I have long harboured a great interest in China and its culture. A few years ago, I finally answered my inner call to learn the language and delve deeper into the history, culture and aesthetics of China. My trip to Beijing in the winter of January 2025 was like coming home and refreshing memories.
How did I end up travelling to Shanghai in winter?
I was invited by my Chinese friend from Beijing to spend two weeks with her. I have another friend in Shanghai and as we wanted to do some travelling around the country anyway, we decided to visit Shanghai and its outskirts.
In the blog post PEKING IN WINTER you will find further information.
Where exactly is Shanghai and what are the special features of the city?
Shanghai is located about 1200 kilometres south of Beijing, on the east coast. At first glance, Shanghai does not necessarily look Chinese. Shanghai is modern and the atmosphere is very fresh and lively. However, Shanghai is a very old city. The coastal strip on which the city stands was built more than 6,000 years ago. The city is very much characterised by the colonial era and there are various European districts, which are also architecturally shaped accordingly. Due to its proximity to the coast, Shanghai was an important trading city, among other things.
The high-speed train takes about 5 hours from Beijing to Shanghai. The stations are clean, everything is well organised and the legroom on the trains is a pleasure.
The climate in Shanghai in winter
The climate in Shanghai is subtropical and maritime in character due to its proximity to the East China Sea. The harbour city is also influenced by the monsoon. In summer, it is hot and humid with a humidity of up to 100 per cent. In winter, on the other hand, it is cold, especially at night, with heavy frost in some places. Source: www.wetter.de
The climate was quite pleasant for me after the dry cold in Beijing. It was around 6 degrees centigrade. Despite the low temperatures, the vegetation is green and there were grapefruits hanging from the trees.
Advantages and disadvantages of travelling to Shanghei in winter
Advantages
The travelling time before the Chinese New Year was perfect. Everything was already beautifully decorated with lanterns and lots of red, which created a particularly cosy atmosphere, especially at night with the lighting. There were few tourists around and in the tranquil Tong Li 同里 outside Shanghai, we were practically the only tourists. We were able to see everything in peace, have a chat with the people in the restaurants and shops and just enjoy ourselves. It wasn't too cold during the day and the countryside was greener than in Beijing in winter.
Disadvantages
In the southern part of China, there is no heating in the houses. This meant that it was very, very cold in the guesthouse (a beautiful old Chinese house). The air conditioning did give off some heat, but it was under the ceiling and as the rooms are very high, the heat didn't reach the bed. So if you are travelling to the south of China in winter, you need to be aware that the outside temperature can drop below 0 at night and that it is warmer outside than in the room during the day. Good equipment is required!
The food in Shanghai
The food in the south is sweeter than in the north. My absolute favourite was the baked pumpkin biscuits filled with sweet black bean paste. They were a culinary sensation. They look unassuming but taste delicious. From sweet stuffed rice balls to meat in sweet soya sauce, there is everything to make your culinary heart beat faster.
Places of interest in Shanghai and the surrounding area
Tong li 同里
Coming from Beijing, we made our first stop in the tranquil little water town of Tong li 同里. It is located around 100 kilometres west of Shanghai and has an unmistakable Chinese charm.
The small town, which until 25 years ago was only accessible by water, has a population of 30,000. The main attraction is the ‘Garden of Retreat and Reflection’ 退恩园。 The narrow alleyways lead along small canals into the old town. With its 29 stone bridges, it feels like a labyrinth at first. Restaurants, teahouses and small craft shops invite you to linger, shop and chat.
Shanghai 上海
My friend from Shanghai showed me around Shanghai for a day. As she likes to drink Bavarian beer, she took me to the Paulaner restaurant, where she happily enjoyed her beer and I enjoyed my ginger tea. That's why I didn't have much time left for the historical part of Shanghai, but I won't have been there for the last time.
