Understanding Digesting Information And So Continues The Meaning Of Life & Existence (Part 8h)

Read Part 8g - Learnderstanding Like A Baby's First Breath Is Exhilarating And So Continues The Meaning Of Life & Existence (Part 8g)

Pineal Gland

Expecting Too Much Too Soon

Expecting understanding from information before taking in the information is like trying to get nutrition before eating. Expecting understanding without allowing time for digestion is the same as expecting to immediately get the full benefit of food as soon as it is swallowed.

It Takes Time for Digestion & Understanding

Digestion begins the moment food enters my mouth yet I cannot hold food in my mouth and expect complete digestion. Understanding begins the moment information enters my mind yet I cannot hold information in my temporary memory and expect complete understanding.

Food must enter my stomach and intestines, get broken down further, get absorbed into my bloodstream and then reach my cells. Information must reach other parts of my mind, get broken down further, get absorbed into my stream of consciousness and then reach my subconsciousness.

Once food reaches my cells, some of it needs to be broken down even further. It takes time for complete digestion.

Once information reaches the longer-term parts of my mind, some of it needs to be broken down even further. This happens with intuition and wisdom. It takes time for complete understanding.

Improving Understanding

As food passes through my digestive system, my body automatically releases enzymes to assist with digestion. Understanding also requires catalysts to help in the process of breaking down information.

Additional learning is a catalyst to help understand what has already been learned. See the expanding definition of understanding.

Melatonin from my pineal gland helps quiet my basic mind so the spiritual mind can get full access to the information. Melatonin helps the basic mind disengage and rest while the body is also resting, especially during sleep. This is why it is a natural inclination to say, “Let me sleep on it.” I am actually saying, “Let me take my basic mind off of it and allow my spiritual mind to also digest it and then inform my basic mind.” My spiritual mind should also be engaged and working simultaneously with my basic mind during waking hours. Since I am out of practice allowing this to happen, I must spend waking time in silence and stillness and communing in order to retrain myself to listen to my spirit. It often takes many many days of additional living for some decisions to become clear and information to be understood. During that time I must continue to learn.

Remembering My Spirit Capability

It would be inconsistent for a human to be created as a spirit being but not have any ability for spiritual reasoning and the ability to use the spiritual as a way of knowing. It is consistent for a human to be expected to be a human being spirit and also have the ability to always get understanding from spirit in order to always exist in a state of being.in accordance with Manifest Essence.

Related Proverbs:

Unlike opportunity that opens windows and knocks on doors, understanding beckons from inside out into the universal.
The only thing that prevents understanding is already knowing.

Related Quotes:

No need to worry sister; the spirit has an immune system of discernment that works with the stream of consciousness to fish out foreign substances. No need to worry brother; that which should not be absorbed will pass through like fiber but will aid the workings of the mind.

...there is still a continuous need for nutrients. Nutrients are still needed for growth, learning, development, sharpness, daily activities, metabolism, digestion and maintaining health.

Appreciation slows us down. It causes us to chew more and allows time to drift, reflect and absorb the life forces that are saturating our senses and capable of satiating our souls.

Vitamins, calories, fat, etc. are the minutia. Too much of this type of information has come between us and our spiritual intelligence when it comes to knowing what to eat.

Without hesitation he gave a very thorough explanation of the meaning he absorbed.

Each person understood in their own way
Appreciating, absorbing, appreciating.

...an increasing awareness, increases reality, and thus, increases understanding of meaning.

Image of Pineal Gland from Melatonin Research

Read Part 8i - Definition | Consciousness & Communal Family Values And So Continues The Meaning Of Life & Existence (Part 8i)

Gardening - The Hardest Part

Something In The Water

Going outside soon after rain ceases is a time of heightened anticipation. Even if it's still cloudy and temperatures are cooler, plants have progressed noticeably. Seeds, leaves, blossoms and fruit have taken giant steps forward with mother's and father's blessings. I try to remain aware of when it's likely to rain so I won't get in the way of this process by using processed water (tap water) instead.

Rain and shine then rain and shine is optimal for many plants - at least the ones I have, especially the young ones. The young always thrive with a lot of natural love. I get excited when the forecast indicates an every other day or partial day of rain. This elation starts to crescendo when the wind turns up leaves or an expanse of darkness approaches or the perfume in the air invokes a refreshing memory of rain or all three. If I've just scattered seeds, they are destined for a quicker, stronger start.

