Blog
 Sud Tyrol A three day hike to a glacier in Sud TYrol. I am always amazed of the beauty of mountains. So grand is the earth. The snow used to cover the whole area in the summer. Water was gushing from everywhere. Deep in my being this was unsettling.
I love summer time because I can just go to the garden and pick my meal. My salad today was made of purslane, beets and feta cheese. Purslane is considered a weed...so good for you though! And NO I am not milking my goats to make feta cheese.   Traveling is always an adventure for me. I never know what it will bring. Often my mind escapes into some vision of happy ever after. It loves to vagabond to beautiful, perfect fantasies.
As I get older and learn to watch the scenario of my mind and the play of my ego, I recognize the pattern. As soon as I revel in my bright imagination, I hear the dark voice: “Your bed at home is much more comfortable” or “those pillows are terrible!” “Why are you here?” Between the warm sand and the creaky bed is where I grow. In that space, I question, “Why do I love traveling?” The answer is: traveling is a great teacher for me. I encounter my dreaded zone of discomfort and learn to befriend it. To my surprise, I always survive!  Mornings can be tough and rough. I am sure I don’t have to give any examples of what it may look like or feel like for you. A morning yoga routine is what keeps me from daily chaos. We can use yoga in our morning routine or in our day to boost our energy and sense of wellbeing. Yoga is more than performing poses and twisting ourselves into pretzels. Here are some suggestions:
 Nature is a temple with familiar looks, humans pass through a forest of symbols...
This words from the French poet Baudelaire always resonate in my mind when I walk in the woods. A forest of symbols trying to make itself manifest. If only I could speak that language and understand their messages. The wisdom the trees could share from their years of standing and observing life. The patience and flexibility that a tree must have to be able to survive so many storms. When I think of resiliency, I think TREE.  As we transition from summer to fall we prepare ourselves for winter. The energy of the plant world is going into the roots. Foliage is drying and turning beautiful colors. Squirrels are busy stealing seeds from the bird feeders and hoarding food to their "storage units". My goats are fluffing up with their new cashmere undercoat and the chickens and ducks are molting. My "friend" the bear is fattening up for hibernation.
As human beings, our bodies are attuned to the natural rhythm of nature as well. As the animal and plant kingdom we are guided by the rising and setting of the sun. We have the freedom to use electricity but when it gets dark earlier we might feel sleepy and need more sleep. The cycle of the moon affects our internal rhythm and emotions. With the weather getting colder most of us feel like eating heavier foods and more fats to sustain our energy. Some of us feel the need to fly south, others need to slow down. By listening to our deep internal clock, the one that tunes itself naturally to the environment we can stay healthy and happy. Otherwise we feel as if we are swimming against current, and it leaves us depleted. In Yoga the mind “chitta” and the intellect “buddhi” are differentiated. Our minds want to keep doing the same things and more. This is normal for the mind. Our intellects might tell us to keep warm, slow down and rest more because of the weather getting colder and the nights getting longer. By pressing the pause button for our mind and listen to our body and intellect we might transition through the season with more ease.  Chamomile tea for relaxation and sleep It is the season for fresh chamomile ! Everyday I am picking and drying it for the winter month when I will look forward to relax by the fire! 2 teaspoon of fresh flowers or one teaspoon of dried flowers per cup of water. Pour boiling water over the flowers and let steep for 15-20 minutes covered. The longer you steep it, the stronger and more bitter the tea will be. The bitter part is the medicine! You may add some natural sweetner! Drink 2-3 cups per day.
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