Satisfaction. Desire. Sattva.

The #1 problem for humans...revealed!

According to the Yoga system, there is one basic problem that disturbs the mind: a compulsion to look outward, rather than inward, for satisfaction.

The mind attaches itself to a “sense object,” an object of desire: food, sex, money, power, cars and clothes, etc, in the false belief this object will deliver satisfaction.

The experience of happiness that depends on an object will ultimately come to an end. True satisfaction, the state of Sattva in the mind, is content and unmoved by desire.

THALI. What is it?

The word thali comes from the word for the circular plate meals are served on. A thali is usually served at mid-day, and refers to a meal that contains all six tastes. A thali can change depending on the region of India it is served in, varying in accompaniments and degree of spice.

A thali will usually contain a folded chapatti (whole wheat flatbread), perhaps a papad, a crispy-fried, disc-shaped tortilla made of lentil flour, and a pile of basmati rice in the middle of the plate. This base is then surrounded by any number of small metal cups holding dal, cooked vegetable dishes, freshly made yogurt or buttermilk, perhaps a sweet such as rice pudding, and a spoonful of pickle right on the plate.

Everyday ayurveda Cooking for a Calm, Clear Mind has all the recipes you see in this pohoto and how to assemble them, with homemade lemon pickle, into a thali meal!

Having a few friends over and making an authentic thali together is an excellent way to enjoy Ayurvedic cooking!

STRAWBERRIES!

It’s that time for the light, sweet, sour, and astringent friend: the berry. Moisturize it, mineralize it, and enjoy it.

Cook them into a hot cereal, eat them to hydrate and refresh in the AM before the big foods. Eat berries instead of chips and coffees in the pre-dinner slump.

Maybe not so much the mixing into salads, as they do digest faster than all the roughage and will nourish you better on their own, or cooked along with other friendly foods.

If you’ve got choices, never forget to eat the berries when in season, as they will inevitably go out of season. Time is now!

Healthy Menstruation

Today’s online workshop we are going deep into the topic of healthy menstruation.

What does that even look like? Feel like?

Common imbalances and simple remedies.

The sooner we start taking care, the smoother it all goes, from fertility to menopause.

A beautiful description of Vesanta, the spring season from one of the Ayurveda texts.

This inspires me to take pleasure in the swelling waterways, the delicate sun and clouds, and the glory of the Earth springing forth!

May we celebrate her glory every day, in every season!

TURMERIC HONEY!

Honey is THE sweetener for springtime because it is dry, astringent, and scrapes the channels clean. Amazing stuff!

Better not to use it hot, according to Ayurveda texts, but mixing with turmeric and a crack of black pepper makes an excellent medicine for sore throats and warding off allergies and colds.

It’s my GO-TO when I think I'm coming down with something. I always get the sore throat first.

🌶 The chili

Is spring a good time for chili peppers. Well, they are sharp and dry which opposes the damp and cool spring weather nicely. They melt mucous and can speed up a sluggish gut, as well as aid circulation.

Thing is the chili is not a very moderate friend. It’s an all it nothing kind of thing. If we take the so often followed road of more-is-better we can end up in a pickle. The chili is strong medicine and can be enjoyed in small amounts in damp cool weather it doesn’t need to be taken daily.

My first spring in Maine I completely overdid it. Then dealt with aggravated heat in the summer in the form of PMS, skin blemishes, and the occasional night sweat. Ah, my friend the chili your medicinal powers are not to be underestimated! I will be more moderate this year 😇. Will reach for ginger and cumin instead.

SPRING BREAKFAST RECIPE ALERT!

What to do when oatmeal feels heavy?? I’ve got you! How about a baked grapefruit?

2 grapefruits, halved

1/2 tsp each turmeric and cinnamon

2 tsp raw honey (opt)

1. Set oven at 400. Place grapefruit halves in a baking dish, face-up.

2. Sprinkle with spices. Bake 15 minutes.

3. Serve warm with 1 teaspoon of raw honey drizzled on top of each.

Rtusandhi = climatic transition

Ayurveda describes a two-week period for this gradual transition, but honestly in New England, I find its more like a month of the old back-and-forth.

A spring “cleanse” doesn’t have to include dieting measures, but can be used more as a time set aside to observe, and flow with, this transition.  To take stock of habits, to recharge, to refresh.

Cravings change, and we notice. Our gravitation towards external activities and relationship to exercise are likely to shift. It’s a natural and beautiful thing to flow with the seasons, and we’ll be doing it together over a ten day period in the Spring Community Cleanse this April. Yay Ayurveda for teaching us how!

BARLEY!

BARLEY! Spring Food Favorite! This time of year, the tastes start changing. This month, I’ll be posting about some of those late winter/ early spring transition foods and how to use them.

Barley is a dry grain, but hearty when soaked and cooked well with plenty of water. It has a cleansing action on the bladder and uterus, and is a go-to for congestion. Find it hulled (with the indigestible husk removed) or “pearled” which means its been polished and had a lot of the bran removed. This makes it less fibrous, which can be a good move for Vata type guts (personally, I digest it better), and it does retain some insoluble fibers still. If you digest it well, go for hulled barley.

Soak overnight and boil with 4 parts water the next day and some digestive spices like ginger and cumin to make a spring kanjee like you see here.