Eating is a way that we incorporate things into us, so you may be eating food that represents qualities you think you need or desire. Eating is nourishment and may represent emotional or maternal nourishment, especially if you are eating or drinking milk products, warm or sweet foods, or especially satisfying foods your mother made. Eating undesirable foods, or foods you ordinarily don not like, may symbolize a need to recognize or acknowledge a negative or shadow aspect of yourself. Difficulty eating may represent difficulty taking in reality; in assimilating information or energy that you need to make a change. Sharing food with others or feeding another suggest nurturing, closeness. Overeating may relate to issues of greed or emotional neediness; trying to fill an internal void; attempting to satisfy or fulfill other sensual needs. Eating can be a disguise for sensual or erotic experiences. Perhaps you need more sensual or sexual stimulation in your waking life.

Consider what aspects of yourself you are nurturing, symbolized by whomever you are eating with or feeding. There is always the chance that you are eating your heart out over some person or situation or that you wish you had someone eating out of your hand. Then again, because of your behavior in, or attitude about, a situation or person you may need to eat humble pie or eat your words.

Eating with a family or group reflects family or social pleasure and connection. Eating alone can reflect independence needs; feelings about exclusion; rejection or loss of family or social ties; on one but yourself to nurture you.

See also celebration, food, teeth.