Vom Hotel haben wir uns auf den Weg entlang des Flusses Richtung der Uferpromenade Bund (Waitan 外滩) gemacht, eine der Hauptsehenswürdigkeiten des modernen Shanghai. Einst legten hier Schiffe an, versuchten sich die diversen Kolonialherren und Firmen gegenseitig zu übertreffen und es befanden sich hier die Zentralen des europäischen Asiengeschäfts.
Shanghai is a modern shopping city with a historic old town. Visiting the Bund in the evening is an absolute recommendation. The illumination of the skyscrapers is very impressive.
My overall impression of Shanghai and my whole trip to China is very, very positive. I'm already planning my next trip, but first I need to improve my Chinese...
Here you can find my blog articles on ‘Beijing in winter’:
I have long harboured a great interest in China and its culture. A few years ago, I finally answered my inner call to learn the language and delve deeper into the history, culture and aesthetics of China. My trip to Beijing in the winter of January 2025 was like coming home and refreshing memories.
How did I end up travelling to Beijing in winter?
One of the positive aspects of the internet and smartphone technology is the opportunity to connect, network and exchange ideas with people around the world. As part of learning Chinese, I have met people from China who are learning German. We exchange ideas, help each other with the language, laugh and wonder together. In the meantime, I have built up a network of friends that I am very happy about.
One of my Chinese friends visited me in September last year and invited me to Beijing in January. Who could say no to that?
Overcoming fears
Until a few years ago, I would never have made such a long journey to an Asian country alone and without a group.
My life was characterised by illnesses and fears. Plagued by travel sickness, discomfort when flying, intolerances, panic in large crowds, fear of illness and fears of the unknown have taken away much of my quality of life. I am grateful that my spiritual path is leading me more and more towards freedom and that I have been able to shed the fears that have blocked me for years. This allowed me to relax and prepare for my journey and enjoy the anticipation.
QI GONG helped me through the long flight and the packed underground train. My trust in myself, my spiritual helpers and an open and fearless attitude gave me an incomparably wonderful journey.
Where exactly is Beijing and what are the special features of the city?
Beijing is located in the north-east of China and looks back on many centuries as the capital of the Middle Kingdom. In Pinyin (Chinese phonetic script), the city is called Beijing, the Chinese characters are 北京。‘Bei’ stands for north and ‘jing’ for capital.
During the revolutionary years at the beginning of the 20th century, Beijing lost its capital city status and was renamed Beiping (北平), Northern Peace.
The city owes its greatness above all to the last 1000 years, through the Ming and Qing dynasties. The Forbidden City still bears witness to its former splendour. During the revolutionary years, the city lost more and more of its economic power and finally lay in social and economic ruins at the end of the 1940s.
Over the last 50 years, Beijing has developed into an up-and-coming city that combines modernity and history and boasts a number of sights.
The climate and air quality in Beijing
In winter, Siberian winds whistle through the city. In spring, the wind shifts and sends yellow sand from the Gobi Desert through the streets, reducing visibility to less than ten metres in places. Summer is hot and humid with temperatures of up to 40 degrees. Autumn is pleasant with milder temperatures, making it the peak travel season.
I kept hearing from friends that the environment in Beijing is so bad, all the smog and so on. During my 10 days in Beijing, I had bright blue skies (no streaks in the sky, even though Beijing has one of the biggest airports in China!), sunshine and, if the weather app is to be believed, the air quality was ‘very good’ in contrast to Regensburg during this time.
My friend told me that pollution does form from time to time in winter, but it is much less common than it used to be.
Advantages and disadvantages of travelling to Beijing in winter
Advantages
I travelled before the Chinese New Year. One of the advantages of travelling around this time is that you can enjoy the sights in peace and quiet and without large crowds. It is important that the trip takes place before the spring holidays. Another advantage is that the whole city is already decorated for the Spring Festival and the atmosphere is therefore very nice.
