The temperature is colder, the air drier, the wind moves more irratically, the days are darker, trees shed their leaves, animals become more dormant as they retreat into their dens, perennial roots/seeds take refuge in the womb of the earth...
There are three treasures to protect, balance, and cultivate to attain the highest levels of health, healing, fitness, and conscious development: 1- prana/chi: the vital force that that makes a seed sprout 2- ojas/jing: the deep, vital essence that supplies nourishment for growth and 3- tejas/shen: the vital radiance that brings forth ripened fruit. We are like plants needing to be nurtured with these three energies, these three treasures: force, essence, and radiance. The question in regards to our overall quality of health is to ask: "How VITAL is our force, essence, and radiance in our bodies, in our life?".
To what degree is the quality of my life force, life essence, and life radiance?
Autumn is now in full and it is time to focus on building a treasure house of ojas/jing. This is the time for deep, vital nourishment to replenish our batteries. In Taoist medicine the batteries are our kidneys. Below is a quick list of things I've been recommending in general to focus on to keep long life in those batteries and to nourish ourselves in general to prepare for the long winter haul ahead. By doing some conscious rituals at this time we will be able to jump into spring with vitality in our step. Remember what we do on a day to day basis determines the quality of our life:
Fall rituals to honor ourselves, the season, and life... 1-Rub warm sesame oil into the joints or as an whole body moisturizer to reduce stiffness, increase circulation, and bring more nourishment to the surface of the skin. Move all joints daily, intelligently to flush them of toxins that inflame them
2-Eat lots of grounding, root vegetables and oils like hemp, olive, coconut, grape seed oils
3-Start and maintain intake of herbs that build immunity like: astragalus, ginseng, medicinal mushrooms (shitake, maitake, reishi)
4-Insure proper hydration by adding a pinch of sea salt or a bit of coconut water to your water for better absorption by cells
5-Maintain intake of raw greens but have it with steamed vegetables
6-Drink liquids at somewhat room temperature and not ice cold, increase intake of herbal teas like tulsi, licorice, chai, nettle
7- Insure proper intake of magnesium like "CALM" which you can drink at night to get nourishing, deeply healing sleep, to calm and heal frayed nerves, reduce anxiety and stress, to improve muscle contraction and relaxation=proper detoxification of tissues
8-Focus on feeling nourished and not "full" by including all ayurvedic tastes:
bitter (arugula, mustard greens, bitter melon, kale, collards), salty (sea salts like french or himalayan, astringent (slightly green bananas, cucumbers, pomegranates, tart fruits), sweet (stick to natural, raw sweetening from fruit, honey, maple syrup, blackstrap molasses), sour (kim chee, yogurt, sauerkraut, kefir) , pungent (pepper, garlic, clove,pepper ginger mustards , horseradish , wasabi , onion, etc..) (the american diet which mostly contains sweet and salty reflects the malnourishment that lays at the heart of most health issues, illness, and disease) ...oh...& eat only 80% full at most leaving 20% for digestion
9- Retreat inward reading books, writing, being creative...nourishing your soul
10- Meditate as a way to clear the mind of normal thinking, synchronize right & left brain function, cultivate inner peace, compassion, & joy, gain an expansive, all embracing view of yourself, your life, and life in general
FOOD IS MEDICINE...LIVING IS SPIRITUAL RECIPES:
Red Lentil & millet Dahl Soup w/ Spinach and Chard
-Wash lentils millet and drain at least 3x
-Cover with pure water 2" and boil...adding water as you go as it soaks up a lot of water
-Spice with turmeric, ginger, fennel, coriander, cumin,
-After boiling for a good 5 minutes allow to simmer until lentils are soft
-In bowl place greens and pour the hot soup over it to soften
-Add liquid Braggs and/or sea salt to taste and stir in
-Drizzle with a good omega oil of your choice above
-Crack some black pepper on top, squeeze of lemon, & a good pinch of chopped cilantro on top
-Give thanks to the day and to the food by placing palms over soup and infuse it with your acknowledgement that as it enters your body you are feeding it good nourishing protein, improving your digestion, stimulating & strengthening your immune system, reducing inflammation, and protecting cell membranes...
TO EATING FOOD AS MEDICINE AND LIVING SPIRITUALLY WITH OURSELVES AND OUR ENVIRONMENT RITUALLY AND IN CELEBRATION ...
