Soul Food
“Be content with what you have;
rejoice in the way things are.
When you realize there is nothing lacking,
the whole world belongs to you.”
― Lao Tzu
In the above segment, you will explore the rising wood and earth energy within the elemental forces that support our existence. As water and fire pass center stage to patience and trust. You have the opportunity to look within and explore how and where you are ready to bring yourself into integrity. In addition, I will share how important your set + setting in creating a space that is supportive of your well being and integrity.
As inspired, listen closely and deepen your relationship with integrity. Align yourself with your inner earth and water by exploring these elements in the world around you. Then, begin practicing reciprocation with yourself and others. Receiving + Giving. There is plenty to exchange.
Time Stamps: Dharma 0 Meditation :27:50 Sound :53:10 Outro 1:30:00
Weekly talks are an offering to assist you in diving deeper into a spiritual practice, your inner landscape and cultivate inner peace.
“At the center of your being
you have the answer;
you know who you are
and you know what you want.”
― Lao Tzu
Heart Food
Receiving + Giving. Yin Matters.
Late SUMmer arrives with this NEW Moon. A moment to find a most certain calm and lay to rest any and all ‘worry’. It is that sweet spot when our collective energy is held in the YIN across the earth plane. In the Southern Hemisphere, our brothers and sisters remain in the YIN (feminine energy). The ‘waters’ are preparing for their first thaw before those abiding on the South Side step back into the masculine energy (yang). Here in the Northern Hemisphere, we are gently transitioning into the earth energy with this incoming lunar cycle. Therefore, placing the entire world system in the feminine energy, mother energy. This happens twice a year, once in each hemisphere.
You might ask, ‘What does this mean?’
It means, you are offered the opportunity to PAUSE, Ground and Evaluate what can be subtracted from your inner landscape (the mental, physical, emotional and spiritual bodies). The key is to look for those aspects within yourself that generates ‘worry and/or self doubt’. This is what stops your Qi, vital energy, from flowing fluidly through your entire system. This impacts your ability to receive. . . create and give. If you are pushing, pulling, resisting and/or attaching your conditions onto the power of creation, your vitality will quickly diminish from the inside out.
We are so blessed to live in a world system that is regenerative. Being you are part of this magnificent ecosystem, you also regenerate. It is within your subtle energetic bodies that you can reflect on where you have blocked your system and/or bypassed your dynamic-fluid nature.
You might ask, ‘How or where do I start?’
I welcome you to take these simple steps:
PAUSE in nature, find a spot to rest your bum on the earth with your back resting on the tree trunk. (if you are not able to go outside, just do this in your home and imagine your self in nature.)
Sit and BE. Stay in this position for as long as you have space and attention. You will naturally know when to start to listen.
Evaluate. The listening is beyond words and it will come through as a knowing. A sense.
SUBtract. From here you will start to become aware of what you are ready to subtract.
-This could mean removing thoughts that reinforce worrying by practicing daily meditation.
-This could mean removing habits that you do when you begin to worry that actually diminish your life force. (i.e. substances that you feed yourself to pacify the worry).
-This could mean removing the emotional habit of allowing your worry to get other emotions worked up (ie your worry feeds your anxiety. . .your anxiety feeds your anger/self doubt(fear) and so on).
The key is to see what is ready to be removed. Then, allow that awareness help you create the space and/or find a new habit to help you move from worry to CALM.
Calm is your true nature and the nature of the earth mother. It is best to pick one thing to subtract and keep it simple. You will have more success when you do one thing at a time. Since, our entire world system is interdependent. Which means, when you make a change in one area to create balance other aspects of your inner landscape will begin to balance too. The most exciting part of this process is you are being supported by the earth mother, who is welcoming you back in the cradle of her heart to remind you of the power you have to receive…create and give. Furthermore, ‘she’ is offering you this brief seasonal moment to receive. As inspire, open your heart and receive just like you did when you were in your mother’s womb and in her arms after you arrived.
Mind + Body + Heart + Soul Food
Remembering Free Will. DeProgramming YOU.
The Native Solitary Bees are the best pollinators. Pollination is needed to keep the flowers and crops growing. As noted from this article on Native Bees, The Best Pollinators for you Garden, Christopher Burnett, points towards the HEROS of our garden in this excerpt.
Solitary Bees: The Heroes of Pollination
“Most of us grew up learning about the sophisticated social structures of honey bees and bumblebees, and we’ve come to think that their lifestyle represents all bee behavior. In reality, the world is home to more than 20,000 species of bees and a whopping 90% of them do not live together in hives.
Instead, most of the world’s bees are solitary, meaning they live alone. Unlike social bees, each female solitary bee has to gather pollen and nectar, build nests, and lay eggs all on her own, without the help of hundreds or thousands of doting workers. Although honey bees tend to get all the credit for keeping our crops going, native solitary bees are almost two to three times more effective at pollinating!” Christopher Burnett
I share this as a metaphor and to illustrate how you might have thought that all bees were honey bees and/or all bees lived in a hive. In addition, you might have thought all honey bees represent the majority within the bee species. Yet, when you start to investigate you discover that is not the case. Which gives me two interesting things to ponder the proportion of collaboration and solo production (aka creation) within the bee queendom is 10/90. Next, is to acknowledge how easy it is to place an importance one part of a system without fully looking at the whole.