Disadvantages
One of the downsides is - it's cold! Although my friend said it was a very mild winter this year, it was cold enough for me. The air is very dry with a humidity of between 20 and 30% (which I quite like) and in certain places there is a very icy wind. According to my friend, there can be pollution in winter, but I haven't experienced it.
The food in Beijing
China is a large country and eating habits therefore vary from region to region.
I was very lucky to be cooked for by my friend's mum and was able to enjoy the rather simple cuisine of the north to the full. There are a lot more vegetables than here and I totally fell in love with the yam. It is used in traditional Chinese medicine for rheumatic complaints, biliary colic and gastrointestinal cramps, is very tasty and is known as 山药 (shan yao), which literally translates as ‘mountain medicine’.
Beef and rice noodles
Millet porridge with jiao zi 饺子
Sweet rice balls with omelette
Salmon with various steamed vegetables
Millet dough balls
Chicken with vegetables and bao zi 包子
Beijing duck
Of course, you can't visit Beijing without eating the famous Beijing duck. My host family took me to one of the oldest Peking duck restaurants in Beijing, where we had an enjoyable lunch.
Interested in Chinese cuisine? Check out my courses now!
The history of the Summer Palace dates back to the reign of the nomadic Jurds in the Jin Dynasty (1115-1234). In the last dynasty of the Qing emperors, the residence was extended and used as a palace.
I didn't read up on the individual sights and their history before the trip, as I wanted to experience the places and their energy without any preconceptions or knowledge.
The grounds are beautiful with a lake and a 728 metre long covered and impressively painted walkway.
During my stay, I sensed a strong dominant female energy with a murderous aura. It was nothing really threatening, but I could sense that something had happened in this place and that it was dominated by this energy. When I asked my friend, it turned out that the last empress dowager Cixi spent most of her time here and was the actual regent alongside her son, who served as a puppet emperor. My friend also confirmed that Cixi killed anyone who stood in the way of her and her power. This included numerous concubines and ministers. She also embezzled money from the navy to finance her life of luxury in the summer palace.
Now it is a place of recreation for the locals and of course a centre of attraction for tourists. The stone bridge is aligned so that the sun shines through the arches at the winter solstice and illuminates the bridge.
Olympic grounds
The Olympic site was built as an extension of the imperial central axis. My friend grew up in Beijing and explained to me that before the Olympic site was built, it was all wasteland.
We visited the site on the first day I arrived and I was very impressed. There isn't much going on in winter, but in summer there are lots of events, many influencers make their videos, there is dancing and singing.
What struck me immediately was that the entire site was very, very clean. From the toilet facilities to the places - there wasn't an unnecessary speck of dust to be found.
Da Shan zi Art Park 大山子
Until the early 2000s, rocket parts were manufactured and used for military purposes on this site. After the military left the site, artists took over the area and a trendy art park with galleries, quaint shops, cafés and restaurants was created.
A complete contrast to the historic Summerpalace and with an extraordinary atmosphere.
The Great Wall of China 长城
The Great Wall of China is called 长城 (chang cheng), which translates as ‘long wall’. At 6,260 kilometres long, it is the largest structure ever built by man and is one of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World. It is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site.
According to the latest measurements, the wall with all its fortifications has a total length of 21,196 kilometres. Although it was never a coherent unit, it was nonetheless very impressive.
Standing on the wall, you have a marvellous view over the mountains. The energy was very powerful and masculine. The roughness of the surrounding mountains was emphasised by the icy wind. The dragon energy was very present and the message was clear: ‘The dragon is awakening’. My Chinese teacher explained to me after my return that the Great Wall is also called 大龙 (da long), the Great Dragon.
Near Beijing, the Badaling section of the wall has been very well restored and can be visited. Many sections of the Great Wall of China are falling into disrepair. In the entrance area, man-sized pictures of various sections and the condition of the wall are on display.
You need to be in good physical condition to climb the wall. It is quite steep in places. Part of the section can be accessed by cable car, but I didn't use it.