After an early drenching rain today, I stepped into the backyard. I discovered nine more tomato plants growing all over the garden. Tomatoes have so much resiliency. Several were growing in the midst and shade of other plants. This is another example of why "weeding" to the nth degree seems most unnecessary. I will honor the growth of these thirteen tomato plants to show my appreciation and to experiment again with how much soil space a plant really needs, especially annual edibles. I did cut some of the limbs of nearby plants to allow more exposure to sunlight of these self restarters. This could very well be, The Year Of The Tomato.

There have been many other types of plants popping up all over the yard. Since this is the natural, inevitable way, this year is one of letting things grow where they choose as much as possible. I try to work around these proactive plants in the garden and cut around them in the grass. I'm excited about the single seed growing under the apple tree. Continue to listen to your natural mind it seems to be saying. This new arrival obtained enough nutrition to rise up in shin high grass. This flower must be a fierce competitor to be able to steal nutrients away from an established tree and thick grass. All three are doing fine.

Even though it probably has more to do with the effect of rain on organisms in the soil, there's something in rainwater that is so wonderful for plants. In most cases, rain is more pure than tap water. Plants don't need a lot of the extra, unintended stuff we offer them. They do need as much stuff from natural sources as possible. Lastly, plants don't need us doing a lot of tinkering with prescribed methods and processes. Staying out of the way, if anything, is the hardest part of gardening.

See Also:
Natural World Observations: Going Wild Like A Flower In Spring Breaking Free
Growing Food: Green Thumb Not Required But Three Things Are. Food Fight #51 – Another Grown-Folks Misconception

Food Fight 9: Spiritual Nutrition

Food Fight #9

Nature is a spiritual system just as much as, if not more than, it is a scientific system. Since food is nature, food has a spiritual component. Food contains the spiritual energy and influences of the sun, moon, moisture, soil, organisms, insects, wind, birds and much more. We can receive nutrition from these creating energies if we approach eating as a spiritual experience also.

We acknowledge the spiritual aspect of food when we lift up prayers before eating. Many also celebrate the spiritual connection of food during thanksgivings, harvest festivals, rain ceremonies and daily cultural practices.

When we appreciate, enjoy and take pleasure in food through each of our senses, we tap into spiritual energy. When we appreciate the components of nature that make food possible, our souls are also fed.

If we maintain appreciation while we eat, we can receive the spiritual nutrition already present in food. This is the same nutrition our spirits receive when we appreciate any natural thing such as a beach, forest, park, tree, houseplant, butterfly, fresh air and even a spider for doing one of its things, keeping other insects in check. When we are in appreciation of the natural world, we feel eased and rejuvenated as we acknowledge these gifts. The longer we remain in this grateful state, the better our spirits feel.

Maintaining appreciation while we eat lifts the experience above the physical hunger and pleasure that causes us to eat dangerous things and also causes us to overeat. Appreciation slows us down. It causes us to chew more and allows time to drift, reflect and absorb the life forces that are saturating our senses and capable of satiating our souls.

Previous Posts: Food Fight 1-8

Loving Leaves

The rapid onset of deep Autumn was unsettling. Since then, tomato plants welcomed in from the cold are providing refreshing fruit and energy. As their leaves soak up the southern sun, firm green becomes supple red. The plants and I are adjusting.

Meanwhile, chilled leaves are one of the great pleasures of the season. Although I dread the spring onslaught of thousands of Maple seeds on freshly prepared garden beds, it is the Maple's current combinations of reds, golds, purples, lemon lime and fruit punch that are most delicious. The eye-watering colors shimmering to the breeze, the leafy rainbows sifting downward and the decorative accessorizing of the landscape, link the visual, the spiritual and the practical.

Leaves are adjusting to their critical roles as nutrient recyclers and as earth's organic, biodegradeable blanket. In this way, leaves add life to the largest living organism on earth, soil. Sadly, many leaves never make it home. Instead they are stuck to the hardscape, raked to the curb and either burned or carried away by the bagful and vacuum truckload. What a waste.

Contrary to popular belief, leaves scattered over lawns, flower beds and gardens insulate, feed and strengthen. Leaves covering the ground during winter are essential to the survival of many things. In turn, these microorganisms, insects and animals are essential to healthy lawns and human living environments.

No one rakes the forests, fields and clearings, yet these areas do pretty darn good without lawn care. All the luscious varieties of plant life in these unmanned natural environments, including grass, survive and return every single year.

Enjoy leaves on every level! On any windy Autumn day, try catching a falling leaf. It's much easier than catching a falling star and worth one wish just the same. The next time you look at leaves, love 'em and leave 'em.

