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The Simple Life

If you’re on my email list or follow adenaroseayurveda on social media, you know I share Ayurveda from my personal life and experiences. Many of my teachers say things like “Ayurveda takes time,” and “Be your own experiment,” and it does seem like (perhaps especially here in the US because our Ayurvedic education is still growing) this is the only way to go.

So, though I am lucky to be quite healthy, I have also been given painful and difficult experiences that have tested my mind and my body and my faith in Ayurveda and natural healing. In these, I have been able to put my beliefs to the test, and learn from my experimentation.

It’s certainly not all black and white, good or bad. But I do have more ability to be with ‘what is,’ and also know the truth that everything is always shifting and changing.

Thanks for witnessing my path. It’s important to share our own stories, ad to hear others. So if what I write resonates with you and your own journey, please, write me if you feel called.

I think most of us dream about ‘the simple life.’

And most-likely, because we don’t feel like we are living it. Our lives are pretty complex and complicated, and it’s not our fault. But it’s a truth.

 

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Here is a shot of the sourdough bread I finished at 9:30pm last night 😉 and of course had to break into. In Ayurveda, routine is said to be extremely balancing to our body mind system. I think in our modern lives that word is synonymous with ‘boring,’ and something to be avoided if we are to live a fulfilling life and take advantage of all their is to offer.

I’ve been there – in my 20’s. And perhaps I will be there again. A time of rich ojas and less responsibility and perhaps I’d say less purpose.

If healing is required (when is it not, on some level?) we need to root out to cause of the imbalance. Often times in this complex life, simplicity can be the medicine. Simplification as the opposite, and balancing quality of complexity and chaos.

The solution is different for each of us, though I will tell you what is working for me.

1. Making a weekly meal plan (will share mine later.)
2. Sleeping and waking at the same time each day.
3. Warm water each morning, and waking before my son for ‘me time.’ (Meditation, pranayama or writing.)
4. Turning off the radio in the car, and only listening to inspiring podcasts
5. Baking fresh bread every Sunday (just kidding, but #goals.)

When we add things, old things must fall away. How can you simplify? Are you afraid of letting go? Things you know are not serving you? Or on the other side, can you follow with awareness what IS serving you?

We can use a more forgiving word: rhythm. And when you have rhythm in your life, your body responds with predictable rhythm in your sleep wake cycle, menstruation, energy levels/cortisol maps, bowel function, and more. The little things do matter, the little things shape your life.

One thing that prevents me from letting go, and many of my clients and friends and colleagues is ‘nothing’ but FOMO: Fear Of Missing Out.

For example, we don’t say no to the glasses of wine because we might miss a fun time. We might be judged by our friends. We might lose those friends.

So we post-oine healthy choices for ourselves (for how long?) and just continue with the old standard. Which usually doesn’t give more fun or more satisfaction.

We think we need to register for all the things – retreats, conferences, trainings – because our colleagues will ‘get ahead’ of us. Or we won’t be seen as relevant or hip. But we have a baby at home, we are pregnant, we have a mother to take care of, we have to put it on a credit card, we are ill and really should wait of rnext year…etc.

Are these ideas implanted by outside influence? Social media? Other people? Or are they true desires or aspirations, things you need to do to feel fulfilled?

Because sometimes they are, and need to be fulfilled, no holds barred. And other times, much of the time, they are just obsessions, or pressures, or expectations and ‘shoulds’ we hold ourselves to.

I don’t have the answers, but I think cultivating awareness (and maybe experimenting and learning from truths and failures!) is the only way to figure it out.

And slowing down, and simplifying, allows us to have more awareness.

I made a list of what is working for me lately (above). And if you’ve have me, I’ll be sharing more. And please, share yours. Thank you for being here.

Love,
Adena

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The Hunger Moon Cycle

“There is no insurmountable solitude. All paths lead to the same goal: to convey to others what we are. And we must pass through solitude and difficulty, isolation and silence in order to reach forth to the enchanted place where we can dance our clumsy dance and sing our sorrowful song – but in this dance or in this song there are fulfilled the most ancient rites of our conscience in the awareness of being human and of believing in a common destiny.” ~ Neruda


It’s mid-February here in Vermont.  Once again. Each year has its subtle differences, and I learn so much from watching each little shift come around again.  Whether it’s temperature and weather patterns I feel, or emotions and consciousness shifts I watch in myself and others.

This is part of the power in staying in one place for so long – I’ve heard that yogis do not stay in a place for more than 3 nights, because longer, and they’d create karma with that place.