Temple of Heaven 天坛
The Temple of Heaven 天坛 (tian tan) literally means altar of heaven and is one of the largest temples in the city, covering an area of 2.7 square kilometres. The buildings make up only a fraction of the area. The complex is now mainly used as a public park.
During the imperial era, only the emperor and his closest entourage had access to the complex. The temple was mainly used to offer harvest sacrifices and to pray. One large area is the fasting palace, where the emperor spent time fasting and praying in seclusion before the sacrificial ceremonies.
I felt very comfortable in the complex. The spirit is still there and showed itself to me as the guardian of Beijing.
The weather was very favourable again and I spent a very peaceful and beautiful day there.
Forbidden City 故宫
I saved the Forbidden City 故宫 (gu gong) until last. I already sensed in advance that I had some kind of connection to this ancient imperial city. When I entered the city, I was gripped by an intense ‘memory’ energy. I let myself drift and always knew exactly which palace I was in and what it was used for. Unfortunately, I couldn't stay there for too long as the energy was too strong for me, so at some point I felt so nauseous that I had to leave the city.
The Forbidden City got its name from the fact that only the emperor, his family, the court and invited guests had access to the complex. Men were forbidden unauthorised access on pain of death. The only men who had access to the Forbidden City, apart from high-ranking officials and military personnel, were the eunuchs. During the Qing dynasty in particular, they exercised great influence over state affairs.
The complex consists of 9999 rooms and covers 720,000 square metres. The palace was built between 1406 and 1420 and was the main residence of the Chinese emperors during the Ming and Qing dynasties.
My overall impression of my trip to China and Beijing in particular is very, very positive. It won't be the last time I've been here and I already have other destinations in China in mind. Before that, however, I still need to improve my Chinese language skills.
Click here for my blog article ‘Shanghai in winter’:
At the winter solstice, the earth stands still for a brief moment. This energy gives us the opportunity to pause, look inwards and reflect on ourselves.
When is the winter solstice?
The winter solstice takes place in December in the northern hemisphere and in June in the southern hemisphere. The days vary from year to year between 20 and 22 December. This year (2024) we have the longest night of the year on 21 December.
Winter solstice and Christianity
Christianity adopted many customs and traditions from ancient tribes such as the Germanic tribes and Celts. This was the only way for the rulers of the time to assert their claim to power and convert the ‘heathens’ to the new faith.
The winter solstice was one of the most important festivals of the year for our ancestors. The sun god was also worshipped at this time in Ancient Rome. It symbolised the birth of light. The winter solstice was thus transformed into Christmas and the birth of light was transformed into the birth of Jesus Christ.
Winter solstice and its significance in the world
The winter solstice was and still is a special festival around the world.
Many monuments and ritual sites, such as the pyramids in Egypt, stone circles and the famous STONENEHNGE in England are exactly aligned with the sun at the winter solstice.
The Native Americans celebrated the winter solstice just like the tribes in Europe. In Asian countries, the winter solstice is also considered a time for celebration. In ancient China, there was a saying: ‘The winter solstice is just as important as the spring festival’.
What do nuts have to do with Christmas and the winter solstice?
Nuts are very popular at Christmas time. But where does this custom, which is not only found in our neighbourhoods, come from?
Nuts symbolise the feminine power of Mother Earth. In winter, life energy and vitality begin to decline. The nutrient content of nuts was particularly important in earlier times to get through the winter well. According to traditional Chinese medicine, nuts are important for strengthening the kidneys, heart and brain.
Peanuts, walnuts, chestnuts, hazelnuts and almonds are not only found on our Christmas plates, but nuts are also highly valued in China and other countries at this time of year.
What rituals are performed on the winter solstice?
The winter solstice marks the rebirth of light! It is the longest night of the year and gradually brings us back the light.
In the Celtic annual cycle the winter solstice symbolises a new beginning. Preparations and plans are now being made for the new year. It's about designing something new, letting go of the old and creating something new.
