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Getting sober in a pandemic: one year alcohol-free
2020 will be a year that goes down in history, a year that no doubt will be etched (scarred?) into our memories. The things we learned, the things we lost, and the way our lives changed will stay with us forever. But while the coronavirus pandemic took center stage, when I reflect on my own year, there was so much more than that. There were the little wins and losses and the growth spurts that happen in any year. And there was one big change: 2020 was not only the year of the pandemic, but my first year of sobriety. I had my last alcoholic drink on December 22nd, 2019,…
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The best books on creativity and spirituality
I love a good book list, so this week I’m doing another roundup of the books that I can’t live without! Recently I did a post on my favorite books about Ayurveda, so this time I want to share my favorite books on creativity and being an artist. Specifically, all these books have a spiritual component. Then again – I can’t imagine a book on creativity that doesn’t, to some degree! The authors of these books know that creativity is a mystery. But that doesn’t mean that aren’t things we can do to welcome more of that mystery into our lives! I find so much inspiration in the pages of…
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How to create a personal Winter Solstice ritual
The Winter Solstice marks the shortest day of sunlight and longest night in the Northern Hemisphere. It’s also the official beginning of winter! This day and the surrounding days are marked by celebrations around the world, reflected in the traditions of many cultures. Christmas is, of course, just one of the many celebrations that center around honoring light, nourishing ourselves, and being with loved ones. The strings of lights and candles that fill our homes are beautiful reminders that even in the darkest times, we each carry a light within ourselves. From an Ayurvedic perspective, the Winter Solstice is the height of Vata season. Vata energy, which is cold, dry…
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The best books on Ayurveda for modern women
With the holiday season coming up, I thought it would be fun to share my favorite books related to Ayurveda. If you have someone in your life who is interested in yoga, holistic health, or Ayurveda, these would make great gifts – or perhaps they go on your own wish list! There are many wonderful classic texts on Ayurveda, but I’ve decided to focus on books that take a more modern approach. The beautiful thing about Ayurveda is that it was always meant to be adapted to the times and situations we find ourselves living in. Many people think of Ayurveda as a strict set of rules, but I see…
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Ojas: how to build resilience as an artist
One of the most beautiful concepts in Ayurveda is the concept of ojas. Sometimes called the body’s natural nectar or honey, ojas is the most refined essence of everything we take in to our bodies. After nutrients from our food are used to nourish all layers of our tissues, what’s left is ojas. Ojas is related to immunity and resilience. When our ojas is high, we are not so easily swayed by outer circumstances. We are strong mentally and physically, and don’t often get sick. If we do, our ojas will help us to bounce back fairly quickly. As an artist, building and conserving ojas is absolutely crucial to the…
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Ama: how to clear writer’s block the Ayurvedic way
If you’ve ever attempted to write anything, you’ve probably experienced writer’s block at some point. I’m having it right now actually, but I’m going to get through it… And in this piece I’m going to show you how I do it. I was recently listening to an interview with one of my favorite singer-songwriters, Phoebe Bridgers, on the podcast Song Exploder. Host Hrishikesh Hirway asks Phoebe if she’s ever experienced writer’s block. Phoebe laughs before replying, “Yes, I feel like I experience it 100 percent of the time.” Even the most prolific and gifted artists among us seem to suffer from this dreaded syndrome. Where do these blocks come from?…
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Agni: how to stoke the fires of your creativity
Digestion is considered to be a “sacred fire” in Ayurveda. The ancient Ayurvedic texts refer to this fire as agni. Attending to our agni is one of the best things we can do for our health. As my teacher Katie Silcox writes in her book Healthy Happy Sexy, “The best food on the planet can’t help you if you don’t have the digestive fire to transform and assimilate what you are putting in your body.” Addressing digestive issues is traditionally the first place you would start when working with an Ayurvedic practitioner. But be warned; this isn’t your typical article on ways to strengthen your digestion! What made me fall…
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Intentional vibrations: healing through art and Ayurveda with Veronica Paige
Veronica Paige is a health coach who incorporates elements of Ayurveda, movement, Traditional Chinese Medicine & integrative nutrition to help her clients find balance and love their bodies. When I met Veronica in the virtual world, I learned how much we had in common in the ways we both see art, and especially music, as part of our healing journey! I am honored to share this interview with Veronica, and hope you’ll be inspired by her daily healing practices of movement, art and Ayurveda. There is so much juicy wisdom here! How do you see the relationship between health and creativity in your own life? Does one affect the other? …
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Sutika: existing in the space between life and death
There is a sanskrit term, sutika, that describes the time when the veils between this and other worlds are thin. Death is a time of sutika, as well as birth. A woman is said to enter sutika when she begins labor, and stays in that state for several weeks up to a year after her baby is born. In this state, she is less affected by the mundane aspects of reality. She has had a glimpse of the mysteries on the other side. In nature, fall is the season of sutika. It is in this transitional time when the fields are bare and the trees are shedding their leaves that…
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Sleep deeper: 8 Ayurvedic tips for a blissful bedtime routine
There is a heavy emphasis on morning routine in Ayurveda, but having an evening routine is also important. How we spend the last few hours of the day can have a big impact on our sleep, which is our body’s chance to clear toxins, restore and renew. Creating an evening routine shouldn’t be complicated. In fact, you probably have some kind of evening routine already. For example, making dinner, bathing, brushing your teeth or washing your face. If you do these things at a similar time every day, you may notice that your body starts to get sleepy as you go through these evening tasks. A good evening routine is…