sleep

What if you could see your insomnia not as insomnia at all—not as some “ailment” that needs fixing, but rather, as something else, something that was serving your evolutionary process?

In the northern hemisphere, we’re coming into the darker time of year when the subconscious likes to make more of an appearance.  Sometimes, this manifests as nightmares.  And, while nightmares can be informative in terms of issues we may need to examine, especially if they’re recurring, sometimes they’re just plain problematic…causing distress and sleep disturbances.

Circadian rhythms have been long forgotten since technology slipped into our homes. We were once farmers, each one of our ancestors a direct descendant of an agriculturalist. This is not hyperbole; this is how we made it so far on our human journey.

I’ve struggled with a fear of flying for over a decade, and have tried just about everything to help me get on a plane without feeling like I’m going to faint, shake myself to death, or wake up screaming from nightmares prior to the flight. While dealing with a fear is often a multi-faceted approach, one resource helped far and beyond all others: hypnotherapy.

Suffering from anxiety? Mental health is just as important as physical health. While teas can be healthy for your physical body, they can also help your mental state of mind. Plus, they taste delicious! Here are three teas that can help soothe an anxious mind. 

There’s little better than fresh lavender, whether as an essential oil, an herb for cooking, in a fresh bouquet, or, my personal favorite, growing abundantly on a local farm.

Grounding, also known as earthing, is a relatively new idea in the modern world, precisely because it didn’t exist in the past: we were already walking around in our bare feet, whether inside or outside, and the need to reduce electromagnetic currents wasn’t an issue since electronics like cellphones and laptops didn’t exist. Today, however, it isn’t uncommon to find grounding or earthing mats, mattresses, flip flops, sneakers, and even body bands that claim to equalize our bodies to the same energy as the earth.

Mugwort (Artemesia vulgaris and A. douglasiana) has a magical feel to it: The silvery green leaves that shine in the moonlight; the distinctive scent used for dream time. Then there’s the botanical name “Artemesia,” for Artemis with her silver bow and arrow, goddess of the hunt associated with the moon and things wild. Mugwort seems to put one into a different space.

Our lives are intertwined with music; the time you had your heart broken, the day you walked down the aisle, the shocking call you took in the middle of a grocery store that was playing a Green Day song. Many of the most momentous occasions of our lives are marked by music, and we use them in many ways depending on our mood. Need to study? Turn on something classical. Ready to dance? Hip-hop fits the bill. Nostalgic? Turn on 60s, 70s, 80s, or 90s, depending on the decade you were born.

“What’s in a name,” Shakespeare said. And call a rose whatever you want, it will still smell as sweet and be as healthy. So here’s to making your own rose water, and using it for beauty and health…