True Spring

 

Tequila Raja

For low-down nights spent with the best of friends (including the furry ones) and toasting to the space in- between. 

Gather:

small mason jar of tequila

 1/4 orange peel

two vanilla beans

two cinnamon sticks

Cut open vanilla beans and scrape inside. Put into tequila. Infuse all other spices and orange peel in tequila overnight. 

The next night, Gather:

one can coconut milk (get the milk beneath the cream. The cream tends to lump up.)

maple syrup, to taste

carbonated mineral water

ice cubes

Strain spices out of tequilla. place ice cubes in each glass. Pour 1/2 of glass full of coconut milk. Add about a tablespoon of maple syrup into each glass. Pour a shot of infused tequila into each glass. Stir well. Top with mineral water. 

Wintery Spring

Cinnamon; Cinnamomum zeylanicum

"... I can be happy the rest of my life with my cinnamon girl..."  neil young

From Scientific Illustration

“When sattva predominates, the light of wisdom shines through every gate of the body” (Bhagavad Gita 14: 11)

Who doesn't love cinnamon? And who knew cinnamon was so beneficial?! According to Ayurvedic tradition, cinnamon is 'sattvic' in nature, meaning it supports the highest good of the mind. Sattvic herbs   stir and harness subtle essences that maintain a focused mind on physical and spiritual levels. This is important because it works to remove obstacles of the mind that inhibit meditation. With a clear mind, one's dharma, purpose or necessary action, is sure. By preparing our mind, we are more equipped to conquer swirling and doubting.

I don't really know if this has anything to do with it's sattvic nature, but cinnamon is also known to lower blood sugar levels- see how excess sugar influences hormones; and in result, all levels of tissue-- In ayurveda, quality of mind is a result of the health of the tissues. Cinnamon works on the plasma, blood. muscles, marrow, and nerve tissues to strengthen circulation. It's warming energy reduces inertia (heavyness, lethargy) while pacifying too intense of movement that causes anxiety. It helps to open up channels in order to absorb other medicines, as well.

Check out Tranquil Sounds  listing to learn more of cinnamon.


Resource:
         The Yoga of Herbs, Dr. David Frawley and Dr. Vasant Lad

REFRIGERATOR CHAI TEA RECIPE:

Put 3 cups of water in a pot and start to bring to a boil. Measure out 2.5 inches fresh ginger, cut thinly (no need to peel); 3 cinnamon sticks, broken up; 2.5 T black peppercorns; 1.5 T whole cardamom seeds; 2.5 t anise seeds, 2.5 t whole coriander seeds; and 1 t whole cloves. Add ingredients to water at any time. When water reaches a boil, reduce heat and simmer for 25 minutes. Turn off heat. At this point you can add Black Tea if you wish and steep for 5 minutes. After steeping, or right after the 25 minutes if you do not use tea, strain into a gallon sized pitcher. You can add Honey to taste while still hot, if you please. Make sure to stir well. Fill the pitcher the rest of the way with cold water. Store in fridge. Heat as needed for use. Serve with milk or almond milk to taste.

Source for Bulk Herbs

ROSEMARY: Rosmarinus officinalis

Photo from Dr. Char

Lately, I've been overcome by the vastness of this seemingly average kitchen herb. Over the last 6 months, I worked at a bakery-cafe where nearly everything on the menu is hand-crafted from scratch. That I know for sure, three items on the food menu exclusively feature Rosemary, and two types of bread from the bakery also adorn this fragrant herb. Just gathering from customer's big-eyed reactions when they see the Blue Cheese Rosemary bread for the first time, or when they come back to the counter after eating their meal to ask if we individually sell the Potato Rosemary rolls that are made solely to hug the Excellent Chicken and Asparagus sandwich, Rosemary is special to the palate.

On my last day working at the bakery, I had the idea to steep in rosemary. We had some fresh plant growing in a pot in the dining area of the restaurant, so I took a small cutting home to try it out. What a good call. The infusion of rosemary, chamomile, and bayleaf I tried out was beautiful. Its potent, stinging-redolent taste blends all so well with other pungent and sweet tastes, creating a warming tonic that, for me, reaches the depths of the heart and pumps out to extremities to circulate nervous unease that rests in a stagnant expression of the self.

What a perfect remedy for my work transition,or any life transition; taking new routes to reclaim, hold onto, and ultimately remember the self.

I suggest using rosemary (oil,essential oil,tea,spice) when you seek courage to remember and take action upon your true self needs in order to purify and reconcile.

Ahhh, Mango! King of Fruits

The cast took a final bow, hands clasped down the line, hats removed- long hair flipping the last of played persona behind.

The now standing audience, moved upward by the starkness of just human, roared with deep reverence and maybe some fear.

The violent clapping doubled as a way to release Viola's own pent up shit.

