Mindful Thinking and Eating

From the Gaian Tarot, the Elder of Air (King of Swords):

The flute this elder plays is a symbol of paying attention to what one hears and says. The luna moth in the top corner of the card brings to mind the Lunestra commercial (remember the one where a person is sleeping soundly while a large, lime-green moth is floating around the bed?). Lamb, Hair, and MacDaniel, in their book Marketing 10e, reported that the makers of this drug had the highest advertising recall by consumers in 2007. The manufacturer flooded the media with ads until something beautiful in nature became associated with a pill in a bottle. The authors of Marketing 10e include the relevant comment, "firms should hold off advertising a new medicine for an appropriate period of time. This would allow doctors enough time to learn about the risks and benefits of a new medication before television and Web viewers see an ad and demand a prescription." The King of Swords adamantly warns me not to make assumptions or believe everything I hear. Many people aren't looking out for my welfare but their own; I need facts and figures to make the best choice for myself.

From the Goddess Oracle comes "Corn Mother:"

The Corn Mother was a figure known to indigenous tribes of America who relied on corn as a staple. In many myths, she gives her life so that the humans will have something to eat. The Corn Mother reminds me to slow down and be mindful of the nourishment I absorb. Taking the time to eat slowly and choose healthy foods is just as important as choosing what beliefs and ideas I allow in my head.

Survival and Sustenance

   From the Gaian Tarot, the Five of Earth (Pentacles):

A hiker, too deep in the forest to simply walk back out, finds himself surprised by a storm.  He has built a shelter from fallen wood, vines and branches in which to take refuge.  The number five speaks to the challenges of being human.  Survival is an instinctual response - amazing stories have come from people who were determined to beat the odds and live.  Many of these folks had no choice in what happened, and had to deal with the roll of the dice the best way they could.  But in some cases, people are so self-centered and unmindful of what's around them, they miss all the signs that point to what is coming.  Like the hiker above (who should have checked the Weather Channel before his trip), they are so busy with what they want, they fail to consider what they might need.

     From the Goddess Oracle, "Corn Woman: Nourishment:"

In the legends of the Penobscot people, the Corn Mother was a maiden born from the dew and light on a leaf.  She married and had children, but as all the animals the tribe depended on for food began to disappear, the people began to starve.  The woman begged her husband to kill her and bury her bones so that she could supply food for everyone.  He refused at first, but finally gave in when he saw that his children would die soon.  The woman's bones and flesh were transformed into the first corn that sustained the people.  Because she gave her life that others might live, eating was considered a sacred act.  The Corn Mother teaches us that nourishing ourselves should not be considered a chore, rushed or avoided, for all forms of nourishment bring balance and wholeness to our lives.