A Fish Story
Written by Lisa on March 2, 2010 – -by Lisa Marie Lindenschmidt
Mo has this uncanny ability to make the supposed mundane have great spiritual significance. Take the fish incident.
Over the past 13 years or so, my family has moved through a myriad of dietary choices. We’ve gone from vegetarian to vegan to raw vegan and are now focusing on a whole food approach. We still consume a lot of raw vegan foods, but have been experimenting with incorporating raw, local, organic dairy (such as homemade goat’s milk kefirs and chevres and raw butters), local eggs, and sprouted and cooked whole grains. We have had amazing success with this, I believe, because we cleaned out our systems first with a high raw vegan diet. Also, after reclaiming our stomachs and their true needs, we’ve all gained a new perspective on appropriate portions. Now, when we eat, it is from a place of true appreciation – for the taste of the food, yes, but more for its medicinal value. Our food consumption has truly become ritualistic in nature… something I’ve been striving for for years.
So, when the idea of meat came up, we had to talk. Mo, who’s been a vegetarian all her life, decided she’d like to try some fish, specifically salmon. She told us that she’s been getting signs from the Divine that are all pointing her towards salmon. We listened. We talked a lot about what bringing home salmon, cooking it, and consuming it would mean for our family. We are the family that has never had meat touch our dishes, our utensils, or any of our cookware. Would this change anything spiritually for our house? Would it be possible to do this in a way that fostered honour and reverence for all involved – including the fish?
The night we decided to do this, we had a massive rainstorm. The wind was howling and the rain was being slashed sideways. Mo said, “I think it’s cool that it’s raining outside. The Water energy wants us to pay attention tonight.” In our religion, the Water Element symbolizes emotions, flexibility, growth, change, fluidity. It was a great observation given the situation. This was the weather I ventured into to find our fish.
I went to a natural foods store and picked up a pound of the best salmon I could find. (We have a great market here that carries amazing “natural” meats.) I brought it home and we all stood around while I opened the package. “Wow, it smells strong,” said Mo. “Can I touch it?” Jim and I encouraged her to touch it, pick it up, notice the way that the fish felt in her hands, and think about how those muscles needed to move in the environment it was living in. Jim discussed the way that salmon can move from fresh water to salt water. We talked about the symbolism of the fish jumping upstream to mate and the mythology inherent in the salmon’s wisdom.
Jim and Mo then rubbed melted coconut oil, garlic, lime juice, black pepper, and sea salt into the fish, covered it, and baked it. Before we sat down to eat, we said a prayer to thank the fish and to ask for some of its wisdom.
As we were sitting down to take our first bite, Mo said she was nervous, that this was a huge step for her. This was hard for me. I was raised on meat and had a familiarity with it that she’s never had. I had none of this trepidation. She took the first bite and said, “Wow. It’s really good. It kind of taste like mushrooms.” I loved the irony: a vegetarian kid trying to fit the fish into the only world she’s known!
She ended up eating only half her portion, claiming that it was really rich – which I thought was cool of her. She’s always been so good at listening to her body. I asked her how it felt to eat it: did she feel different energetically? How did it feel in her stomach? “It’s a lot to process. There’s a lot going on at one time,” she said. I let it go at that.
The next morning she came to me and said, “I’ve done a lot of thinking and praying about this, and I think that I don’t want to eat meat. I’m glad I tried it, but I don’t think it’s for me right now.” I told her that was absolutely OK and that I probably wouldn’t be eating it again for a while myself. “It was pretty intense, hungh?”
Maybe that salmon did pass some of its wisdom onto us after all.
Lisa Marie Lindenschmidt is a raw foods chef and teacher and owner of Rite Food and Company (www.ritefoodandcompany.com), which offers workshops on intentional and joyful eating. Lisa Marie and her homeschooled daughter, Mo, record a weekly podcast – called Sweet Peas Podcast – chronicling their raw foods journey together.
Tags: getting off psychiatric drugs and medication, Sisterhood Spotlight
Posted in Raw Food for Kids | 6 Comments »
By Shannon Shakaya Breeze on Mar 5, 2010
You handled this so beautiuflly Lisa, your whole family did. PLEASE keep us all posted on what happens next in your dynamic family especially around this dip into the animal kingdom…Btw, would you ever eat fish raw? although some worry about parasites, I have read so much about fresh fish being healthier for us in the raw state…I myself eat raw fish occassionally- I have been adding bits of salmon as well as keifer and yogurt to my children’s diet- well, the yogurt has been ongoing for years now- plus recently some raw eggs, as Shazzie is doing after much research, and I have been reading alot about the benefits of certain non-vegan foods that have certain nutrients that can’t be easily found or absorbed from plants alone…Many rawmoms have been writing to me about their children’s teeth in particular…This is a big concern of me as well as teeth are living bone and an indication of overall health and life force. I love that you were open and allowing of Mo to explore this for herself in an atmosphere of love and respect, and the added element James brought to the dialogue. Really touching. I have a problem beleiving that animals can be ok to eat on any level- and yet, my children’s health come before even my ideals- and when I see one of my children still so skinny and still a little pale, and with some cavities- whereas my other one has none of these issues- it just makes sense to me as a mom that different people need different things, at different times on their path. Judgements about ourselves or another’s food seems more toxic to me than anything. I support you no matter what. Blissings
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By Lisa Marie Lindenschmidt on Mar 6, 2010
Shannon,
First of all, thank you for your kind words and your support! That means so much to me.
