The Winter Solstice

The winter solstice is upon us. We have been deepening into the dark time for weeks and we have many yet to go. The sense of burrowing, slowing, a dying back and returning into the depths walks with us this time of year.  

And yet, the solstice marks the returning of the light. Even as we are in the shortest day of the year, and the night is   dark and long, the light begins to rise. The solstice always makes me think of Hexagram 24 of the I Ching: The Return.

The Return speaks to the rising light, but also of turnaround, of making way for new energy to come in. It’s a time of stillness, when we need to rest in preparation for the rising energy to come. We step into the eternal cycles of nature as darkness begins its return to light.

The solstice invites us to turn within to our inner light, to the depths of our own being where we see our connection to the All. It is the point of light in darkness, the seed of our relationship to the cosmic forces of life itself.

As we enter the solstice days, and the darkness reaches its deepest point, remember the light always returns.

Winter governs the water element, or Zhi. It is the dormant season, when all life force burrows deep in the bosom of the earth. It is a gestational time of replenishing the wellspring of life so that when spring comes, the gathering energy will burst forth with new growth. The Zhi, or spirit of kidney energy, connects to the unified field of consciousness and our instinct to perpetuate life and “surthrive”. It gives us courage to ally ourselves with what the Chinese refer to as the Tao (the “Way” or primordial nature of the Universe) and our innate wisdom.

Wherever you are, wishing you great blessings for the solstice, and for the return of our collective light.

 Safe travels and happy holidays!

The Summer Solstice: Enter The Fire Season

The Five Elements: The Fire or Heart Element June 21-August 21
During the summer months, nature is at its most expansive, abundant manifestation. The sun is at its highest, food is plentiful, and all plant life is full of vital life force. Taoist five element theory teaches us that the element of summer is fire, the associated color is red, the flavor is bitter, its direction is south, and the energy of fire is connected to the heart and small intestine. The Fire Element is ruled by the planet Mars, and is the most masculine and Yang of the 5 elements, and is symbolized by the red phoenix. It is associated with the 7th (or Crown) Chakra, with its connection to Spirit, the lotus blossom of 1000 petals, and enlightenment. The hours of the day when the Heart is most active are between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.; small intestine is 1 to 3 p.m.
The Shen –or Spirit- lives in the heart, and is the channel for all spiritual transformation. It is one of what the Chinese refer to as the Three Treasures (the other two being Qi and Jing). It represents the heartmind, and encompasses our clear awareness, vital energy and our presence.
Clear, sparkling eyes and a bright spirit are signs of healthy Shen. The Shen also connects to magic, intuition, joy, love, compassion, leadership,  aggression and inspiration.  Strong fire types need to learn to give love and compassion without expectation of reward.
Shen governs sleep and memory. If the Shen is disturbed, there may be sleep disruptions, strange dreams or nightmares, and insomnia. The eyes may be dull or veiled. Shen disturbances can also manifest as energy that is both charismatic and fiery, but unstable and unreliable, like a candle that burns bright but sputters out quickly. Physical symptoms may include heart palpitations, restless or hyperactive energy, and lack of concentration or loss of memory.
The Shen, like fire, is easily roused. Calming activities such as mindfulness practice, chanting, praying, walking in nature, belly breathing or sound healing help restore our Shen. Interestingly, meditating on a small candle set in a red holder (as we see in many churches) can be very calming to the heart.
During the summer, while the light is long and high, we can sleep less, going to bed later and rising earlier to greet the day. (This is the opposite of winter, when we should go to sleep earlier and rise later). We need to drink plenty of water: we sweat more, and the heat evaporates water from our bodies more rapidly than at any other time of year. If you find yourself feeling lethargic, foggy and fatigued on a hot day, you are probably dehydrated.
Foods that enhance the fire element:

Vegetables: Asparagus, Brussels sprouts, chives, endive, okra, scallions, sweet and hot peppers, arugula, radicchio, sweet corn, mushrooms, cucumbers, okra Beans and Pulses: red lentils, chickpeas
Fruits: apricot, guava, melon, strawberry, persimmon, peaches, cherries raspberries, plums, kumquats, watermelon and tomatoes

Grains: Corn, maize, popcorn, amaranth, quinoa, oats
Fish: shrimp, lobster, and crab
Herbs, Spices and Miscellany: chilis, cayenne, curry, dill, cilantro, tarragon, sweet and holy basil, and spices in general are considered fire foods. Dark chocolate and cacao are also fire foods. Bach Rescue Remedy is good to use when shock has occurred. Blue green algae, magnesium, the B vitamins and l-tryptophan are all useful as well.

