Cooking with Shakti

The holiday season is a time for folks to gather in the kitchen over shared memories, laughs, and the aromas of delicious food being made. Learn how to prepare food for family and friends with those few extra special ingredients; love and mantra. 

Cooking with Shakti

The art of cooking with shakti is as simple as cooking with love. I will never forget the first time I visited my husband’s grand- mother. She cooked us a simple Italian dinner. When I took the first bite, I felt so much love in the food that every bite was pure nourishment for the spirit. That’s why your mom’s cooking always tastes best: because she loves you!

The Kitchen Goddess

People often remark that Shoshoni food tastes like a home- cooked meal, only better. They want to know what we put in all this wonderful food. Of course, we start with organic, fresh, whole foods, but the secret ingredient is love.

In the Shoshoni kitchen, the cooks focus on repeating mantra and chanting as they cook. Saying mantra helps us focus on the state of love and happiness that exists inside of us. As we focus on that place, we put some of that happiness into the food, too!

Blessing the Food

At Shoshoni, as we prepare to cook, we light a bit of incense, ring a bell, or light a candle. We have set up a little altar in our kitchen with pictures of deities and loved ones. We think of the people we are going to be cooking for with love. We think of the Inner Self, the divine spark that exists inside all of us, with love.

As we cook, we allow ourselves to stay in that state of sweetness and giving. We don’t argue in the kitchen, or think negative thoughts about the food or ourselves. We say mantra while we cook, and bring our full attention to each action in the kitchen. We allow our kitchen to become a sacred space, a place we can go to relax and connect to the flow of shakti, or spiritual energy, that nourishes everyone.

We also offer a little bit of the food we cook at our altar. When we offer the food before eating it, then our entire meal becomes prasad, a blessed offering.

Mantras to Use in the Kitchen

Om Gam Ganapataye Namah

I bow with respect to Ganesha, the Remover of Obstacles.

Om Namah Shivaya

I bow with respect to my Inner Self.

Om Aim Hrim Klim Chamundaye Vicce

I bow with respect to the Goddess, in Her many forms.

Om Annapurne Sada Purne Shankara Prana Vallabhe Jnana Vairagya Siddhyartham Bhiksham Dehi Namostute

I bow with respect to the Goddess, who is full, complete, and perfect with food and grains.

Om Krim Kalyai Namah

I bow with respect to Kali, the Remover of Darkness.

Om Hrim Shrim Dum Durgyai Namah

I bow with respect to Durga, the Remover of Difficulties.

Om Shrim Lakshmyai Namah

I bow with respect to Lakshmi, the Bestower of Abundance.

Om Aim Saraswatyai Namah

I bow with respect to Saraswati, the Goddess of Arts and Speech.