Reasons & Season Spring Wood Element Survival Guide

Wood Element Survival Guide Ancient Healing Wisdom For Modern Urban Lifestyle Digital Interactive Platform

Reasons & Season Issue # 1 Spring Season Wood Element

Interactive Legend Look out for these words as clickable interactive links to take you into deeper knowledge wisdom & understanding

www.reasonsandseason.com

Contents Wood Element Knowledge........6-25

Listen In = Podcast

Learn More =

Video Education

Experience =

Participate

Deep Dive Podcasts How to Videos

Liver/Gallblader

Stress & Wood Element

Wei Qi

Anger The Emotion Of Spring

Three Treasures Of Spring

Simple Detox

Spring Practices.....................32-41 Featuring: Recipes Qi Gong Practices Dao Yin Yoga Plant Medicine

Dao Yin Wood Yinjas Practice

Qi Gong

Creativity...............................45-55

Seed Sorting Creative Ritual Essential Oils

Stone Medicine

Plant Spirit Medicine...............54-73 Burdock Dandelion Cleavers

Oregon Grape

Yellow Dock

Food As Medicine...................76-87

Taste Of Sour

Culinary Alchemist

Welcome to

Explore the wisdom traditions of ancestral knowledge and the pattern language of nature. A seasonal health guide for the modern urban individual interested in mastering rhythm and cultivating a creative lifestyle guided by the intelligence of nature.

Letter F rom T he Editor My name is Elzabieta, I have been involved in citizen journalism since the age of 12 and have published and created media though my life, everything from curriculums, multimedia art and design to street culture magazines, and the hosting and producing of a popular FM based radio program called Wellness Wednesdays for the last decade. I have a background in community health education for over 19 years and formal and ap prenticeship based training in BodyTalk, Classical Chinese medicine, Structural Integration, Somatic Therapy, Women’s and Children’s Health, Eastern and Western Herbalism, Qi Gong and Martial Arts I maintain a full time private practice specializing in the treatment of chronic pain and stress related disorders in Denver Colorado and teach locally and internationally.

I started this digital online platform and podcast because in all these years and growth into the expertise of integrative medicine I have learned that people are their own best doctors.

In the spirit of community health education, this is my contribution to provide this interactive platform tohelp people access knowledge and daily practice that are the underpinning of longevity and wellness. I have gathered a group of artists and creators to translate these messages through art, music, culture and creative genius.

Journey with me and my most cherished colleagues as we follow the 5 elements according to Classical Chinese Medicine tapping into ancient knowledge and pattern language to help you deepen your relationship to seasonal wellbeing through engagement, embodiment and deep dive dialogue on philosophy, art, science math and culture.

spiritually. It is the active daily relationship to practices like these that put you in the driver’s seat of your body’s own health and potential for growth. My hope is that you find empowerment in learning that you are your own best doctor and that you have direct control over your health and its ability to modulate all functions of growth, cre ativity and vitality in your life.

Now more than ever we are being given an opportunity to reevaluate our relationship to stress individually and culturally. As I write this note from my basement, under stay at home orders I can’t help but honor the time I have to sit and ref lect and redirect my energies for creativity.

I look forward to laying out and ref lecting on each of the seasons to come in this fashion and supporting your health and wellbeing through art, culture and creativity designed to inspire. Stay tuned for the seasons of Fire, Earth, Metal and Water to evolve later this year! This project is grassroots, basement produced, direct from the heart, soul fueled by before dawn qi gong, music in my headphones, lots of tea, those who believe in the vision, and a true labor of love…

The opportunity to redefine how I spend my daily energy has got me thinking alot about the things I have learned over the last 2 decades and the importance of daily connections to our bodies, minds and spirit. The lifestyle that creates a pathway to wellbeing, and how important the practic es of eating, moving, breathing and thinking have been in helping me achieve my dreams.

That is where this guide and podcast comes in, I created it as a ref lection of what seasonal health can look like when we follow the lead of nature.

The practices that we have laid out in the spring health guide give access to restorative exploration, that will over time, tonify and support the balance of the body physically, emotionally and

I want to give a special shout out to Growlove Art, Monti-Clevah, 2Be Healthy,, Elixir Witch, Bluearth Designs, Enshin Karate, my mom & daughters, all my clients & teachers through the years, and HipHop for making this work possible.

Please help us grow this concept by sharing with you friends and family, helping us build organically on social media and supporting the creation of a culture of wellness by practicing and celebrating health daily.

Love & Lig ht Elza

The three months of spring,

They denote effusion and spreading.

Heaven and earth together generate life;

The myriad beings flourish.

Go to rest late at night and rise early.

Move through the courtyard with long strides.

Dishevel the hair and relax the physical Appearance, thereby cause the mind

[To orient itself on] life.

Give life and do not kill. Give and do not take.

Reward and do not punish.

This is correspondence with the qi(energy) of spring and it is the way to nourish life.

Opposing it harms the liver.

In summer, this causes changes to cold, and there is little to support growth.

- Huang Di Nei Jing SuWen

Welcome to the Wood Element

The “Deep Dive” educational podcasts presented this season will connect you in the science and philosophy of the wood energies and help you along with this guide of practices and presses curated for spring, create a simple and powerful framework for living with the rhyme of this season.

We associate the wood element to its relationship with the liver Yin energies and the gallbladder Yang energies. These two organ systems work together to take care of planning, organizing, and catalyzing our energy forward for growth and development throughout the year.

Spring energies connect us to the wood element, which is association to the feelings of anger, frustration and positive feelings of patience, kindness and altruism The element of wood relates to a person’s benevolence and gratitude and their capacity to anchor to a good heart, and a positive outlook on life, which allows us to be progressive in nature. This guide will explore all of the depth and dynamic of this wood element, its associated energies, and how you can begin to embrace seasonal living with day to day practices lifestyle medicine.

The liver is such an important organ in the body, it is responsible for the movement of qi, and blood.

It stores the blood, works to filter the blood and has a dynamic relationship on how to move the blood while composing all these functions to set the tone of the energetics of the blood which help nourish our movement and direction in our daily lives, and on our life path. It has a big job of detoxifying, and is very sensitive to the energy of stress. Our livers tend to be pushed into excess and are working on overdrive due to our wester

Cultures of stress and the toxicity we are exposed to on a daily basis. It is important in the season of spring we invite in gentle detoxification processes and proper rest to set the tone of the livers health for the year to come. The liver produces bile which helps us to support digestion and synthesizing of the day to day energies we come in contact with.

And it is responsible for storing up energy, that becomes the potential for movement and direction in our life.

The Liver needs to have a freedom and openness and flexibility to help circulate the qi and blood in the 12 meridians so that it can do the job of processing planning and organizing all of the biophysical processes of the body. In Chinese medicine, it is known as the general and is the one in charge of giving direction and moving forward.

In this seasonal health guide we will explore different practices, physically and energetically as well as through food and tool that will help support the energetics of the liver and set a healthy framework for the year.

The gallbladder energy is related to the yang system of the wood element and works to take the bile that the liver stores and hold it until we are ready to release and begin synthesizing and processing to the support of digestion of nutrients and experiences. The gallbladder in a sense, is responsible for catalyzing the directed movement of the liver, helping us to make decisions and create change in our lives.

It is dynamically affected by patterns of over, indulgence, and when it gets blocked we have a difficult time making clear decisions and moving the abundant energy of chi towards proper direction. We can help support this energy by learning to live with frustration and weeding out the things that are stifling our growth. These two organs work together in harmony and are highlighted in the spring season, but are working year round to support the daily biophysical processes

and supporting digestion and direction of the body.

The wood element is associated to the emotional state of anger, which brings us in contact with our ability to stand up for ourselves and stay on our path and move forward. Wood rules the sense of sight, which helps us to have vision, so that we can see our path forward, and is connected to the consciousness of the ethereal soul, which exists through the actions of us embodying our karmic connection to our deepest levels of expression and the transmutation of our creative potential generations past and generations to come.

We look forward to moving through the journey of wellbeing, purpose and direction with you through this Wood Element Seasonal health guide. Please enjoy and share these practice with you friends in the spirit of the virtue of kindness and spring growth.

Listen in

Wood Element 101 With Dr. Janet Galipo

Stress & The Wood Element

It is common knowledge that stress is biologically unsustainable and any organism that is enduring consistent stress will ultimately have to adapt.

Adaptation allocates specific resources used for healing and repair to those adaptive functions, which can hinder the function of the system’s integrity, or capacity for harmony.

One of the interesting things about stress is that its damaging impact is directly related to our perception of the experience of the stress. If we see the stress as difficult or impacting us in a negative way this perception will actually create physiological changes and adaptations that go along with that belief, causing breakdowns in our system. If we are able to endure and see stress as a beneficial source of motivation, change or a responsive trigger helping us to grow and adapt, our body will then respond to that stress by offering the resources needed to overcome and master the stressful state.

Oftentimes the perception around stress or something being stressful has to do with us feeling frustrated or like we are not able to express ourselves or move in the direction that we would like. It could be that there’s a barrier in our lives or there is resistance from the people around us or we feel violated or oppressed by the systems that we exist in, leading us to feel stuck or stagnated. These experiences will be naturally highlighted in the spring, where are we restricted from growing internally and externally.

All of this relates back to the bio-energetics of the liver gallbladder wood element, which is responsible for how we plan and organize our lives and how we motivate and move on our path, and maintain that path as we integrate with other people, places and experiences in our life. No matter what, we will always come into conflict, or we may be faced with resistance in our environment or our experiences, but it is the liver gall bladder energy’s connection to our purpose and center that gives us the capacity to maintain a vision of our direction forward. Wood energies, when nourished and balanced, allow us to be flexible in facing the different challenges that come up as we walk our path.

When we’re not integrated or balanced in this wood energy, we can easily be knocked off the path, be resistant to walking that path, or even find that we can’t embrace the purposeful directional energies. The theme of the emotional state of the spring is anger which helps us stay on our course and have the motivation we need to stand up for ourselves and be assertive.

When this emotional state of anger is out of balance it can turn into inward resentments or outward as explosive shouting or abusive language and behavior towards that which seems to stand in our path. It is the virtue of spring to learn to live with the motivating and moving force of anger and be kind to ourselves as we have the courage to walk our paths and be kind to others along the way.

