Health
Midsummer Dreams for Heart Coherence
My dearest people …
We are in the deep middle of the Season of the Heart, where the energetics of the Sun are strongest, sending us Vitamin D and serotonin, and the Earth is alive with an abundance of colors and fragrances. Flowers are feeding the bees, butterflies and hummingbirds, and the bunnies scampering in the grass are so abundant this year! We are midway in our journey through the Year of the Yin Rabbit, and the message continues to be: cultivate inner stillness, inner quiet, and reconnect with our innate wisdom and guidance by aligning ourselves with the coherence of our hearts. continue reading
Cherry Tomato and White Bean Salad Recipe
This simple salad makes a bright, tangy companion to grilled meat or fish. Marinating the red onions and garlic in the vinaigrette for 15 minutes not only diffuses their flavor but also softens their bite. This salad travels well and would be an excellent choice for a potluck or picnic. It’s also supremely versatile, and can be dressed up with any soft herb like basil, tarragon or mint, and chile, in almost any form.
Your body is your SUBCONSCIOUS MIND
The relationship between the body and the mind has always been one of unity, connection and interdependence within the system of Chinese medicine. Disharmony or “dis-ease” presents itself with a symptom/sign – perhaps an ache, a fever, fatigue, heart palpitations, changes in appetite, and more. These signs are assessed by the doctor, suggestions for remedies are made to alleviate discomfort, and the underlying reason for the “dis-ease” is also addressed. Symptoms – the outward conversation between the inner and outer body – are seen as messengers, helping to guide us to redirect our attention and follow the clues so that harmony can be restored in the body.
Reishi Mushroom Miso Soup Recipe
Whether it’s made by a Michelin-star restaurant or your local takeout joint, miso soup is always so comforting for both our Heart and digestive system. This miso soup recipe incorporates many different kinds of mushrooms to add extra umami flavor and adaptogenic qualities. The addition of reishi, depending on the variety and form you use, may give this soup a slightly bitter aftertaste. If that bothers you, you can skip it and still make a healing bowl of miso soup.
The Fire Season of the Heart
Summer season, The Great Yang, has definitely arrived and with it, the heat, humidity and the occasional emotional crankiness that is common when temperatures soar. This is the phase of the Fire Element in Chinese medicine, and the Heart, assigned to emotional and spiritual balance, is the representative organ. While the Heart aligns with Fire, it is heat that can actually agitate and disrupt the Heart’s function and flow, and so we are instructed to be mindful of how to keep our body and mind flowing with ease, as if a cool stream is moving through our head, limbs, and torso. The Heart is referred to as “the sovereign emperor” in the kingdom of the body, and all systems work together to ensure the Heart is well served, for an upset emperor can wreak havoc in the body.