Well, I have a lot of karma here, in Vermont, in New England.  Whether I’m here to work it out, or I’m creating more of it – well, I’m sure it’s both. (Til next time…)

It’s not just the weather that returns.

Full Moon Feast, by Jessica Prentice, is one of my favorite books. A tome I turn to year after year, as the cycles go around.  I just flipped open to the pages that align with this season, and came upon the section called “Hunger Moon.”  I didn’t have to dive in, once again, very far, to feel the inspiration stirring.

My first thought was – “This idea seems antiquated, not really relevant to our modern lives.”  Most of us can go to the grocery store any time we want, and buy almost any produce or product we dream of, at any time of the year. Even mid-February (and most-likely 24 hours per day.)  Most of us are blessed not to experience lack or hunger in our modern lives, ever.  So, this seemingly is a nice little chapter talking about past traditions, but not mine.

I had been thinking hunger, as in lack of food.  That traditionally, at this time of year, the food stored from Summer harvests is getting low.  It’s literally the bottom of the barrel of parsnips, or beets, or winter squash.  And, as I’ve read, it’s tougher to hunt wild game because the snows are deep and cold, and the game is also scarce – maybe because only the strongest are roaming about, and many of the animals are in the deep sleep of hibernation.

Most of us are no longer as deeply reliant upon nature for our actual sustenance.  But perhaps the samskara, or mental patterns, of fear and scarcity are still there, still affect us.  This is currently my experience.  And has been a pattern for the last few years as I’ve cultivated deeper awareness of it.

Cycles of collective consciousness

It’s no argument that our body/mind/spirit beings are influenced by many forces. Within and without.  The planets (astrology), the food we eat, our environment (weather, air, season), the collective consciousness and thought forms, as well. One of my yoga teachers says that 99.9% of ‘our thoughts’ are not actually our own.  This may sound woo woo, but when I mention this to others in conversation, many agree that this feels true. How about you?

I heard in a podcast recently that most people pass away on Mondays in January and February.  Yes, partly it is the physical – the extremity of weather and the rise in rates of colds and flus on their weaker immune systems- though we can not discount the mental/emotional cycles throughout the year as well.

A young woman in our community recently committed suicide.  A friend called me for support with debilitating anxiety.  Clients I am working with are feeling a lot of fear around finances.  Feeling deep sadness and compassion, my husband and I had a conversation about depression, and the cycles we have seen in ourselves, and within other members of our community over the past few years.  This time of year just seems to be particularly tough.  What is that? Is it the darkness, the cold, the slump after the holidays?

In my humble experience the Hunger Moon time of year seems to be a time when an ancient cycle of fear and scarcity arises. And perhaps it’s so tough because our modern lives are so isolating.  Since we don’t outwardly see our community suffering in the same ways, we have trouble aligning with this natural rhythm, and struggle against it. Many things that come up are completely beyond our control, but or mental and emotional state may be.

This time of year there is a lot of waiting, stillness, an inertia.

We feel a lack, and then to bring balance, fear drives us to hoard what we do have rather than share it.  We are coming to the bottom of our barrel.  And if we feel alone, this can feel like the end, truly hopeless – and we lose sight that Spring is coming, will come, must come around again.

Perhaps if we are aware that this is just a natural dip, we won’t struggle so hard against it.  We might use its gifts wisely.

In this world where seasonal shifts and even climates don’t matter much – greenhouses, international shipping of food products and medicines, electric lighting, climate controlled environments – there is less and less cause for pause in production of foods.  We don’t have to go hungry.  But I’m certain the quality of what is produced is lower.  The nutrients lacking, the colors, texture, taste deficient.

Perhaps feeling this fear proves that our emotional body is still aligned with these patterns in nature.  There is still a Hunger Moon cycle.

In mine I am trying to see this as an opportunity to find space in my days, rather than drive to fill every moment with work.  To practice openness when I want to contract out of fear. To burn karma by allowing energy the build then release it back into the universe rather than inflame myself in anger.  To feel grateful for what I do have. Time with my son. Grains in glass jars on my counter.  A neighbor that offers raw milk for free.  A friend who provides us fresh eggs.  The list goes on.

I’ve been given time and excuse to pray and ask the universe for assistance.  Opportunities to experience humility, in what ways exactly I do not know yet.  My husband says ‘bring it on.’ I am not quite brave enough to challenge the universe like that, but I call to it for guidance and support in my surrender.

I feel inspired to share this with you, as you are part of my community. Not for a pity party, but out of hunger for connection.

How are you?  Are you experiencing this Hunger Moon energy?

