Diving deep..........water

Yogis,

With earth we sat on the river’s edge, just watching.  Nowhere to go.  Feeling the ground beneath our sits bones.  Relaxing deeper with each exhale and noticing the sheer vastness and limitless opportunities that surround us.  Becoming completely still in order to awaken.  Aware of this moment…perfect exactly the way it is.

Now it is time to dive in.

 

Our second chakra, Svadisthana, the element of water, is located right in front of the spine at the back of the pelvis.   Earth defined where we are, water begins our movement.  Earth is the spark of creation, water brings it to life. 

As we move inward and dive deep we uncover our subconscious, creativity, sensuality, and emotions.  Like the feeling of the first soaking rain following a drought.  Our moisture.  Our place of aliveness.

This is also the well of desire. Beginning to feel.  Desire is what propels us forward.   Those inner stirrings.  But what is it that you really desire?

To me “want” and “desire” are different.  We all have plenty of wants.  I want ________.  You fill in the blank.  A pair of new shoes, to be thinner, a bigger house, a smaller house, a different job.  But none of these, if we get them, will satisfy us for very long.  The wants will just change.   They rise from the ego. 

 

But desire comes from a much deeper place.  Our desires are often buried under layers of life.  We have forgotten them, or perhaps feel we don’t deserve them, or maybe were once told they were wrong.  Yet they are the  very things that will fulfill us.  I desire _______.  Unconditional love.  To completely accept myself.  To let go of fear and anxiety and live from a place of trust.  To shed all of my shields and masks and live as me.  You will know you have found them when just speaking them makes you tingle.  They rise from the soul. 

Working with the element of water takes diving in.  You can’t be an observer.  But once you are submerged you just lie back and let go…… let go of struggle and release into its current, like floating in an inner tube.  Head back, sun shining on your face.  Not knowing what turns are ahead (that’s what makes this all so exciting!)  Flowing with the hum of life, and feeling it all. 

“It is not by denying desire that liberation is found, but by discovering your truest, purest desire: then the obsession and need surrounding external satisfactions naturally lose their power.”       ~Isha Judd

Feeling alive,

SARAH

Full Moon.....welcome Goddess!

Tonight is the harvest full moon!  The energy of the goddess.  Be sure to soak her in..........


The harvest moon is the full moon closest to the Autumn Equinox, and will rise right around sunset.  Take time to go outside, stand on the earth (best in barefeet!), spread the front of your body wide open, tilt your gaze up and draw her energy into you with each inhale. 

Then close the eyes and just feel.  MMmmmmmm............

The moon is the element of water which we will be moving into this week.  More on that on Monday!

Feeling,
SARAH

Earth....the beginning and the end

Dear Settled Yogis,

Take a slow full body inhale – filling, filling, filling…. And then a long slow full body exhale- emptying.... emptying…………..emptying.  Becoming so still and quiet.

And now just notice.  Pure awareness.  Noticing exactly where you are. 

This is earth energy.

  

Molly, my yellow lab and most faithful yoga assistant, turned 15 a couple of weeks ago.  She is most definitely a crone (wise woman) now.    And with her age I am witnessing that slow pull back to the mother….back to earth.

From earth we come and to earth we must return.  Earth is creation.  It is that mysterious spark that takes nothing and creates something.   Look around you.  Everything came from nothing…from the field of pure potentiality.   

But earth is also death.  That return back to nothing.  And without death there can be no birth.  They are the same flow of energy.  Just like giving and receiving.  Joy and sorrow.  Beginning and ending.  The natural rhythm of life. 

So back to Miss Molly….. Over the last several months her walks have slowed w..a..y.. down.  Way down.  It is more of a sniff than a walk.  A few steps and a pause.  A few steps and a pause.  Really, really slow.

At first I resisted.  I would try to hurry her along, feeling impatient.  Until I woke up to see what I was doing.  What was my rush?  Where exactly was I “going”?  What was wrong with just being right where we were?  So I too have slowed way down to match my rhythm to hers.  And while she pauses to sniff, I pause to just be.  To feel the breeze on my skin and notice the way the sun reflects off the road.  To become aware of both earth’s and my vastness and beauty. 

