Enlivening : Closing the meal

 

Closing the Gate: A Post-Meal Mindfulness Practice

Many of us know this feeling: the plate is already empty, the stomach sends a signal of peace, yet the mouth still seeks a stimulus. This is the moment when a biochemical impulse to snack or overeat attempts to seize control of our decisions.

It is worth understanding that overeating and snacking have a profound biochemical basis and do not depend solely on our willpower. Although the volitional aspect plays a role in making choices, our hormones and chemical reactions often dictate the intensity of the insatiable feelings we experience. However, there are ways of eating that help master the biochemistry underlying these mechanisms.

While the type of diet affects how we conclude a meal and whether we snack in between, even when eating correctly, we may still require a spiritual tool to aid the transition to less impulsive eating. Knowledge alone is sometimes not enough – we need a ritual that, on an energetic and physical level, "dots the i’s and crosses the t’s". Here is a practice that helps you close the gap around eating and return to inner balance.

Practice: Closing the Space

When you feel you have eaten a portion that nourishes you, perform this short process to give your system a clear "End" signal:

• The Thermal Point: Place both warm hands on your solar plexus (just above the stomach). Feel the warmth flowing inward from your hands.

• Abdominal Breath: Take three deep breaths, directing the air so that your hands on your belly clearly rise. Feel the weight and stability of what you have consumed.

• Conscious Swallow: Swallow your saliva with full mindfulness, visualising how this action closes the gate between the outside world and your inner self.

Affirmation

Speak these words in your mind or in a whisper, celebrating the moment of mindfulness:

My body has received the essence it needs. I trust the wisdom of my belly more than the restlessness of my mouth. I am saturated, I am grounded, I am in the process of change.

Remember that every conscious breath after a meal is a return home – to your own body, which knows best what it requires. May this peace remain with you until the next meeting at the table.

Ginkgo and Gaia