As most people hurried to exit the theater, Viola remained standing for a minute, staring at the stage still, hands now silently clasped in front of her heart. She began to feel the blood rush back into her fingertips and started to gather her purse and coat. Exiting was more like a gateway to the entrance. The members of the cast were still somewhat lined up on either side of the hallway to the vestibule, now reflecting amongst themselves, smiling with laughing accomplishment, many carrying bouquets of flowers. Viola stammpered forward, her eyes dodging eyes through the hall into the more open vestibule. As she came to it, she took a last breath in and out.

Image from unknown source

Acting on a slightness, an impulse of necessity, after gently pressing her left molars and canine teeth together, her eyes in turn rolling to the left shoulder that her purse hung down from, she pivoted to the right and re-entered the hall. This time, her eyes caught his and did not fall. If it were any other time, he would be caught surprised to see her, but now, somehow, it was natural. He didn't really smile, though his eyes seemed soft and a bit hungry. He waited for her to speak first. Her eyes still unblinking, she ran her tongue across her top teeth, swallowed, reached into her purse and pulled out a ripened mango and cupped it in her hands as if it were a baby bird.

"You were really good," she said as she handed him the mango. "I guess I've always known that, after all."
"It's my last night in town. Funny it's the last night of the show. I'm glad I caught it."

Steeping in Spring

We're all familiar with the concept of "spring cleaning." Spring always catches me by surprise, but it is very apparent when Spring has sprung- Not only does daylight linger, but I start to receive all kinds of messages reading "Spring detox clearance!" or "Take charge this Spring! Organize your life!" 

So why all the urge for a fresh start? Spring is naturally a time of rebirth.  Like any birth, it takes anticipation, preparation, and strength building for the actual bearing to occur. 

So this Spring, as I begin to open up to the possibilities of what may come, I'm harnessing invariable support from the earth, to gain the strength to reconnect with my purpose.

Strength Building Yoga- Dolphin Pushups

Add dolphin pushups  to your daily practice.  Dolphin pushups are especially great for opening and strengthening the chest and shoulder region, but when carried out correctly, you learn that this strength comes not from the arms alone, but from the solid foundation of rooted feet and and a well-aligned pelvis and head that supports the weight of the spine; this creates an intelligent strength that comes from within, rather than from the ego.

<THE PRACTICE>

. Come to a comfortable seat. Start to witness of your breath. Once your mind  is clear, begin your practice with a 10 rounds of breath in Virasana with Gomukhasana arms. You can incorporate breath of fire here if you have that in your practice. 

. Take a dynamic cat-child's movement to neutralize and clear the spine.  Repeat several times until the effect has come to you.

. Perform 5 Sun Salutes of your preferred variation. Take fierce pose as the first and last posture in which ever salute you do. Mind your shoulders in fierce; roll them onto the back to open the chest.  Fierce works to align the root chakra with the heart chakra. This has a grounding, yet stimulating and inspiring quality. This is perfect for spring as it fosters firm roots for security and elevation for intelligent action.

. Take 5 breaths in Eagle pose on both sides. Eagle strengthens the core and works to balance from the inside, starting at the root chakra while providing heart opening for rooted inspiration.

. Come back to Tadasana and root firmly into the earth. Feel the earth energy radiate up through your body and out through your heart. Really take time in Tadasana to feel this support. Mind how it makes you feel to honor your tall mountain. Even in this "simple" pose, it takes work to mind the energy lines and draw awareness from the earth for strength.

.  Step one foot back from Tadasana. Feet should be in railroad tracks, the front toe facing forward and the back toes pointed slightly inward. Draw arms out to a t, and with your hips first facing the side, bend to the side over the front toes to keep the spine long. when you reach the edge, drop the bottom arm and raise the top towards the sky. gaze towards the floor or towards the sky. Play your edge in triangle- do not push yourself from the extremities, but let your expression in the pose reveal itself from the roots inside. Step forward and repeat on the other side.

. Prepare for a wide Legged forward fold. As you fold, mind the opposing forces of energy- the earth energy radiating up from the feet up the back body, and the heart energy circulating down and being recycled up by the earth energy. Again, feel the strength that this brings.

. Move into the apex pose- dolphin pushups. Form a tripod by clasping your hands and pressing forearms into the ground. Elbows should be shoulder-width apart. Now finish the pose as if you were otherwise getting into downward dog. Carry out the pushup action- suck the navel in and come forward as if entering plank. Sync this action with the breath and repeat several times until effect has fully unveiled itself. When complete, drop the knees and take child's pose.

. Follow through with a minor backbend in locust pose.

. Take your favorite twist. Again move from the inside- where the roots of your strength lie. Twist to align that strength in distribution among all chakras. Feel the alignment. Be sure to twist both sides.

. Move into bridge pose. Dynamically move arms up overhead on inhale and elevation and back down to sides on exhale and lowering. When lowering, make sure to land one vertebrae at a time, starting at the cervical spine downwards. Pay attention the the feeling of support when lowering each vertebrae.

. Take any other poses you need to feel complete and then move into savasana for at least 10 minutes. Feel the support and safety from the earth as you surrender into complete calm and clarity. Take your time getting up.

. Enter into meditation.