Wandering the streets of India, I notice the smell of cardamom fills the air, especially when approaching a sweets shop. I had never been immersed in its heady fragrance before my sojourns to India, but now it is one of my favorite scents and flavors. Perhaps it is because in all of its uniqueness, cardamom encourages a sense of self-responsibility, an owning of what is.
Travel is a beautiful mix of exhilarating and exhausting. Our curiosity guides us to faraway places, foreign lands, new relationships, rituals unknown, food we’ve never tasted, novelty experiences…you name it.
As the political climate has become more desperate over the past few years, and social media has become a powerful force in all of our lives, it’s no wonder many people are left feeling confused, empty, disconnected, and lost. To avoid these feelings, we often turn to reckless or careless behavio or just plain old denial. Unfortunately, none of these strategies is effective, and we are left feeling just as bad, or worse, about the whole situation.
They just looked like basic round rocks to me. It was hard at first for me to categorize them into the same status as other shinier, more “precious” looking stones. However, after holding the set for only a few moments I could feel that these were no ordinary rocks. Boji stones, native to Southwestern Kansas, have the power to bring the poles of the body into balance. This single trait alone (though it is not all these balls can do), makes them worth the investment.
Long grueling hours behind a desk, the year-end looming, not to mention the daily professional and social demands that land on our shoulders…it is sometimes very hard to sneak in that much needed group yoga practice you so need and desire, but what if you could bring a little bit of wellness into your office or conference room?
Every single morning for the past nearly 11 years I have treated myself to one of Ayurveda's oldest secrets for health and longevity. With herbs and warm oil in hand I rub my entire body down with a gentle massage which has helped me to retain elastic skin and a vibrant body. Abhyanga is the Ayurvedic term given to describe warm oil self-massage (often with herbs) and it is simply heavenly.
Not sure about you, but I have a fascination with bath bombs. Ever since bath bombs became really big, I've been hooked. Here's the only problem: store-bought bath bombs still contain some synthetics (and they can be a little pricy). There are lesser-known brands that sell all-natural bath bombs (without the synthetics), but crafting your own is the best bet. Why? Because you have complete control of what you put in them. Now, if you're more of a bubble bath type of person, no worries. I got you covered there, too.
Again, I would like to critically comment on a frequent observation in my energy work practice. I will get straight to the point: There seems to be a common misconception in the new age/esoteric/spiritual scene that the purpose of the spiritual journey is to transcend the body and ‘lower’ emotions by ignoring them and solely focusing on our 'higher' chakras and ‘ascension’.
When things get ugly, really ugly, we can feel called to put up our defenses and shut off our emotions as a means to cope with overwhelm. For the sensitive soul, that is like putting on a blindfold and walking through a busy city intersection. It’s not a good idea to cut off a sense you previously relied on, just when you need it most.
Instead, I want to call on you to become even more sensitive in challenging times.
Here are some key ways to do that without losing your mind.