Welcoming the light and the new
With a ritual you can consciously invite the light and the new into your life:
decorate your home with fir branches, flowers, nuts etc., create an altar of light
think about which new ‘baby’ you would like to welcome into your life, place it symbolically on your altar
Open yourself to everything new that is waiting for you. Let your fears pass and hand them over to the darkest night of the year
The wreath symbolises the cycle of life and the annual cycle. Tie a wreath made of natural materials and consciously weave in light and beauty. You can also make a circle with stones. Decorate this stone circle with healing stones, apples, nuts, feathers etc.
welcome the light of the new sun on the morning of the solstice (singing, praying, yoga, Qi Gong...)
Go out into nature on the evening of the winter solstice, take a walk in the forest. Connect with nature and its creatures
Light a candle and support your intentions and mental intentions with incense. Dammar, mugwort, juniper, myrrh, mistletoe and frankincense are particularly suitable for this purpose
If you have the opportunity to make a ritual fire, light it with the intention of giving birth to something new. Burn everything old in the ritual fire and welcome the new
You can find more interesting information about the winter solstice in Wolf-Dieter Storl's blog article:
Samhain is a Celtic annual festival and heralds the end of the year. It is celebrated on the night of 31 October to 1 November. The Celtic New Year begins on 1 November. It marks the end of summer, the entry into darkness and the end of the light-filled period. It is now about resting, regenerating, drawing on success, reflecting and coming to oneself, withdrawing and enjoying the darkness.
At Samhain, we find ourselves in an in-between time. The veils become thinner and thinner, the spiritual world comes closer to the human world. The connection to the other world becomes more intense. It is a magical in-between time.
The ancestor festival
Recently, I have been intensively studying different cultures and traditions. Ancestor worship in particular is something that people all over the world have in common and is practised with varying degrees of intensity. In modern times, remembering ancestors and their importance is increasingly being forgotten.
Samhain is a festival of the dead. The dead come closer and in ancient tradition food was placed before the deceased. The apple in particular symbolises life due to its rich ingredients and was an important source of vitamin C and minerals for the people of old. It was considered sacred and was therefore also used to honour ancestors.
When the dead are fed with special food, the dead bless the house so that its inhabitants get through the winter well.
Why is ancestor worship important?
Although the bodies of our ancestors, personalities and historical figures are no longer there, their energy remains. It transforms into transmitted energy, which in turn generates cosmic energy. When people forget their ancestors, their family and/or their nation, they throw away their original energy. However, it is this energy that carries us through life.
A connection to our ancestors also brings us back to our original energy, which strengthens our energy centres (chakras).
Samhain - honour your ancestors and celebrate the night
Samhain is an ancient Celtic festival that has shaped our western culture. Halloween is an offshoot of this, but its original meaning and the actual ritual behind it has been reversed and turned into something ‘scary’. People forget what it is really about.
I would like to bring back memories and give you a few tips on how you can celebrate the festival of the ancestors.
Come to terms with your own mortality
Find a quiet and, if possible, dark place. If the complete darkness is too much for you, light the room with a candle.
Ask yourself the following questions:
If I were to die today, would I be satisfied?
What would I be missing?
What would I want to do, organise or experience?
Take notes, thank yourself and let the answers to your questions sink in.
Be aware of the value of life
Look at your life so far, all the good and the not-so-good. Realise how you really want to use your time from now on. What is important to you? What is life for you?
Ritual action
You reinforce your intention with a ritual action. Fill a bowl with stones to inform them of what you can now draw on and be proud of.
Realise what you want to let go of and what no longer belongs to you. In a ritual fire outdoors or with toothpicks at home, you can burn everything that is old and no longer belongs to you in a fire ceremony.
Build a small altar indoors or outdoors, which you dedicate to the spirits of nature and the ancestors. Place nuts, apples, flowers etc. on it.
