some reason has its own function on a more global scale, when it comes to bringing about evolution or change.
I had in mind the melting pot this world is today, but still looking at it from a religious and European point of view, imposed or dictated to the masses.
Christianity symbols and holidays are everywhere over shadowing other thousands of spiritualities which are not Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, either…
This is when we hear about Christmas, Thanksgiving, Easter, and any other marked points on any occidental countries which is synonymous with the Christian calendar, for acts of faith and penitence to materialise in this reality.
What about respecting other existences and manifestations on a daily basis, and not punctual moments in time converted into marketing campaigns?
Having humanity has nothing to do with religion or religious beliefs, nor with race, money, erudition and power but spirituality does indeed include life as a dogma or dominant concept to worship, protect and respect. Respect for all kinds of existences, for an inclusive world, where tolerance and freedom of choice prevail.
PHOTOS