Stress can easily be associated with the emotion of frustration which is simply stuck anger that doesn’t have a pathway to move forward. It can lead to other kinds of stagnation, self medication and/or overindulgence; the inability to feel like we can move forward.

The liver is very sensitive to the experience of biological and psychological stress. The impact of this stress has a direct affect on the functions and the intelligence of the liver to do all its important jobs in the body like filtering and energizing our blood, detoxifying and storing and producing energetic movement. Springtime is a great season to redefine our relationship to the different stressors in our life and start to plan and organize new ways of interfacing our life. Setting up structures and habits during the spring time will keep us in harmony with the different challenges and growth points we engage in on a day to day basis. This will help set the path of the liver straight so it can do its job.

Biologically, stress pushes our nervous system into what we call sympathetic nerve supply. The nervous system has two primary modes of operation, parasympathetic and sympathetic.

When we are in parasympathetic nerve supply this is where our growth and healing begins to happen. This is a space that is required for healthy balance and normal function and is a state of being that our body needs to achieve on a daily basis. Typically, we achieve this through the restful periods of our day and in our sleep throughout the night. Parasympathetic nerve supply is where digestion happens, cellular repairs happen and tissue repair happens. It increases the body’s capacity to process and move through experiences, so that we can evolve and step into the next experience equipped with the energy we need to grow.

Sympathetic nerve supply is when we are ”sympathizing” with something in our environment. Some sort of stimulation that we can touch, taste, smell, hear or see pushes our nervous system into a place where our body begins to react and use up energy in response. It’s necessary for us to go into this mode so that we are able to interact and interface with the world around us and be engaged with stimulus. However, the problem

with our modern society and cultural standards is that we tend to live with generalized perceptions about stress and lead stressful lives that cause breakdowns and keep us activating our sympathetic nerve supply leading to living life on overdrive.

We have culturally created a malfunction in our nervous system’s capacity to shift in a harmonic way between parasympathetic and sympathetic. We’ve learned how to keep going and forgotten the art of shutting down into growth and healing mode.

Over my years of clinical practice I have learned that it is vitally important that we learn activities and restorative practices that help tone our nervous system so we can move naturally between these two states of being. I have noticed that my patients who have a relationship to restoration are the ones who have access to deeper layers of healing and growth.

I also have learned personally that my busy life requires equal restoration and internal time for active and passive growth. This includes daily martial arts, qi gong and yin yoga, early bedtimes, nourishing healthy seasonal food and daily tea and meditative reflection time. The one part I was missing in that formula was creativity. This time alone at home has reconnected me to my creativity.

The stay at home order is the only reason why you are reading this now and why I have curated this seasonal health guide to offer you a framework for reconnecting to your own nature and balance in life.

We need to have a harmony between yin, restorative healing, and yang, active doing. This is the base philosophy of Classical Chinese Medicine and Taoist lifestyle practices. When we are stuck in a sympathetic nervous system response or yang doing, our biophysical processes are essentially hijacked. Yes, we need these states to grow, create and thrive, but we also need to learn not to get stuck in them.

When we are in sympathetic nervous system activation our muscles tense for action, especially the neck and shoulders, glucose is released to the muscles so that we can fight or flight if necessary, digestion either slows or ceases, pupils dilate, breathing becomes shallow and our heart rate increases. If you think about this nervous system state and being stuck perpetually in this state, you can recognize where stress and the malfunctioning of the nervous system is directly related to chronic disease and illness. It is a no brain-er.

Here are a few of the associated disorders directly related to being stuck in sympathetic nerve supply which will give you a very deep perspective on the importance of why it is crucial to adopt different practices that reclaim the function and the Intelligence of our nervous system:

Depression & Anxiety Irritable bowel syndrome Colds, viruses and infections Heart disease Infertility Diabetes Insomnia Circulation issues Asthma Headaches Obesity Premature death & aging

Experience Experience this simple Energy Medicine Technique that will help your nervous system return to balance after encountering acute or chronic stress. This BodyTalk Cortices technique is a powerful and effective way to shift out of sympathetic or fight or flight mode into parasympathetic growth and healing.

With repeat application this balancing over time will help support tone and harmony in your body-mind and lead to a more connected and efficient nervous system. We recommend doing this technique at least once a day as a reset to support stress management, overall body mind connectivity and wellbeing.

Benefits include: • Increased Relaxation • Improved Focus • Reeducation of Pain And Tension • Overall Clarity • Sense Of Peace And Harmony

Wei Qi:

The Qi Of Protection And Synthesis

become damaged. The cultivation of the wei qi is achieved through different breath and standing practices known as qi gong and active impact conditioning training that increases the integrity, and span of this energy.

It is important that this qi does not get damaged or disrupted because it keeps the outer protective layer of the body intact so that we don’t have pathogens or harmful environmental factors entering into the body.

Wei Qi energy is a specialized type of qi that works to support, and create a protective shield of energy that runs on the surface, as well as the inside of the body and under the skin. The wei qi energy helps to protect us from climate influences, including dryness, dampness, wind heat and cold. It also protects us from other people’s emotions, electromagnetic fields, and physical damage. Along with its role in protection, it has a function in synthesizing information that we interact and interface with in the environment on a day to day basis.

Wei Qi is supported and nourished by the deeper source qi within us as well as the energy that we cultivate from the proper diet and nutriments we take in. The quality of the vital energy of the breath that is processed by the lungs also supports the wei qi. There are many types of qi working to keep the body happy and whole that all relate and work in different dynamics together.

This particular qi has an important role in function of the immune system and sets up the first layer of defense in immune response, creating a natural barrier to invasive factors. Essentially, the wei qi is like an energetic skin or bubble that repels any kind of invasion, that might be impacting the body. In martial arts it is this qi that is cultivated to withstand any kind of impact so the body does not

The wei qi is also responsible for synthesizing information.

As we move through our daily lives, it picks up the experiences that we interact with and engage with. At the end of the day All this information from the day sinks into the body, as we get ready to retire, This is how our body processes life, as the day finishes the gallbladder channel picks up the information and relays it through the body. When you lay down to rest at the end of the day you may notice you get a little bit cooler in your body and may need a blanket or cover.

This happens because the wei qi energy and its active defense energy is relaxing, so that it can shift into processing mode.

It is a good idea to go to sleep before 11pm, and be sound asleep during gallbladder time of 11pm-1am so that this channel has the freedom to do its job of synthesizing the day to help the body store life experiences as wisdom.

If we are backlogged on this synthesis process we have a can difficult time learning our lessons and embodying change through our experiences. This is where we start to see our habits and patterns, being repeated and not having the capacity to move on to the next step of our life. This could be due to stress and over activity in the nervous system, making it difficult for us to get into a rest, or healing mode or other deeper belief systems, trauma and psychological resistance to processing our experiences.

Wei Qi: Protective Shield Expels Pathogens Blocks Invaders First Line Defense

energy that is inside the body can permeate and release into the exterior and vice versa.

All of these different functions are vital to immunity and defensive layers of the body, and how the body supports the release of external pathogenic factors and its protection against them. It is the qi that helps the immune system, respond and react accordingly though its boundaries; and as the first level of defense keeping pathogens from penetrating through the deeper aspects of the physical body tissues.

It is important that the foundational energy systems of our body, as well as the fuel that is built from our food, and our breath is stable on a day to day basis, so that the wei qi has the resources it needs to do its job on defending and protecting against exterior insult.

If we’re not asleep during this time of the day and we’re up doing things we are bringing new information and new experiences into the body while it is trying to catch up on the other parts of the day, this also can create a backlog affecting the synthesis process. There’s a natural design to the wakeful and restful hours of the sleep that run, based on the circadian rhythm, when we challenge those rhythms, it can create backlogs in the function and the intelligence of our system to process and do its work.

The wei qi is connected to the wood element and also has a dynamic relationship to the lungs or metal element.

The lungs are responsible for taking wei qi and sending it through the body fluids, and helping it to process between the areas of the muscle and the skin, creating this protective layer of integration. The liver and gallbladder have the responsibility of dispersing it through body fluids outside of the body. Wood energies do this by initiating the opening and closing of pores, so that the sweat and the

This Qi also gives us a dynamic relationship to how we hold our bodies in space and our physical and energetic awareness of what is around us. It helps us to navigate through space without stumbling or tripping upon different blocks or barriers in our path. And it helps us to sense danger or stay stable during impact or influence. Strongly cultivated wei qi will help us have a deep energetic sensitivity to physical and subtle aspects of our environment and will also help keep us stable and healthy against external invading factors.

It is the energy that is cultivated in this synthesized and protective framework of the outer body we can navigate our space within space. Processes that deeply cultivate the wei qi include bone breathing and drumming, qi gong, external hardening or conditioning drills, as well as the simple act of being naked, which naturally increases the energetic barrier of the body, as there are no clothes to assist in this process.

Bone Breathing Preparation: • Settle into physical stillness of a standing or seated posture • Practice Distancing time breath (click here to learn) • Anchor this stillness & breath together for several minutes.

Bone Breathing: 1. On the inhale concentrate breath into the bones with very gentle awareness, no force.

2. On the exhale further condense awareness into the bones as if you were sealing your willpower inside.

Experience

This practice generates strong bone marrow and abundant energy that should be directed towards purposeful action. Avoid practicing before bed or if it its too cold or windy.

Anger:

The Emotion Of Spring

Each season has an emotion associated with it. The emotion helps to energize the qualities of movement and direction that season engages in. Mind body connection is beautifully illustrated through understanding the basic emotions and their roles and influences in the body.

Each emotion has an organ system that processes it and tissues that typically store them. The emotions all impact the body’s substances supporting physiological harmony and processes in the body’s day to day function. There is a poetic, natural order to this process as taught in Taoist philosophy and we can get a deep understanding through Chinese Medicine about the natural and dysfunctional roles of emotions in our health and psychological growth.

Emotional states can be cultivated and experienced in a natural, balanced expression providing us with connection to their positive qualities, while supporting movement in the body and growth in the spirit. This activates learning and leads to maturation. The quality of our emotional health directly relates to the richness of our experience. Through our intellectual and creative pursuits, and the deeper intimacy of sharing our emotions in relationship, we grow. Emotions can be expressed as pathological where their energetics get blocked and create disruptions in our system.

These blockages have a dynamic relationship to the underpinnings of disease. This disruption can happen as a result of trauma and learned or inherited conditioning centered around our expression and experiences in life.

