Mind Food
A clear mind. During Fall and Spring, emotions are more likely to rise and fly around. The external world near you will help you release these emotions. Moments will arrive and potentially poke and push your electro-magnetic and emotional systems. The reason for this is to keep your mind, body, heart and soul in harmony. If we were living in closer relationship with nature, we would be able to retain overall balance and our collective mind, consciousness, would remain clear. When this happens, humanity transforms and elevates to higher states of being. (aka no more bickering over in consequential stuff, no more shaming/judging and/or carrying around emotional/mental grievances like a dumbbell). You would be in alignment with your inner and outer eco-systems. This is possible and our natural state of being. Yet, clearly our consciousness waivers between a toddler’s emotional swinging pendulum and a teenager’s risk seeking impulsivity. Fortunately, a rather reckless, emotional and self indulgent era is coming to a close for many.
I would like to point out that these two developmental phases have one thing in common, raw honesty. This will be your golden key that gives you access to your inner evolution, opening up your ability to retain higher states of being. If you want to begin migrating back to your natural harmony and transform into your authentic self, I encourage you to observe your emotions. When your emotions rise up and around you this will be your opportunity to BE objective and honest with yourself. As inspired, turn that finger that so quickly points outward…in. As you dance with your emotions and get real with yourself, you will find solid ground to clear your mind. In that moment, you will be able to see clearly, retain presence and BE comfortable right HERE.
Body Food
A weighted blanket, sweat lodge and/or a brisk walk. During these transitional seasons all three of these will help you ground and transmute the energies that are ready to be released from your bio-field.
The weighted blanket will give you the pressure and support on your entire system. The extra weight helps give your electromagnetic system support to process these emotions while you practice remaining calm. The blanket will help you sleep, feel safe, reduce anxiety and transmute PTSD symptoms.
Sweat Lodge* this is a practice kept all around the world by most cultures. In our need for speed era, we have infrared saunas with bouncing binaural beats. However, I would encourage you to find a traditional sweat lodge. The modern devices are just not the same; however, they do help you sweat, clear the systems.
Going to the lodge is an opportunity to climb back into the metaphorical womb of the “earth mother”. A safe place to pray, cleanse and be. In addition, a sacred moment to pray for others. The unexplainable clearing is anchored in the earth, water, wood, ether and fire that all equally work in your favor. A gentle reminder the lodge is a sacred practice and best to be honored with humility and reverence for the reason our ancestral lineages carried this tradition forward.
*TBN Grasping at something and/or a tradition that was not handed to you will have a feedback loop.
Brisk walk. Simply stated when emotions rise up rather than wrestle with yourself, walk it out. If you walk long enough, your mind will clear. Then, the practice is to stay there.
Heart Food
*photo from an unknown source out of the South Eastern Region of North America.
HUMan UP. The uniqueness that makes each and everyone of you divine is your capacity to love, be kind and have compassion for each other. This ability runs through all of nature and our four legged friends bridge the gap for HUMANs to see how innate this is. This picture is from the unfolding devastation in the South Eastern part of North America. I share it here as an illustration of how two species help one and another find safe ground.
While, my heart is broken, as I write this column, I feel it is so important to remind each and everyone of you that you have the capacity to serve. In fact, you have special gifts, unique to you. Furthermore, you have an instinct that kicks in when emergency situations suddenly arrive. While, you do not need to wait for these unexplainable moments to help others. You can use this moment as a reminder of your capacity to be of service on a daily basis. Small actions are best. If you have the ability to do more, then, go for it. If we all pitch in with our unique gifts, many solutions arrive and all our needs are met with greater ease.
Simply put. Let nature, the divine and the unexplainable guide you. Then, serve with your unique gifts.
My heart and 24/7 prayers and practices go out to all those impacted and suffering in any and all locations around the world. As inspired, stay HUMan.
Mind You + Food
Gruel. Just like a mama is best to eat soft foods postpartum, this is an optimal dish to add to your fall and spring meals. This is an excerpt from an article I wrote many moons ago, Ayurvedic Techniques for Restoring the Energy of the Womb After Childbirth. ~ Suzanne Toro
Post-Pregnancy Gruel: Sweet Version.
Any sweet whole grain porridge preparation (organic) could be oats, wheat, rice etc. should be sweet not too astringent
Organic cow’s ghee
Organic jaggery (must be organic as non organic jaggery must be avoided due to contamination) if not available use another whole sweetener like maple syrup or organic sugar (unrefined)
Cardamon, cinnamon, ginger
Dates
The sweet gruel can be made with organic raw cow’s milk or with water as you prefer.
Post-Pregnancy Gruel: Salty Version.
Any sweet whole grain porridge preparation (organic) could be oats, wheat, rice etc. should be sweet not too astringent
Organic cows ghee
Little home made vata masala
Rock salt
Fresh coriander
Pinch of pure saffron
Keep the preparations watery.
The emphasis here is on bringing vata down, so taking sweet nourishing warm soupy porridge so she can gently restore to health. The birth of the infant takes much strength from you.
You must gradually restore back to full power. You must take maximum rest, keep warm, and keep her diet liquid, warm and unctuous.
These are just a few places to start. Rather than be overwhelmed with all the options and motherhood, welcome in the alignment with self and your mother’s intuition.
Ayurveda is a system that relates quite naturally to our relationship with the earth and the human species. We only need to make adjustments based on where we are in the world and the ingredients that most agree with our constitution.
We are not all designed to digest all the spices and herbs recommended in Ayurveda and Chinese Medicine. With this being said take some deep breaths, listen and move slowly into motherhood, it is an evolving journey with yourself, your children and your partner.
Be gentle with everyone and you will find your way with a lot of courage, love, joy and inspiration along the way.
I share this recipe as reminder that sometimes when you get run down (emotionally, physically, mentally and/or spiritually) or expend most of your life force to create + give and/or birth a human life, you are best too slowly and mindfully rebuild the energy you have expended. To BE radically honest with you…*there are no sort cuts. As inspired, slow down this Fall and Spring season and practiced staying anchored in the earth’s energy as wood rises and ether welcomes us to sustain JOY.
May your day be filled with JOY and a lot of LAUGHTER. .sT