ZEN CONSCIOUSNESS

Yuko Tani explained  the wisdom behind “zen food preparation and eating” and taught us interesting new ways to relate to, prepare and eat healthy, delicious vegan foods. We learned about and experienced the different spiritual qualities and ancestral properties of healthy foods grown in the earth, and how we can imbue energies and emotions into our food to bring peace and healing into our bodies and minds.

We experienced some of the special techniques that are used in zen food preparation. We meditated on the vegetables we had chosen and listened to what they had to tell us. We were taught how to properly stand, breathe, and mindfully prepare our food. We each then tossed our prepared vegetables, nuts, seasoned crumbled tofu and a delicious dressing into a large community salad that we mixed with heaping measures of good wishes, prayers and blessings.  We all agreed that it was the most special, most delicious salad we had ever tasted!

SUSHI “MOONDALAS”

We had fun making and eating sushi mandalas. Created using rare black Emperor’s rice from Japan and full-of-flavor organic sushi rice that formed a dinner plate-sized moon, a variety of previously-prepared raw vegetables (including pink lotus root “flowers” also from Japan), and smoked salmon, each “moondala” was unique and beautiful... some of the best sushi we have had.

In October 2010 three talented Japanese artists traveled all the way from Japan to California to bring MoonFlower Meditation to Mount Shasta. It was a unique day-long workshop of zen food, meditation, creative expression and connection to spirit.

Although the Moonflower facilitator, food artist - vegan chef Yuko Tani, had been conducting MoonFlower Meditations in Japan each full moon for the past three years, this event marked the inauguration of her work in the U.S.

A  CULTURAL  EVENT Sponsored by EarthAlive

Yuko also served a vegan lasagna that we all enjoyed. Baked with vegetables, tofu, and a delicious cashew “cheese” sauce, it was unusual and very delicious. Our dessert was an organic non-dairy pumpkin mousse that was out of this world!  It was wonderful to consciously prepare and then eat foods that delighted the taste buds, awakened the senses, and brought healing to body, mind and soul.

FULL MOON MEDITATION & ART

During the “moon meditation and creativity” portion of the workshop, Sumire’s instructions were translated from Japanese into English and each of us were given a large white “full moon” on black paper to gaze on in meditation. Afterwards, we were offered a grand assortment of art supplies that had been brought from Japan. We were instructed to use them to express, each in our own way on our paper moons, what had come to us during the meditation. We then shared what we had created, a fun but also quite deep experience.

The inspiring meditations, new experiences with foods, artistic creations, and sharing of thoughts, understandings, poetry, singing, laughter  -  and even djembe drumming  -  made for a rich, memorable experience. 

To bring MoonFlower Meditation to your community in the US or elsewhere, contact Yuko Tani at moonflower8613@yahoo.co.jp