Beverages: coffee, wine, beer, green tea, and carbonated drinks
Chinese Tonic Foods: spirit poria mushroom, ginseng, jujube date, reishi, Tibetan rhodiola, schizandra fruit, lotus seed, and chrysanthemum flower

"The heart is the ruler of the five organ networks. It commands the movements of the four extremities, it circulates the qi and the blood, it roams the realms of the material and the immaterial, and it is in tune with the gateways of every action. Therefore, coveting to govern the flow of energy on earth without possessing a heart would be like aspiring to tune gongs and drums without ears, or like trying to read a piece of fancy literature without eyes." Huainanzi circa. 110 BC

Spring Is Really Here

I've just returned to Southern California after a trip to NYC, where spring is really happening after a few "false starts". March and April -early spring- are often marked by a roller coaster of weather patterns, and it's been the case on both coasts this year. We are in the Taoist wood element in springtime, and nothing is more representative of that energy than the trees. The last day I was in the city, I wrote, "The trees. They've been speaking to me the whole time I've been here, reminding me of deep roots, belonging and holding connection with heaven and earth simultaneously. The trees are so different in the effervescence of Southern California, and I'm continually reminded here of my own roots. Something in their leafless branches reaching skyward, knowing that in another week or two, new life will burst forth from them and a new cycle will be made visible. My heart is full, a mix of some slight sadness and a deep and abiding love of life."

The 5 Elements: The Wood or Liver Element 

Spring is upon us. We’ve been feeling it for weeks, a stirring in nature, the light rising, a shedding of the deep interior energies of winter. Spring marks a miraculous bursting of energy from the still, dark regions of the underground. In Eastern medicine, spring carries with it the energy of wood. Sap, which is nature’s lifeblood, courses through the trees; new life pushes its way up from the depths of the earth into the soft sun of March and April, and we are surrounded by a bright sense of renewal and creativity. 

The wood element (or Hun) is associated with the organ matrix of the gall bladder and liver. Hun is connected with the color green, its flavor is sour, its direction lies in the east, the dawning of new life. Just as tree branches reach towards the clouds, so wood is the bridge between Heaven and Earth, Spirit and Body. Its associated chakra is the Third Eye, and its associated planetary counterpart is Jupiter. Wood is represented by the mythical dragon, the most mystical of all beasts. 

The hours for gall bladder are 11 p.m. to 1 a.m.; liver is 1 to 3 a.m. Liver is governed by the Hun, our ethereal soul, (or literally translated, “cloud-soul”). The Chinese text of The Golden Flower states “In the daytime the Hun is in the eyes and at night in the liver. When it is in the eyes we can see. When it is in the Liver we dream.” The Hun gives us visionary inspiration during our waking hours, and in dreams takes us into the mystical realms. It sharpens our intuition and enhances creativity. The liver in its healthiest manifestation governs the will, vision, social justice, focused direction and self-responsibility. It gives us a grounded sense of clarity and hope, and the power to dream. It’s interesting to note that in Chinese the acupuncture point Liver 14 is called “The Gate of Hope”. An unbalanced liver connects to depression, hormonal distress, insomnia, nocturnal anxiety and uncontrolled bursts of anger or irritability. Physical issues may include sinus and eye problems, brittle nails, migraines, rashes and painful menses. Liver energy is freed by chanting, pranayama or qi gong breathing; creative outlets like journaling or painting; and telling our emotional truth. Good liver exercise includes dancing, swimming and walking as well as more aggressive exercise like martial arts or boxing. In addition, we can nourish and assist liver healing with foods and herbs that enhance the wood element. Keep in mind that fried foods and excess meat and dairy place a very heavy burden on the liver. 

Grain: buckwheat, oats, rye 

Vegetables: broccoli, parsley, lettuce, kale, collard greens, carrots, alfalfa, beets, leeks, zucchini, shiitake mushrooms, artichokes, cucumbers, celery, endive, radicchio, escarole, watercress 

Beans and Pulses: mung, Lima, green lentils 

Fruits: limes, lemons, grapefruit, green apple, sour cherry, avocado, plums, quince 

Herbs: Milk thistle, dandelion, chelidonium, gynostemma leaf, spirulina, turmeric 

Chinese Tonic Foods: Reishi mushrooms, Lycium berries (Goji), Schizandra berries.

