Create. Make Change.
Soul Food
“The Tao that can be described
is not the eternal Tao.
The name that can be spoken
is not the eternal Name.
The nameless is the boundary of Heaven and Earth.
The named is the mother of creation.
Freed from desire, you can see the hidden mystery.
By having desire, you can only see what is visibly real.
Yet mystery and reality
emerge from the same source.
This source is called darkness.
Darkness born from darkness.
The beginning of all understanding." Lao Tzu
The New Moon Arrived: Sunday, April 27, 2025 at 12:31PM. PST, continuing on in LUNAR CYCLE 3. At the Equator, we are entering into Cycle 2. We will be approaching the Full Moon in one more week on May 12, 2025.
Sol + Luna Cycles: The Spring/Fall New Moon Musings, Silent Meditation and Sound-Electromagnetic Therapy. If inspired, Pause, Be and Listen.
Contemplation:
What are you ready to create from within?
Where are you ready to make change from within?
Are you ready to listen deeply? Are you willing to integrate what you hear before taking action?
Time Stamp: Dharma Moon Musing 0:00 | Meditation at :23:00 | Sound :54:00 | Outro 1:28:00
Heart + Sacral Food
A mother’s innate compassion and capacity to love her child unconditionally is beyond words. No doubt you’ve felt this from your own mother, grandmother, and/or another maternal presence in your life. Ideally, we all receive that limitless compassion from our mother—but that isn’t always our reality. And if your inner work originates from “mother issues,” it isn’t something to hold onto or feel jilted by. It’s simply part of your dance as much as it is hers.
This arises from the law of cause and effect—Karma—our eternal dance with the universe and each other. In Eastern teachings, the first practice for anyone is to become like a compassionate, protective, loving mother. A mother’s love for her child is innate, regardless of soul histories. Those histories reveal themselves in myriad ways for mother, father, and child. As a child, you may have wanted to scream, “It’s not fair!” Yet whenever aversion or longing toward another arises—especially toward our mother—the practice is first compassion for ourselves and for that relationship. Aversion and longing are two sides of the same coin: grasping. And grasping is the root of all suffering.
A mother’s capacity to hold unconditional love and compassion comes from the Divine and from her journey of creating and holding her child in sacred space—from conception, through gestation in the womb, into birth, and beyond. As I mentioned before, the conduit between heart and womb is the energetic pathway linking a mother to her children.
If you’d like to honor the life your mother gave you, take a few moments now. Close your eyes and imagine yourself back in the warm waters of her womb: feeling her heartbeat, her breath soothing you, her voice reassuring you as you transform and grow into your physical form. Sit in that miraculous space of metamorphosis and give silent gratitude for her strength, her love, and the suffering she endured to bring you into this world.
Then, from heart to heart, breathe in—and breathe out. With each exhale, send her love, gratitude, and compassion. On each inhale, receive her love—perhaps the love you were never fully aware of before. Continue this rhythm: breathing together to strengthen your bond.
Bonus: If you’re a mama yourself (fur-babies count!), do the same practice—send love and compassion to your children, and receive theirs in return. Notice the small ways they already express this to you.
I’ve witnessed so many powerful transformations—miraculous healings, deepened relationships with clients and students—when we connect in this way. Let me know how this flows for you.
Mind + Heart Food
From deep within, two guiding lights pulse at the center of our being: the rhythmic echo of the heart and the quiet whisper of intuition, often linked to the pineal gland’s “third eye.” When these two centers—heart and intuition—learn to dance together in harmony, we discover a state I call fluid living and knowing: an intuitive ease, a clarity of choice, and an unforced flow in life’s unfolding. What follows is a first pass at weaving the threads of science, spirit, and practice into one tapestry—one that illuminates how our heart and intuition can synchronize to support soul-aligned choices.
The Heart’s Wisdom
Long before the brain can analyze a situation, the heart has already responded. Scientists have discovered that the heart houses its own intricate neural network—tens of thousands of neurons—earning it the name “heart-brain.” In experiments, subtle shifts in heart rate variability (HRV) occur several seconds before a person consciously perceives an emotional stimulus. The heart appears to pick up on energetic information first (we receive transmission from each other near and far), then passes the baton to the cerebral cortex. In practical terms, this is why that sudden “heart feeling” often proves reliable: it is the heart’s early-alert system, tuned to nuance and feeling.
Beyond neural pathways, the heart generates the body’s strongest electromagnetic field. When we practice heart coherence—steady, rhythmic breathing paired with heartfelt emotions like gratitude or compassion—our HRV smooths into a harmonious wave, and the nervous system shifts from stress into a state of openness. In that vibration, we feel more centered, more present, and our decisions begin to flow from alignment rather than anxiety.
