Category: Seasonal Wisdom

Celebrating the Spring Equinox

3/20/2017

This year, the Spring Equinox falls on Monday, March 20. The Spring Equinox is a celebration of fertility and new life. It marks the beginning of Spring and a time when day and night are balanced.

New growth is stimulated and supported in Spring; now is an excellent time for making a new start. Heightened creativity and enthusiasm naturally emerge to support you.

Here are a few ideas for welcoming the Spring Equinox:

Think of a new intention you have for the year ahead. Tie a colored ribbon around the branch of a nearby tree to remind you of this intention.

Anoint yourself with jasmine, rose, or any other natural sweet scents. Journal intentions about how you wish to feel in this new season. You can then continue to anoint yourself with these aromas throughout spring to deepen your connection to your wishes.

Plan ideas for your garden. What would you like to clear away? What will you plant anew?

Invite friends over for an equinox celebration. A potluck can feature seasonal foods like radishes, parsley, beets, avocado, artichokes, rhubarb, etc.

Have an Equinox adventure. Set out into nature on your own and be open to whatever the day brings. You may want to take a small journal with you to jot down any thoughts or inspiration that emerges.

Plan a seed swap with friends who like to garden.

Spring clean with essential oils. Clear out the old to welcome in the new. Find a recipe for an all natural cleaner here.

The equinox is a time when day and night are roughly equal. Reflect on what ways your life is in or out of balance. What could you do to bring about more balance?

Be open to change. The future may be filled with experiences, people, and places you've never seen. It may be benevolent in ways you've never imagined.

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Dear Reader,

What is your favorite way to celebrate the arrival of Spring?

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Favorite Essential Oil Diffusor Blends for Winter

12/25/2016

10 Comments

Winter scene with a blue sky and snow covered trees.

Winter can be a challenging season, but it is also a peaceful time with an opportunity for rest and inward reflection. I find that creating a feeling of coziness helps me savor winter. I love lighting beeswax candles and gazing out the window at the majestic, quiet trees.

Inhalation of essential oils reduces stress, promotes relaxation, and supports a healthy immune system. Diffusing also helps lift the winter blues.

I hope you enjoy trying out these Winter essential oil diffusor recipes!

Gingerbread Manor
5 drops of ginger
2 drops of clove bud
2 drops of cinnamon bark
1 drop of black pepper

Citrus Bliss
5 drops of red mandarin
3 drops of pink grapefruit
2 drops of tangerine

Winter Immune Support
(for healthy adults only)
4 drops of sweet orange
3 drops of ravintsara
2 drops of elemi
1 drop of clove bud

Joyful & Energizing
(for healthy adults only)
7 drops of pink grapefruit
3 drops of holy basil (tulsi)

Heart Opening
5 drops of bergamot
3 drops of rose
2 drops of patchouli

Do you have a favorite essential oil or blend for Winter?
Feel free to share in the comments below!

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Autumn Recipes: Pumpkin Lasagna with Sage

9/13/2016

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Pumpkin Lasagna
Adapted from Williams-Sonoma

This recipe is one of the most delicious creations I've made in a long time! There are so many enticing flavors here: pumpkin, garlic, sage, and fontina cheese. When it comes to salt and pepper, I recommend using a generous amount of both for optimal flavor. This is not a quick recipe - more of a Sunday afternoon project. However, it's worth the effort!

Ingredients:

1 lb. whole milk ricotta cheese (Miriam's note: I used part-skim ricotta).
1 Tbs. julienned fresh sage
1/4 cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
1/2 tsp. minced garlic
Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste (Miriam's note: season generously)
2 yellow summer squash, cut into rounds 1/4 inch thick
2 zucchini, cut into rounds 1/4 inch thick
2 Tbs. olive oil
1 large yellow onion, thinly sliced
1 jar (24 oz.) pumpkin pasta sauce (Miriam's note: I bought mine at Whole Foods)
2 Tbs. parmesan cheese, optional (Miriam's note: I added this to the pumpkin sauce)
12 sheets dried ruffle-edged lasagna noodles, cooked until al dente (Miriam's note: I used gluten free, no cook lasagna noodles - they worked beautifully).
1/2 lb. Italian fontina cheese, shredded

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 450°F.

In a bowl, stir together the ricotta, sage, 3 Tbs. of the parsley and the garlic, and season with salt and pepper. Set aside.

In a large bowl, toss the yellow squash and zucchini with 1 Tbs. of the olive oil, and season with salt and pepper. Arrange in a single layer on a oiled baking sheet. Transfer to the oven and roast until tender and lightly browned, about 15 minutes.

Meanwhile, in an oval Dutch oven over medium heat, warm the remaining 1 Tbs. olive oil. Add the onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened and lightly browned, about 15 minutes. Transfer to a bowl and add the yellow squash and zucchini. Reduce the oven temperature to 400°F.