Spring is a perfect time to cleanse the body-mind, to weed our personal garden. What needs shedding in your life this spring?  

Thoughts on Healing

Soul retrieval is one of the most powerful healing modalities I've encountered in decades of study, and I've seen extraordinary shifts unfold for people. 

The whole concept is that when we experience trauma -and we all do, in some form- parts of our soul essence, our power, split off from us and go on a species of walkabout. Essence cannot die, so it's not about resurrecting something, it's truly retrieving it and bringing it home. In traditional cultures, if a person went into shock or trauma they were brought to the village medicine person immediately and the whole village would come to facilitate healing. Here in the west, we walk around for decades with old wounds that are not healed. Talk therapy can be highly effective and can only go so far. Shamanic healing lives in the land beyond language.

What it looks like is different for each individual. A few things are consistent: we look for soul parts that are ready and willing to be restored, and we go back as far as we can. Sometimes multiple parts appear, sometimes just one. Often a power animal or spirit ally will accompany the healing. Power animals are energy given form and walk with us as sources of protection, strength and discernment. It's important for you to know that you are a full participant in your healing. This isn't simply done to you. The work for you begins after the soul retrieval. Nature will always fill a vacuum, so when we are split from our own power, something will come to take its place. In the weeks and months following, you will need to pay attention to what changes you may need to make in your life to make room for this essence to truly land. What's been restored needs to be rewoven into the fabric of you, back into your life force . We are not retrieving trauma, we are retrieving power. Everyone's experience is different; sometimes it doesn't feel like much in the moment, sometimes it's highly emotional, sometimes people are very quiet and a little tired afterwards. All of it is normal, and all of it is moving. What I can say, unequivocally, is that if you support your own healing, you will become more of YOU, landing more fully in the shoes you were meant to walk in.

Clearing The Body Temple In The New Year

Feeling a little sluggish after 6 weeks of parties? Did a few extra pounds creep into your pants since Thanksgiving? You are not alone. Millions do this every year, and we arrive at New Year's feeling less than optimal and resolve to do better.

What if it's not about giving up everything, but making the choice to rebalance, review, and renew? What if we get to just draw a line under it all and take today as a brand new day? What will make you feel better?

I did my share of over-indulging this holiday season, and what I really crave is a cleaning. Nothing does that better than greens, and kale is one of the best of the bunch. Rich in vitamins, minerals, and fiber, kale is like a green broom for our insides that "degreases" our  engines. You can slice kale in ribbons, massage with a little sea salt and add it to any type of salad. You can saute it with a bit of garlic and good olive oil and serve with a squeeze of lemon. You can chop it up and toss a generous handful into soup. Not a fan of kale? Use any other greens you like in the same way.

New Year's brings with it an increased resolve to "do better". We make the determination to eat better, work harder, get more exercise, drink less, quit smoking, go on a diet, or lose weight. It makes me tired just to read that list. I always think there's an element of shame in these resolutions, some notion that we are not good enough as we are. What if we take out the "should" and focus on loving ourselves more? What are our bodies asking for? More nourishment, rest, or movement? More acceptance? More care? Is your body overheated from "too much"? An overload of food, drink, work and other indulgences or stressors can tax our internal engines, and when there is no relief, our systems pop into overdrive. Inflammation follows close behind.

An anti-inflammatory diet is a gentle way to get back on track after living in the land of "too much". It's pretty simple: eat 9 (yes, NINE) servings of a rainbow of veggies every day. Sound like a lot? 4 cups of salad greens gets you almost halfway there. In addition to the vegetables, add on two servings of seasonal fruit, one if you have blood sugar issues.

If you tolerate grains, consume 3 servings of whole grain rice, quinoa or millet. Baked flour (breads, all baked goods) is inflammatory so give it a rest.

Eat a combination of plant based proteins, and small amounts of wild caught small fish, and sustainably raised eggs and meat (if you eat animal food). Vegans and vegetarians can just stick with the plant based foods.  

Eat happy fat: avocados; coconut; olive, sesame or nut oil and your EFA's (essential fatty acids). These can be consumed in food form via nuts and seeds, oily fish and by taking supplements. 