Anger is the force of energy that gives the potential within the seed its capacity to break through the shell and grow towards the sun’s light. It’s the directional energy that puts things into action. Natural, expressed anger helps us move.

You can see the relationship of anger to the wood element through its connection to the muscular skeletal system. Wood element rules

the ligaments and tendons and our flexibility. It is the quality of beginning expansion and direction energies that initiate movement through these tissues. When we move with purpose (wood yang) from a properly designed container (wood yin), it gives rise to freedom of expression and ease in walking our path.

The expanding qi that is surfacing in the spring season works to initiate movement and direction throughout gross physical movement patterns.

The liver rules the movement of qi.

The ligaments and tendons give a physical structure and flexibility to the body which determines the quality of its movement. Anger also gives direction connecting to our purpose, helping us to tap into vision and know where we’re going and what actions to take.

Anger is a catalyst for change that helps us stand up for ourselves and create healthy boundaries in our lives and relationships. Anger thrives best in free flowing movement and flexibility of the body. This is why movement and regenerative practices to wake up the physical body are so wonderful in spring as this energy is highlighted and needs a place to go!

When anger becomes pathological it can become stuck and turned inward showing up as resentment and frustration. Often, when people have felt held back on their path or stifled in bringing their creative expression out into the world or they haven’t taken action they know they need to take, they become pathologically angry.

There’s another important aspect of anger’s energy that is crucial to understand for emotional health. This aspect has to do with our boundaries being violated. When people go against our path, or challenge or block our path holding us back, we can become frustrated or angry as well. It is important to utilize communication to help support the processing of this emotion so that you can use it to create change and/ or remove blocks and open to living with kindness towards yourself and others.

In its excessive state, liver anger can become explosive and have damaging impacts on the environment around us through angry actions or aggressive tones of communication. We can easily attempt to violate or control others with our anger when we get too set in our ways or become inflexible or inconsiderate. Emotions, when in excess, can impede our spirits’ evolution and steal valuable energy reserves from our body’s systems intended to fuel and feed the body.

Bio energetically, the emotions help us to mature through interrelationship with the world and they can help us open up to the creative process in a harmonic way. The proper expression of emotions in the right timing of action and movement set the tone for day to day growth and development psychologically and physically.

Emotions move the substances within the body. I like to think of breaking down the word emotion to (E) energy, in motion, E-Motion. The bodily substances influenced by emotion include blood, qi, essence, spirit, and the fluids required for day to day function and repair. Anger has a close relationship to the movement of the blood and qi, tapping into these vital substances and organizing the way the body utilizes them.

When anger is excessive in the body,

it can lead to the qi of the liver rising up towards the head creating hot headed tempers that can lead to explosive behavior or pressure in the upper region of the body. This upward energy in the head can lead to headaches and tension as well as pain in this region.

Anger that is stagnated or not processed can show up in the body as blood stagnation or qi stagnation, which will increase pain in the body and impart sluggish movement energetically and physically.

Over and over through many years of clinical study, I’ve seen the manifestation of un-actualized potential and frustration setting in the underpinning of blood and qi stagnation of the liver. This long term disconnection from purpose and the inability to move towards our purpose can have devastating impacts on health. We can think of the vehicle of the body as the one container that we have to express the self while on this earthly plane; a gift to house the uniqueness and fullness of our spirit. When we set up the fuel system to run that container, we program our blood, qi and essence to fuel the vehicle.

Our purpose is like the guiding system or map towards the fulfillment of our journey. How we spend the energy of

the body and experience the fulfilling of our own unique destiny has a direct relationship to health. When we don’t have a guiding system or are disconnected from purpose our fuel gets used up on lives that are unfulfilling and unsatisfying. This can have varying patterns of chaotic impact on the body; from pain syndromes to infertility to hormonal issues to metabolic dysfunction.

Mind body medicine is a powerful way to tap into your body’s unique adaptations and discover where you have been disconnected from your path and how you can recalibrate the inner alchemy and substance of your body to set up conditions for health.

Mastering your emotions and learning about how they impact the body’s systems is a great first step toward discovering how your body and spirit work together. It’s important that we have a framework to tap into the great power of this directional anger energy this spring season and learn to mature and grow with its potential, so we can utilize it for actualization and fulfillment in our lives.

DO’s

Anger Expression

Throw or break things

Take a brisk walk to move its energy

Speak up when boundaries are crossed & respect others boundaries Live and let live Be kind in asserting yourself Act on your visions.

Wait until things cool off Shout in nature Check in on the source of anger, and how it aligns to your personal values Find motivation feeling anger Rise up, despite oppression

DONT’s

Shout at your friends, neighbors or family Force your way Be overbearing or mean Keep your dreams on the back burner Explode or react when things get heated Verbally or physically abused friends, family, neighbors Suppress to being controlled Blame others

Chaos Mathematics For the Soul The term “chaos” is a way to describe a system that has no discernible patterns or control mechanisms. In order for a system to be susceptible to chaos it has to be sensitive to a specific set of initial conditions so that changes to those conditions have unpredictable results. Topological transitivity is a term that says that once part of a system has entered a chaotic state the entire system is prone to chaos.

I believe the human experience is an example of a system that is prone to that chaos. If a person experiences one small trauma, one little perturbation in the perfect set of initial conditions, the human existence tends toward chaos. I think we have an innate guidance system that is always attempting to guide us back to center or purpose or health, as it were, and I think now is the time to master the use of that guidance system. By building healthy habits and daily practices we instill a resilience to the human experience that helps us overcome the inevitable chaos of life and return to ground zero.

Water Generates Wood:

The reserve foundation, power and will of the water element nourishes purpose and direction of the growth and movement of wood.

Wood Gives Rise To Fire:

The structure and direction of wood fuels the passion of expression shared in the passions and connection of the fire element.

Earth Holds Wood:

The terrain and “soil’ of the body tissues feeds and stabilizes the roots of wood though stillness, inner trust and nutrients.

Metal Cuts Back Wood:

The blade prunes and shapes the direction of wood disposing of waste and dead material while dispersing resistance and excess through the breath.

San Baio

The Three Treasures

The three treasures philosophy of San Baio looks at the dynamic relationship of the underpinning of the foundational substances that support our body’s growth throughout our life, These three substances include the treasure of Jing, the treasure of Qi and the treasure of Shen. Each of them has unique characteristics that enhance our body systems and support maturation and growth on a daily basis, and throughout life. Taoist philosophy teaches us lifestyle practices that support the proper cultivation, preservation and enhanced functional intelligence of these three substances.

These substances are the underpinnings of our existence and vital to our capacity for well being and living a thriving life.

They work together dynamically to create a foundation of triangular support, and integrity throughout the body system. The triangle is the most stable foundational geometric shape. I like to think these three treasures together form the stability of the body creating a triangle of function and intelligence.

The treasured Jing relates to our foundational energy that is gifted to us from our parents, through our genetics, it is known as the underpinning of our existence, or our essence. This Jing energy is

Determined at the moment of conception and sup ports the nourishment of our body throughout our life, helping us to have the resources we need to grow and mature through the long cycles of physical maturation of the body. It is deeply related to the reproductive system and our fertile capacity as it is the gift that we in turn pass on into the world through our children, or our creations that exists outside of us. The jing rules, the energies of the bones, the bone marrow. It is a dense, thick f luid.

If we were to liken it to our energetic bank account of the body, it is like the estate, we want to pre serve it and keeps its value and integrity so we can pass it down through generations The treasure Qi is related to our vital life force energy. It is a very important body substance that splits and dynamically shifts into multiple different expressions that support the day to day growth, development and healing of the body. The qi is what makes up your body’s ability to heal and balance itself, as well as the intelligence of the immune system and its relationship to our growth and repair on a daily basis.

The Shen has to do with the functional intelligence and consciousness of our emotional potentials and qualities of expressions within the intellect. It relates to the five main emotions, which include anger, joy/ sadness, thinking, grief and fear. It allows for us the opportunity to engage the intellect into dynamic thinking and expression, through the arts, philosophy, and the capacity to ponder existence. It relates to our interplay with the world around us through relationships, creativity and expression. It is known as the substance of the spirit and relates to the different levels of maturation and growth of our spiritual intelligence, through the phases of our lives.

The San Baio philosophy teaches practitioners and individuals, how to engage with these treasures and support them through different lifestyle practices as well as energetic activation through acupuncture acupressure and treatment direction to support the underpinning of health and well being on all levels. The San Baio Course is appropriate for any kind of health care professional wanting to deepen their understanding of Classical Chinese medicine and treatment approach as well as for individuals interested in the self healing potential of lifestyle and energetic medicine.

With Nancy Warner MD Nancy Werner received her first degree in humanities, and pursued medical studies later, devoting her attention to behavioral and mind-body health.

After graduating as a General Practitioner from Venezuela’s Central University, she worked in public health and Mind Body Medicine.

Nancy is the Author along with Dr. Janet Galipo of the San Baio Course on Taoist philosophy and clinical application of acupuncture point theory. She lives in Mexico City and enjoys a daily practice in art and clinical healthcare.

Dr Nancy Says: Spring is a wonderful time to head into your acupuncturist or energy medicine provider for a tune up to help the body move and adjust with the changing season. The equinoxes represent wheels of change though the seasons and provide us opportunities to tap into our energy systems dynamics. Healing sessions in the spring time help us “nip issues in the bud” so that they don’t come to fruition or manifest through the year putting us on the right course of action.

Click To Learn More About acupressure points for harmonizing spring energy

Balancing The Three Treasures: Spring Season Jing is strongly connected to the water element so our strategy here is to support the water flowing again by addressing the water element points of the energy system. Assuring that our biological clock is harmonized to the rising sun and our sleep is toned down to an earlier rest time can also support the transfer of these reserve water energies into the dynamic movement of the spring wood energies. Restful sleep during this time supports the wood energies that run between 11pm-3am. If you have nourished your treasures properly over the winter you will have access to the well of water to nourish and move with the wood energies of direction. Dr. Nancy recommends Spleen Six as a powerful Jing Point as it supports the wood’s resting time of winter and dynamic phase in moving and flowing in spring, nourishing its qualities to be balanced.

Spring is all about Qi and its emerging movement from the depths of contraction over the winter. The energy is coming up towards the surface and creating a natural tendency towards beginning expansion into fresh ideas and new growth. During this time of year it is important to renew commitment to movement practices that increase flexibility and ease. The movement is generated in the environment through the budding trees and fresh leaves that blow in the spring winds.

Our inner terrain is expanding and so is our expression. One of my favorite Qi points for directly balancing the activity of the liver and wood element is Liver 3 which helps to regulate the energies of the liver and keep our movement balanced as we begin to expand and direct new growth. It also keeps us in check to assure our movement is calculated and timed with precision or right action.

The shen tone of spring is Anger. Anger is the force that moves us into appropriate productive action.

Spring time helps us engage with its relationship to Qi and movement. It is important to channel frustration, to take action in appropriate manners by tending to things that we have not completed. You can think of weeding the garden beds, or negative thoughts and patterns left over from last year so we can tap into this energy for new growth. DanZaong CV 17 is a powerful point to massage or stimulate a few times a day to settle and center the self during the active and creative energies of the spring. This point will help calm the desire to act on all the stimulus and impulses. We need to give a course to the expression of energy and have a deeper awareness of what we are spending our energies on. Staying centered during a growth phase will help us chart our course and actions appropriately.

A letter from the San Baio co-authors Janet Galipo, D.O.M., and Nancy Werner, M. D.:

A number of our colleagues, students, and clients in Energetic Healing have asked about our streamlined approach to patients with chronic conditions. This concise way of working often assists an otherwise “stuck” patient to move to the next level of wellness or therapy, and can be easily spliced into a larger treatment plan without risk of side-effects.

In response to this interest, we have prepared a 3-day training called “San Baio” – Unlocking the Three Treasures of the Chinese Wisdom Tradition. Our insights issue from our combined years of experience with the basic principles of San Baio – to which of course we were introduced during our own student days. However, we have adapted the older values to the third millennium, and the contemporary environment of Westerners.

Class Focus In this training we address the 3 fundamental aspects (“San Baio”) of human health: 1. Essence (“Jing”), 2. Energy (“Qi”), and 3. Consciousness (“shen”).

The interaction of this triad forms the fundamental basis of well-being. In unlocking the Treasures, we have chosen a treatment scheme that employs 3 sets of body-point geometries, one simple set for each of the Treasures. Our goal is to make this material accessible to different kinds of therapists, and even the interested lay public. To activate these point geometries, we are sharing a number of non-invasive yet effective tools that will substitute effectively for the traditional approach of needling. The points we have elected to work with correspond to standard acupuncture placements and can be easily referenced from a number of sources.

They can quickly be learned by non-acupuncturists!

Simple Spring Detox Steps

Try These Simple 5 steps For 2 weeks

Step 1: Decrease the amount work your liver needs to do needs to do: decrease alcohol, choose organic and unprocessed when possible, limit caffeine.

“Spring is the perfect time to support your body’s natural ability to detoxify.

The good news is you don’t have to get exotic ingredients or spend a lot of money on supplements. Most folks will feel noticeably better just doing the basics.”

Simple food based lifestyle practices for detox by Nautropathic Physician Dr. Caitlin O’Conner

Step 2: Eat greens! I recommend that most of my patients get 2-3 cups of leafy greens most days of the week. Raw or cooked, a rotating variety.

You will get great fiber to feed your microbiome and nutrients to support the liver.

Step 3:

Step 4:

Drink fluids - water, herbal or green tea. A good goal is 1/2 your body weight in ounces daily. Add a bit more if doing sweaty exercise. Bonus points for adding lemon to your water - it stimulates digestion.

Give your gut a break - fast for at least 12 hours every night. It is pretty easy, for example - eat dinner by 8pm and then breakfast then next day at 8 am.

Step 5: Sweat! Skin is a significant organ of detoxification - try to break a sweat most days a week through exercise or sauna.

Dao Yin

The Art Of Transformation

ing qi that is moving and directing in us. During our spring practice we have a powerful lesson to learn in how to harness and direct the energy of qi towards growth, personal evolution and healing.

The history of Dao Yin yoga finds itself in the prac tices of Classical Chinese Medicine and martial arts. These practices date back to ancient times and were utilized as resources to help practitioners be able to move energy more effectively through their bodies and increase power, strength and stability. It provides the practitioner with a more refined inner sense of equanimity and peace.

The first transformation of the practice is that of cultivation of stillness. This is the physical aspect of the shape. The shape provides us access to the different lines of energy and is a physical container of how those lines of energy move through the body. The shape helps us to interface with gravity in a way that challenges barriers and blocks on the physical level.

The first transformation allows us to set up a physical container so that we can begin to dissolve those barriers and blocks and explore more material space in the body. It is important in this practice that we set up the physical conditions that invite the edge of sensation of these barriers to feel supported by the earth underneath us. We utilize different props to bring the earth or ground closer to us so that we may maintain this physical stillness and shape over a period of time. This stillness is the container that physically gives us access to the second and third transformations. It is in the physical container of the shape that we transform the structures of the body and learn to cultivate the inner terrain.

Each of the yin practices has three different transformations that move through the physical, energetic and breath aspects of the body. These processes lead to increased f lexibility and ease of movement.

The transformations also support space and expansion through all of the joint systems and release physical tension or blocks in the fascia that may be impeding the energetic f low through the meridians of the body.

Psychologically, the capacity to stay with the shapes while transforming physical and emotional tension allows for more harmony of the mind and the emo tional body while teaching us how to distance ourselves from our tension patterns. This bleeds over into everyday life providing us a physical and energetic framework for interfacing with the world in a more balanced way. It also activates the power of self healing.

There is a special spotlight on the yin practice in the spring season as the wood element rules the ligaments and tendons as well as our f lexibility. This time of year also spotlights the energy of awaken-

The second transformation Of the yin practice is that of awareness. Once we have set up the physical container, the breath begins to naturally emerge and we deepen the connection to what is happening in the physical body through stillness by observing with the breath. It is in the second transformation that the depth and quality of the breath begin to move through the physical shape, identifying physical and psychological blocks and barriers.

As we cultivate a deep length In our breath, gentle pauses of stillness between breath unlock the po tential of the transformation. The breath not only allows us to observe what’s happening within us, but enhances our ability to create change through the whole body system. The power of the breath and the quality of the breath is one of the most important resources in our lives. With it, we can learn to deep en and engage unlimited levels of intimacy with the self.

The yin practice helps us cultivate breath and in turn enhances how we show up in ourselves and in the world around us. This practice is special in the sense that it gives us access to energetic pathways in the inner terrain and allows us to deeply familiarize ourselves with what’s happening internally. Often in Western cultures we become very disconnected from our breath. Our breath becomes adapted to trauma or stress; and through these adaptations we begin to disassociate from parts of our body and mind inviting fragmentation and disconnect. This practice allows us to rewrite and master the potential of the breath moving us into the third transformation, which is inviting the breath into restriction or barriers to create change.

The breath is our single most available tool that we have Immediate access to at any given moment to enhance presence, awareness & connectivity

The third transformation Of the practice is that of change. It’s the capacity of the breath to transmute energetic blocks and physical tension. We take the awareness of the breath that we learn in the second transformation, and we invite it into the potential of change by directing the breath into the areas that require assistance. We utilize the depth and quality of the breath to be able to explore different ways of opening, lengthening and ultimately expanding in all directions. This not only transforms the material terrain of the body, but it deepens our capacity to feel and expand our energy body, internally and externally into space. It is in this transformation that we invite ourselves to explore the universe of potential within the self and how that potential extends and expresses back into the universe. This is where we really learn to start living in the fullness of ourselves and begin to offer our gifts of expression to the world which also allows us to take in the support and nourishment of the world.

This practice is appropriate for everyone; all ages and all levels of health. It is something that can be used during injury or illness to enhance performance and engage deeper will and strength through opening the channels for expression of the body. The Dao Yin practice teaches us to be patient with ourselves and to open to all of our potential.

Spring Wood Dao Yin Practice

This Yinjas practice guide is designed to support transforming the cultivation of our Yin winter energies into new vision for the spring rebirth. The art of Dao Yin is taught by Enshin Karate Vice Grandmaster Mike Ninomiya who has made Mind Body discipline in his life for over 35 years. A retired four time world champion of martial arts Mike has explored martial arts as the pursuit of self awareness. Having taught martial arts and meditation internationally to people ages two to 94 years old. Born into a family of martial artists, whose father is a living legend in Asia, known as the modern day Miyamoto Musashi, the sword of Japan, Mike has shared his passion with a following of over 90 schools around the world.

Listen in

To Explore The Virtue Of Spring

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Lesson 1

Lesson 2

Physical Distancing

Distancing Time

• • • •

Equanimity Gain Clarity Find Stillness Release Tension

• • • •

Sensitivity Find Inner Silence Awaken Awareness Release Static & Stress

This Dao Yin Practice targets the Liver & Gallbladder channels supporting f low & release through these body systems to create spring wellbeing, creativity, vision and connecting to deeper purpose

• • • •

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Lesson 3

Lesson 4

Lesson 5

Dragonfly

Shoelace

Banana

Liver Channel Soothes Blood Calm Anger Increase Movement

• • • •

Gallbaldder Open Glutes Release Frustration Increase Movement

• • • • •

Increaase Synthesis Boost Wei Qi Support Gallbladder Open Side Body

Experience

Qi Gong The Art Of Living I first studied and discovered Qi gong many years ago at the beginning of my journey and training in energy medicine and manual therapy. My bodywork teacher introduced our class to Tai Chi practice to help our physical bodies learn how to set up structure and container to move energy while doing healing work. My initial lesson was the simple practice of rooted awareness through all parts of the feet and the experience of how to bring the energy of the earth into connection with my body through a subtle knee circling practice, over 12 years later I still benefit from this simple exercise and learn something new each time I practice.

I was taught how to set up the energetic and physical system of my body to become what my teacher called a waveform generator. Immediately I felt tangible body responses and subtle sensations of energy moving through my body and activating

every part of my being.

The slow gentle postures and movements helped support a deepened awareness of the internal aspects of my physical body, and how my breath was able to move and interact with the movement of my body.

Breath by breath practice by practice, there is a never ending journey that begins the deep learning on how the landscape of my body and my mind work together. I have studied Wu Dang style Qigong practices for healing and inner alche my and have developed a pro found intimacy connecting to a daily practice and spiritual relationship to this art. Tai Chi, Qi Gong, and Martial Arts has taught me to take the energetic space of my body and express it through my physical body in a more active and impactful way, in turn helping me condition the strength and the structures of my body.

The space I have learned to set up for my mental, physical and emotional growth through the qi gong practice has been the underpinning of my daily health and wellness routine; and one

of the most profound resources that I’ve ever come into contact with for healing.

The practice of qi gong sup ports the depth and quality of the breath to move through the body efficiently, creating aware ness and sending information to and from the nervous system.

It helps to clarify barriers and blocks through dissolving de bris and resistance, physically, mentally and emotionally, the discipline and practice provides a space for not only internal inventory, but also learning how powerful the breath is in its capacity to create change in the body Learning how to generate energy and connect to the available energy of the universe provides access to inner alchemy that can be used for healing, creation, repair and destruction. All these forces are necessary for the directional energy of our lives and growth patterns. When we tap into this framework for energy generation it has the potential to spark synthesis and synchro nization in our lives creating ease and expression on our paths.

Qi gong is a powerful practice for mental and emotional health by helping us to distance ourselves from the force of unchecked emotions and from belief systems and attitudes that take up valuable space in our consciousness that can hold us back. The practice is a powerful place to go internally to support processing emotions and experiences. The simple process of combining breath and movement with intention had been used for centuries for healing and transformation. It is a place each individual has a choice every moment to cultivate and immediate access to setting up a practice to focus on this art. All it takes is a little bit of time each day and a space to connect to your body.

Qi gong can help teach us how to maintain and develop healthy boundaries and create a well of reserve energy that allows us to direct and create internally and externally. It supports a deepened physical capacity for space holding for ourselves and the ability to transfer energy. I find it makes me better at giving and receiving in balance and not taking on other peoples “stuff” or putting my “stuff” on others. This supports healthy relationships and harmony in my life.

The health benefits of Qi gong are vast.

When we look at the role of oxygen in the physical body it is well known that any kind of practice that is going to increase our capacity to circulate and absorb oxygen has a profound effect on health. Not only through deepening the lung capacity and the exchange of oxygen into the blood system, it in turn, enhances and developing qi which is responsible for all of our daily repair and growth.

Physically this practice supports flexibility and openness through all of the joint system, which then creates conditions for increased circulation and harmony throughout the body, as well as structural alignment and integrity, with the physical bodies space in gravity.

All these physical benefits support better posture, deeper breath capacity and the reduction of pain.

All of this increased energetic process and awareness creates a deeper sensitivity to how we are showing up physically and energetically in space, where we’re able to develop intuition and connection to the environment in ways that may have been previously shut down due to resistance, barriers or stagnation in the body.

Where I find the Qi gong practice to be the most profound, is that of the deepened sense of internal and external awareness that develops over time, with practice. If we can utilize the breath and the awareness to see what is happening inside of our body and know ourselves, we then have a clear connection to how to support and heal our bodies. What food to take in, what thoughts to eradicate and what dreams to pursue bolstering the internal and external potential of our bodies.

The Qi gong practice is a completely safe and accessible movement practice that is available to anyone at any age at any state of health which makes it a profound resource for individual and community health.

Qigong literally translates to breath and movement together, and is the unification of the these two forces that creates intentional access to all creative universal energies setting up longevity and fulfillment in life connection

Experience A Simple Wood Element Qi Gong Practice

Our Stories Our roots With Aja Black

When we plant our roots into the ground, it’s with the intention of growing and f lourishing and creating, as creatives we have to remember that to focus all of our energy on growth and we’ll be able to shelter people and we’ll be able to incline people towards us, just in our own passion for being.

The process of creating is a process of breaking and building.

You have to break reality, right? Be cause the thing that you’re making doesn’t exist yet. You have to punch a hole through reality and see this thing through, and that it requires knowing of the thing knowing how much space it will need, knowing exactly how you have to carve out a space for it.

This requires knowing your ideas, knowing the seed intimately and listening to its songs and digging the perfect size holes that add room to get water involved and loving that thing.

Why would it not be the same with cre ative ideas, the depth of ideas? Why would you not go back into the fertile

Creative Practices & Rituals The Spring Season

By Courtney E. Morgan

Often, a creative practice is a balancing, a blending of these two ways of thinking and being. Some peo ple have so much imagination and f lair for play, but lack the discipline to catch and contain and manifest this; others get so caught in their critical, logical minds, they struggle to soften into the game and pleasure of creation.

It’s more than just striking a balance though it’s re ally about combination, finding a symbiotic relationship between the two, integration. Finding the in-be tween, the liminal spaces where these two drives merge and co -exist. Or better yet, building those spaces to allow the two forces to meet and mingle.

There’s an intimate, erotic bent to creativity that sparks from the same energy and place as procre ation. It is this we want to harness and empower with our rituals and practices and we all know, erotic energy and attraction cannot be forced, but it can be invited, supported, coaxed through consensual excitation.

The funny thing about creativity, is that it thrives on requires even—a sense of play and pleasure, and also discipline, structure, and containers. This may seem paradoxical discipline and play feel antithetical, if not diametrically opposed, but the truth is, they’re not. And a creative practice is where we can truly begin to see the holes in this f limsy dichotomy.

Creativity is often defined as the ability to connect disparate ideas, concepts, and things and the cre ative process itself is a f luid, living example of this.

Creativity excels when it manages to link the left and right hemispheres, the conscious and subconscious, logic and imagination, mind and body.

I like to think of spring creative practices as preparing and planting our garden for the year.

Experience

A Creative Ritual For Spring

1. Ready your soil I find fall and winter to be important times to build up our soil. To read, look at art, watch movies; to rest and meditate and focus inward; to re lease beliefs and practices that no longer serve; to let go of projects that have faltered, stalled, or failed (and to recognize how the carcasses of dreams relinquished decay into food for our future visions).

These cycles happen in small versions throughout the year, new moon to full moon, for example — and happen on a larger scale over our journey round the sun. Tapping into this inherent energy in the seasons helps your projects evolve and grow much easier and more organically.

If we’ve done this, our compost should be fresh and ready for planting in the spring.

Spend some time turning the soil over, mucking up in the mud, getting dirty. Dedicate at least twenty minutes to daydreaming and free writing on possibilities for the next six months, for things you’d like to build and accomplish, for what your personal and the larger collective world could look like. Things you want to try, learn, experiment with, build. List what ideas and ideals you’re ready to let go of, and which ones feel nurturing, true, and vital for you right now.

2. Choose which seeds you want to plant • Six months from now, come fall, what do I really most want to harvest

• What do I want to have accomplished, built, created, connected with?

If it’s less of a specific project and more of an ideal, like I want to feel and be more creative, then think specifically about what that would look like. How would you quantify being more creative? Spending twenty minutes a day doing creative activities? Going on a creative outing (museum, show, author talk) once a week? Making a creativity room/corner in your house? It can be a combination of things, but be as specific as possible.

(This can be part of a longer project, but make sure you have a specific vision [plant] in mind for six months.)

Allow yourself no more than three things on this list, and put them in order of priority.

• What do I want to look back on ?

• What do I want to see around me?

4. Nourish daily with water, sunlight, conversation, movement, song You’ve determined your plant’s/project’s needs now meet them. Show up to the project, so your creativity survives and thrives. Fulfill your commitment. Do your 20 minutes a day, your four hours a week, whatever you promise keep your vow.

Then break it, fall off the wagon, mess up. Get back on.

Forget to water your plant. Water it the next day. Don’t bog yourself down with guilt and shame. Expect to mess up. Then begin again. Process is not perfection. Process is practice.

3. Select your container

• What steps would I need to take between now and autumn to bring this vision to life?

• What time and space can I dedicate and commit to this vision?

• What can I commit to doing in the next day? In the next week? In the next month?

• Make these lists. Make this promise. Write them down! Put them in your calendar! Do it NOW!

Adding ritual to your practice is a wonderful way to add joy to your work, develop muscle memory, and prime you to be ready to create when you sit down to do it.

Here’s a link with tips on how to ritualize your creative practice.

And give it love. I’m sure you know the studies that show plants grow better when spoken to, sung to, loved. So it is with our creative process and projects.

Give your creativity love. Love your practice, fiercely.

Show up to the page, the easel, the instrument even when you don’t want to. Even when you hate it, even when it’s the last thing you want to do. Let the movement of it, the work of it, bring you back to the love of it.

(And if it doesn’t today, come back tomorrow.)

5. Enjoy & Celebrate This step is not optional, not superf luous.

In fact, this is the most important step. To return to and retain pleasure.

When something gives us pleasure, we will do it, we will come back to it, again and again, even when it gets hard. Pleasure is not the absence of difficulty. It is taking joy in the work. Standing in awe at what we have made.

Pleasure is to remember, to prioritize, the fun and play and life -giving, erotic thrill of making. The joy of discovery. The twinge of excitement in getting it wrong, destroying, composting, beginning again.

The fear-tinged bliss of connecting with the images and sentences that hover just beyond the veil, that you pull into being with only your intention and humility and faith.

Lean into that, depend on it, hold onto it for dear life when everything else feels like its going to shit. (Then gather that shit and add it to your compost.)

Above all, for creation’s sake, ENJOY the beautiful, brutal, lusty, bloody process of it all. Have fun.

Springtime & Wood Element Essential Oils Essential oils can help balance the Chinese five elements and restore the flow of qi through your meridians. Meridians are energetic pathways, very much like rivers or pathways of energy within the body-mind. Emotions play a large role in the quality or lack there of throughout the flow of the meridians. Restoring balance of the five elements and the harmonious flow of qi is at the heart of Chinese medicine.

Liver and gallbladder are the highlighted organ system in springtime. The vital essence of wood element provides renewal, flexibility, optimism, growth, purpose, strength, movement and patience. When out of balance there is frustration, irritability, rigidity, stagnation and distorted Anger. Blaming others, inability to make decisions, plans or organize and not having the consistency in putting forth actions towards the fulfillment of your life’s purpose. When in balance there is a deep sense of trust, decisiveness and responsibility for life. A desire to direct your spirit toward it’s highest potential.

Delicious Springtime Diffuser Combinations Lemon + Wild Orange + Peppermint Lemongrass + Rosemary Basil + Grapefruit + Bergamot

Basil

Peppermint

Known as the essential oil of Renewal.

The smell of Basil brings strength to the heart and relaxation to the mind. It helps with mental exhaustion and provides rejuvenation, hope and optimism.

Is invigorating, energizing, and refreshing to the body, mind and spirit. It is known as the oil of the buoyant Heart.

It helps individuals to rediscover the joy of being alive.

Citrus essential oils Are very effective for releasing the stress and tension that arise from Frustrations and Anger within the bodymind. Known mostly for their ability to provide detoxification, positive mood boosting and uplifting properties. All citrus oils are nature’s natural anti-depressants.

They are also excellent for liberating the Liver Qi flow.

Learn More

Citrus Oils:

Lemon, Wild Orange, Grapefruit, Lime, Bergamot & Lemongrass.

Stone Medicine for Spring

Petrified wood Is an amorphous solid that brings in an anchoring stable energy to support connecting to structure and form. It provides a grounding force during the spring energies of creativity and movement. Use this stone to create f low in inner being and becoming rooted in who you are in you inner power

Watermelon T ourmaline The mix of green and bright pink together bring heart connection and new beginnings on the emotional and DNA level. Pink in this stone helps with heart centered DNA healing and the color of green here is supporting forgiving.

This powerful connection beautifully blends to support healing karmic energies nestled in the seeds we plant so we don’t have to repeat trauma and dysfunctional patterns.

Peridot Brings life connection through the energetics of fresh supple spring green energies of new growth through joyful emotions and structure of its internal geometry.

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What is Crystal Medicine?

Crystals are natural solids that have spe cific internal geometry and an infinite range of hues, tones and colors. When crystals are used in energy healing, they promote powerful shifts in consciousness and more emotional well-being. The Cardinal Method of Life Connection is an energy medicine system that uses crystals as tools for soul healing and consciousness expansion. In the Cardinal Method perspective, the internal geometries of crystals align your mind with higher vibrations and bring you clarity and fo cus. Specific colors of crystals heal your

With Paola Ranova PhD, writer, Energy medicine practitioner and the creator of the Cardinal Method of Life Connection.

Meet T he Plants of Spring

Listen In

About plant medicine & simple strategies used to facilitate healing & transtion in the season of spring With plant spirit journeyman:

Monti-Clevah

Burdock

• Supports Blood Energetically • Releases Stagnation from winter • Tonic to move energies • Slightly Bitter Digestive • Supports inner expression & vitality

Arctium Burdock is a big spirit. She is relaxed and artistic. She is rhythmic and teaches us to stretch and open our hearts and our minds and especially our bodies. She moves in a creative space, driving us towards the spontaneous and spirit led. She is not a spirit for un-natural or forced schedules. She moves with unseen. She wants only the authentic and raw to express itself. She wants to cleanse away the tension and the tight clothing and the masks. She is the bra off, hair down spirit of the plant world. Her love is cleansing and purifying like a blue green breeze. There is a sweetness and a crisp ness to her. She is an angelic force who finds her spot, buckles down and doesn’t move until her artistic expression is complete.

Ingredients ½ cup roughly chopped burdock root ½ cup roughly chopped dandelion root ½ cup roughly chopped carrot ¼ cup roughly chopped turmeric root ¼ cup roughly chopped ginger root

Lacto Fermented Root Relish Burdock & dandelion roots have an earthy bitterness that blends beautifully with sweet carrot, pungent herbs & sour lactic acid that is created during the fermentation process. I use this relish as a condiment on fish or as an accompaniment to steamed vegetables & grains.

2-4 roughly chopped garlic cloves 1 tsp. whole cumin seed (I like to gently toast mine in a pan to develop the flavor & add roasted flavor notes) 1 ½ cups filtered / spring water 1 tsp. Sea salt / Himalayan pink salt 1 16oz mason jar

Click any image or recipe for the full directions or deeper knowledge

Burdock Root Detox Tea 3 Tbs Burdock Root 1 Tbs Dandelion Root 1 Tsp Lemon Peel 1 Teaspoon Cardamom

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Add to boiling water, reduce heat and simmer uncovered for 15-30 minutes Optional: sweeten with honey and serve with fresh lemon

Oven Roasted Burdock Root Roasted burdock root takes on a deeply satisfying mellow earthiness that I love. The bitterness is reduced & caramelization of the naturally occurring sugars in the roots adds a balancing subtle sweetness.

Braised Burdock & Carrot Kinpira I cup Burdock Root I cup Carrot 2 Tbsp cooking oil 3 Tbsp Sesame oil 2 Tbsp Sesame Seeds I cup Dashi 4 Tbsp Sake 1- 1 -½ Tbsp Sugar 2 Tbsp Mirin 3 Tbsp Soy Sauce Peel back the outer layer of burdock root and cut into thin matchsticks. Place in cold water with a few drops of vinegar until ready to cook to preserve any oxidation process. Peel carrots and cut into matchbook size. Heat oil in a large skillet and saute burdock over medium high heat. Add in Carrots after a few minutes and saute for 2-3 minutes.

If you don’t have any burdock growing nearby you can often find them at natural foods stores or Asian supermarkets.

One thing to keep in mind is that they oxidize fairly quickly once cut, so if you don’t use them right away place them in a little lemon water to keep them from browning.

Ingredients 3 cups burdock root washed & chopped into half inch pieces ½ tsp salt ½ tsp black pepper 1 tsp olive oil / fat of your choice

Preheat the oven to 400.

Toss chopped burdock root with salt, pepper & oil in a baking pan until all surfaces are covered (you can do this in a separate bowl if it’s easier for you but I prefer to save myself the dishes.)

Spread the root pieces out they are mostly not touching (tho this doesn’t have to be perfect.)

Roast for 20 minutes at 350 or until they begin to brown then flip & place back in the oven & roast for another 15.

Serve as a side & enjoy

Dandelion Powerful Antioxidant Calms Liver Excess Aids In Digestion Jam Packed Nutrients Bitter & Astringent

T araxacum Dandelion is the showy first rays of the spring sun!

I’ve met the true spirit of Dandelion in my dreams while sleeping next to freshly picked flowers from my yard. She is the dazzling woman in yellow. She is strong and fierce as a lion. She is fearless. She is the sun, hot sun in lady plant form. Her energy is moving up and out and dazzling. Master of her domain, she will not be out shined. She dances quickly moving outward influencing everything in her vicinity. There is nothing humble about the dandelion spirit. The dandelion takes the spotlight and claims her place as the springtime goddess of beauty.

• Bitter & As gent

Ingredients 4 cups washed, dried, loosely packed dandelion leaves 1-2 cups parsley, cilantro or a combo of both.

trin-

1/3 cup chopped fresh or 1 tbsp dried herbs

Dandelion Leaf Relish The ingredients in this recipe are loosely inspired by an Argentine chimichurri. I roundly appreciate condiments that can be added to simple dishes to create contrast, add flavor/ nutrition & easily make things more layered & delicious.

This recipe adds the nutrient density & bitter flavor of dandelion greens which is amplified by acidity of the citrus or vinegar.

This flavor pairing not only serves as an inviting taste harmonic, the acid essentially cooks the greens allowing more of the abundant vitamins & minerals to be available for digestion. The inclusion of fresh garlic & herbs also add abundant medicinal value & make a mouth watering counterpart to rich, fatty & meaty dishes.

Thyme, oregano, tarragon, marjoram, basil are all lovely options 4-10 cloves freshly chopped garlic 2/3 cup vinegar of your choice / lemon or lime juice or a combination of all of the above. ¾ cup extra virgin olive oil 1 tsp salt 1 tsp black pepper

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Violet & Dandelion Flower Infused Honey Here violet pairs with the sunny fortitude of dandelion flower for a heart nurturing & nutritious honey with a divine perfume.

Ingredients ½ cup freshly harvested violet flowers ½ cup freshly harvested dandelion petals (removed from the flower head) 1 cup local raw honey 1 8oz. mason jar

Wash the flowers & gently roll in a towel to absorb excess moisture. Fill an 8oz. mason jar with flowers & fully cover with honey, using a clean chopstick to stir out any bubbles or air pockets. Screw on the lid tight enough that you can turn the jar upside down a couple times a day to keep the honey covering the flowers without the lid leaking (& putting a washcloth or saucer underneath is helpful in case it does.) Infuse for 2 - 3 weeks, at which point you can strain the flowers out with a sieve (tho I much prefer to leave them in to eat or stir in as a pretty addition to tea.)

I’ve enjoyed this drizzled over yogurt & fruit but where it really shines is as a tonic for a heavy or broken heart, sometimes taken liberally by the spoonful.

Violets also have a notable respiratory supportive action. Stirred into warm water it can support one in moving through cold & flu with chest congestion.

Lacto Fermented Dandelion Stem Pickles Not only is every part of a dandelion medicinal, they offer an alluring range of pleasant textures to add to your culinary repertoire. The stems have a nice crunch that I enjoy turning into lacto-pickles & serving alongside anything that would benefit from a pro biotic, salty, tart, gently bitter bite.

Ingredients Enough dandelion stems to loosely fill the jar of your choice, & by stems I mean the part of the plant that connects the flower to the base of the plant. You could also use the stems of the leaves if you wanted, tho they are not what’s being referred to in this recipe.

Feel free to chop the stems up or leave them whole. Also up to personal choice is removing the flower heads (which I do) tho there is no real reason you need to aside from textural preference.

Enough brine (read salt water) to completely cover the dandelion stems. The ratio of salt to water is in this case: 1 tsp. of salt dissolved in one cup of filtered or spring water Pour brine over the dandelion stems till they are completely covered.

Optional: ½ tsp dried of herbs/spices per cup of fermented stems Place your counter or in a cupboard out of direct sunlight.

Click any image or recipe for full directions & expanded knowledge

Allow to ferment for 4-6 days checking daily that the plant matter is below the brine & if necessary add a little filtered water to cover if it leaks out.

Cleavers Suports Blood Viscocity Removes Accumulations Clears Metabolic Waste Supports The Lymph System

Galium Aparine Cleavers is fast moving, young and clever. He moves about with the boundless energy and curiosity of a young boy. He is a trickster, loving to shake things up. He wants to see the reaction, push the button and open the door.

When things become stagnant and bogged down, he creates a stream. The streams send cool waters of inspiration upon the heads of those who were facing blockages in their consciousness. These waves are blue and green.

