What the first root of a seed can teach us about navigating a year of powerful change. Over the past ten days, trays of seeds planted by apprentices, community members, and myself have been sitting quietly in the greenhouse. From the outside, nothing appears to be happening. Yet beneath the surface, something extraordinary is already … Read more
As the Winter Solstice approaches here in the Northern Hemisphere, we enter the heart of the Water element season in Chinese Medicine. Like the cool, still, and dark depths of deep waters, this is the darkest time of the year. From this darkness, fear can arise, and depression may feel as though it’s wrapping its … Read more
Live in each season as it passes; breathe the air, drink the drink, taste the fruit, and resign yourself to the influences of each. – Henry David Thoreau A person’s environment is constantly fluctuating—whether it’s truly atmospheric, or within the environments in which one lives, works, or exists in. Because of these fluctuations, one’s balance is … Read more
The following suggestions should be followed if a) you have a Kapha imbalance, or b) you are eating seasonally for spring. In Ayurveda, we eat with the seasons when balanced, or eat to pacify the aggravated Dosha(s) when imbalanced. Kapha Rhythms The Kapha within is naturally pacified in the summer months, as the hot, sharp, … Read more
The following suggestions should be followed if a) you have a Pitta imbalance, or b) you are eating seasonally for summer. In Ayurveda, we eat with the seasons when balanced, or eat to pacify the aggravated Dosha(s) when imbalanced. Pitta Rhythms The pitta within is naturally pacified in the late fall/winter months, when the cold … Read more
The following suggestions should be followed if a) you have a Vata imbalance, or b) you are eating seasonally for winter. In Ayurveda, we eat with the seasons when balanced, or eat to pacify the aggravated Dosha(s) when imbalanced. Vata Rhythms The Vata within is naturally pacified in the spring and summer times of the … Read more
Ancient Wisdom for Modern Living Ayurveda (pronounced “eye-your-vay-duh”), is The Science of Life and Longevity, a holistic system of medicine that originated on the Indian subcontinent over 5,000 years ago. It is the oldest continuously-practiced healthcare system in the world. This system of medicine has endured over thousands of years because its foundational principle is … Read more
“A daily ritual is a way of saying ‘I’m voting for myself, I am taking care of myself, I love myself.’” – Oprah Winfrey Because Valentine’s Day is this month, I thought it was appropriate for February’s blog theme to be about self-love. At the heart of Ayurvedic medicine lays principles of self-care. Not the modern bubble bath, … Read more
Roughly, the last week of October into the first week of November marks the transition from summer to winter. In Ayurvedic terms, we move from the hot, humid season of Pitta to the cold, dry season of Vata. You may be thinking “Well, what about fall?!” Fall is interesting because it is considered transition time rather than an … Read more
“Autumn seemed to arrive suddenly {this} year. The morning of the first September was crisp and golden as an apple.” ~ J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter & The Deathly Hallows Have you gotten to enjoy the beautiful beginnings of Autumn yet? This summer, I had vowed to get outside more. When the middle of summer came and … Read more