Drink plenty of good water with lemon, green tea, turmeric and ginger tea. Add in some green juice as long as it's not loaded with fruit, which radically increase the sugar content.

 If sugar cravings kick in to the point of taking over, a couple of dates with almond butter or a few dried apricots should probably do the trick.

As you can see, I don't scale portions. As long as you're getting in the rainbow of fruits and veggies, with enough dense food (sweet potatoes, whole grains etc) that your hunger feels satiated, chances are your body will be very happy and not feel deprived.  You'll rapidly feel less bloated, less congested, and more clear. 

In a few days, I'll be talking about the other key piece of the landscape: your inner world. See you soon!

Jen                    

Thoughts On Leaving The Old Year and Entering The New

Here we are in the deep, dark stillness of winter. The days surrounding the winter solstice and going towards the New Year are a time of joy, sadness and hope, death and rebirth for me. The veil between worlds is gossamer thin, and a reminder of how precious and sacred life is.

What an amazing time to be alive! This year has been so full of changes, crises and incredible openings it almost makes me dizzy. There have been moments along the way when I have been disheartened, yet there is so much richness in the midst of it all that all I can do is say thank you.

Thank you for the gift of life, and this incredible human journey we are on.

What would your life look like if you let go of whatever it is that keeps you shrink-wrapped in smallness? What are you grateful for that is working in your life? What have your triumphs been, no matter how small they may seem? I don't believe in New Year's resolutions, but I believe deeply in the causes we make. What would it look like to nourish yourself more deeply? What would it look like to listen to the call of your dreams, even if that call “broke the rules”? What would it look like to believe in the power of your own life and actually trust it enough to take that first step?

This has been a tough year, this one. We have collectively been challenged to the core as we witnessed the consequences of terrible mistakes we have made as a species, and yet we have had the extraordinary opportunity to participate in our own evolution. We have ridden the waves of sometimes-violent deconstruction -of systems, relationships, homes, and lives- and have also been given windows of tremendous spiritual ascension. We have been deeply shaken and uplifted. We have been called to live from our hearts' wisdom more than our pockets' motivation. We have the chance to step into a new dream, one of our own creation, that asks the most of us but also honors the best in us.

With love and best wishes for an expansive new year.

Jen

On Grounding

We are in rapidly shifting times, and becoming masters of change while staying fully embodied is a challenge for most of us. When we factor in the holiday season too, it can be an overwhelming landscape.  I tend to make some universal recommendations this time of year, and you can incorporate these simple but very effective strategies into your day to day life. Making sure you eat as well as you can and get good rest are important strategies too.

Pay attention to your breath. Breathing is one of the most important ways to stay grounded, and is generally something we don't do enough of.  Stand or sit quietly, allowing everything else that's going on to fall away for a few minutes.  If you've got a lot of mental chatter going on, invite the chatter to go sit down with the promise that you'll be right back. As odd as this may sound, it generally works. Let your belly soften, and your mind quiet. Take deep, full breaths, in through your nose, out through your mouth. Do this at least 10 times. This breathing technique dials down stress response in the body. I like being in a quiet place, but it also works really well while driving -as long as your eyes are open!

Do a grounding meditation. Stand or sit with your feet planted side by side on the ground or the floor. If you live in a warm climate, take your shoes off. One of my favorite meditations is to imagine that roots of light are growing out of your root chakra (base of spine/perineum) and the soles of your feet and weaving deep into the earth. Feel the roots being welcomed and planted into the heart of our planet. This is also great for remembering and honoring our interconnectedness to all of life, something we all need to be aware of these days.

Take a salt bath. Dead Sea salt or epsom salt are both great for a steaming bath to draw out stress and negative energies. Add some essential oil to your tub: lavender is deeply relaxing and great for bedtime, while oils like spruce, cedar and eucalyptus have wonderful grounding properties for any time of day. If you're stressed and anxious, add a couple of cups of strong kava tea to the bath; just don't operate any machinery afterwards, as chances are you'll be ready for a deep snuggle on the couch when you emerge from the tub. Kava is a sedative and slightly euphoric plant, so use it carefully.