Namaste,
Prem Devii
There are three treasures to protect, balance, and cultivate to attain the highest levels of health, healing, fitness, and conscious development: 1- prana/chi: the vital force that that makes a seed sprout 2- ojas/jing: the deep, vital essence that supplies nourishment for growth and 3- tejas/shen: the vital radiance that brings forth ripened fruit. We are like plants needing to be nurtured with these three energies, these three treasures: force, essence, and radiance. The question in regards to our overall quality of health is to ask: "How VITAL is our force, essence, and radiance in our bodies, in our life?".
To what degree is the quality of my life force, life essence, and life radiance?
Autumn is now in full and it is time to focus on building a treasure house of ojas/jing. This is the time for deep, vital nourishment to replenish our batteries. In Taoist medicine the batteries are our kidneys. Below is a quick list of things I've been recommending in general to focus on to keep long life in those batteries and to nourish ourselves in general to prepare for the long winter haul ahead. By doing some conscious rituals at this time we will be able to jump into spring with vitality in our step. Remember what we do on a day to day basis determines the quality of our life:
Fall rituals to honor ourselves, the season, and life... 1-Rub warm sesame oil into the joints or as an whole body moisturizer to reduce stiffness, increase circulation, and bring more nourishment to the surface of the skin. Move all joints daily, intelligently to flush them of toxins that inflame them
2-Eat lots of grounding, root vegetables and oils like hemp, olive, coconut, grape seed oils
3-Start and maintain intake of herbs that build immunity like: astragalus, ginseng, medicinal mushrooms (shitake, maitake, reishi)
4-Insure proper hydration by adding a pinch of sea salt or a bit of coconut water to your water for better absorption by cells
5-Maintain intake of raw greens but have it with steamed vegetables
6-Drink liquids at somewhat room temperature and not ice cold, increase intake of herbal teas like tulsi, licorice, chai, nettle
7- Insure proper intake of magnesium like "CALM" which you can drink at night to get nourishing, deeply healing sleep, to calm and heal frayed nerves, reduce anxiety and stress, to improve muscle contraction and relaxation=proper detoxification of tissues
8-Focus on feeling nourished and not "full" by including all ayurvedic tastes:
bitter (arugula, mustard greens, bitter melon, kale, collards), salty (sea salts like french or himalayan, astringent (slightly green bananas, cucumbers, pomegranates, tart fruits), sweet (stick to natural, raw sweetening from fruit, honey, maple syrup, blackstrap molasses), sour (kim chee, yogurt, sauerkraut, kefir) , pungent (pepper, garlic, clove,pepper ginger mustards , horseradish , wasabi , onion, etc..) (the american diet which mostly contains sweet and salty reflects the malnourishment that lays at the heart of most health issues, illness, and disease) ...oh...& eat only 80% full at most leaving 20% for digestion
9- Retreat inward reading books, writing, being creative...nourishing your soul
10- Meditate as a way to clear the mind of normal thinking, synchronize right & left brain function, cultivate inner peace, compassion, & joy, gain an expansive, all embracing view of yourself, your life, and life in general
FOOD IS MEDICINE...LIVING IS SPIRITUAL RECIPES:
Red Lentil & millet Dahl Soup w/ Spinach and Chard
-Wash lentils millet and drain at least 3x
-Cover with pure water 2" and boil...adding water as you go as it soaks up a lot of water
-Spice with turmeric, ginger, fennel, coriander, cumin,
-After boiling for a good 5 minutes allow to simmer until lentils are soft
-In bowl place greens and pour the hot soup over it to soften
-Add liquid Braggs and/or sea salt to taste and stir in
-Drizzle with a good omega oil of your choice above
-Crack some black pepper on top, squeeze of lemon, & a good pinch of chopped cilantro on top
-Give thanks to the day and to the food by placing palms over soup and infuse it with your acknowledgement that as it enters your body you are feeding it good nourishing protein, improving your digestion, stimulating & strengthening your immune system, reducing inflammation, and protecting cell membranes...
TO EATING FOOD AS MEDICINE AND LIVING SPIRITUALLY WITH OURSELVES AND OUR ENVIRONMENT RITUALLY AND IN CELEBRATION ...
Namaste,
Prem Devii
