Thanksgiving Leftovers? Here's a MetaSpiritual Perspective!
Did you overindulge on Thanksgiving day? There is a tendency to cook way more food than any normal person could possibly consume … and inevitably we have leftovers. But there are those of us who content that the leftovers are actually the best part! Any good home chef knows the 4 secrets to transforming leftovers into magnificent menus: Stretch; Combine; Reinvent; and Creatively Plate! We can use these same four steps to create a MetaSpiritual Menu that fills us up with Spiritual Enrichment – not just for Thanksgiving, but all year long!
STRETCH
Lots of great recipes exist to stretch your turkey dinner leftovers, such as casseroles, pot pies, and soup. It means seeing a main ingredient in a variety of different ways. For example, turkey is a category, and can be see not just as the central meat of a meal, but as an ingredient to use in many variations (sliced, cubed, ground up, etc.). In the same way, we invite you to Stretch your Meditation Practice. Remember Meditation is simply a category (like “Music” or “Sports” or “Books” ... or "Food!"). Dive into the variety of meditative practices, such as eating, walking, art, dancing, drumming, labyrinth walk, journaling, etc., and try new ones to spice up your meditation practice! Hey! You could even invent your own!
COMBINE
The "combine" concept of using leftovers creatively invites you to mix and match different ingredients to create something new, such as combining leftover turkey, vegetables, and rice for a stir-fry. In the same way, you can combine the rituals, practices, teachings, and concepts from a variety of resources, and adapt them to create the perfect spiritual enrichment for you. For example, we use Buddhist mindfulness, the Jewish Mezuzah concept, Spiritual Communion, Sufi stories, and Jesus’ parables. Move away from labels, and design your own Metaspirituality!
REINVENT
Smart home cooks and Michelin Star chefs all use the technique of Reinventing to make leftovers look brand new and special! In the same way, you can reinvent the art of Gratitude. The word is used a lot, and as a result, it sometimes loses its significance. Try new ways to use gratitude:
- Begin and end your day with gratitude.
- Challenge yourself to discover gratitude when you are dealing with difficult situations or people.
- Try 30 days writing a Gratitude Journal, with each day’s entries being something different!
You get the idea! Flip Gratitude on its head and see it from fresh, new angles.
CREATIVELY PLATE
Creative Plating is all about how you serve up your food! Smart chefs realize we eat first with our eyes, so special care is given to how the plate looks. The same is true with your spiritual practices:
- Set aside a special place to set up items that spark your inner peace and meditative spirit.
- How many ways can you use reminders of your Divine Nature in your decorating?
- What kinds of music do you have readily accessible to listen to, at a moment’s notice, to soothe your spirit?
Get creative about how you surround yourself with the beauty from the Field of Infinite Potential!
Your Take-Away:
Just as the abundance of Thanksgiving doesn't end when the table is cleared, your spiritual nourishment shouldn't be limited to a single day or a rigid routine. You are the executive chef of your own MetaSpiritual experience.
By intentionally stretching your awareness, combining wisdom traditions, reinventing your gratitude, and creatively plating your environment, you turn daily practices into a continuous feast.
Dig into the Field of Infinite Potential—there are endless delicious possibilities waiting to be served.