Shake it out. Taking a lesson from animals, who shiver and shake when they are frightened or stressed, we can too. Stand with soft knees hip distance apart and start gently bouncing with your feet well planted. Let your arms start to shake out rag-doll style, then let your shoulders follow.  Allow your whole body to soften and shake like nobody's watching. Stay in one spot and do this for a few minutes, then stop and do 10 soft belly breaths. Put on a really happy song and dance to it, letting your body go wherever it wants to. I promise you'll feel better afterwards.

Clear Yourself: Sage, palo santo and copal are my preferred carriers; smudging yourself from head to toe, including the soles of your feet and "washing" your hands in the smoke gives you an instant clearing. Smoke sensitive? Add a few drops of essential oils to a spray bottle of water and spritz from head to toe.

Autumn Cleansing

Regular cleansing is something that really helps us stay healthy for the long haul, and seasonal cleanses, especially during the spring and autumn, are something I highly recommend. An autumn cleanse is an opportunity for our bodies to reset after the movement and excesses of summer, and prepare us for the quieter months of winter.

Why do it? Our bodies are increasingly exposed to toxins: from our food, our water, the environment and stress, the later being largely a creation of our western lifestyle. Many of these toxins build up in the body until we experience symptoms: sleep disturbances, body aches, sinus congestion, headaches, brain fog, bloating, halitosis and digestive disturbances can all be indicators that we need to give our bodies a break. Cleansing allows the kidneys, lymphatic system, liver, skin, digestion and elimination organs to rest from their hard labors; it's something of a holiday for our bodies.

Autumn cleansing is energetically different than spring cleansing; instead of the rising, upwards impetus of spring, with its new beginnings, autumn carries life force back into the earth, in a descending energy of endings and the life cycle coming to completion. 

We move back towards the dormant energy of cold, stillness and darkness, so I always recommend a more gentle approach to caring for our bodies this time of year. The obvious culprits to avoid are all processed foods; sugar; caffeine; alcohol; animal food (including dairy products) with the optional exception of small white fish or wild salmon.

For someone who typically eats a meat heavy diet, simply following a plant based diet for a couple of weeks can make a huge difference. For some of us who question whether we have grain sensitivities, paring the protocol down further to either eliminate all grains, or eliminate grains with the exception of the pseudo grains quinoa (a seed) and/or wild rice (a grass), can be quite revealing. Often we will feel brighter, clearer and more energized with the elimination of grains for a time.

Start your day with a glass of warm or room temperature lemon water for a whole host of benefits. Lemon water is good for our immune system, digestion, skin, liver and bile secretion. It has anti-inflammatory properties because it actually decreases acidity in the body and helps remove uric acid from our joints.

I'm big on vegan soups during autumn cleanses, especially ones with warming spices and herbs. I often eat them for breakfast (as well as for other meals), because traditional American breakfast foods are not part of the protocol. Kitchari, an Ayurvedic stew of rice and mung beans or lentils cooked with spices, is a simple and fragrant dish used in Ayurvedic panchakarma cleansing, and is a great option for you if you are eating grains. The rest of the day should include gently cooked vegetables of all kinds except the nightshades (tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, potatoes), with plenty of leafy greens. A green juice or green smoothie can be a great addition, but if you live in a northern climate, I don't recommend much raw food beyond that. Too much raw food, especially when the weather is chilly, can increase what Traditional Chinese Medicine refers to as cold and dampness.

An apple or pear each day provides more cleansing nutrients and fiber; if you have difficulty digesting raw fruit, try gently stewing it with a cinnamon stick and a dry prune or two.

One thing to be prepared for is the possibility that you may feel great followed by a period of feeling less than stellar as toxins move out of your system. If the toxic burden on the body is high, you may experience irritability, mucus drainage, emotional upheaval, or discomfort of some other kind, even with gentle cleansing, The upside is that you should feel much better on the other side of the discomfort, with improved energy, better sleep, clearer eyes and skin. You may lose a few pounds, but more importantly, you should feel better inside your own body. Working with an experienced and qualified professional, especially if it's your first time, is highly recommended. If you have any significant health issues, always consult with your healthcare practitioner before embarking on a cleanse. Pregnant and nursing women should generally avoid any protocol that can trigger a heavy detox reaction.

In addition to changes in our food, self care can help eliminate built up emotional toxins: journaling, drawing, chanting, singing, and movement are all great ways to move energy through and out of the body. Salt baths followed by a rinse with clean water are another way to pull excess out of our tissues. This is a beautiful time to check in more deeply with the inner wisdom of our bodies and our beings.