In my training with Susun Weed this summer, she spoke of how creation is the goddess, the feminine, the shakti energy.  And how we as women have that role of “giving life”.  But that we as women also have to be willing to “give death”.  That it is also our role, but one that we seem to have handed off, but must reclaim.  That we can’t have one without the other.  Honoring both. This too has caused me to pause.  Am I willing to give both?

Stopping to notice,

SARAH

Dear Earthy Yoginis,
 

Dropping down,

……down, down
              …….down, down.  Letting go completely.  Stopping.  Being right where you are.

And taking a big exhale.

We have already started this connection to earth with all of our reading, talking, tasting and getting to know the plants.  If you wanted to order any herbs and haven’t given me your order, please do so!  I am placing the order on Wednesday morning.   I have also loaded all of the info that I have sent out on the herbal infusions (and I added in Comfrey) to my new blog!

www.ASpaForTheSoul.blogspot.com

So here we are again.  At the beginning.  Our first chakra – Earth – Muladhara.

Earth is about stopping and noticing exactly where you are – how can we set out on a journey until we know where we are now?  So these two weeks we will slow way down.

Planting the feet.  Feeling the space around you.  Giving in to  gravity, becoming so heavy.  Solid. Silent. Right here.  Noticing everything about this moment.  Because this is the only moment that is real.   And we certainly don’t want to miss even one! 

The Earth is the mother.  She is where we came from and where we will return.  She is us and we are her.  To think that we can “fix” her is pretty egotistic of us…..we only need to surrender to her, love her and respect her in everything that we do, and she in turn will always provide for us. 

This summer in my garden I finally got it.   I am not one that reads the “details” about how to take care of a plant.  I don’t “dig the hole 2 X the root size”.  I don’t test the soil – in fact my soil is hard clay and rock.   I don’t fertilize (other than throwing in my herbs that are left over from infusions) and I don’t water on a schedule.  But what I do, every day, all the time, is LOVE my plants.  When I am with them, love oozes out of me.  I know they can feel it and therefore things happen like a Eucalyptus tree grows to be 15 feet tall in Cabin John and Goldenrod shows up when I ask! 

So walk barefoot.  Lie in the grass.  Sit on a rock.  Touch every plant that you walk past and give it a compliment!  They will LOVE you back!

With love to you all,

SARAH

 

The healing power of Comfrey!

 

 

Don’t leave home without her……….Comfrey!

     Comfrey (Symphytum Uplandicum)

Whenever there is an injury, think Comfrey!  She is a miraculous healer.  Comfrey helps to mend broken bones, strained or torn muscles and ligaments, and heal wounds.   And it works fast……..

I was given a 3 inch piece of root by a farmer who told me to break it into 4 pieces and plant them separately.  I now have 4 enormous, beautiful comfrey plants!  That is how quickly it regenerates itself and us!

In fact it works so quickly on a wound that you want to make sure there is no infection or dirt inside before applying the plant because it will immediately begin to heal the skin.

·        Comfrey is also known as "knitbone," and no better ally for the woman with thin bones can be found

·        Comfrey contains special proteins used in the formation of short-term memory cells

·        It soothes and strengthens both digestion and elimination

·        Keeps wrinkles at bay and the skin and scalp soft and supple

·       She is loaded with calcium, chromium, potassium, amino acids and Vitamin A and D

·       Its soothing mucilage adds flexibility to joints, eyes, pelvis and lungs.

·        Rich in protein and folic acid

·        Helps to heal injured or torn muscles or ligaments

·        Helps to heal lung tissue

·       Her anti-inflammatory nature, can aid in cases of arthritis

There has been debate on the effects of Comfrey on the liver.  Comfrey contains alkaloids and a study was done injecting the compound over time from the roots into rats and there were some that showed liver damage.  However the test was done only with the “roots” and not the leaves used in infusion, and the amounts were extremely large.  Here is what my teacher Susun says:

And then the last one is an herb that I have used very consistently for more than a quarter of a century, and that’s Comfrey Leaf.  Some people feel that Comfrey is not safe to use during pregnancy. Some people feel comfrey is not safe to use internally at all. I disagree. The roots of comfrey do contain compounds that are best avoided during pregnancy. (As do all parts of the wild plant.) In fact, I rarely use comfrey root because of the possibility of liver congestion, and I strongly caution those who have had hepatitis, chemotherapy, or alcohol problems to strictly avoid comfrey root. Yet even these people can benefit from use of comfrey leaf infusions. I harvest the flowering stalks when they are fully formed; and I am careful to use the cultivated garden comfrey, which grows very tall and has purplish, pinkish, bluish flowers. I avoid wild comfrey which stays rather small, even when flowering, and has cream-colored, white, or yellowish flowers.

