Cycles, Rhythms, Seasons

Cycles, Rhythms, Seasons

Saturday, September 26th was the Harvest Moon and now we’re moving towards October’s new moon on October 10th. So often our focus is on the full moon, but the new moon provides ample opportunity for reflection. Its darkness is great practice for the darker, shorter days we’re moving into. It’s a great time to start fresh and release what’s stuck. Working with the moon and its lunar cycle, as well as other natural cycles and rhythms, can be a great way to ground and balance our nervous systems and remember our connection to the more-than-human world.

Lessons From the Snow Moon and Self-Compassion

Lessons From the Snow Moon and Self-Compassion

The world feels tumultuous and chaotic right now. January might have felt especially dark- seasonally, emotionally, politically, environmentally. February might feel similarly.

I am inspired by the three elements of self-compassion as outlined by Dr. Kristin Neff and Christopher Germer, as a guideline for how to navigate this time:

Hibernation or Activation?

Hibernation or Activation?

We are now in winter, with cold, dark days and snow and blustery weather. We’re just past “new year’s day”, where many set new year’s resolutions, and commit to start or stop various habits. However, to me, in connecting with the seasons, and to indigenous, seasonally connected cultures around the world, it’s not quite the new year yet…

My Favorite Fall Self-Care Activities

My Favorite Fall Self-Care Activities

Like many of you, I am excited for autumn. As I’ve mentioned in my classes lately, autumn and early winter are vata season. Vata is one of the doshas (or constitutions/mind-body energies) in Ayurveda (traditional Indian medicine).

On Heatwaves, Despair and Interbeing or Healing Our Disconnection

On Heatwaves, Despair and Interbeing or Healing Our Disconnection

Here in Detroit, summer has started- with a blast of very hot air. Officially, she makes her entrance on Thursday, June 20th, the Summer Solstice, but she has been teasing us with waves of heat for months now, thanks to climate change (remember that 75 degree day in February?!) How do we not melt into despair or burn up with eco-anxiety?

Spring Growth, Not Stagnation aka Kapha Season

Spring Growth, Not Stagnation aka Kapha Season

If you've been following me for awhile you know that I often write about the seasons and about Ayurveda (traditional Indian medicine and the sister science of yoga). Seasonal cycles are incredibly important to Ayurveda. Learning more about these seasonal rhythms and corresponding characteristics has helped me find so much more balance in times of change (both in life and in the seasons)!