So as we begin this eating meditation practice,
We can come back and find a posture that's going to best support us.
And perhaps that's going to be a seated posture.
And of course,
You're welcome to stand if that would be more supportive.
As we begin,
I'll invite you to close your eyes or just lower your gaze just for a moment as we arrive for this meditation.
Checking into this body at this moment in time.
And perhaps just noticing what might be happening inside,
Knowing that we're about to embark on an eating meditation.
Is there excitement?
Is there anticipation?
Joy?
And there could also be anxiety,
Uncertainty.
Whatever is there,
Just acknowledging it like a friend joining you at the table.
And if your eyes were closed,
Allowing them to open and allowing your eyes to rest on the food that you've chosen to be nourished with in this practice.
Just noticing all the visual physicalities of this food.
The shape,
The colors,
The size.
And then noticing any internal responses to just looking at this food.
Is there perhaps a craving or desiring?
And now I want you to imagine the journey that this food took to get to your home or wherever you are.
Bringing to mind how it came about,
If there was perhaps farmers involved,
Animals,
Maybe soil or sunlight.
And you can think about the numerous hands and people that helped to assemble this item,
To package it or process it.
The people that transported it to the store,
To your door.
Just touching into some gratitude for all the various touch points.
And now I invite you to pick up this object or piece of this object,
This object of food,
And using your sense of touch to explore the different textures.
Whether there's softness,
Stickiness,
Oiliness,
Firmness.
Noticing the physicality of this food.
And also noticing what's happening inside.
As you continue to explore,
Seeing if you can look and touch as if this were the very first time you've ever held this piece of food.
And now I invite you to bring this food up to your nose and allow your sense of smell to engage.
Is there a scent to this food?
And what does that smell like?
And maybe there's an absence of scent.
And that's okay.
And as you breathe in,
Seeing if you notice what's happening inside.
Are there any physical sensations that are occurring like watering of the mouth?
And now move this piece of food to the front of your lips.
Maybe having just a little bit of distance,
Almost being able to taste it.
And again,
Noticing what's happening inside.
Is there a wanting to put it into your mouth?
Is there more anticipation?
And now without chewing just yet,
I invite you to place this piece of food inside of your mouth.
You can use your teeth and tongue to explore the texture.
And we're still in the exploration of physicality mode.
Not yet chewing.
If you've already begun chewing,
It's okay.
What is the experience like to have this piece of food in your mouth?
And again,
Treating this experience as if it were the very first time you've ever eaten this particular item.
And now I invite you to slowly chew with intentionality,
Allowing yourself to experience the different flavors that might be bursting or gushing or flooding out.
And maybe there's more of a crunch sensation or texture.
What's it like to enjoy this and to really savor it?
And going ahead and allowing yourself to swallow if you haven't already.
Having this food going into your body,
Providing nourishment and possibly enjoyment.
What does it feel like now?
Maybe you can still feel the sensation of this item in your mouth.
Maybe a lingering shadow of what was there.
Perhaps a sense of contentment.
Maybe even a desire for more.
And if you have a second sliver or piece,
You're welcome to enjoy another bite with mindfulness.
And if not,
You can simply rest in the experience of what that was like.
And this is a practice of slowing down and savoring.
And it goes beyond savoring the actual food you've ingested and also savoring the entirety of your experience in your mind,
In your body,
In your heart.
As we bring this practice to a close,
Know that you can enjoy future foods that you've had,
Food adventures with some mindfulness.
Every bite could be like this and it could just be the first couple of bites.
And if you'd like to take a deeper breath,
You're welcome to as we signal the end of this eating meditation.