The Pineal’s Quiet Light
Tucked away in the core of the brain, the pineal gland’s primary role is to produce melatonin, the hormone that governs our sleep–wake cycles. But millennia of spiritual traditions—Hindu, Buddhist, Yogic—have also regarded it as the seat of the Ajna, the third-eye chakra, a portal to intuitive insight and higher consciousness. Though hard scientific proof for pineal-based clairvoyance remains scarce (TBN: there are those alphabet soup declassified documents and a treasure trove of untranslated Buddhist transcripts), we know the gland is light-sensitive (via photoreceptor-like cells) and even produces trace amounts of DMT, a molecule associated with dream states and mystical experiences. Whether or not these DMT bursts directly translate to psychic vision, they speak to the pineal’s capacity to modulate our inner landscape—calming the mind, deepening introspection, and perhaps opening subtle channels of inner knowing.
Heart–Pineal Synchronization
Imagine your heart as the horizontal axis of intuition—grounded in emotional resonance, tuning you to people, places, and patterns around you. Picture the pineal gland as the vertical axis—attuning you to inner light, to whispers from the unconscious or the unseen. When these axes align, they create a two-dimensional map upon which fluid living can unfold. You no longer rely solely on logical reasoning or pure emotion; instead, you integrate both, allowing each to inform and balance the other.
Though no ‘current’ study has yet mapped a direct “pineal–heart neural highway,” we do see indirect connections—alongside countless ancient texts documenting the conjunction of these two “way radios” in the physical, spiritual and energetic body. Melatonin shapes autonomic balance, encouraging the parasympathetic “rest-and-digest” state that supports heart coherence. Meanwhile, a coherent heart rhythm fosters calmer, more integrated brain states, which may amplify melatonin’s tonic effects. Meditative and yogic practices, by soothing the nervous system, likely nudge both centers into sync.
Practices for Fluid Knowing
Daily Heart-3rd Eye Listening coupled with silent meditation (bum to cushion)
Take a few quiet moments to tune inward. Listen to the non-verbal cues, subtle messages, and inner knowing that arise from your heart and mind’s eye.
Journaling or Mental Integration
Store insights in a mental “filing system” (great for cognitive strengthening) or jot them down in a handwritten journal. Over time, patterns emerge, revealing your personal inner language.
Heart–Mind Breathing
Practice breathing from heart to mind and mind to heart:
Inhale for a count of 5, exhale for a count of 8.
Let your breath mirror nature’s rhythm—slow, steady, and connected.
Making Soul-Aligned Choices
When the heart and intuition center move in harmony, decision-making becomes less a wrestling match and more a graceful dance. You learn to trust that early flutter in your chest, honored by the pineal’s quiet guidance. You pause before responding, listening inward to the dual melody playing beneath the surface.
Is your choice aligned with the divine love and compassion?
Does it feel expansive, not constricting?
Does it reflect your highest values, not just immediate comfort?
This is fluid living: a lived wisdom expressed through action, not a rigid rulebook. You become adept at reading your own energy—sensing when a path lights you up versus when it drains you. And in those moments of clarity, you step forward—heart leading, intuition guiding—into choices that resonate with the soul’s true song.
Body Food
From my perspective, the ultimate gift of asana practice is the opportunity to surrender—physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. It is the perfect dance between doing and being. Within the gap between those two energies lies the true space of practice. That “gap” is the goal—if there were one—within the entire system of yoga. It is in these unexplainable spaces that we are able to move beyond the known, into a field of full potential.
Asana, as part of the greater yoga system, serves on many levels. Its deepest offering is that it prepares us for the gap ultimately accessed in meditation—a completely silent meditation. If one is receptive to the cues expressed by the body, mind, heart, and soul, it becomes easier to receive. This is the feminine’s role: the divine, open cup ready to receive and access the full potential of all that is—and all that is not.
During the Spring and Fall seasons, the energy around us becomes frenetic. This is due to the heightened activity of nature’s creation-and-destruction cycle. And because we are part of nature, this impacts our entire being. But if we look to the mountains, the earth beneath our feet, and the sky above, we can access the grounding energy and stillness needed to move more effortlessly with the constancy of change.
A simple way to support yourself during these dynamic seasons is to create a pause. Make space for a receptive asana practice—one that is slow, close to the earth, and guided by the breath. Hatha Yoga offers this. It is a slow-paced, meditative style of yoga that involves holding passive postures (asanas) for extended periods—targeting the deep connective tissues: ligaments, fascia, and joints. This effort supports the regeneration of your entire being.
Physical Benefits:
Improved joint mobility and flexibility, enhanced circulation, fascial well-being, reduced chronic pain, improved organ function, and injury prevention.
