Soil-Born and Sun-Fed: The Physical Power Source of Your Spiritual Bodies
Elijah Hara, my mentor, taught extensively about natural health, nutrition, and herbal medicine. By the way he lived his whole life, he emphasized the importance of natural food as foundational to good health.
Here are some important facts about natural food — things we think we know, but most of the time, have forgotten:
1. Whole, Unprocessed Foods
Elijah advocated for eating foods in their most natural and unprocessed form—whole grains, fresh fruits and vegetables, legumes, nuts, and seeds. He warned against the dangers of processed foods, additives, preservatives, and artificial flavourings, linking them to modern illnesses and poor vitality.
2. Food as Medicine
Elijah viewed food as a primary tool for healing. He believed that many common ailments could be prevented or treated through better nutrition, aligning with the idea that the body has an innate ability to heal itself if supported with the right nourishment.
3. Fresh and Local
He encouraged eating fresh, seasonal, and local produce wherever possible. In his writing, he stressed that the vitality and life force in freshly harvested food supports human energy and health better than food that is stale or stored for long periods.
4. Listening to the Body
The Elder Hara was a big proponent of tuning into the body’s natural cravings and rhythms, suggesting that real hunger and intuitive eating (when not distorted by sugar, caffeine, or processed food dependencies) can guide a person toward healthier choices.
5. Natural Food and Spiritual Health
In some of his more holistic writings, he connected natural food with mental clarity, emotional balance, and spiritual awareness, suggesting that a clean, natural diet can elevate one’s consciousness and energy.
Elijah Hara emphasized the profound connection between natural foods and holistic health in his practice. He believed that consuming whole, unprocessed foods not only nourished the body but also supports mental clarity and spiritual well-being.
Below is an overview of various food categories and their associated benefits, reflecting Hara’s principles, and supplemented by contemporary nutritional insights.
🌿 Vegetables
Leafy Greens (e.g., Spinach, Kale, Swiss Chard)
Nutritional Profile: Rich in vitamins A, C, K, folate, iron, calcium, and magnesium.
Health Benefits: Support bone health, enhance blood clotting, and provide antioxidant properties. Their high fiber content aids digestion and promotes satiety.
Spiritual Benefit:
- Purify the blood and subtle energy channels (nadis or meridians).
- Promote clarity of mind and reduce emotional stagnation.
- Increase the flow of prana (life-force energy).
Cruciferous Vegetables (e.g., Broccoli, Cauliflower, Brussels Sprouts)
Nutritional Profile: Contain glucosinolates, which have been studied for their potential anticancer properties.
Health Benefits: May reduce the risk of certain cancers, support liver detoxification, and provide anti-inflammatory effects.
Spiritual Benefits:
- Detoxifying compounds: Releases energetic blockages and old emotional patterns
- Bitter-earthy taste: Grounds the body and calms excess spiritual fire
- Stimulates digestion: Awakens personal power and clears the solar plexus chakra
- Dense, fibrous structure: Encourages resilience, rootedness, and spiritual discipline
- Folkloric protection: Shields against energetic intrusion
Root Vegetables (e.g., Carrots, Beets, Sweet Potatoes)
Nutritional Profile: High in beta-carotene, fiber, and essential minerals.
Health Benefits: Support eye health, improve digestion, and provide sustained energy due to their complex carbohydrates.
Spiritual Benefits:
- Grounding: Centres energy in the body; supports presence and calm
- Root Chakra Activation: Helps with safety, stability, trust in life
- Ancestral Healing: Nourishes karmic and bloodline memory
- Emotional Soothing: Gentle, sweet roots aid grief, fear, and inner unrest
- Protection and Strength: Pungent roots like garlic create energetic shields
🥕 Highlights of Specific Root Vegetables
| Root | Spiritual Qualities |
|---|---|
| Carrot | Enhances inner vision (linked to eyes/intuition), joyful grounding. |
| Beetroot | Connects to ancestral memory, blood vitality, heart-root integration. |
| Sweet Potato | Gentle nourishment, emotional healing, mother energy. |
| Radish | Clears energetic stagnation, especially anger or repressed emotions. |
| Parsnip/Turnip | Stability and subtle spiritual endurance, support during long inner work. |
| Onion | Layered healing—peeling away emotional veils and subconscious pain. |
| Garlic | Protection against spiritual toxicity and psychic intrusions (used in folk magic). |
🍎 Fruits
Spiritual Benefit:
- Elevate mood and heart energy.
