The following is a description of holistic health from the Tao Oracle.
Health and well-being mean more than just freedom from disease; they are a radiant manifestation of balance in body, mind and spirit. When the body/mind is balanced, our capacity for spontaneity, joy and peace is increased. We eat food to nourish our bodies, but every level of our being requires nourishment, which it takes from the sources available to it. Your quality of life reflects how you are nourished, how you nourish others, and the way you function in the world.
Impressions – sensory, emotional, intellectual – are the food of the mind. We receive a barrage of impressions from television, computers, music, movies, books and magazines, and often end up carrying too much “weight” in our heads. Simplify your life by eliminating anything that does not promote wholesomeness. You may be surprised to find that as you clean up your act you also start feeling better. Gradually eliminating whatever is no longer relevant – stuff, habits, relationships, or points of view – amounts to trimming the fat off your lifestyle. Consider what it would be like to live with the people and things that help you to feel good about yourself. Then consider the extent to which you are willing to go to make that a reality.
If you haven’t paid much attention to your health, this is the time to begin. In attending to the body’s real needs, it is important to bring some awareness to what, where and how you eat. If you frequently eat in a hurry or “graze” at an open fridge, then you can be certain that you are also feeding your stress level. Carefully choosing foods that are natural and wholesome and eating with intention sends a message to your entire being that it’s worth nourishing. Maintaining good health also means exercising. Physical exercise vitalizes the heart and circulatory system and enhances our general sense of well-being. It clears cobwebs from an overfull mind by rerouting excess energy from the head into the body.
Nourishment of the heart calls for healthy relationships in your life. Relationships require sensitivity to their subtle nuance, and should not be taken for granted. Habitual patterns of relating lead to indifference, lack of enthusiasm, or a can’t-be-bothered attitude that slowly but surely creates heartache. Nourish your relationships carefully, so that they may provide you and others with emotional sustenance.
Finally, how do you nourish yourself spiritually? Rest and relaxation put us back in touch with ourselves and nature. Make a conscious choice to tune out external distractions and turn your full attention inward. By sitting silently, relaxed and comfortable, simply observing your breath and your thoughts, you can cleanse your mind of tensions that deplete well-being. When a thought arises that grips your attention, relax your breath, let the tension go and return to neutrality. This is the simplest form of meditation, and it works. There are many different techniques to facilitate self-awareness, some very energetic, others more passive, and it’s wise to experiment to find the way that feels right for you. Practicing a consciousness raising technique with regularity clears the mind, calms the emotions, and will enhance your ability to feel supported by the flow of change that is Tao.
TAO Oracle, Ma Deva Padm