A Brief Pause…
1
Huzzah to Me!
Hello there readers!
It has been quite the past week or two. Between studying so hard everyday that I couldn’t sleep, to some serious personal changes going on, to a serious work shift, I have just been hanging on by a thread. But the good news is that I have graduated my program!!!
our graduating class, with me looking super cheesy front + center
The weekend was so wonderful, filled with journeying, hiking, meditating and of course final test taking. After our projects and exams, we got to learn more Ayurvedic cooking recipes and tips from the wonderful Dr. Jay Apte, who filled the classroom with incredible aromas and lots of laughter.
meditating behind a waterfall cave
my sister from another mister and i on an afternoon hike
my dear hearts, so happy to have them on my journey
Wow, what a year! This experience has been so earth-shatteringly, mind-blowingly, rock-my-world-y transformative and I am so happy and joyful that I was led to this path.
Hopefully I will discuss more about what I have been learning and what it means for my future soon, but until then, I just wanted to share my gratitude 🙂
“We attend in silence and in joy. 
This is the day when healing comes to us. 
This is the day when separation ends, 
and we remember Who we really are.”
-A Course in Miracles
Ramadan Mubarak!
Hi there friends,
Things have been super quiet around here, no? Life right now is kinda overwhelming, to say the least. This weekend is the end of the first part of my program (!) and so there have been days this week where I was too busy to even eat lunch (how un-Ayurvedic of me! I swear I just forgot!)
Today is also the first day of Ramadan and so I would love to shout out a “Ramadan Mubarak” to my Muslim (and non-Muslim) readers! May this month bring you love, transformation and deep connection with the Divine.
And just a friendly reminder, please make sure that you aren’t buying Israeli dates when you stock up for this month (or any other time). Dates that are labeled from Israel, Jordan Valley or the West Bank are from illegal Israeli settlements that are making a profit on occupied land, while abusing their Palestinian workers. The total income from Israel’s date business is almost $100 million a year, so let’s not support human rights abuses, occupation and murder, yeah?
Ok, I am done with my annual Ramadan date rant and would love to wish everyone the most amazing weekend. I will be studying my eyeballs out today and tomorrow I leave for the mountain at 6am!
[beautiful picture of the call to prayer from Albert Moldvay]
Motivational Mondays!
Hi there friends!
How was your weekend? Mine was oh so FUN! And honestly, with all the work, school and other stuff that has been going on, fun with a capital F has been pretty much nonexistent.
So this weekend, my dear friend took me out to our old stomping grounds in the Mission (we lived there at the same time and never knew each other!) We had yummy Sengalese food and drinks and danced to West African music. We went to a club with streamers on the ceiling and danced some serious cumbia, merengue and dancehall. We sang reggaeton out the windows of a stranger’s car and danced salsa in the wee morning hours at an underground bar filled with community, feeling so happy to only hear spanish in a neighborhood that has been overrun with gentrification. We laughed and felt young, sensed the possibility that flowed through our bodies and truly celebrated being alive.
WOW! Feeling happiness can be pretty intense, huh? And now onto the goodies of the web:
This sparkling sweet tea cocktail from Snippet and Ink is perfect for the summer, no?
I LOVE this DIY project from A Beautiful Mess, especially for us tea drinkers!
I don’t remember how I found this show but Shootin the Spiritual Sh*t is awesome! Two gals talk about all things spiritual with great honesty and humor. This episode with Brooks Palmer (author of Clutter Busting) is really helpful for some deep clean time.
And yesterday officially started Mercury retrograde! But before you start freaking out about your computer crashing and your relationship burning to a crisp, read this article on how to survive from The Tarot Lady.
And I will leave you with this little video on how to change habits from Charles Duhigg:
[beautiful photo of Mexico by Jamie of A Desert Fete]
A Celebration…
Hello! Thank you so much for the emails and happy wishes for my birthday. I really appreciated it and it added even more joy to my day!
Just a few highlights of my birthday time:
I saw this sign on the way to breakfast and thought it was a great way to start the day. We went to the famous Tartine Bakery and pretended we were in France for the morning (minus the Islamophobia please!) and guess what? Out of the blue, a wonderful man sitting next to us told us about how tasty the morning bun was. I guess it is their go-to item and before he left, he brought one over to our table to enjoy! He didn’t even know it was my birthday…pretty magical, huh?
We spent a beautiful morning at the Japanese Tea Garden in Golden Gate Park! So relaxing and peaceful, walking over stone bridges, watching the koi in the ponds and smelling the flowers.
Our tea garden time included a delicious jasmine tea and rice soup, with seaweed, crunchy and fermented fixins. Outside while looking at the garden and watching the butterflies.