Re: eating fish raw… I’m not really worried about eating fish raw. This was never an issue for us. I think we all just liked the idea of steaming or baking it.
Other things we’ve added over the past few months: homemade kefir and chevre made from local raw organic goat’s milk; local organic butter; and local eggs. We’ve also been making our own sauerkraut and trying to eat that daily, if possible. The interesting thing about reincorporating these foods has been that we’ve all noticed the following: we all feel more sated after a meal; we’re all able to control our portion intake better; we don’t obsess over food as much; our bodies are responding well; and our grocery bill has actually gone down.
And, yes, I agree with you about judgements being toxic. I still believe in and advocate for a high-raw diet, but our focus has become more and more on what we can get locally.
I’m curious to see where this journey will take us! I’ll keep you updated!
Take good care… Lisa Marie
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By GoRawMe (Jensey) on Mar 10, 2010
Hello Shannon … and Lisa Marie!
I have just finished reading ‘A Fish Story’ and have to admit I have fresh tears in my eyes. This morning I went through what just might be the beginning of a very deep grieving process for having never been mothered. Yes, my mother raised me (and is still alive today) … but as a child, girl, and young woman I was never ‘mothered’. And I have never become a mother myself.
I am touching into a longing to be mothered that of late has me feeling very … well … raw. Perhaps becoming GoRawMe over a year ago was a portent of sorts for things to come that are much beyond the food I eat. Any way, my intent of this comment is to express my deep gratitude to you, Lisa Marie, for the experience of witnessing mothering at work. I love the whole experience expressed by this story – beginning on through to the end. Lucky Mo. And lucky me that you shared this story. Thank you. And Shannon … you so often represent mothering with a capital ‘M’ to me. I often read your words and then shut my eyes hoping to let it all seep into me. Thank you.
Blessings to you both. In joy ~) Jensey
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By Lisa Marie Lindenschmidt on Mar 10, 2010
Dear Jensey –
Thank you so much for this beautiful note – and thank you for doing all this magickal work on yourself. So many of us don’t take the time to a) do the work and/or b) be thankful for the presence of mind to DO the work. You know what I mean?
Morgan gave me a note one day that said, “Thank you for being the mother you deserved.” It moved me to tears – for very much the same reason… that longing to be mothered. My childhood wasn’t very pretty and my mother was certainly no candidate for the Nobel Peace Prize. Unfortunately. ; )
So much good luck and abundant love to you on your journey,
Lisa Marie
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By Shakaya Breeze on Mar 19, 2010
HI Jensey, I just saw this now and wow, Thank you for the most beautiful compliment ever! I have a tear in my heart for what you have expressed…I know we have briefly spoken about this before together on fb; I think I feel so deeply what you said because I relate having lost my mother so early in my life, and also, I beleive there are so few of us who have been mothered in a way that gave us the soul nourishment that we long for, usually because our mothers themselves never received it either.
I am wondering how you are doing, what has happend since you posted this as I sense you may have moved through another layer or two since then..? I think it is very poweful what you said about ‘allowing’ my words to seep into you as you close your eyes and consciously receive that. I have found through mothering my own children that all the might and love I have for them and their sacred sovereignity, that I could have for my own- What a revelation! I am re-parenting myself and loving myself deeper than ever. You can do the same. You can fill those gaps. We are adults now and our wounds can be loved away- by us! Do you have a ‘hot water bottle’? I had bought these really cute ones for my children one year that were outfitted with a soft velour type material of a polar bear. A week later I realised I really loved being able to tuck them in on a cold night and enjoyed how happy they were experiencing the comforting warmth of these little gifts…And I realised I really wanted the comfort and fun and sweetness too! So I actually bought 4 more- one for myself, one for my husband, one for a girlfriend who just had a baby and her back was terribly sore, and one to a friend who is single! It was a small gesture, but it is a positive affirmation that I can soothe myself, I hear and honour my needs. What do you want and need to do for you? This is a question you can ask yourself daily- and then have fun responding! Write yourself a letter listing what comes up for you, and then you can write out another answering it promising what you will do in response. Or if being cerebral does’t feel quite right, you can paint out your feelings…and watch over time how the colors, the mood the entrie inner-portrait evolves…YOu can make your favorite food- not because its healthy or there are ANY ‘shoulds’- just give yourself permission to enjoy some ‘comfort food’…
These ideas may or may not resonate…you are wise and loving and you will find what does.
I am sending you streams of love on your healing journey sweet Jensey xoShakaya
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By G.D. on Apr 1, 2010
While we ourselves are the living graves of murdered beasts, how can we expect any ideal conditions on this earth? ~George Bernard Shaw
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