These misconceptions and misleading ideas come from what we choose, as a society, to program into each other and individuals choose to reinforce. If you reflect back over your life you might notice when you have in the past and present bought into the “sound bites” (aka mental/emotional programming). Often, the reason for this is because it was all that was shared from the main stage (aka the honey bee hive) and/or you did not take the time to learn more.
During the late summer, you are being given the opportunity to rebuild some inner and outer trust. Which means you might be required to investigate, be radically honest with yourself and digest new bodies of information. When, I begin to contemplate the bees and flip the ratio to 90% solo creators /10% collaborative creators, I PAUSE. I feel there is something powerful being suggested in the proportion that exists in nature. You might begin to reflect on your uniqueness and how much time you need together and apart with your fellow HUMANS. Many of our tribal nations have showed us this way of life based on the agricultural cycles. Which leads me to encourage you to notice in and around you in this present moment, where you have been programmed and where you are expressing your free will (aka uniqueness). Like these solitary bees, I feel they show us how to continue make the gardens grow in ways we have yet to remember.
Body Food
Ground Evaluate. Still Point.
The earth mother has ‘a way’ about her. She guarantees to rebalance your entire system in 15 minutes or less. While this has become a “trend” to ground, it is an important tool to remember. I also want to remind you . . . you do not need to buy a bunch of tools and gadgets.
Simply…GO OUTSIDE. Take your shoes off and stand still. Breathe and BE.
Alternatively, lay a cotton sheet or blanket on the earth and lay down. Breath and gaze up at the sky. Let your imagination reactivate and refocus your attention. JUST BE.
I have taken individuals and groups on many quests into nature. I promise you it works every time. It is the best source to rebalance and come into a ground calm with a natural euphoria.
As inspired, try it out and let me know how it goes.
Mind You + Food
Thai Korean Fusion Cucumber Salad
Ingredients
3-4 Persian Cucumbers
1 lemon cucumber (or another variety)
1/4 C Fresh Mint
1/4 C Fresh Cilantro
2 Tbsp. Gochujang Korean Fermented Red Pepper Paste
1/2 C coconut milk with cream
1-2 Limes, Juice of
1/4 Red onion, diced
1/2 Jalepaneo, diced
Cracked Pepper and Himalayan Salt
1 Claw of Crab, meat only
Instructions
1 . Prep all the ingredients
2. Gently fold in all the ingredients.
3. Place in jar. Gently shake or toss in a bowl.
4. Place in the Fridge for a minimum of 20-30 minutes or over night.
5. Perfect as simple meal or a side dish.
Tree Friend
Crape Myrtle is popping up in my neighborhood* I feel the beautiful flowers are an invitation to forgive self, heal your wounds and prepare yourself to discover your truth. Bonus the flowers make a wonderful tea for seasonal disharmony in the head and chest. In addition, the leaves can be made into a tea too. Myrtle loves to support the kidneys and bladder via her leaves. Coupled with the root being astringent and willing to assist in keeping your waters flowing. The bark helps purify the system as needed. The leaves and flowers like comfrey serve as nature’s “band-aide” calming a wound down. The berries are a culinary spice that can be ground up and used to season a meal on the go or at home. Finally, overall Myrtle’s energy is one that will welcome you to calm down and reclaim your courage.
Tree Friends, Myrtle is a Great one to CHOOSE amongst others.
I have always encouraged my students and clients to have a few tree friends and the reason for this is because the majority of humanity has felt ALONE at one point or another in their life. I hear often in my private practice.
The reasons for spending time with trees is proven scientifically. However, the actual proof is in trying it for yourself and seeing what the results are. A tree is an inviting place to have a rest, read a book, meditate and enjoy a meal. I have extended nature to my family, students and clients as a remedy because it has worked for me all my life. In fact, I use to tell my parents I was going to the mall and I would drive up to a magical canyon and river, just to be. Trees and all of nature are the most powerful nourishment you can ever give yourself.
Want to learn more?
The Japanese practice of ‘forest bathing’ or tree hugging (known as shinrin yoku) is a great way to relax and de-stress. (Scientific Paper)
Do you need or want a well footnoted article before you dare to go find a forest or tree friends near you? (Read More Here)
*the above photo is a stock image and below is an offering I gathered on a recent walk.
To be DECLARED. Always consult someone like myself or another that works with plants and people daily. One size does not fit all and there are many things you want to consider when introducing anything new into your physical temple natural and/or HUman made.
Plant Friend
Fennel. I adore fennel and use her consistently in my kitchen. I often blend fennel in custom spice blends I create for my clients. The reason for this is because it is over arching gentle (yet the flavor is not relished by all). Fennel like Myrtle will calm you down.
Something to try, If you feel a little uncomfortable after a meal, heat up some water and steep for 3-5 minutes about 1/4-1/2 tsp of dried fennel. Then, sip slowly. You can even chew on the seeds. Stay with the warm water and fennel until you feel calm and clear.
I want to thank you for supporting that art of reading, listening, writing and contemplation. I am passionate about serving in this way and continue to learn from the process of writing. If you have any questions and/or comments, please share below or reach out directly.
May your day be filled with JOY and a lot of LAUGHTER. .sT
Nice sound, good words.🤗🤗🤗