Comfrey (Symphytum) leaf is free of the compounds (PAs) found in the root that can damage the liver. I have used comfrey leaf infusion regularly for decades with no liver problems, ditto for the group of people at the Henry Doubleday Research Foundation who have eaten cooked comfrey leaves as a vegetable for four generations.

With all of that said, I am currently drinking a quart of comfrey about every 10 days, as I rotate it with my other herbs.   This week I was struggling with a shoulder pull and felt tender in my ankle and wrist, so chose to drink if for 3 days in a row.  This is all about listening to our own body and taking charge of our own health. 

How would I make an infusion of Comfrey?  The same way that is used for most infusions.  Put 1 ounce of the dried herb in a glass quart canning jar.  Pour boiling water into the jar to cover the herb and fill it up to the very top.  Screw on the lid and let sit for between 4 and 10 hours.  Then strain out the herb – I pour the whole jar into a mesh reusable produce bag, over a bowl or sauce pan.  Then I close the bag around the herb and squeeze out  all of the remaining liquid.  Finally  pour all of the liquid back into the canning jar.  Refrigerate.  Drink over ice within 2 to 2 ½ days. 

How does she taste?  Like a black tea, but because of the mucilage her texture is a little thicker.  If you aren’t a black tea drinker, you can also mix in a pinch of dried peppermint when making the infusion to make it very refreshing.   I like the taste just as she is!

Great for the muscles,  the lungs, digestion and skin!

Nourishing myself from the inside,

SARAH

A quiet confident friend.....Red Clover

We all know her, and have probably weeded her out of the yard, but let’s meet her again with a fresh perspective…….Red Clover!

     Red Clover (Trifolium pratense)

To begin, Red Clover is the best cancer preventative and cancer curative herb!

·       Very high in phyto-sterols which turn into estrogen, progesterone or any hormone that the body needs

·        Red clover is a source of many valuable nutrients including calcium, chromium, magnesium, niacin, phosphorus, potassium, thiamine, and vitamin C.

·        Single most effective herb to establish fertility (combine with Ms Oatstraw)

·        Reduces possibility of forming blood clots and arterial plaques and may increase LDL (good cholesterol)

·        Red clover has the ability to reduce inflammation in the lungs, calm bronchial spasms, and aid in asthma

·        Can help alleviate hot flashes, lesson symptoms of PMS, and support breast health

·        Has been shown to limit development of benign prostate hyperplasia (enlarged prostate) and may block enzymes that contribute to prostate cancer

·        Can help with skin conditions such as psoriasis and eczema

·        Naturally blood purifying

Women with hormone-dependent conditions such as endometriosis, uterine fibroids, and cancers of the breast, ovaries, or uterus should not take red clover due to its possible estrogenic effects. Men with prostate cancer should also avoid taking red clover, unless a doctor recommends using it.

Red Clover infusion is made only from the blossoms, which are also good sprinkled in a salad!  Who would have known!

How would I make an infusion of Red Clover?  The same way that is used for most infusions.  Put 1 ounce of the dried herb in a glass quart canning jar.  Pour boiling water into the jar to cover the herb and fill it up to the very top.  Screw on the lid and let sit for between 4 and 10 hours.  Then strain out the herb – I pour the whole jar, herb and all, into a mesh reusable produce bag, over a bowl or sauce pan.  Then I close the bag around the herb and squeeze out  all of the remaining liquid.  Then pour all of the liquid back into the canning jar.  Refrigerate.  Drink over ice within 2 to 2 ½ days. 

 

How does she taste?  Like a black tea.  If you aren’t a black tea drinker, you can also mix in a pinch of dried peppermint when making the infusion to make it very refreshing.

