A few weeks back I was over my limit with anxiety around the current school/work/life circumstances, and I know I’m not alone. One of the things I’ve been consumed with lately is what will our new “normal” lives look like as we enter the 2020/21 school year — specifically how to balance the extra time and energy that’s needed for homeschooling and/or facilitating schooling at home via a distance learning program along with work, household duties, and personal time.
If you are also feeling panicky, I’m here to tell you that it’s okay to feel this way.
The best thing you can do is to TAKE a BREATH (several) and let yourself settle into the fact that (as annoying as it is to hear and see this phrase in government propaganda right now…) we ARE, in fact, all in this together. Hopefully you have close friends with which you can gather — either in person, or virtually — so that you can feel held by a family of others that are also feeling fragile, anxious, and worried. There is so much to be gained from being in circle with one another right now. We need to voice our worries and hold onto one another, because together we can do anything and we need each other more than ever before.
The fact is, that whether you have children, or not, we all have something staring us in the face right now — be it job security, financial hardship, sickness, or the emotional roller coaster of being alive during this unprecedented time in our history on earth.
As we move into this new phase of life on earth, I feel very clear about one thing — the old model wasn’t sustainable and I’m not interested in trying to get back to it.
As a single mama of two young boys and an entrepreneur in the holistic health field, I felt like I was constantly swimming upstream and almost never had the calm presence with my children that I had imagined I would as a mother.
Ayurveda offers us some very timely wisdom — to attune with the deepest, soul center of ourselves, to listen to that wisdom and follow it, as opposed to going along with whatever happens to be the “norm” in popular culture at any given time. Ayurveda also teaches us to align with the seasons and the natural world around us. Have you noticed how disconnected we are, in general, to the natural rhythms happening all around us every day, every month, every year?
I would venture to say that most Americans are more tuned into the seasonal displays being marketed to them as consumers at the grocery store than to what’s actually going on outside of the technological bubbles we all live in.
What about the moon? What about the rhythms of the sun and the seasonal intricacies that are happening daily all around us?
When we tune into these bigger rhythms, instead of the artificial ones our culture creates for us, something very significant starts to happen. We become more present in our bodies and in our lives. Our focus moves to sustainability of our own energy, our relationships, our planet, and we experience more pleasure in the moments of our lives. We also experience positive shifts in our health, and greater awareness of what’s life-giving for our human beings vs. what’s definitely not. This is important, because it’s the very beginning of the journey to health and healing on every level – physical, emotional, mental, relational, sexual, planetary, etc.
I’m going to spell out some potent Ayurvedic medicine for all of us right here — for our season and this is for our time in the span of human history.
The human being is more, much more, than a body and a mind. We are capable of sensing, intuiting, moving energy, healing ourselves and others, and experiencing a bliss-filled life of love and interconnectedness with all other beings and all of Nature. We are all connected. Regardless of skin color, religion, sexual orientation, or status, we all matter equally and we are ALL one big family that comes from the same Divine source of all of life. YOU MATTER. What you say matters. What you think matters. What you do with your money matters. How you treat your fellow humans, animals, plants, and planet matters. Everything is energy and everything matters. We cannot ignore anything, because it all matters. This is the basis of all understanding.
NOW…we must step out of the box of popular culture and stand up for ourselves. We must be rebels now, more than any other time, because our culture is so far from what is natural and good and life-sustaining.
The “how” is much simpler than you might think. It starts by listening to your own intuition and paying attention to how you feel in your body, as well as emotionally. This might seem like a tiny step but it’s HUGE. Next, start arranging your days around the sun, the moon, and the seasons. Then, plan out a rhythm that honors these natural rhythms and your individual self and family.
Right now as we begin to move into Autumn, it becomes important to slow down and establish a steady routine. Each family member might have a slightly different routine, due to schedules, but there’s a way to make it so that for the most part you are all in sync with one another. Mealtimes and bedtimes are the most important to begin with and keep.
Autumn is governed by Vata dosha, which is composed of the elements of Air and Ether (Space), so it tends to be cold, quick, and drying (like wind). Therefore, we employ the use of its opposites — warmth, moisture, and a healthy dose of…s.l.o.w.i.n.g…d.o.w.n. Another thing that shifts when we live by the seasons is our food choices. We can start to eat heavier foods that balance the lightness of fall, like nuts, root vegetables, whole grains, healthy fats, and meat.
One of my favorite teachers, Mary Thompson, always says “shop for the season, cook for the dosha”. If you’re familiar with Ayurveda, you most likely know a little about the doshas — Vata, Pitta, and Kapha — because they tend to get the most press, and even though we do all have our own individual make-up of the elements and the doshas (and therefore need to pay attention to what foods are better/worse for us) it’s even more important to eat according to the seasons. For instance, in the fall and early winter (depending on your climate where you live), most people are going to do much better with eating mostly cooked, not raw, foods, regardless of constitution.
Below you’ll find a list of steps to take to reclaim your rhythm and start living a healthier life today. If you’re interested in learning more, you can come to my free talk “Reclaiming your Rhythm to Thrive: Ayurvedic Medicine for Anxiety, Autumn, and this School Season” at 6:15pm on Wednesday, September 23 at Hawthorn Healing Arts Center in downtown Bend where I’ll be giving even more practical tools as medicine for anxiety and upset during these uncertain times.
Steps to Reclaim Your Rhythm + Start Living a Healthier Life Today…
- Spend time alone in meditation/silence every day (preferably early morning before anything else)
- Start to notice your feelings and their accompanying sensations and locations in your body.
- Spend time alone in contemplation in Nature as much as possible.
- Make time to acknowledge the sunrise, sunset, and the phases of the moon DAILY.
- Plan your days around the sun — waking with sunrise (or before), winding down as the sun is dwindling in the sky.
- Use less artificial light in your home, and when you do, keep it in sync with the light outside. As the sun dims, use less lights or dimmer ones. Don’t use LED lights on the blue light end of the spectrum (or any screens — phones, computers, tvs, etc.) at least 3 hours before bed.
- Eat your biggest meal between 10am and 2pm when the sun is at its height and your body is most capable of digesting and assimilating what you ingest.
- Eat a light supper at least 3 hours before bedtime.
- Choose intimacy over electronics! Make evenings about connecting with those you love.
- Go to bed by 10pm — at the latest!
Come enjoy another Ayurveda Talk, a warm beverage, and Q&A with ME!
Reclaiming Your Rhythm: Ayurvedic Medicine for Anxiety + Uncertain Times
Live + Virtual — Wednesday, September 23 at 6:15pm at Hawthorn Healing Arts
You can attend from anywhere in the World!
*Use the form at the bottom of the page to get details on how to join virtually.*
LOCALS ONLY — you have the option of being in-person. Since we can only allow a total of 10 participants, please call the Hawthorn office to sign up — 541.330.0334
Facebook Event Link: https://facebook.com/events/s/ayurveda-talk-reclaiming-your-/2392239291078517
Have you ever had the thought that Self-Care is Selfish? You’re not alone. But…if that’s you — if you really believe that self-care is selfish, I’m here to burst your bubble.
Sacred Space Healing Arts - Ayurveda, Ayurvedic Medicine, Holistic Health, Embodiment, Essential Oils, Bend, Oregon, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina 