In Ayurveda, rtucharya describes the cycle of the seasons. The word comes from the root rtu from the Vedic rtam, meaning “cosmic rhythm.” Within the great mandala of the yearly cycle, the Earth completes its orbit around the Sun, bringing cold and heat, dark and light, to our environment, including all creatures and our own [...]
“When I was a kid, our family used to watch Bonanza. I really liked having a Sunday night TV ritual.” —Anne Lamott My family’s TV ritual centered around Rowan and Martin’s Laugh-In on Monday nights. I learned a lot from this time spent together—about our values and our sense of humor. It helped define who [...]
The New Moon in Aquarius sets up the month of March to be an auspicious time to step up our service to the greater good. March 1 - 30 A new cycle of contribution and service begins with the New Moon in Aquarius. The next 30 days is an ideal time to focus [...]
“Within you there is a stillness and a sanctuary to which you can retreat at any time and be yourself.” —Hermann Hesse Life can often feel like an act of survival. It’s a hyper-connected, multi-tasking, texting-tweeting-downdogging-180-degree-latte kind of world, and it’s easy to get so caught up in the juggle that we forget we [...]
At the beginning of the month, plan for the Mercury retrograde cycle by getting your technological affairs in order. February 4 through March 26 Personal strength versus compromise with others will become an issue for more than a month, starting February 4 when Mars enters Libra, until March 25. Mars is the planet of [...]
From the internal archaeological dig that will characterize the final month of 2013 to the fresh beginnings starting with the New Moon on January 1, 2014, we have many opportunities to find harmony amidst contrast. December 2 Digging deeper into life’s mysteries, the dark side and the personal insecurities that arise will [...]
The Fukushima meltdown, and possible melt-through, is the largest ecological disaster of the last 6,000 years. From a yogic perspective, humanity’s asana, broadly interpreted as proper relation to the earth, has been disrupted. This disaster also reflects a collective lifestyle that is contrary to the principle of ahimsa. Yogic life is strongly guided by [...]
During this season of gratitude, we express appreciation for our loved ones and various aspects of our lives. If there's one thing to be the most thankful for in life, it's…drum roll, please… your digestive system! Why your digestive system? - Harnesses prana (nutrients from food) to keep you alive. - Affects every other system [...]
Diving into the inner depths to examine our convictions, clarity of communication, and inner courage helps us to cultivate the energy of purification that is active this month and then settle into knowing the strength of our own heart. November 3 A new and intense cycle of relating begins with the solar eclipse in Libra. [...]
In Ayurveda, vata is one of the three doshas, or organizational constituents that maintain homeostasis in the body. Vata dosha embodies the energy represented by the element of air and space (think wind). If you’ve experienced inspiration and the feeling of being swept away by the creative process, you’ve felt vata dosha at its best. [...]