Good for the blood, the lungs, the bones and the reproductive system!

 

Nourishing myself from the inside,

SARAH

And now........Oatstraw!

 

And next let me introduce you to  my laid back, flexible, soothing friend……Oatstraw!

 

Oatstraw (Avena Sativa)

Oatstraw is the remaining part of the oat plant once the grain has been harvested.  Typically the dried herb used for infusions is the milky green tops.  As Avena, she is what is put in many soothing bath and skin products. 

Oatstraw is someone you will want to hang out with.    She is calming……she is moisturizing…. She brings back aliveness!

·         Reduces cholesterol levels and risk of heart disease and diminishes heart rate disturbances such as palpitations

·         A wonderful ally in a stressful day as she nourishes strong nerves and stabilizes moods – keeping you from “flying off the handle”

·         Increases libido

·         Helps to alleviate dryness in the body - particularly good for post-menopausal, bringing back the juiciness!

·         Helps to calm the nervous system and fight depression and anxiety

·         An excellent source of Vitamin B complex

·         Like her sister Nettle, a cup of oatstraw infusion contains more than 300 milligrams of calcium plus generous amounts of many other minerals for strong bones, teeth and nails

·         Oatstraw’s steroidal saponins nourish the pancreas and liver, improving digestion

·         A wonderful aid in fertility

·         Helps restore restful sleep patterns

·         Can help reduce frequency and duration of headaches and alleviate joint pain

How would I make an infusion of oatstraw?  The same way that is used for most infusions.  Put 1 ounce of the dried herb in a glass quart canning jar.  Pour boiling water into the jar to cover the herb and fill it up to the very top.  Screw on the lid and let sit for between 4 and 10 hours.  Then strain out the herb – I pour the whole jar, herb and all, into a mesh reusable produce bag, over a bowl or sauce pan.  Then squeeze out  all of the remaining liquid from the herb thats in the bag.  Then pour all of the liquid back into the canning jar.  Refrigerate.  Drink within 2 to 2 ½ days.  The herb can then be thrown in your yard or garden to finish it's life cycle!

How does she taste?  Delicious!  Very mild and soft, just like her personality!

Here, here for Oatstraw!

Nourishing myself from the inside,

SARAH

 

Meet Stinging Nettle!

Yogis,

Allow me to introduce you to Ms Stinging Nettles!

     Stinging Nettle (Urtica Dioica)

 Many of you may have already met her without a formal introduction.  Have you ever felt like you were stung while walking off path down on the canal or in the woods?   That was probably her saying hello.    She has many hollow stinging hairs on her leaves and stem that when brought in contact with the skin will inject histamines, causing a stinging or burning sensation.  The sensation will come and go over several hours.  I would describe it as the feeling you have if you touch a small cactus and have some of those tiny hairs stuck in your skin.  You may even get small welts that disappear quickly. 

I was first introduced to her in the backyard of an herbalist 4 years ago.  After hearing about the sting and being told to always wear gloves when working with her, I decided to keep my distance!  It wasn’t until 2 years later that I became curious again – allowing myself to be stung, transplanting a few in my yard to start my own nettle patch, and sautéing a large bunch of the leaves with sesame oil and garlic for dinner.  And boy am I glad I did!!

Nettle is an all over body tonic.  She has a long history of medicinal uses and is one of the most valuable herbal remedies.  Here are some of her main healing qualities:

·        Unlike caffeine which provides a short burst of activity, nettle slowly builds long
term energy – combating anemia and fatigue

·        Strengthens the adrenals, thereby reducing anxiety

·        A complete tonic to restore healthy functioning of the kidneys

·        Nettle’s iron helps to restores youthful flexibility to blood vessels and is an excellent blood builder

·        Helps prevent or possibly even reverse osteoporosis.  A cup of nettle infusion contains 500 milligrams of calcium plus generous amounts of bone-building magnesium, potassium, silicon, boron, and zinc

·        Excellent source of vitamins A, D, E, and K

·        Her histamines actually act as an anti-histamine in the body, helping to  alleviate seasonal allergies and reduce inflammation in the body

·        In some studies it has been shown to help as an aid in weight loss

·        Nettle leaf is effective at reducing symptoms of the digestive tract ranging from acid reflux, excess gas, nausea, colitis and Celiac disease

·        For flexible bones, a healthy heart, thick hair, beautiful skin, and lots of energy, make friends with sister stinging nettle.

