Celiac Disease

If you look through my cupboards you will find no bread, nor flour, nor pasta. I found out over a year ago that I can not eat gluten. I was on an anti-inflammatory diet and when I tried to cheat we discovered the problem. I even went to a doctor, but my insurance was terrible and I couldn't afford the cool grand it was going to cost to find out more. The doctor told me they are pretty sure I have Celiac Disease. It has affected and changed my spirituality in ways I never imagined it would. Certainly I can have no cakes nor ale (unless they are specially made), both are poison to my intestines. As you may have read in my post on Ancestors, I am predominantly of  Italian  heritage and honor my forebears via food. So the traditional Pasta and bread are out. My kitchen witchery was impeded as well as the recipes I knew and loved were out. My skill at cooking and baking are such a part of who I am so it was a scary time. So being resilient, I re-learned to cook and bake. I discovered the different types of gluten free flours and their properties. I understand the chemistry of baking more now than I ever did before. I became more aware of what I was eating and where it was coming from. I learned about different types of plants, I remember the boyfriend asking "what is a sorghum and where does it come from?" For the record it is a type of grain.

I don't really want to get into how woeful it is to have to exclude gluten, but, it sucks. I want a doughnut in the worst way but haven't been able to find a gluten free one I like. The worst part are the reactions I receive from my family. Almost every member of my family has been snide about it. I finally blew up over the holidays. Seriously, no one wishes more than me that I could just eat what everyone else is having. The food anxiety, I hate being anxious when I go somewhere to eat. On the upside my friends have been very understanding, cooking gluten free things for parties, understanding my anxiety over eating out (and calming me down when I get too worked up). Their positive influence has even allowed my family to get better, my dad who once asked angrily at a restaurant "can't they just fix you?" to sending my salad back when it came out with fries (mostly a cross contamination risk, though some contain flour) on it.

I have found that overall the pagan community (maybe that's why my friends have been so great about it) is very accepting of dietary difference. Last pagan pride day I was able to purchase a gluten free vegan pumpkin loaf. I nearly cried!  I had brought a bag of food with me because I didn't think there would be anything for me to eat. At our  local witches ball the gluten was kept separate from all the food. I have learned  that pagan events are some of the few places where I can eat.

I think Celiac Disease not only made me more mindful, it made me more grateful.

Finally, please check out the blog of one of my favorite "goddesses" - The Gluten Free Goddess, she has been a lifesaver this past year...like a mentor whom I have never met, but hold in high esteem nonetheless. Or try some delicious gluten free banana nut bread and prose compliments of the goddess (she really does say it better than I ever will).