This week, my dice landed on Gluttony — one of the snake squares in the ancient game of wisdom, Gyan Chaupar. In the game, a fall from Gluttony takes me sliding all the way down to the root chakra — the base of our being, the place of survival, stability, and fear.
But what does gluttony truly mean?
The Oxford Dictionary defines it as "habitual greed or excess in eating." But such a definition only touches the surface. Gluttony isn’t just about food. It’s about overindulgence — often in response to an inner void.
Let’s look more closely.
Why does a person reach for that extra bite when they are already full?
Why does the hand go back to the fridge late at night, when the body is clearly not hungry?
What are we really feeding?
Behind the act of gluttony, there is often a silent whisper of need. A need that food can never satisfy. Perhaps it is comfort, safety, belonging, or even a sense of control. For some, food becomes a way to stay grounded — quite literally. The extra weight acts like armour, a buffer between themselves and a world that feels unstable or unsafe.
In the language of energy, this relates to the blockage in root chakra, or Muladhara. When we overeat to feel secure, the root chakra is speaking — or rather, crying out to be cleansed. Gluttony is a sign that our foundation feels shaky. The snake in Gyan Chaupar reminds us: indulging excessively in the physical pulls our energy down, not up. We slide from the higher paths of wisdom to the base of survival.
But this descent is not punishment — it is a mirror. The snake offers us a chance to see what lies hidden.
Ancient wisdom teaches us that the body is a sacred vessel, and every craving is a message. The yogis say, “As is the food, so is the mind.” What we consume doesn’t only shape our body — it shapes our thoughts, our moods, our very vibration.
So how do we respond to gluttony, when it arises?
We pause. We ask.
Not “What do I want to eat?” but “What am I truly hungry for?”
Is it warmth? Connection? Rest?
Can I feed myself in ways that nourish more than just the belly?
Sometimes, the deepest nourishment comes not from more, but from less. A warm cup of tea, a moment of stillness, a hand on the heart. These small acts remind the body that it is safe. That it is home.
As players of the inner game, we all encounter gluttony in different forms. But when we face it with curiosity, not shame, it becomes a teacher. And from that place, we can choose differently.
The next time you roll the dice and find yourself staring down at the snake of gluttony, remember:
It’s not the end of the journey.
It’s a call to return to your roots — to meet yourself gently, and rise again with awareness.
Mantra to practice: "I am safe. I am full. I am enough."
If you’d like to play Gyan Chaupar and explore these ideas in action, feel free to message me. Reserve your board or poster here: Gyan Chaupar
As usual, below are our 4 thoughts and 2 questions about Gluttony.
4 thoughts on gluttony
From Henri Poincare
More die by food than by famine
From Peter De Vries
Gluttony is an emotional escape, a sign something is eating us.
From Henry David Thoreau
He who distinguishes the true savour of his food can never be a glutton; he who does not cannot be otherwise.
From Socrates
Eat to live, don’t live to eat.
2 questions about gluttony
What am I truly craving when I reach for more than my body needs?
In what moments do I feel most nourished — beyond food?
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Much love
Vineeta
If you’re curious about the game of Gyan Chaupar, find out more and get hold of one of our limited first edition game boards at www.gyanchaupar.co.uk