Here is what one webs site has to say:

It may be a brash statement to say that one prickly green herb is the panacea for almost everything that ails you; but, in the case of stinging nettles, it's mostly true. If there's one plant to have on hand at all times that provides a cure for arthritis, an herbal treatment for allergies, relieves hair loss, treats Celiac disease, bleeding, bladder infections, skin complaints, neurological disorders and a long list of other conditions -- it's nettle leaf.

So what does she taste like?  Earthy.   When I first started drinking her infusion I was a little challenged to drink  a full ½ quart in  a day.  But I gave it time and now I crave her.   You can just feel health seeping in with each swig.  The taste is toward that of a darker green tea.

How often should I drink it?  That is really a personal decision.  I drink 2 quarts a week.  I make a quart and drink over two days, then drink 2 days of another herb, and then back to two days of stinging nettle.

Do I drink it cold or room temperature?  It tastes best to me over ice.  If you don’t find the taste appealing at first, you can add a little salt or lemon or milk.  I drink my plain over a lot of ice.    I use my water bottle so she can just go with me!

And if you have some left over after two days, she is even a wonderful hair rinse!

Glad to have a relationship with Stinging Nettles,

SARAH

 

 

August and Nourishment

Breathing Yogis,

Receiving the breath in the belly – massaging the digestive organs and clearing anxiety and stress

        Expanding the ribs as the breath rises – removing  the layers of armor to let ourselves be seen

              Finally filling the upper chest  with breath – giving the heart space to bloom…the breath of surrender

And then letting it all go. Not holding anything back.  Trusting the you will be filled again, and again, and again.

This week in the women’s classes we talked about cycles and our connection to earth as the feminine.  Our three stages of life – Maiden, Mother and Crone (and proud to be one!).  And our monthly moon cycles.   (sorry men, didn’t want to completely send you over the edge)  Honoring all of it.  Connecting to that inner knowing and remembering.

And now we all begin to enter this seasonal cycle of late summer as it carries us toward fall.  The season of the harvest.  Bountiful.    Above is my personal harvest from the back yard today.  Grateful.  Nourishing for the body and soul.  Late August, with all of its color, warmth and never ending hum in the air makes me feel like I am getting a giant bear hug!  Go outside, close your eyes and give in to its embrace.

In my last note I mentioned Nourishing Herbal Infusions and I spoke more about them in classes.  So what is the difference between tea and an infusion??  Tea is about a teaspoon of herb, soaked for about 3-5 minutes.  An infusion is a full ounce of herb soaked for between 4 and 10 hours!

Why would I want to drink them?  Because they will allow you to throw away your supplements (what a waste since they are so expensive) and over time remove yourself from many medications.

What are some of the potential benefits?  Lower cholesterol, increased bone density (preventing or even reversing osteoporosis), cancer prevention, stronger teeth and nails, shinier hair, smoother skin, improved circulation and heart health, reduced wrinkles, increased libido….just to name a few of them.

What are the first 4 herbs we might want to consider for our infusions?  Stinging nettles, Comfrey, Red Clover Blossoms and Oatstraw

What would I need to have?  (2) quart size glass mason/canning jars, a mesh reusable produce bag (Crate and Barrel and Amazon sell nice ones) and a small electronic scale.  All very inexpensive items.  Oh, and of course the dried herb.  I place orders for herbs from Frontier about every 6 weeks.

So what if I am interested?  If you live in my area I  would be happy to have you come by and watch the process, see what I use and have a taste testing.   For those not in the area or who can’t come over, I written directions and links to You Tubes on my web site . 

How can I find out more about the specific herbs?  Descriptions, uses and benefits for the four herbs are all here on this site.  I would also ask you to do some research on your own and I can recommend some sites. 

This is all about taking back control over our bodies and our health.  Healing ourselves naturally from the inside.  We are the expert but we have to trust our inner guidance and nourish ourselves.   This is the Wise Woman Tradition.    I hope many of you join me on this next leg in our journey!

Drinking my Stinging nettle today……yum.

SARAH