- Open the emotional body to love, joy, and intuition.
- Said to increase light body awareness (in esoteric circles)
Berries (e.g., Blueberries, Strawberries, Raspberries)
Nutritional Profile: Packed with antioxidants, vitamin C, and fibre.
Health Benefits: May improve heart health, support cognitive function, and reduce inflammation.
Citrus Fruits (e.g., Oranges, Lemons, Grapefruits)
Nutritional Profile: Excellent sources of vitamin C, flavonoids, and potassium.
Health Benefits: Boost immune function, enhance iron absorption, and promote healthy skin.
Apples
Nutritional Profile: Contain soluble fiber (pectin), vitamin C, and various phytonutrients.
Health Benefits: Support heart health, aid in weight management, and promote gut health.
🌰 Nuts and Seeds
Almonds, Walnuts, Flaxseeds, Chia Seeds
Nutritional Profile: Rich in healthy fats, protein, fiber, and essential minerals like magnesium and zinc.
Health Benefits: Support heart health, provide sustained energy, and contribute to satiety, aiding in weight management.
Spiritual Benefit:
- Contain compact vital energy (life force) and support mental endurance.
- Nourish the “ojas” (vital spiritual essence) in Ayurveda.
- Ground higher consciousness into the body.
🌾 Whole Grains and Legumes
Brown Rice, Quinoa, Lentils, Chickpeas
Nutritional Profile: High in complex carbohydrates, fiber, B vitamins, and plant-based protein.
Health Benefits: Stabilize blood sugar levels, support digestive health, and provide long-lasting energy.
Spiritual Benefit:
- Grounding and stabilizing; enhance presence and discipline.
- Support sustained meditation and deep thinking.
🌶️ Spices and Herbs (Ginger, Turmeric, Basil, Sage, Rosemary, Fennel)
Spiritual Benefit:
- Clear energetic stagnation and dispel negative energy.
- Sharpen spiritual perception and awaken intuitive faculties.
- Open and protect energetic fields.
Traditions:
- Many are used in smudging and purification rituals.
- Basil is sacred in Hinduism and associated with divine protection.
- Sage is revered in Indigenous traditions for energy clearing.
Ginger and Turmeric
Nutritional Profile: Contain bioactive compounds like gingerol and curcumin.
Health Benefits: Possess anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, may relieve nausea, and support joint health.
🍯 Natural Sweeteners (Honey, Maple Syrup, Dates)
Spiritual Benefit:
- Nourish the heart chakra and emotional body.
- Encourage softness, gratitude, and sweetness in spirit.
- Considered gifts of nature’s alchemy.
Traditions:
- Honey is sacred in many traditions (e.g., Sufism, Vedic texts).
- Dates are associated with divine blessing in Islam and Christianity.
🥛 Fermented Foods
Yogurt, Kefir, Sauerkraut, Kimchi
Nutritional Profile: Rich in probiotics, beneficial bacteria that support gut health.
Health Benefits: Enhance digestion, strengthen the immune system, and may improve mental health through the gut-brain axis.
Spiritual Benefit:
- Symbolize transformation and inner alchemy.
- Aid in emotional digestion and spiritual resilience.
- Balance the gut, seen as the “second brain” or spiritual gut intelligence.
🌊 Water and Herbal Teas (Chamomile, Tulsi, Peppermint, Nettle)
Spiritual Benefit:
- Cleanse emotional residue and restore energetic balance.
- Calm the nervous system and open the crown chakra.
