Five Element Thanksgiving Feast: Feng Shui Tips for a Balanced Holiday Meal

Hey guys welcome to the Learn Feng Shui podcast where you'll Learn Feng Shui from a classical point of view taking out the myth and Superstition so if you're interested in learning fun Chinese astrology all things Chinese metaphysics as well as the superstitions and myths that connect it all you'll enjoy learning funu with me hey guys welcome to the Learn Feng Shui podcast we're going into Thanksgiving here in the US it's a holiday where we pull out all the stops it's a day for delicious hearty foods that fill us up and bring everyone together but did you know you can balance your Thanksgiving meal with the five elements of traditional Chinese medicine for better digestion warmth and overall well-being and that's what we're going to be looking at today I'm Kaa Bera certified funu practitioner and red ribbon professional with the international funu Guild today we're looking at Thanksgiving through the lens of Chinese metaphysics and the view of Chinese medicine Chinese medicine does view Health as a balance of the five elements wood fire metal earth and water each element does represent a different organ and energy inside your body and foods are also closely linked to specific organs by choosing foods that align with these organ systems we can promote balance and enhance your overall Health today we're going to explore how each element can support you during these cold months and can help aid in your digestion and nourish your Kidney Health which are important this time of year we're also going to look at simple ways to keep your body warm and energized like light stretching things like that which is especially important during this time of year for your circulation so let's create a Thanksgiving feast that's not only satisfying but also brings Harmony to your health and your holiday table I'm going to skip some of the hard hitters like the turkey and the stuffing and all that but instead look at just how we can incorporate this in maybe some sides maybe just through intention and even actions and add these different elements to balance our holiday season all right let's get into it starting first with Digestive Health Thanksgiving meals are rich and very filling and digestion really is the key to avoid feeling weighted down we know that things like turkey and wine can make us very sleepy which I think it's totally fine to take that after Thanksgiving meal nap but you want to add foods that can support your digestion earthy foods like sweet potato squash and pumpkins are naturally sweet and rich in fiber they can help with digestion and support with that energy but when we're looking at sweet potatoes we want to make sure that we're not adding a lot of excessive sugar to things because of course that does not help our digestion when we're looking at these Foods we're going to remember that although we do add a lot of these foods and they're broken down into pies and sides and desserts and stuff like that adding just maybe a scoop of the food that in its natural state without sweeteners can Aid in that process and not a lot of excessive salt and sugars okay so when we look at sweet potato squash and pumpkins maybe add a little scoop of it to some oatmeal following the morning after a big meal can help it push through there pass through a greens of course like hail the salads we usually eat in Brussels sprouts of course are high in fiber and eight in digestion raw foods raw vegetables the carrots the Cucumbers it's going to help add into your digestion and add a refreshing balance of course to those heavier dishes and they do represent the element of wood and help nourish your liver and gallbladder which of course produce secretions that help you digest and break down that food so remember the liver is very important for that number two looking at warming foods for your circulation can help add the fire energy so it also helps add warmth and joy to your season we're in this cold weather season we're transitioning we need to make our circulation and our kidneys a number one priority this time of year and your reproductive organs reproductive organs are also represented by the element of water foods that can support our kidneys are walnuts kidney beans black sesame seeds um adding salty foods that are naturally salty like sardines crabs clams I know some people make like clam stuffing all those can be added the potato that's usually included is supposed to help but even things we can add to our salad like water crests and like seaweed string beans those are all going to be kidney nourishing cranberries cranberries are usually associated with kidney health and our holiday staple some fresh cranberry sauce with less added sugar to enjoy those benefits can be very helpful cranberries are also said to help detoxify the liver and we just talked about the liver and they do calm the body and clear of excess heat which reduces inflammation we want warmth but we don't want extra heat some of those salty foods can increase inflammation or water retention so adding some fresh FR berries maybe even a little fresh cranberry juice which is super bitter I know and not wonderful but just adding a little shot of it to meal that day can help reduce some of that inflammation from the salt cranberries also with their bright color and tangy flavor do align with the fire element you can help bring warmth to your meal also for it's supposed to be good for your heart also these cranberries so they serve a variety of purposes and can fall under more than one category just the warmth and joy and socialness of the Season can bring that warmth of the fire element to your home and adding things like spices cloves cinnamon can add a festive touch and we can do this with hot beverages spiced cranberry sauces um cinnamon infused desserts you know wines spice wines teas and of course pies and desserts we can add cinnamon to all that and even just a burning pot or into your holiday smells if you burn candles burn