A · D A I L Y · P R A C T I C E
It is early morning. The sun is just rising, the birds are busy, and I am breathing. Nothing more than that. These are the moments I notice what it means to be truly present —no agenda. On the art of noticing before understanding and a simple breathing practice.
“I felt truly present” · the senses as doorways
Through every waking moment the world arrives: as sound, as texture, as light, as taste, as scent. We receive it constantly, often without noticing. And yet the quality of that receiving matters enormously. Ayurveda has a detailed philosophy on our perception, starting with the sense organs — the Indriya.
T H E · R O O T S · of the body
What does it mean to truly nourish the nervous system – not calm it temporarily, but feed it at its root?
T H E · B E S T · M E D I C I N E ?
Nature is bursting with flower buds and bird song. Social media is bursting with invitations to join the next great fast. But fasting from what exactly?
R E S T O R I N G · F L O W · short exercise
It’s often the simplest postures that have the most profound effects. This is one of the poses we can’t be reminded of enough.
M O V I N G with the C U R R E N T S · short exercise
A simple exercise using metaphor and gentle movement to move with the currents, and move with the challenges.
P A N E E R · recipe
Paneer, a fresh young cheese, is simple to make and adds nourishing protein to a meal with vegetables. It is also so tasty in chapatis, pita bread or wrap.
P O E M · the promise of seasons
While we leave behind the darkest days of the year I return to this song about the wild wind, the cycles of life which are so beautifully expressed through the seasons, but can be daunting at times.
H U M M I NG · bee breath
Often when we are among small children we sing a song, we hum to comfort them. Humming makes us feel safe and settled. Here is a beautiful ancient breathing practice using humming to soothe the nervous system.
O C E A N · B R E A T H
Stress and worry have a direct effect on our sense of well-being. The mind brings us in all sorts of boundless movements and it becomes more difficult to find calm. Here is a simple, effective tool to calm the mind and help regulate your nervous system.
C O O K B O O K S
It’s interesting what people make for dinner when they are at home, which foods provide comfort. Here are two lovely cookbooks which share recipes in a personal, intimate way.
C O O K B O O K · Boustany (my garden)
I love how cookbooks make us imagine tastes, flavors, scents. For an instant they can make you connect all the senses just by reading the recipes, while the ingredients and cooking methods intimately tell about different cultures.
B O O K · for our time
During this summer I looked for solace and found some in beautiful books; literature, cookbooks, philosophy. I’ll share a few of them here, perhaps you will appreciate them too.
S U M M E R · D R I N K · recipe
Many of us were taught that for cooling we need ice, but ice cold drinks burden our digestion. Try this refreshing summer drink.
S P R I N G · S O U P · recipe
During spring a powerhouse of minerals and vitamins is coming up almost everywhere, often called a weed; stinging nettle. This soup, after the first bite, instills a craving for more; not sure if it’s the earthy taste or the much needed nutrients that cause that.
S P R I N G · D R I N K · recipe
Cleavers begins to sprout when our immune systems may be tired and sluggish from a long winter. The fun thing is you can find them almost anywhere and they make a wonderful herbal drink.
M R D U · S O F T
When the body metaphorically has moved from health towards disbalance, discomfort, or disease along a path, it may take some time to return and walk the path back towards health.
P O W E R F U L · S W E E T S · recipe
There is more to the sweetness of these little homemade treats than one would think…. ✨ Here is some information on their nutritional content, traditional uses and a recipe.
W I L D · C L O C K S
Inspiration on our times in relation to natural rhythms gathered from the essay Wild Clocks by David Farrier in Emergence Magazine Vol. 5 💛
K E E P I N G · W A R M
Of course there are different ways to stay warm, clothing being the most obvious one, next to consuming warm drinks and foods. But how about using the properties or energetics of spices and warming the body from within?