Once you have completed your ritual actions, make yourself comfortable. Find a nice place in your home with a blanket, a nice book, tea or similar and perhaps a fragrant oil. Revel in your successes of the past year.
Honouring ancestors
Between 31 October and 1 November, the veils to the Otherworld are thin. It is easier to make contact with our ancestors. Connect with your ancestral lineage by building an ancestral altar, for example. You can collect natural materials that represent your ancestors. Place a candle in the window and light it with your ancestors in mind. Talk about your ancestors with your family and remember them.
In Catholicism, it is customary to go to the grave on 1 November. We only recently discussed this in my family. I realised that the reason for this burial and where it all comes from is not known at all. ‘It's just the way it's done’. It is therefore no longer a ritual act and sinks into insignificance.
Wolf-Dieter Storl writes in his blog ’THE SMOKE OF THE ANCESTORS‘ which incense mixture you can use and light at your ancestral altar, for example.
Peace time
In the Celtic tribes, this was a time of peace. Misrule and contradictions were discussed and resolved.
Ask yourself the question:
Who or what do you want to reconcile with?
With what or with whom do you want to make peace?
Would you like to find out more about the annual cycle?
In 2021, I was allowed to walk my own personal path through the dark night of the soul and be reborn. It was a year full of darkness, heartache and hopelessness. An extremely important experience that I would like to share with you today, 3 years later, and encourage you. A journey through the dark night of the soul is labelled as depression because of the similarity in symptoms, but it is not actually depression. In this article I would like to explain it to you:
what exactly is the dark night of the soul
the difference between the dark night of the soul and depression
my very personal experiences of the trip
my rebirth
If you also find yourself in the dark night of the soul, don't be discouraged. It is an important transformational step for your future spiritual and earthly life.
What does ‘The Dark Night of the Soul’ mean?
The dark night of the soul refers to a period of intense inner challenges, transformation and spiritual awakening. The term ‘dark night of the soul’ goes back to the Spanish mystic St John of the Cross, who was imprisoned at the instigation of his order and was only able to escape after almost a year. He wrote in various manuscripts about his very own journey through the dark night of the soul. During his imprisonment, in which he spoke to no one, sat in complete darkness and was not allowed to change his clothes, he experienced the presence of God and managed to escape.
Symptoms
collapse of one's own reality in relation to the meaning of life.
a deep feeling of insignificance
hopelessness and the feeling of being lost
nothing makes sense anymore
lack of understanding in relation to life, work, relationships, etc.
nothing is important any more and everything loses significance
What can trigger the dark night of the soul?
The dark night can be triggered by external circumstances, such as
the death of someone close
loss of the job
termination of a long-term relationship
health problems
the life you have built and imagined is collapsing
It can also be triggered when something happens that you cannot explain. A catastrophe that seems to invalidate the meaning your life had before.
2 Phases of the dark night of the soul according to St John of the Cross
The dark night of the senses
feeling of spiritual emptiness
separation from myself, from life, from the higher self and the divine connection
State of confusion, all convictions are put to the test
feeling of abandonment, loneliness, being cut off from life
lack of motivation and enthusiasm
a feeling that life challenges and tests you
St John of the Cross describes this phase as a condition for spiritual growth. It helps to let go of the old and free oneself from thought constructs and beliefs.
The dark night of the spirit
intensive spiritual transformation
confronting inner fears, doubts and attachments
a new view of oneself, all parts of oneself are seen, the light and the darkness
This phase is also known as the death of the ego.
For St John of the Cross, this phase is important for spiritual growth. It helps to build a new relationship with yourself and your environment.
This phase can also be described as a spiritual awakening for people who have not yet labelled themselves as spiritual or have not yet engaged with spirituality.
Challenges during the dark night of the spirit:
struggling with intense emotions and psychological pain
Feeling of losing yourself and your own identity
questioning one's own values, realities and beliefs
the feeling of detachment from the self, from others and from life
Dark night of the soul versus depression
As a 20 year old, I went through a severe depression that was very different from my journey through the dark night of the soul 3 years ago. Here I would like to share my personal experiences and my research on the differences.