My highlight of the day was soaking in the sacred energy of the redwoods. So much good medicine from our elders.
And what birthday would be complete without some treats? I had been wanting to check out the adorable ice cream bar that opened here recently and oh boy, was it fantastic. Old fashioned soda jerks, homemade tinctures (!) and complex drinks. Kinda like our version of a celebratory cocktail 🙂
And that was our day! It was a simple but super special day that made me really happy to live in San Francisco and to be here on this planet. And what more can you ask for from your birthday?
Happy Birthday to Me!
Hello! Well I had hoped I would have time to write a (late) motivational Monday post but things have been busy today getting ready for…my birthday!
Tomorrow is my birthday so I will be out and about! Taking a day trip, eating lots of yummy food, being in nature and hopefully blowing out 27 candles on something that is as delicious as this banana split ice cream pie from The First Mess 🙂
Have a great one and “see” you soon!
The (Late) Weekend Revue!
Hi and happy Monday!
Ok, so Mondays aren’t usually the best of times so I thought I might do a little weekend revue and see how your week was…
finding little flowers that look like artichokes
celebrating our kitty’s 4th birthday (!) with taking many glamour shots of her
enjoying the lights in japantown
reading “women who run with the wolves” by the ocean in sausalito
seeing jai uttal at the fillmore jazz festival with my lovely friends
Also!
babysitting our little niece and playing ukelele with her ★ enjoying cold chamomile infusions before bed ★ spending time walking around little mountain towns ★ dancing outdoors with strangers to kirtan and smiling BIG ★ watching our kitty get so excited about her new scratching pad ★ spending time observing a master practitioner and being in awe ★ coconut almond cake and yogi tea ★ starting to read “mockingjay” to my partner ★
How was your week?
Motivational Monday!
Happy Monday readers!
Hope you had a wonderful weekend. I had a good one, the highlight being a women’s reproductive health intensive with the incredible Dr. Sarita Shrestha. She was the first female Ayurvedic physician in her native Nepal and is one of the most brilliant, intuitive and beautiful people I have ever met. I’ll tell you, a weekend of being with her and I am feeling oh so excited to start having some babies! Ok, not quite yet but reproductive and post-partum health is definitely my passion.
Here are some awesome goodies from the web:
These agua frescas from A Beautiful Mess look super delicious and perfect for summer, especially that cantaloupe and thyme recipe!
Charlie Glickman wrote a lovely piece on thanking your partner. I am definitely trying to remember to do this more often as everyone wants to feel appreciated and loved, right?
The brilliant Katie over at Chocolate Covered Katie created these homemade (and healthier) chocolate crunch bars and oh wow, do they look amazing!
DIY Natural posted a simple recipe for homemade windshield washing fluid, which is awesome since store-bought fluids are highly toxic and gross.
And I will leave you with a beautiful quote from Chickasaw author Linda Hogan:
“Walking, I am listening to a deeper way.
Suddenly all my ancestors are behind me.
Be still, they say. Watch and listen.
You are the result of the love of thousands.”
[magical illustration from Cribas]
Podcast #1: Staying Cool this Pitta Season!
Hello friends!
I am oh so pleased to announce that the first Absolutely Ayurveda podcast has arrived! And just in time for the summer! Check it out and discover how you can keep your body, mind and soul balanced and cool during this Pitta season.
Let me know how you like it!
[swwet penguins by Frank Hurley]
Motivational Monday!
Hello and happy Monday readers!
How was your weekend? This past week has been a whirlwind of emotion, excitement and deep discovery. My work conference was fantastic. We spent time healing, learning, crying, laughing and LOTS of dancing! Being in the sunny L.A. area definitely didn’t hurt either 🙂
I was then at my intensive for school this past weekend which was wonderful. We were trained in Ayurvedic nutrition and oh wow, there is still so much to learn!
Luckily, I have today off so I am just relaxing, catching up on emails, processing everything that I have learned and counting my blessings.
Onto the web treasury!
These honey ginger and peach chocolate fudge bars from Nouveau Raw look SO AMAZING.
Bay Area Bites posted the recipe to the beloved lavender mojito from The Girl and The Fig’s menu. What a perfect summer drink! Now, if you are a teetotaler like myself, substitute the rum with more club soda and you are ready to go.
This raw pecan porridge from Vixi is super delicious and perfect for pacifying pitta during these hot months.
This matcha watermelon shake from Healthy Happy Life is another great way to cool off this season. How yummy!
And I will leave you with a quote from Ram Dass:
“I would like my life to be a statement of love and compassion – and where it isn’t, that is where my work lies.”
Have a wonderful week!
[incredible mixed media from Rebecca Artemisa]
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