Monday, October 22, 2012

half-moon soup

At first I thought it was a praying mantis -- but it was a green grasshopper at the bottom of a small pile of feathers. She is clinging to some feather fluff and her wings look and feel just like dried leaves. I loved finding her -- they say a green grasshopper in the house is a good omen, but I'm not sure about a dead one. That pomegranate was dried on the furnace for one year. Every year I dry at least one. It'll go into the winter potpourri jar now. 

Last night I made half-moon soup to recognize yesterday's waxing half moon. It's really just my regular miso soup but I cut the carrots, turnips, and onions into half moons. 




Today is a waxing moonday in the sign of airy Aquarius. Aspects of Aquarius are community, the greater good, social issues, networking, making improvements, inventions, and friendly conversations. We are drawn out of our shells, so to speak. I think great things can and do happen under the influence of Aquarius.

Aquarius affects the calves and ankles -- walking is a great way to get the circulation going, but the balance to that is to put our feet up now and then, too. The legs symbolize moving forward or feeling stuck. I still sometimes refer to the 1982 classic, You Can Heal Your Life by Louise Hay, which correlates all the body parts with their energetic meaning. I just got it off its dusty basement shelf and looked up lower legs. It's the only body part that I have *starred* -- between my children and myself, we must've had a lot of aching legs around here.

Miso Soup: In a little olive oil, saute a small turnip, a medium onion, and 2 carrots, sliced however you wish. Add 2 1/2 cups water and 2 vegetable bouillon cubes and simmer for about 15 minutes. Add 2 cups chopped greens (napa cabbage, bok choy, spinach, etc.) and remove from heat. Take out 1/2 cup of the broth and mix in a tablespoon of miso. Add this mixture back to the pot and you are done. Never boil miso. I always double this recipe but only use 3 vegetable bouillon cubes. This is good for clearing out residual radiation and medicines from the body, always beneficial for anyone in recovery.

Here's to looking forward to the next step.



15 comments:

  1. Your little grasshopper looks very peaceful. Miso soup is at the top of my list of favourite foods. Here's to a week of putting our best foot/feet forward

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  2. Hi Nanette -- don't you feel so HEALTHY when you eat miso soup? I do. It gives me permission to go the other direction a little then, too. All necessary to create balance, you know.... ;)

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  3. Peggy~ I've never had miso soup and so wonder about the flavor. Your pomegranate looks like forever :)
    I love to see what you've staged to photograph each time. Always a big treat for me!

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  4. Peggy which miso do you prefer to use? I could use this soup as I just got "hit' with a nasty flu like bug...very mean. I feel much much better today.
    I always view grasshoppers as good luck too!
    xo

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  5. Am going in seek of Miso this weekend!
    Would it be in chinese stores or health food shops I wonder?
    My cholesterol is raised, not ideal after a heart op!.........so am trying to manage it myself rather than go the statin route the Drs prescribed lol
    So this may help and soups I love anyway

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  6. Thank you so much, Nancy! Miso makes a quick broth and it's healthy and super easy to use. :)

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  7. Hi Marie, hope you continue getting better. I use the mellow white and the brand is Miso Master. A plain miso broth with chopped garlic is also good for respiratory stuff -- 2 cups water, 1 T. miso and 3 chopped garlic cloves. This really helps.

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  8. Lyn, I buy it at the health food store but I'm sure the Asian markets have it too. It's nice to have a pot of this in the fridge ready to go. You can add whatever veggies you have on hand, just don't boil the miso. It can be simmered on low heat though.

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  9. Ah, miso soup. You remind me to make a batch soon. No wonder I had so much fun with the indigo vat on Monday, what with being an Aquarius, and the vat, after all, being an urn...

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  10. Yes, Peggy, it's true, healthy and virtuous, especially if I think fleetingly for just a moment about getting takeaway, then remember I have MISO! I add a little seaweed to mine, and some tiny cubes of browned off tofu, and sometimes soaked buckwheat too. Makes for a satisfying and nourishing meal.

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  11. I love that you made half moon veggies :~) and I must try Miso....
    The grasshopper...what a beautiful gift of green.
    We use Louise Hay's little blue book here too. I have a letter from her, from way back in the nineties. I had a masseuse friend who was blind and was sad that she could not read this wonderful book that we were all talking about. I wrote to Louise Hay, asking if her audio tapes were available in the UK. That kind lady made me cry, because she sent the tapes as a gift to my friend with much love. I treasure her letter.
    Well! I am hoping that this looong comment means my wordlessness is over!! Sorry about this Peggy, and please delete if it's too much.
    Blessed Be x x

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  12. i'm sure the little creature had a peaceful end surrounded by your lovely world. those stones in the last photo are so cool.

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  13. Helen, thank you. I loved reading about Louise Hay sending you the tapes for your friend! How cool was that?

    I used to run to that book every time someone had an illness or injury. I'd have my kids write out the affirmation to read to themselves to hopefully avoid a recurrence. I don't know if it helped though. :)

    So glad you came by, Helen. BB

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  14. Thanks, Cindy. I'm so glad nobody here has thought me weird for keeping a dead grasshopper, or at least nobody has said such! The stones are fun to make, I just doodled some stone skulls earlier today.

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  15. i adore miso soup! though i have always made a more traditional japanese style. i look forward to trying out your half-moon miso...it looks delectable!

    as always, you also shared a parade of stunning and inspiring photos!!

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