Related Links:

Skeletal Existence Poem.

Nature: Friends Like Gardens

Poetry Is A Feeling

Beyond Thanksgiving Towards Personal Growth

Now that we've allowed the thanksgiving Holy Day to become the slingshot into the christmas shopping season, complete with the maniacal black friday opening act, I wonder if thankful is how we're really living?

I am thankful for my portion of the Spirit.
My appreciation lies with my children.
I have much gratitude for those I've never seen but extend their self in order to extend a helping hand. Jeisea is one of those people whose kindness, courage and strength epitomize personal growth and perseverance.
I appreciate those who get up or help others get up.
I am thankful for opportunity more than attainment.
I am thankful for not wasting natural resources.

As I considered what to write for today, I received a call from my sister. I am thankful for conversations. She just turned 50, started her renaissance in her early forties, maintaining rhythm and progressing.

I appreciate having the daily choice to celebrate thankfulness and in my own way. Especially in much smaller, simpler, less overindulgent ways. Can we really be thankful if we're not reaching for our better selves? Any day towards personal growth is a Happy Holy Day yet days we fail to celebrate are just as sacred. Anybody for an everyday celebration or a Personal Growth Party where we eat enrichment, not entertainment, and drink wisdoms and enjoy the desserts of diversity and dreams?

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Eco-Conscious Feet

All this talk about the ecology is wonderful. We are beginning to accept responsibility for our planet whose declining health has come at our hands . Hopefully talk will give rise to sustainable practices that increase understanding and appreciation. I'm half-afraid we are simply “Eco” prefixing: attaching quick (pre) fixes to programs as appeasements to the fad of the moment.

We'll know we're serious about eco-mindfulness when individuals, businesses, schools, not-for profits and governments are doing more each year. It will be confirmed when the human race is a race to see who can do the least to harm the earth. We'll know we've achieved Eco-Consciousness when our efforts are internalized and coordinated. Eco-points will then be a part of every mission statement, not just appended programs.

By the way, many of us were ecologically-minded when Eco wasn't cool. There was no word for it we were just trying to use and not misuse what was so abundantly and freely given. We had the whole world in our hands. This is the kind of power we still have. If we use this power to do something by doing less, the ecology will cure itself.

In other words, the ecology doesn't need our pseudo-superior intelligence to fix a GD thing. It will breathe better if we simply keep our big funky footprints to ourselves.

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Understanding Art

Art is not merely skill or technical ability. Show me someone whose talent is technique and I'll show you clinical creativity, but not art. All creativity is not art. Art emerges from gifts and personal passions. Art is mainly the agility of thought and feeling that remains vibrant through ages despite the art form.

In order to understand art we must become involved beyond looking, hearing or reading. Being open to experience the thoughts and feelings at the heart of art awards us the privilege to receive greater appreciation and awareness. (By the way, open-mindedness is an active state of existence that requires seeking, weighing and trying to understand, not passively waiting and saying, “I'm open-minded. I listen when someone wants to tell me what they believe.”)

The involvement of our mental, spiritual and emotional selves with art leaves room for each individual to have a different experience, thus making art personally relevant and rewarding. This is the agility of art. It causes us to reach, tiptoe or get a stool if we have to. Likewise, it causes us to bend, uncover and discover its nuances.

Understanding is a beautiful thing. To him who engages art and does not wait to be entertained or always expect instantaneous or effortless understanding comes greater treasures, pleasures and insights. This reaffirms the necessity for art to remain individualized in its creation, appreciation and understanding.

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Help!

It’s deeply rewarding when someone (my friend from India) says, “You helped me.” Mind you, I haven’t talked to this person in over a year. Mind you, the “help” they’re talking about happened years before we last spoke; yet they still remember and still acknowledge it as though it just happened. In that moment of sharing, that moment of unique connection, there’s satisfaction, joy and simple pleasure that something done for someone had significance, made a difference and is still appreciated.

Whatever it was I did for this cool person must not have been much or complicated to me because I don’t even remember and I didn’t ask. It really doesn’t matter. Something small given, when needed, is a big deal to the receiver.

It’s deeply encouraging when another someone receives the results of your gift, is blessed and feeds you back by saying they’re going to support everything you do. She said she knows how important it is. Positive energy prepares and preserves the path.

Greater things are always at work. Our need and pleas for help bring answers from unlikely places. We must already have awareness, acceptance and appreciation to receive these blessings and opportunities.

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