Feel free to list 5 things you are grateful for in the comments below.

 

~ When I asked a yogi how I should treat others, he answered, ‘What others?’ ~

 

 

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Simple Nourishment: Egg Drop Soup

I love to cook. I have daydreams about being a grandma and having nothing to do all day but cook for myself and my grand kids… right out of that garden I will finally have time to weed…

It can be difficult to find simple, staple recipes, that can be made pretty quickly, follow Ayurvedic ‘rules’ and are also yummy.  I can cook almost anything – and when I say that, I mean, yes, I have learned to follow a recipe, but what I mean is that I take pride making a meal out of whatever I have around the kitchen.

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It pays to have staples that you love to use and that you know are balancing for you and the season – this is something that just takes time, and of course, knowhow – otherwise have to get complicated to cook for yourself daily.

This recipe was created in mid-January, during a harsh winter, for someone with sensitive digestion, but in need of protein. If you’re going to choose animal protein, choose organic and local.  Even if you’re living in a city, it’s common to find out that your neighbor now has a hen house! (And yes, bonus, this recipe is gluten-free and milk-free!)

Simple Nourishment: Egg Drop Soup

Balances Vata (For a more Pitta balancing soup, remove the egg yolk and just use egg white, and go light or emit the black pepper and miso.)

INGREDIENTS
1 T ghee
2 local eggs
2 cups of water or broth of your choice
black pepper to taste
pinch turmeric (I can’t help myself)
1/2 zucchini chopped (happened to have on hand – any other greens, including scallion would be nice, and more traditional)
1 tsp miso paste
pinch salt

DIRECTIONS

Heat ghee over medium heat in a heavy bottomed pot.  Add zucchini or other greens and saute to coat with oil (if zucchini, cook for 2-3 minutes to soften.)  Add black pepper and turmeric and stir.  Add water or broth, and bring to a boil.  Meanwhile, whisk the eggs in a glass measuring cup until smooth.  Remove the pot from the heat, and then slowly whisk in the eggs.  Keep whisking, as this will give you ribbons of egg as opposed to chunks, which are less ‘nice’ to savor.

Serve immediately, with a tsp of miso per bowl. Add a pinch of salt if you need it.  Two small servings, or one larger.

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Mid-Winter Immune Boost

In Ayurveda, and The Healing Diet, we talk a lot about the components that make up our immunity.

We have, of course, many ways of describing this ‘reality’ and the strengths and weaknesses. I believe it’s beneficial to be able to look at something from many angles.

Two words which are important to Ayurveda’s view of immunity are agni and ojas.

Agni is our digestive capacity – our metabolic strength – our ability to ‘burn up’ toxins, and to digest and assimilate nutrients from our food, and experiences in life. It can be translated to literally mean fire. Think burning up, fighting off, cleaning out, eating, transforming, digesting.  (This is a hugely important concept for healing in Ayurveda, and so in The Healing Diet, I dedicate a whole week to talking about agni, learning our metabolic type, how to balance it, etc…)

Ojas is our innate strength and resilience. We are born with some, and then we maintain this through balanced agni/good digestion. Ojas is more connected with the water and earth elements – it is a substance, and and essence that gives us our oomph. Our strength and ability to heal and deal with life. Like, when we’re hit hard by and illness or stress, it’s our ojas that gives us strength to bounce back. It’s heavier, it’s juicier, it’s and end product of our takin’ care of agni.

This warm milk recipe is working on the ojas part of our immunity. This is one reason that milk is considered such an important and healing food in Ayurveda. Of course, you can substitute almond milk or hemp milk etc – the qualities are similar, but different. And usually, those items are more processed. (If you make them yourself, though, even better!)

I am blessed to have raw milk available relatively easily and locally. I am also blessed with a husband who keeps bees, so we have a plentiful supply of raw honey. I make my own ghee, from raw milk butter from another local farm, so this is truly a cuppa gold.

Then, optionally, I add turmeric for an even deeper golden color and it’s own special healing properties, and a little ginger powder for agni, and just because!

 

Mid-Winter Golden Milk for Immunity

1 c raw milk

1/2 c water

1/4 tsp turmeric powder

1/4 tsp ginger powder

1 tsp honey

1 tsp ghee

 

Warm first four ingredients until milk just starts to foam.  Pour into a mug and stir in honey and ghee. *Do not cook the honey, just let it melt in your cup. **The equal amounts of honey/ghee poison thing goes by weight – I don’t sweat it and just add equal amounts by eye/measurement.

Great before bed, or as a snack when you get home from work/school.

 

Love,

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