no eating before meditating...

except when it's food prepared by a seasoned meditator. my spiritual sister, shivaa, is determined to feed us before our group evening meditation. initially i was skeptical. but not anymore. for example, last night, she made this sicilian salad with roasted garlic and eggplant, olives, tomato, lettuce and arugula, paired with a soup of pureed fava beans and pearls of sweet, fresh corn, infused with the aromas of lemongrass and bay leaves. dessert was a big bowl of cherries, figs and watermelon.

how was the meditation? i was quickly in the depths of the ocean of consciousness, quiet, still and satisfied. i let go of the sense of time passing. eventually i began to rise through the waters at a steady pace, returning to regular awareness. by the time i was about to come to the surface i heard shivaa's firm and gentle voicing inviting us to come out of meditation. perfect timing. perfect food. perfect company.