Depression
is a gradual process
mostly in connection with physical complaints
mood disorder characterised by a recurring feeling of sadness and disinterest
Dark night of the soul
comes suddenly and unexpectedly
psychological, emotional and mental ‘pain’
spiritual despair, detachment and emptiness
painful elimination of a former life construct
My personal journey through the dark night of the soul
The dark night of the senses
I actually entered the first phase overnight from 31.12.2020 to 01.01.2021. It felt like a switch had been flipped in my system.
The trigger for me was probably the coronavirus year 2020. I was deeply shocked by what people do to each other out of fear, how families, friendships and relationships were broken and how old people had to die alone in isolation and without care.
I woke up on 1 January 2021 with the question of the meaning of life and a deep world-weariness. I felt lost and asked myself the question:"What am I doing here?" "What is all this good for?"
I could no longer feel any connection to myself, to the universe and to my surroundings. I felt abandoned, empty and helpless.
I could no longer get out of bed, I could no longer do my work, I could no longer cook anything and I could no longer talk to anyone or chat via e-mail or chat. I had phases where my husband had to pick me up from the bathroom floor and carry me to bed, where I remained paralysed in the same position for hours.
Any attention from outside was repugnant to me and I didn't feel I belonged in this world. I wanted nothing to do with this inhuman world.
I questioned myself, my actions, my being here.
The dark night of the spirit
Entering the second phase was characterised by unspeakable heartache. A deep feeling of homesickness and the loss of something deeply loved. Even before my dark night, I kept having visions in meditations and dreams of a wonderful place that I could describe in detail. The visions intensified and the place was also shown to me again and again with images from outside, e.g. in a pack of cards or an online message.
I wanted to dissolve and become stardust, I prayed every day not to have to wake up again. I wanted to go to my beloved place full of love and freedom.
The heartache was followed by reincarnation experiences such as I had never experienced before. This was followed by emotional pain, the feeling of being lost and a complete loss of control.
I travelled through different lives, dissolving old connections, beliefs and thought constructs. I travelled into the darkest depths of myself and was confronted with my fears, hurts, life constructs and longings.
Confrontation with death
I have encountered death 3 times in my life. The first time as a young woman during depression, the second time during my shamanic training and the third time during the dark night of the soul. This confrontation was the most important and decisive in this process. I was able to let go of many of the fears that had paralysed me for decades once and for all. This included the fear of death.
Transformation
Freed from old burdens, fears, beliefs and life constructs, a certain serenity and healing set in. All the ‘must’ had dissolved. It was about ‘being’. All the obligations I had imposed on myself dissolved into nothingness. It was the hour of rebirth.
A dear friend has it compared with ‘The adventures of the strong Vanya’ who takes seven sacks of sunflower seeds and seven sheepskins with him to the oven, where he is to spend seven years without speaking a word. This is his first test before he has to face further dangerous adventures.
So I lay on the couch eating sunflower seeds (in my case) and waited for rebirth and new adventures.
Rebirth
The intensive process took 1 year. I spent most of that time in bed or on the couch. I was reborn as a Maria who has found a new connection to herself, to the universe and to her surroundings. A Maria who is aware and clear about her purpose, her task and her meaning of life on earth. I was reborn as Maria The Voice.
New adventures
A connection to China became apparent in my reincarnation experiences. Chinese music was suddenly suggested to me on the internet. I resonated with the music and the language. Following an impulse, I began to learn the Chinese language. I now had something that brought me joy and helped me overcome my psychological pain. The music helped me to heal old wounds and I also began to sing again and raise my voice.
A lot has come together in the last 3 years, a few life decisions had to be made and new paths had to be taken.