Mental & Emotional Benefits:
Stress reduction, enhanced mental clarity and focus, emotional release, increased self-awareness, and deeper sleep.
Energetic Benefits:
Balanced Qi (energy) flow, support of specific meridians, grounding, and centering.
In both Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and yoga philosophy, Spring is associated with the Wood element, the Liver and Gallbladder meridians, and themes of renewal, growth, flexibility, and detoxification. Yin postures that target these meridians—especially in the inner thighs, hips, side body, and upper legs—promote both physical and emotional balance. These poses are particularly helpful for easing frustration, irritability, or anger.
Additional Benefits:
Yin Yoga is accessible to all, complements an active lifestyle, cultivates patience, fosters self-love and inner acceptance, and deepens communion—within the self and in relationship with others.
Research Supporting This Wisdom:
A 2018 study in Frontiers in Immunology found that mind-body practices like yoga reduce inflammation and stress markers, underscoring Yin Yoga’s physical and mental health benefits.
A 2017 study in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine showed that slower forms of yoga improve chronic pain, reduce PTSD symptoms and emotional regulation.
TCM affirms the connection between Yin practices and meridian health.
As inspired, find a Yin or Hatha Yoga class—or create a simple sequence for yourself at home. Let it be a sacred pause.
Mind You + Food
These beautiful flowers have endured so many unintended acts of “death,” when in truth, their nature is to remind us of BLISS—the remembrance of LOVE. I hear Alanis Morissette singing in my head… Isn’t it ironic?
And yet, within the irony of our human tendency to grasp—whether for pleasure, escape, or meaning—there’s a collective lesson emerging. One about pain, bypassing, and the constant search for relief. While that’s a deeper conversation for another day, today I want to invite all of us to receive the beauty and emotional support these poppies offer.
Welcome them into your garden, your home, your workplace. Their vibrant colors—red, orange, golden yellow—don’t just brighten a space. When observed in nature, they have been shown to lower cortisol levels and promote relaxation.
Just by gazing at a poppy, your mood may lift. These blooms can help trigger the release of dopamine and serotonin, easing anxiety and symptoms of depression. When we pair this with the gift of presence—pausing in quiet, reflective repose—we enter into a natural state of healing.
As a bonus, standing with them under the sun, you receive a gentle boost of Vitamin D, another loving nudge from Mother Nature to tend to your mental and emotional well-being.
So, as inspired, spend time with the poppies. Let your gaze linger. Let your heart soften. Make peace with what we’ve misunderstood in the past, and offer gratitude for the quiet medicine these flowers continue to bring.
Poppy Seed Lemon Loaf (or Muffins)
Another way to make an amends with Poppies. One of my favorite combos in the kitchen Lemon and Poppy seeds.
Yield: 1 loaf (8-10 slices) or 12 muffins Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 50-60 minutes (loaf) or 18-22 minutes (muffins)
Total Time: ~1 hour 15 minutes
Ingredients (organic and/or clean when possible)
Dry Ingredients:
1 ¾ cups (220g) all-purpose flour
1 ½ tbsp poppy seeds
1 tsp baking powder
¼ tsp baking soda
¼ tsp salt
Wet Ingredients:
¾ cup (150g) granulated sugar
Zest of 1 large lemon (about 1 tbsp)
½ cup (115g) unsalted butter, melted and cooled
2 large eggs, room temperature
⅓ cup (80ml) fresh lemon juice (about 1-2 lemons)
½ cup (120ml) sour cream or full-fat Greek yogurt
1 tsp vanilla extract
Instructions
Preheat Oven: For a loaf: Preheat to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9x5-inch loaf pan and line with parchment paper for easy removal. For muffins: Preheat to 375°F (190°C). Line a 12-cup muffin tin with paper liners or grease.
Mix Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, poppy seeds, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
Combine Wet Ingredients: In a large bowl, rub the sugar and lemon zest together with your fingers until fragrant (this releases lemon oils). Whisk in melted butter, eggs, lemon juice, sour cream, and vanilla extract until smooth.
Combine Wet and Dry: Gently fold the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients using a spatula. Mix until just combined; avoid overmixing to keep the texture light.
Bake: Loaf: Pour batter into the prepared loaf pan and smooth the top. Bake for 50-60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs. If the top browns too quickly, tent with foil after 40 minutes.
Muffins: Divide batter evenly among muffin cups (about ¾ full). Bake for 18-22 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean.
Cool: Loaf: Let cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. Muffins: Cool in the tin for 5 minutes, then transfer to a rack.
May each moment be filled with Blissful JOY, Peace and a lot of LAUGHTER. .sT