some cinnamon scented candles the metal element we can look at respiration and Clarity so remember it is associated with the lungs but also the energy of clarity so we can use it this time of year to kind of gain some insight into ourselves um just that kind of self-reflection is a metal energy sometimes we have a little bit of downtime maybe we can do some quiet reflection um but foods that can also support this are going to be fermented foods which also a in digestion maybe a little Kombucha tea to wash our our dinner down you know afterwards but things like radishes bitter Foods mustard greens mushrooms turn up radishes and even Ginger and onions are all things we can easily incorporate into our cooking that can support that metal element and one thing that I found I thought was really interesting it was exploring gratitude with the Five Element remember we don't just have to add our these into our Foods here from this website basic balance key.c which I'll link to in the show notes basically it starts off talking about how Thanksgiving reminds us to focus on gratitude and all the ways our lives are enriched both big and small it offers a unique perspective by exploring gratitude through the five elements of wood fire earth metal and water and looks at how each element can shape and deepen our understanding of gratitude this season she explains it by saying that she finds gratitude within the lens of all five of the elements she writes The Fall season is the metal element this is the element that speaks to connection with Heaven's Purity refinement and discernment without judgment between what's right and wrong and to me gratitude comprises a sense of something bigger a guiding force either inside or outside of myself so for me gratitude is the energy of the metal element also that the metal element is represented by the west and the energy of being social and communicating and it's almost this party atmosphere having wine and song and that is embodied in the energy of a Thanksgiving or holiday get together and some interpretations of funu also represents creativity in children that can also be your inner child which Sparks that almost that feeling of Christmas time that anticipation of the holidays that you used to feel I think doing fun little activities and taking a little time off of work to play the fire element now are hearts are the organ of the fire element which speaks to the summertime a lack of rules and Boundary and the emotion of Joy if gratitude creates an uplifting sensation in our heart space this is the energy of the fire element for me gratitude is the energy of the fire element and of course we fill that with the anticipation and joy of the holidays the virtues of the wood element are patience forgiving and kindness the Y organ of wood the liver governs the free flow of energy throughout the body allowing having a sense of Peace ease and going with the flow the relaxed sensation I witness in the my muscles in back and shoulder proves for me that gratitude is the energy of the wood element the Earth element gathers people together it's about cultivating Community sharing and nourishing others but also ourselves it's the energy of the mother there's a sense of support and camaraderie and so for me gratitude is energy of the Earth element and the virtue of water element is wisdom and inner peace it's the connection with the inner knowing of truth it's clear for me gratitude is the energy of the water element and I really just love that she connects all five of the elements and relates them to gratitude so may we find some gratitude this holiday season we've looked at the foods and being grateful let's stay on this continued theme of being healthy for this winter season here remember November is a month with strong water energy and fires low so of course we just talked about keeping warm and circulation and so doing just some activities like chiong deep breathing light stretching and even Tai Chi or getting a massage can be relaxing some Epsom salt soaks and maybe just a casual short walk introspection reflection and planning and of course going to bed earlier if Poss possible these are all things that you can incorporate to Aid in your circulation and even digestion because of course um yoga and certain stretches can help with your digestion also uh mindful enjoyment so just be mindful of your meal just really appreciate and savor it don't try to scarf it down too fast going to bed a little bit earlier this time of year is recommended maybe you and your partner have a little bit more time off and decide to connect more intimately which is pretty usual this time of year uh especially around the holidays but in traditional Chinese medicine the winter season is linked to the kidneys it's also linked to the reproductive organs your urethra and your bladder so during this time it's essential to protect and conserve your body's energy in that way try not to over exert yourself with too much intimacy and remember to go to the restroom afterwards to maintain a healthy bladder and urethra function so just a little warning to you ladies all right guys well I hope you enjoyed today's episode just remember that incorporating those five elements of traditional Chinese medicine into your Thanksgiving meal can enhance balance and well-being support your digestion warm your body tone your kidneys and adding that mindful movement like light stretching can help you feel nourished and energized so thanks for joining me today I hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving next week will be spooky geography so we're going to look at the land form in places that are rumored to be haunted or have unusual paranormal phenomena I think that'll be pretty interesting all right guys we'll catch you guys then bye for free energy mapping of your floor plan please check the link in the show notes to support today's podcast go to learnfengshui.com sign up for emails leave a review and share with 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