By Janet Huntsman
Originally, I was not planning on writing a tribute to Michio, but I now felt it was time to fulfill a request that he had asked of me many years ago. At that time, I had started to tell him of an experience I had which related to him, but I didn’t get too far into my story when he asked me to “Please write.” But I did not, as I doubted anyone would read it, let alone believe it.
But here it is, believe it or not. However, due to limitations on the length of the tribute, I have to be very concise and hit the most pertinent points. So here is my story, Michio, although condensed, that you asked me to write:
I began my macrobiotic journey around age 41, as I had chronic fatigue and I knew diet had to be the problem. I attended many programs at the Kushi Institute and Summer Conferences.
While I was at one of the Destiny Seminars at the K.I., Lily Kushi (Michio and Aveline’s daughter who had been dealing with cervical cancer) was there. During this seminar, there was a cooking class that I was running late for, but luckily, there was an empty seat on the end of a row. I hurriedly slid in, and the person next to me turned slowly to me and smiled. It was Lily. I was about to tell her who I was, when she said, “I know who you are,” and then turned her attention back to the class. I was dumbfounded. Really? She knows me??
She then passed away on January 8, 1995.
In the following month of February, on a Friday afternoon, when I was at work, I noticed how very bright and sunny it was outside with the snow on the ground and how the squirrels stood out running about. (This time period in February was probably 40 days after her passing—the time after death when we pass to a higher plane).
When I got home, I entered the house as usual, opening the door from the garage into the house. When I went to push the door open with my hand, instead of it being a cold metal touch, it was pleasantly warm to the touch. But I didn’t feel alarmed even though we have a wood burning stove. But on checking the stove, the ashes were out and cooled down, but the room temperature was somewhere between 75 – 80 degrees F., and the outside was 20 degrees F.
The warmth seemed to be centered in the kitchen area. Then, ever so gradually, the temperature dropped. When I did go to start a fire that night, I realized I had turned off the furnace probably the night before. The house should not have been up in temperature with 20 degrees outside when I returned home. The next day, Saturday, very early in the morning, I went to take my walk, and was surrounded by a stunning, most beautiful, crystalline palace of hoar frost which lasted until almost noon. And apparently, at this same time, Massachusetts experienced a beautiful hoar frost that covered a very large area.
Then in August 1995, I was at Summer Conference, and Michio and Aveline were the speakers that evening in the auditorium. I sat by myself off to the side, and began feeling a rather strong, but pleasantly riffling, undulating breeze that I assumed came through the doors in the back from the outside (storm brewing?). But when I turned back to look at the doors, they were closed, and I checked another time, and—yes—they were closed! Then I heard a very definite, very clear, strong, highly audible humming like a song in my ears, although it was more like “uuuuuuuu” or “ooooooo.”
Michio and Aveline were on stage giving tribute to their passed daughter. They had Lily’s song, and we were given the lyrics and music to follow along. As I looked down on the sheet, I heard the entire auditorium burst into song, like a full choir. I felt bad because I didn’t know the song, and I looked over at others, but no one’s lips were moving. And I saw Aveline making her way behind Michio and she began to cry. And I kept thinking: “She is here! She is here! Can’t you feel her strong presence?”
Perhaps my condition at that time and at other times, was open to receiving the above encounters? Or my past lives? It is an enigma why Lily chose me.
In closing, I am very honored to have been born at a time that I got to be in Michio’s presence, and learn so much from him, not only about the yin/yang energies, the energetics of food and nature here on earth, but the spiritual world that knows no bounds/no limitations.
Thank you, Michio! I have fulfilled your request, although not as detailed as I wish I could convey.
Peace be with you always and most beautiful spiritual journey always!
Janet Huntsman, a longtime macrobiotic practitioner, lives in Xenia, Ohio.