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
“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
April showers bring May flowers… along with soggy shoes, dirt under the fingernails, and mud-stained grins. At least, that’s how it is for us gardeners. Have you ever done something that you are absolutely immersed in and it seems like time stands still? That feeling is Yoga. Yoga means “union”, and you can achieve this … Read more
Roughly, the last week of March into the first week of April marks the transition from winter to spring. In Ayurvedic terms, we move from the cold, dry season of Vata to the cool, wet season of Kapha. Kapha, one of the 3 Ayurvedic Doshas, is a combination of the water and earth elements. Kapha … Read more
The first time I consciously learned about listening was in my Doula training over 7 years ago. The teacher paired us off and asked us to introduce ourselves and why we were there. The listener was to abide by these instructions: Cue the speaker that you are engaged in what they are saying– eye contact, … Read more