Cleavers is a mover, but he is gentle at the same time, never forcing things out of place but instead shining new light in spaces unseen. “What are you clinging to that is no longer necessary?” This is the question asked by cleavers who bursts forth in the spring time as the fresh spring that was once frozen.

32oz fresh water Place cleavers in a jar & fill with water. Let sit overnight in the refrigerator for 8-12 hours & drink! Because the wisdom of the earth times their arrival exactly when our bodies can best use their medicine when they are growing is a perfect time to use them.

Cleavers Succus Cleavers Cold Infusion Cleavers emerge from the earth early in springtime, gently moving a winter weary lymphatic system back into action & waking up the immune system. The full spectrum of its medicine is most powerfully accessed in an unheated form & the simplest (as well as my personal favorite) way to do this is with a cold infusion.

Ingredients 1-2 tablespoons fresh finely chopped cleavers 1 32oz mason jar

If you’d like to use the medicine of cleavers year round, the juice can be preserved with vodka, honey or vegetable glycerin in an herbal preparation called a succus.

If you don’t have a juicer you can finely chop the plant material & squeeze the juice through a piece of muslin or cheesecloth.

1 part fresh cleavers juice 1 part 100 proof vodka, honey or food grade vegetable glycerin Mix the two parts together & store in a cool place out of direct sunlight in a glass bottle or mason jar. Shelf life 1 year & possibly longer.

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Urban Foraging Journey With Mahonia Aquifolium

By Elixer Witch

Oregon grape is deeply bitter. Quintessentially bitter. Powerfully bitter. Due to this root flavor, (pun fully intended,) which comes in part from bright yellow alkaloid berberine, it has become a beloved & indispensable ally used widely in herbal medicine.

One of its primary applications is relieving liver congestion, which connects to a wide assortment of health challenges & is an extremely common byproduct of the modern western lifestyle. Oregon grape is also frequently used for stimulating digestion & as an antimicrobial.

Mahonia is widely propagated in cities as a hardy ornamental shrub that tolerates a variety of growing conditions. It is also naturally occurring in almost all of the so called United States, & because of this, it’s likely that some is growing nearby.

There are multiple species used medicinally, but by far the most common species to encounter in the city is Maho-

nia Aquifolium, otherwise known as tall Oregon grape, which can grow to 6 feet, but is more commonly be found around 3- 4 feet as a decorative plants in urban & suburban landscaping (although you will sometimes find rogue Oregon grape growing wild in cities as well.)

This stately being has glossy green leaves, often tinged with red & yellow, that are similar in shape and texture to holly leaves. In springtime it is adorned with bright yellow flower clusters that are some of the first pops of color to declare their presence as winter wanes.

These later in the summer mature into tart dark purple berries (or grapes) that can be made into delicious jellies & preserves.

Traditionally the root of the Oregon grape plant has been used in medicine making, as it is the part of the plant with the most concentrated alkaloid content.

However, the challenges with harvesting the root are multiple 1) It’s a pretty strenuous task as they have large deep taproots 2) It usually kills the plant & 3) Most folks don’t want you digging up their bushes.

Oregon grape has been placed on the United Plant Savers watch list due to its popularity as a medicinal plant potentially leading to over-harvesting and habitat destruction. This pertains more to wild-crafting outside of the city, though it’s important to cultivate knowledge of how to use plants responsibly & sustainable no matter where you are.

With these considerations in mind, the recipe I will give here is for a tincture made from the inner stem bark of the plant. This part of the Oregon grape plant can be obtained much more easily as springtime is often a time when pruning is welcome, always ask permission first, and removing a stem two will not kill a well established plant.

Just as a side note, I have heard from other herbalists that it is also possible to harvest the smaller peripheral roots without causing harm to the plant, and this is another technique for sustainable harvesting I would encourage you to research if you are interested, though it is not what I will be discussing here.

Oregon Grape Increases Liver Processing Supports Detox Antimicrobial Skin Healing Bitter Digestive

Mahonia Aquifolium The spirit of the Oregon grape is a strong and dry like wood. He’s a traveler, firm and able bodied. He moves along the country side in a serious manner spreading his truth and helping out those in need.

His berries are the hard earned sweetness that comes from learning his way. Oregon grape is intelligent and soulful and able. He pushes us to be our best selves and stay moving. He doesn’t get too far rooted in any one place. It is his nature to stay in motion and spread the gray- green vibration of being of sound mind. He teaches the gifts of having good boundaries and guarding the heart. He also teaches one to move in the wisdom of those who have come before. He is a priest, a sage, a spirit of sobriety and discipline that warns of taking too much.

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Oregon Grape Tincture

not as potent medicinally, this part can be composted or used for casting spells (Hepadestagnate!!!!)

Instructions

Once you’ve filled your jar with plant material, pour 100 proof vodka over it till it is completely covered. Screw the lid on securely & label with the date your tincture was made & what’s in it.

When you’ve located & positively identified a robust Oregon grape specimen & asked permission to harvest it from the earth, the plant & any relevant people, begin by cutting a large stem with some hefty gardening shears as close to the base of the plant as you can.

Depending on the size of the plant you might be able to take up to two or three stems, however it’s better to harvest a smaller amount from multiple plants & of course, only take what you need & will use.

Process the stems into medicine as soon as possible after harvest. Once they dry (which happens quickly) they become hard & difficult to work with.

Starting at the base of the stem using a vegetable peeler or paring knife remove the top brown layer of bark to reveal the bright orange-yellow layer underneath, this is the inner bark & what you will primarily use to make your tincture.

Peel this layer off as far up the stem as it remains a bright yellow color. Typically it will be brighter & more concentrated closer to the base, so as it starts to get closer to cream in color that’s an indication that the alkaloid content is diminishing.

The wood from the stem (under the inner bark) may be bright yellow too & if so you can include it in your tincture or chop up & dry for later. If it’s cream colored &

Shake your Oregon grape tincture daily to encourage full extraction & allow it to sit in a dark place for 2-6 weeks, after which you can strain out the bark & store for use in a dark glass bottle Suggested uses are as a digestive bitter the springtime or topically mixed with a little water to speed wound healing & reduce the chance of infection in cuts & abrasions.

There are really too many uses for Oregon grape tincture to list here as I’ve found that each person seems to have their own favorite way of using it. However I encourage you to research & note your own findings as you work with this magical plant spirit.

Yellow Dock Activating

Digestive Support Skin Clarity Iron Absorption Increased Courage

Rumex Crispus Is blessed with the blessings and wisdom of the powerful earth momma. Her spirit is deep and strong. She stretches far up and out of the dirt while her roots simultaneously push deep into the earth. She takes what nourishment she needs so that she can make pathways for moisture to get deep into the ground. She nourishes all life near her and has wisdom from the deepest darkest corners of the underworld. The Yellow Dock Spirit is like moist soil to the strong vibrant plants growing around her. Yellow Dock is the loving yet pioneering earth mama of the deep.

Garlicky Yellow Dock Greens In the early days of springtime young yellow dock uncurls its spear shaped leaves & makes an appearance here in Denver.

A favorite way to prepare these tart, nourishing greens is a simple sauté with garlic & a touch of vinegar. It’s absolutely delicious & I particularly enjoy as a breakfast side with some scrambled egg (although it good with almost everything.)

The first tender leaves can also be eaten raw and are rich in vitamin c.

When you pull the leaf & it’s soft with some give that’s a good indication that they’re at the perfect stage to eat. Once the leaves mature they become papery & less tender.

Ingredients:

3-4 cups of fresh young yellow dock leaves, rinsed and allows to dry 2-3 cloves minced garlic 1-2 tsp. Soy sauce / Tamari / Liquid amino’s 1-2 tsp. Vinegar of your choice 1-2 tbsp Butter / olive oil / fat of your choice Warm fat in a pan on medium heat. Add minced garlic, cooking for a minute or two to let infuse the cooking fat. As the garlic just begins to turn golden, add the greens, soy sauce & vinegar. Cook until greens are fully wilted & the liquid has reduced, about 7-10 minutes. Serve & enjoy!

Roots blood building tonic syrup This recipe is a mixture of three of the plants we have highlighted for spring. We use the roots of yellow dock, dandelion and burdock . They work together to synthesize into a powerful blood supporting tonic, along with black strap molasses.

Yellow dock supports digestion and helps the body rid itself of impurities. It can increase iron absorption, pairing it with the black strap molasses helps the body uptake and use the iron present in the molasses. It is cooling and astringent and helps to calm the blood.

Dandelion is also traditionally known to be a strong blood builder because of its high content and iron and zinc, it supports the assimilation of our nutrients and the release of toxins by improving the function of the liver and digestion. It’s nature’s multivitamin and all parts of the plant can be used to support health and well being.

Burdock is known to energize the blood by purifying and supporting its tone and enhancing its quality. Because of its antioxidant properties, it also helps to move and direct the blood, as well as supports detoxing, and is a powerful antibacterial, This blood building tonic can be taken as one tablespoon a day to help increase iron and overall constitution of the blood. It’s especially helpful for women who have heavy menstruation, or have lost blood, due to pregnancy or anemia, or any one with traumatic blood loss. I like to nourish myself with this tonic during my moon cycle to support vitality throughout the day and increased circulation and replenishing of blood.

Ingredients 2 Parts fresh yellow dock root 1 Part each fresh dandelion root and burdock root 2- 3 cups water Bring all roots to a boil then reduce heat to simmer until liquid is reduced by half. Strain roots add in black strap molasses equal to half of the water. (ie: 1 ½ C water water would be ¾ C Black strap molasses) Seal and refrigerate. Take 1tbps daily as needed

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Sou

The Taste Of

ur

When I think about how the taste of sour hits my palate the words astringent, bright, cleansing and

clarifying come to mind. When I close my eyes and visualize a lemon or tap into the taste of sour, salivation immediately begins to happen in my mouth which creates a sense of movement and activity. This activity naturally arises kind of like the energy of qi rising to the surface in spring.

The taste of sour in small amounts is generally desirable and in larger quantities can actually be adverse. Biologically the taste of sour warns us of not consuming rancid or sour products that might have gone bad and would then in turn be harmful to the body system, so sour is almost connected to our sense of danger.