Learning the Chinese language has opened up completely new doors to opportunities and, above all, wonderful people. People who continue to accompany me in my spiritual growth and people who allow me to see the world with completely new eyes.
I have immersed myself in other ancient teachings such as Daoism, Qi Gong and meditation teachings. All of this serves my further spiritual growth and my calling to accompany people on their spiritual path.
My conclusion
2021 was a deeply painful year for me, but one that I would not want to have missed. Through this experience, I got to know myself and the meaning of spirituality in a whole new way.
If you are also in this process, don't despair! Something wonderful is waiting for you!
Wenn Du Begleitung durch die dunkle Nacht der Seele benötigst, melde Dich gerne bei mir!
One thing is for sure, the Chinese probably know how to eat well better than anyone else. China has a historical tradition of gastronomy and chefs have and have had a high reputation. However, what is particularly noteworthy in traditional Chinese cuisine is the ability of ordinary Chinese home cooks to transform simple and largely plant-based ingredients into wonderful delicacies.
I am lucky to have Chinese friends who always give me lots of tips on how to prepare traditional Chinese dishes. In this country, you can hardly find any truly original Chinese cuisine, as my friends keep telling me.
What is typical Chinese food?
China is a big country and you can't reduce Chinese food to Peking duck, fried noodles and sweet and sour pork.
Sichuan cuisine 四川菜, for example, is one of the greatest cuisines in the world. Here, it is mostly known for its outstanding spiciness. In China, it is legendary for its richness of ingredients and amazing variety. Local gourmets claim that there are 5000 different dishes in the region. Sichuan pepper is one of the main ingredients of 四川菜。
Otherwise, typical Chinese food is characterised by simple ingredients that are prepared without much effort. There is little meat or fish among the many vegetable dishes. Different dishes are served on the table. Each individual dish tastes fresh and has its own unique flavour.
Is Chinese food healthy?
The dominance of Chinese restaurant food, which consists mainly of meat, seafood and fried foods flavoured with lots of glutamate, makes us forget that traditional Chinese cuisine consists mainly of grains and vegetables and is very healthy due to its natural preparation.
In fact, one of the richest aspects of Chinese food culture is the knowledge of adapting eating habits to the weather, season and symptoms of illness. Chinese cuisine has this aspect in common with Ayurvedic cuisine. This knowledge stems from traditional Chinese medicine and is still practised in many areas of China.
What is glutamate?
Glutamates are the esters and salts of glutamic acid (E 620). The most well-known are salts of L-glutamic acid through its use as a flavour enhancer in food. (Source: wikipedia)
In the new Chinese cuisine, glutamate is used as a flavour enhancer to give the dish a savoury note and the so-called umami taste.
Glutamate is an artificial substance which, in my opinion, has no place in naturally prepared food.
What are the symptoms of glutamate intolerance?
I have a glutamate intolerance, which is why I can no longer go to a Chinese restaurant. My symptoms are severe stomach pains that really bring me to my knees. All the more reason to prepare traditional Chinese food at home.
A friend of mine also had an intolerance, also known as Chinese food syndrome. She fainted when eating Chinese food. She regularly had to be picked up from Chinese restaurants by the emergency services until they finally discovered the cause.
Nausea, headaches, reddening of the skin, tightness of the chest, trembling and muscle pain. In children, glutamate can lead to fever, confusion and anxiety.
Glutamate is not only used in the new Chinese cuisine, but is also found in products such as vegetable stock, sausage, tomato paste, etc.
During my research on glutamate, I came across various articles, including one on wikipedia, which report that from a ‘scientific point of view’ glutamate is harmless to health.
I have a different opinion. A healthy diet also includes natural ingredients. Chemically produced substances have no place in our food. Flavour can be achieved wonderfully with spices, herbs and fresh ingredients.
Chinese cooking together
I offer themed days in my cookery studio. These always include a Chinese cookery day. I combine the knowledge of Ayurveda and elemental cuisine in the preparation of the dishes.