- Aid dreamwork, intuition, and spiritual receptivity.
Traditions:
- Tulsi (Holy Basil) is considered sacred and spiritually uplifting in Indian tradition.
- Chamomile is linked to angelic protection and calm in Western folk traditions.
Fennel Tea
Nutritional Profile: Contains anethole, a compound known for its digestive benefits.
Health Benefits: Aids in digestion, may alleviate bloating, and supports pancreatic function, which can be beneficial for blood sugar regulation.
🐟 Light Animal Foods (Fish, Eggs, Bone Broth)
Spiritual Benefit:
- When ethically sourced, can nourish earth connection and spiritual grounding.
- Eggs symbolize rebirth, potential, and divine containment.
- Fish is often symbolic of spiritual insight (e.g., Christianity).
Note: Heavy meats are often seen as tamasic (dulling) in yogic terms and not supportive of subtle awareness unless consciously prepared and consumed with reverence.
🥩 Meat
1. Meat in Moderation
Hara believed meat could have a place in a healthy diet, especially for people with certain body types or high physical demands. However, he consistently emphasized:
- Quality over quantity: Prefer organically raised, free-range meats.
- Smaller portions: Avoid overconsumption, especially of red meats.
- Digestive capacity: Meat is heavier to digest and should be eaten by those with strong digestion.
“The stronger, more robust constitutions may well thrive on small quantities of animal flesh, but the more delicate types often suffer when they include meat too often.” — Elijah Hara
2. Energetic Qualities of Meat
Drawing from both naturopathy and Eastern influences, Elijah often spoke about the vibrational or energetic load of food:
- Meat from stressed or industrially raised animals was considered to carry stress and toxicity into the human body.
- Fresh, ethically sourced meat could be grounding and strengthening, especially for individuals who are weak, cold, or depleted.
3. Type of Meat Matters
| Type of Meat | Hara’s Typical View |
|---|---|
| Red Meat (beef, lamb) | Nutrient-dense but heavy; best for active people with robust digestion. Not ideal for those prone to inflammation or sluggish digestion. |
| Poultry (chicken, turkey) | Lighter and more suitable for frequent consumption. Prefer free-range birds. |
| Fish | Especially white fish, is light and easy to digest. Oily fish (e.g. salmon, sardines) provide essential fats. Hara praised fish highly. |
| Pork | Often discouraged due to its association with parasites and heavy, fatty quality. He advised caution unless properly sourced and prepared. |
4. Spiritual and Ethical Considerations
Hara’s work often merged physical and spiritual wellness:
- Eating meat mindlessly or from industrial sources was seen as a spiritually dulling act.
- Practicing gratitude and reverence toward food—including animal foods—was essential to maintaining energetic balance.
- In some cases, he noted that vegetarianism could promote clearer thinking and more emotional balance, but wasn’t right for everyone.
5. Alternatives to Heavy Meat Consumption
Hara encouraged replacing excess meat with:
- Legumes (lentils, chickpeas) for protein.
- Eggs and dairy (for those not sensitive).
- Nuts and seeds.
- Sea vegetables (like kelp or nori) for trace minerals.
- Bone broths or small amounts of meat used more as a flavouring rather than the main course—especially in soups and stews.
Summary: Elijah Hara’s Meat Philosophy
| Principle | Summary |
|---|---|
| Moderation | Small amounts of high-quality meat are acceptable, especially for robust individuals. |
| Energetic Impact | Meat can be grounding or burdensome, depending on type, source, and personal constitution. |
| Ethical Source | Meat from conscious, ethical sources is far superior. |
| Spiritual Attitude | Eating meat mindfully, with gratitude, minimizes its potential spiritual dullness. |
🧘♀️ Holistic Principles
Elijah emphasized the importance of:
- Seasonal Eating: Consuming foods that are in season to align with the body’s natural rhythms.
- Mindful Consumption: Being present and attentive during meals to enhance digestion and satisfaction.
- Food as Medicine: Viewing natural foods as tools for healing and maintaining health.
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