Sour connects us to the feelings of sour experiences or somebody having a sour face or something that maybe turns the stomach. This taps us into the power of this taste showing its very active and impressionable characteristics. This tone can be a balancing and clearing force used in culinary and medicinal practices and reminds us how to honor and respect its potential to create movement and impressions on the body system. Think of the experience of taking in something really sour and having that flavor hit the back of the tongue so directly and sharply that the cheeks and the muscles of the cheeks begin to contract creating a puckering discomfort. It is the jolt of acid that has this powerful force to get things moving.

The taste of sour is associated with feelings and/or colors that are bright. I think of the first rays of the morning sun or the vibrant energy of sour waking up the palate and inviting things to move.

Culinary uses typically include sour as a way to finish, or brighten a dish. It is a way to enhance and bring acid to more basic round flavors. It also highlights the tones and upper ranges of flavor on the palate. It is also utilized as a cleansing and/or clarifying flavor that helps to clear the palate and invite the next flavor profile. We can use its flavor to also cut the energies of a dish and temper them to a different dynamic.

The taste of sour is integrated or picked up by the spleen energy, which extracts the first levels of nutrients that we bring into the body from the stomach. The spleen then sends the taste of sour to the liver where it activates and enhances the movement functions of the liver.

Sour is yin in nature. It has the capacity to sink and drain things through the body. This downward movement travels through the muscular tendon tissue clarifying and activating movement. Think of the reaction of puckering. You can’t stop it. That is the sour moving through the muscles of the mouth forcing them to contact and contort your face into a sour pucker.

The liver has a spotlight in spring healing, it plays a role in actively moving and directing biophysical processes, as well as purpose and direction in our life. The liver processes the waking qi energy naturally moving to the surface of the body to help activate physical movement and flexibility. The sour flavor supports this active energy of the liver to get its job done.

Sour flavor has a tonic effect on the energetic and physical system of the lungs helping to clarify and cleanse any

heaviness of grief or resistance in the lungs to full inspiration and full circulation of breath and qi.

The taste of sour has the capacity to bind and absorb making it supportive in clarifying and discharging fluids and dampness stagnating in the body system. It can help support the active process of urination and perspiration to help the natural elimination pathways do the work of cleansing and clarifying.

When we use sour flavors and smells in the spring season we are accessing its wisdom and power to support the cleansing and active transitional energy that is happening both internally and externally. It helps us to naturally move from the stagnation or stillness of winter into the dynamic movement phase of spring.

The scent and smell of sour is typically associated with the energies of spring cleaning.

And when it hits the olfactory system it has a very uplifting and motivating energy to it.

The smell and scent of lemon is known to increase focus and support the emotional body. It also has a major effect on the emotions experienced by the mind. It is known to reduce confusion and invite freedom in movement and buoyancy through joyful connection and play. This lemon energy vitality and creativity are all associated with the energetics of spring.

The sour taste and smell of lime helps us to transmute discouragement and stagnation through its elevating high notes, bringing a cheerful expansive energy to the heart.

The scent of lime re-integrates the relationship between the mental space and the emotional space of the body. It also helps to harmonize the two aspects of the psyche to work together to support direction and commitment, hope and courage in moving forward.

Listen in To a deep dialogue on: Food As Medicine & The Tast Of Sour

Drigo Richardson Is a Miami based health-supportive Culinary Alchemist.

He is a natural foods oracle, cooking class instructor, health and wellness consultant specializing in raw food, vegan, vegetarian & plant based cuisine. Drigo grew up around griots who told stories with their food. He comes from a family of restaurateurs, cooks, dubbers, bubblahs, and rubbas. Generations of history from several Caribbean islands are encoded in his DNA, so the saga of heritage speaks through his food.

“Culinary Alchemist” TM refers to a person who uses organic ingredients and carefully transforms them into nutritious and healing dishes. in mind flavor profiles, the consumers optimal health and using the local, sustainable produce into amazing dishes.

Drigo has found his life’s purpose by making the connection between how food affects our mind, body and soul. Which has now become one of his passions. Sharing how we can take control of our health mentally, physically and spiritually starting with the foods we put in our body.

“What we eat and how we cook affects our health & the prosperity of our community. When possible, food should always be sourced locally.”

Drigo sources his ingredients from the local urban gardens and family farms when available in the Miami area. “We have to take care of the earth so it can continue to nourish and heal us and generations to follow.”

Enjoy this series of sour inspired recipes cultivated by Drigo and his daughters Alem and Samadhi; as they weave the taste of the local Florida landscape into gourmet high vibration vegan dishes.

Fresh Detox Neem leaves moringa leaves Aloe cut into cubes Kiwi & Lemon sliced thinly toss and serve

Super-food Salad 22 grams of thinly sliced longevity spinach 20 grams of local purslane Two tbsp TCA “Ocean sauce” 10 grams of a shallot Thinly sliced 10 grams of bell pepper thinly sliced 16 grams green hot yellowish green pepper sliced 80 grams sunflower sprouts 11 grams of goose berry sliced 11 grams of bilimbi sliced 1 grams of TCA Super-food Seaweed Mix 2 Tbsp of key lime juice Garnish with cranberry hibiscus or local sour edible herbs.

In large mixing bowl combine key lime juice, ocean sauce, peppers. shallots, and mix.

Add all other ingredients & mix with chopsticks coating entire salad with liquid.

Add Bilimbi and salt to taste

Chutney is something like a jam preserve,

or a stew it’s reduced down to a thick Delicious Paste, that you used as a condiment. Many many moons ago with some friends in the mountains of Northern California it was harvest season, and there was a very bountiful harvest. The people of the city were in celebration for everyone was grateful for a fire less season. All the growers was finished, reaping and drying and curing and packing and my friend

says to me. “If there’s one thing you could eat right now. What would that be, whatever it is.”

I thought about it and effortlessly responded.

I would like some pumpkin curry salt fish with tamarind chutney. Everyone laughed at my seemingly ridiculous request; but I bet your going to find all these ingredients wherever you are and share this experience with me!

Food Musings on Chutney By Dreigo

Tamarind Chutney 1lb tamarind remove shell and seeds 1/2lb green mango 1cup cider vinegar 1 small onion 1/2 hot pepper 1/2 bell pepper 1/4 lb ginger sliced or grated 1/4lb coconut sugar Place onion pepper and ginger root in processor and mix add sugar add pinch of salt and vinegar dice mango set aside in small pot bring all ingredients to a boil lower heat and continue to mix until thickened. pour into jars and seal.

Avocado ceviche Ingredients 1 tbsp sea moss gel 1 tbsp garlic powder 2 tbsp lemon juice 1 tbsp diced bilimbi 2 tbsp diced bell pepper Diced green onions to taste 2 avocados Prepare Sea Moss Gel ahead of time Wash sea moss Soak 12 hours Rinse again 1 c sea moss Chop to small pieces add 1.5 cup water and blend until smooth Half and score avocados vertically and horizontally and scoop into bowl. add in diced bilimibi, bell pepper, lemon juice, sea moss and garlic powder.

Toss lightly to coat avocado and serve with green onion.

Bilimbi Tamarind Juice 6 bilimbis 5 gooseberries 4 dates 8 tamarinds 48 oz water Place all ingredients in a food processor and blend until smooth Pour through mesh strainer and enjoy!

Flower Power Sun Infusion Moringa Nasturtium Key Lime Local Bilimbi Sweeten to your taste Sun Charge a few hours and drink Extended hours or days add spiced cinnamon clove etc.

Chickpea Miso Broth As introduced on the Reasons & Season Taste of Sour Podcast 2 Tbsp Chickpea Miso 2 ( 2-3inch) Lemongrass root 5 lime leaves 2-3 Dried Thai Chilis 2 inch piece of ginger grated 1 cup Coconut milk 1/2lb Oyster mushroom cut in half then cut on bias 3 Tbsp Fresh lime juice 2 Tbsp TCA Ocean Sauce 3 Medium sheet of kombu Kelp dust Bring 2cups of water to rapid boil remove 4 oz of water and combine with 2 Tbps spoon of chickpeas miso and mix. Add back to boiling water and still until a smooth mix. place ginger lemongrass lime leaves chickpeas miso & pepper to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat bring to simmer and mushrooms if raw or save till platting if pickled. add kelp allow to simmer 5 more minutes and then add coconut milk keep stirring and mixing with stove off.

Finish wiht lime juice and ocean sauce.

Salt to taste add fresh cilantro serve immediately

Cilantro Jasmine Rice 1 cup jasmine rice TCA Coarse Salt Mix or Coarse Salt 1/2 cup fresh cilantro picked save the stems and dice very small 2 tablespoons fresh key lime juice 1 tablespoon avocado or coconut oil 1 garlic clove chopped 1 chili chopped Bring 1 1/2 cups water to a boil. Add rice and 1/4 teaspoon salt; cover, and reduce to a simmer. Cook until water is absorbed and rice is just tender.

Remove from pot add to large mixing bowl and fluff.

Next combine cilantro, lime juice, oil, garlic, chili and 2 tablespoons water; blend until smooth. Stir into cooked rice, continue to fluff add cilantro stem

Listen in Reasons & Season Mixtape Featuring Original Wood Element Production & Spring Season Tracks

T hank You

My hope is this publication will bring you harmony in your movement during the spring season and connect you closer to your functional design through the practices, knowledge and experiences contained here.

We will close with some musings on that design...Warmly Elzabieta

“ Frequencies are shifting and modulating all the time between the hemispheres, without that there is no circulation and no activation, rather stagnation sets in.

Functional Design offers us a singular reference point from which thousands or even millions of operational options can go forth. Functional ease is not a definitive place like the “Functional Design” could be, it is a process of f lowing into the world with grace, ease, and facility expressed as uniquely as you are.

The very miracle of being.

Yin and Yang are ever interacting, interchanging and interdependent, balance is relative, how wide the pendulum swings in and out of balance can be observed and adjusted.

Seasons change, earth orbits and tilts, the solar system progresses through the galaxy and the galaxy through the universe, nothing is ever the same, always changing, always moving in cycles of energetic exchange. What do you remember of time? of place? of being?

Now in all of this, could it be that the core of the universe is the constant?

That all is cycling about this core, expanding from it as it cycles to return?

This core is in us all. Expresses in us all, as we realize and allow for it.

How

do you allow for it, be it? Are it? “

Mark Manton Registered Massage Therapist, Licensed Acupuncturist, Registered Naturopath & Diplomat of Chinese Herbology

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