SweetAllium
  • Blog
  • About
  • Projects
  • Gallery
  • Connect

Ritual and Addiction

2/12/2013

0 Comments

 
Picture
Elderflower, Calendula and Hawthorn in a french press
I've been thinking about rituals lately. A very wise instructor of mine suggested that we as a population here in the US, don't have many rituals left in our daily lives anymore. She brought up ritual in the context of coffee addiction. Consider for a moment, your coffee ritual, if you are a coffee drinker. I always enjoy dressing my coffee, stirring it for a moment, smelling it and then taking that penetrating first sip. Some people conduct a more complex ritual involving grinding, boiling, percolating or pressing. Is it relaxing? Does it offer a sense of order to a busy morning? What other daily rituals do we still have?

Another enduring ritual that I can think of is reserved for smokers. There's something truly lovely about excusing oneself during a natural break in conversation to step outside into fresh air, and inhale deeply for a few minutes. It almost makes me envious of smokers.

Our instructor brought up ritual to caution us future doctors to be careful when we recommend smoking cessation or removing coffee consumption from our clients' lifestyles--we could inadvertently be removing something much more sacred to our client than just the substance. We can suggest, she pointed out, that our clients create new rituals with new, intentional meaning. Or maybe, at the right time, for the right person, tobacco leaf or coffee bean--two truly weary and abused herbs--can be replaced with another underappreciated, and eager herb or two.

0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Author

    Lorraine Ferron is a medical student, writer, and food lover. Read more about her at SweetAllium's About page.

    Archives

    August 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    February 2014
    November 2013
    October 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013

    2011-2012

    Categories

    All
    Classical Chinese Medicine
    Gluten Free
    Herbal Preparations
    Herbal Preparations
    Lactose Free
    Low GL
    Low Glycemic Load
    Medicinal Herbs
    Med School
    Naturopathic Medicine
    Recipes
    Vegan

    RSS Feed

    Blogroll

    thelocalspoon
    101 cookbooks
    Licking the Plate
    wild heart medicine
    Maximum Wellness
    BeKindTellTheTruthEatGoodFood
    Our Global Kitchen
    HellaDelicious
    Nectar
    Not Without Salt
    Civil Eats
    Edible Portland
    Smitten Kitchen

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.