Sacred Salt and the Northern Gods

“Discourse on Meat Science and Nutrition Along the Ancient Silk Road Between Hallstatt to Turpan”

Table of Contents

Introduction

Food is among the most fundamental aspects of human life, on par with relationships and the air we breathe. In 2010, I began a journey into the history of bacon curing, exploring the scientific and historical aspects of meat science. This project concluded on August 4, 2024, amidst significant personal changes, including the closure of Woody’s Consumer Brands, the passing of my uncle, Jan Kok, and my relocation from Cape Town to Lagos and then Europe. I realised that I had to end the previous phase of my life completely before I could successfully embark on the new and finishing the book on bacon curing was an important step. On this day I wrote the final chapter.

I was looking for a fresh perspective on my work which would align with a complete rejuvenation of my personal life which I experienced over the last few months. I became interested in a holistic view of nutrition, inspired by the myths of the Northern Gods, as well as those from other traditions like the God of the Bible and the deities of Ile Ife in West Africa. I realised that these are more than mythologies and that they represent powerful influences on our lives and within them are contained concepts like nutrition and health which provided the holistic backdrop I was looking for to merge into an in-depth scientific exploration. It offers a framework for discussing the principles governing our well-being, which have been embedded in these myths over millennia with a profound impact on our lives.

The narrative structure of “Sacred Salt and the Northern Gods” will follow real and imagined travels, blending mythological stories with detailed scientific discussions on nutrition and meat science. This work builds upon my previous book, “Bacon & the Art of Living,” continuing to root the storyline in reality. Along the Northern Silk Road, from the Turpan Oasis in China to Hallstatt in Austria, I met someone who powerfully reconnected me with the spiritual heritage of my ancestors and their divine narratives. She is the “Mirator Deorum Nordicum,” the Wonderer of the Gods of the North. She both wanders the earth and contemplates deeply. Her spiritual insights are depicted in the image above as the ethereal being hovering over the salt road. I refer to her as the Wise Wonderer. We decided to travel these ancient roads together, to discover their secrets and investigate the wholistic and fundamental implications it has on our daily lives with particular reference to nutrition and meat science.

Each chapter will weave these mythological tales with scientific insights, culminating in a reflection on personal relationships and the evolution of our journey. Through this book, we aim to demonstrate how ancient wisdom and modern science can converge, providing a powerful new perspective on the fundamental principles that sustain us.

Eben van Tonder
Lagos
Nigeria
4 August 2024

INDEX

Project Zeno Holisticus

For those interested in exploring the profound interconnectedness of all living beings and the cosmos, we invite you to visit Zeno Holisticus. This dedicated section builds upon the insights shared in “Sacred Salt and the Northern Gods,” offering a holistic perspective that unites humans, animals, nature, and the universe. With over 20 years of experience in food science and a particular focus on meat, I have come to deeply appreciate the powerful synergy between our lives, the scientific observations in food science, and the most recent understanding of the cosmos.

In collaboration with a dear friend, we continue to uncover the intricate relationships that weave through our existence, emphasizing the sacred bonds we share with all forms of life and the cosmos. Zeno Holisticus is a repository for articles documenting our journey and the phenomena I have written about extensively on EarthwormExpress. Together, we explore narratives that highlight the importance of viewing the world as a cohesive, interdependent system.

For more on these sacred narratives, visit Zeno Holisticus.