This morning I had the blessing of hearing a lady say "A man asked me if I can cook, can you ($#$ build a house?" was her response. I say it was a blessing to hear her because it led me to share this teaching on what 'cooking' really is and why did the Creator institute it as an action that we must do in this world.
1. Food as Divine Energy
In Kabbalistic thought, everything in creation contains a spark of divine energy that yearns for elevation. When we eat food, we are not only nourishing our bodies but also releasing and uplifting these sparks. This means that every ingredient, every fruit, vegetable, and grain, contains a unique divine energy. Our task is to elevate these sparks through conscious, mindful eating and gratitude. Think of the Story of Sarah (Matriarch) and Abraham (Patriarch) in Vayera 18. Abraham is running toward Sarah's tent and he asks her "go make cakes" for our guests.
"And Abraham hastened to the tent to Sarah and said "Hasten three seah (100 cups) of flour meal; knead and make cakes." (Gen. 18:6)
He then runs out to make other meal preparations for the guests. Sarah is using the 'seed' state of the grain to create her 'cakes.' This is part of the divine plan to take the seed state that HaShem has given us and to 'flesh out' or to create other creations from the seed state. Taking the essence of the grain and revealing all of its possibilities. Cooking is Creating!
2. Cooking as a Sacred Act
Cooking can be seen as an act of Tikkun Olam—repairing the world. When we prepare food with mindfulness, we infuse it with our intention and love, which helps in elevating the physical material to a spiritual level. Kabbalah teaches that the way we handle food—from how we select ingredients to how we prepare, cook, and serve it—can transform the food’s spiritual energy.
The process of cooking itself mirrors the divine process of creation. Just as the Creator took raw materials to form a balanced world, we take raw ingredients and transform them into a harmonious meal, imitating the act of divine creation.
3. The Four Levels of the Soul and Food
In Kabbalah, each level of the soul connects with food in a different way:
Nefesh (physical aspect): The body’s enjoyment of food fulfills the soul’s need for sustenance.
Ruach (emotional aspect): Sharing food fosters connection and harmony between people.
Neshamah (intellectual aspect): Reflecting on where food comes from, the hands that prepared it, and the life it took to grow it brings mindfulness and gratitude.
Chayah (life force): Recognizing the divine life force within food connects us directly to God’s creation.
4. Kavanah (Intention) in Eating and Cooking
Kabbalah teaches that kavanah, or intention, is everything. Before cooking or eating, a simple prayer or meditation can transform the act into a sacred ritual. For example, saying a blessing over food acknowledges that it comes from a divine source. This mindfulness elevates the act of eating from a physical need to a spiritual service, enabling the sparks within the food to fulfill their divine purpose.
5. Balancing Flavors and the Sefirot
The process of balancing flavors in cooking mirrors the balance of the Sefirot on the Tree of Life. For example:
Chesed (kindness) is the sweetness or softness in a dish, representing love and compassion.
Gevurah (strength) brings saltiness or spice, creating necessary limits and discipline.
Tiferet (harmony) is the balance, achieved when flavors work together in unity, resulting in a harmonious and beautiful dish.
This balance in cooking reflects the balance we seek in our own lives and souls, as each ingredient and flavor can be seen as a metaphor for balancing divine attributes.
6. Eating with Gratitude and Elevating the Sparks
When we eat with gratitude, we draw down divine blessings and help elevate the spiritual sparks within the food. Eating can be a practice of hakarat hatov (recognition of the good), reminding us to appreciate the life force within each bite and the chain of life that brought the food to our table.
The act of blessing food before eating it (such as reciting a bracha or blessing) is a Kabbalistic practice to elevate the physical world, transforming the meal into a spiritual experience.
Practical Steps for Cooking and Eating Kabbalistically
Set Intentions Before Gathering Food & Cooking: Before beginning, take a moment to breathe, set an intention for healing, nourishment, or connection, and invite divine presence into your grocery store experience and your kitchen.
Infuse Love into the Process: As you chop, mix, and cook, be mindful of your thoughts. Loving thoughts elevate the energy of the food, turning each step into a sacred act.
Eat Mindfully: When it’s time to eat, savor each bite. Acknowledge the divine spark within the food and express gratitude for the hands that prepared it, the earth that grew it, and the divine force sustaining it.
We sing 'Birkat HaMazon' after our meals. This elevates the process even higher! Did you know many people have gastro problems and vagal tone insufficiency and a help for that is to sing after you eat! The Divine already knew that singing after a meal would assist and aid in our digestions! Wow! Now that is Wisdom (Chochmah)!
If we will look deeper than the surface level when someone is talking and have greater wisdom we will not react improperly. We have been taught to think a certain way. Like cooking being a mundane act that only women do. This is a false reality that the backside consciousness has imposed on us. It is not a mundane act. It is one of the most sacred acts we could do and with it comes great power and transformation. We have to undo alot of what we have been taught now, and align ourselves with higher wisdom. I personally believe they demoralized the cooking to keep women from engaging this 'superpower' for herself and all those she feeds. So the next time your on a date and the 'other' asks you "Do you cook" you say "Yes I do", I am an Alchemist in the Kitchen! (this could be for men and women)
If our works at the Adamic Center bring transformation to your life consider giving back....
Comments