Spread 1/2 cup pasta sauce in an even layer on the bottom of the Dutch oven. Arrange a single layer of lasagna noodles on top, tearing them as needed to fit. Spread 1/2 cup ricotta mixture on the noodles and scatter 1 cup vegetable mixture on top. Spread 1/2 cup (4 oz./125 g) pasta sauce over the vegetables and sprinkle 1/2 cup fontina on top. Continue layering. Top with the remaining noodles, sauce and fontina.

Transfer to the oven and bake until the sauce is bubbly and the cheese is melted and browned, 45 to 50 minutes. Sprinkle the remaining 1 Tbs. parsley on top. Let the lasagna rest for 15 minutes before serving. Serves 8 to 10.

8 Comments

Favorite Essential Oil Diffusor Blends for Summer

7/17/2016

10 Comments

As summer unfolds, we start to become aware that it won't last forever. Take a moment to savor the unique beauty of the season. Immerse your senses in its radiance.

Lately, the temperatures have been soaring and I appreciate some good downtime indoors.
I invite you to curl up with a good book, iced hibiscus tea, and your favorite essential oil diffusor.
Listen to the cicadas sing as these diffusor blends unfurl their ephemeral aromas . . .

Summer Stillness
7 drops of lavender
2 drops of roman chamomile
1 drop of vetiver

Garden Dreams
4 drops of lime
2 drops of basil
3 drops clary sage
1 drop of spearmint

Pacify Pitta
4 drops of geranium
2 drops of vetiver
4 drops of lime

Sunset Meditation
2 drops of sandalwood
2 drops of myrrh
6 drops red mandarin

Spirit Wing
1 drop of everlasting
2 drops of neroli
7 drops of lemon

Do you have a favorite essential oil or blend for Summer?
Feel free to share in the comments below!

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Summer Recipes: Artichokes

6/27/2016

16 Comments

I'm excited to introduce you to Myrthe Noordegraaf, our newest guest blogger!
Born Dutch, living French, Myrthe is living a simple life at the beautiful French countryside.

I hope you enjoy her musings and photography (pictured below ) . . .

For the first time in my own garden !
Artichokes are beautiful, healthy, easy to cook and a pleasure to eat.
No need to say that it's one of my favorite vegetables.

How to cook :

Cook or steam them until the outer leaves can easily be pulled off.
Cooking : +/- 45 minutes in a large pot of boiling water
Steaming : +/- 15 minutes

How to eat :

Take one leave at the time, dip it in a vinaigrette (mixture of vinegar, oil, mustard) and eat the little fleshy part.
Keep on doing this until the leaves become thinner. You can eat them or pull them of.
To reach the heart remove the hairy part (inedible).
Put some vinaigrette on the heart and enjoy !

Bon appétit,

Myrthe

"L'Art de vivre is to take time to enjoy small simple things." More than 15 years ago, Myrthe chose France as her home. Today she shares flashes out of her daily life and inspiration with you at www.myrthe.fr

16 Comments

Healthy Seasonal Living: Spring Renewal Rituals

3/18/2016

3 Comments

Spring is the season of beginning and creation. After winter and lots of time spent indoors, our bodies (and spirits) can feel sluggish, depressed, and lethargic. Here are a few tips to increase your vitality and prepare for the new season ahead:

Take daily walks outside. Even 5-10 minutes makes a difference. Listen to the birds sing and notice all that is changing outdoors.
Open your windows and let in the fresh spring air.
Put plans into action. Spring is a wonderful time for new beginnings.
Cook a batch of Kitchari to promote healthy digestion. I like to serve Kitchari with a simple parsley salad. Rinse parsley, chop it up, and add a bit of lemon juice, olive oil, sea salt, and pepper.
Take a salt water bath. Add 3-4 cups of sea salt to a hot bath. At the end of your bath, add 5 drops of Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus radiata). Eucalyptus decongests and supports respiratory health. Not recommended for children and those with heart problems, high blood pressure, or diabetes.
Exfoliate your skin and improve circulation with natural salt scrubs, or try dry skin brushing.
Declutter your surroundings. Find one surface to clear off, or clean out one drawer. I find that cleaning off your nightstand is especially satisfying; it's typically the first and last thing you see every day.
Eat more fresh greens and less sugar.
Make parsley pesto. Simply substitute parsley for basil in your favorite pesto recipe. The mouth-watering aroma of fresh pesto is so invigorating. Parsley supports the immune system and flushes out excess fluids from the body.
Try replacing a few of your beauty/personal care products with natural alternatives.
Try spring cleaning with essential oils. For a multi-purpose cleaner, fill up a large spray bottle with half water and half white distilled vinegar. Add 30 drops of essential oils, shake, and spray. Lemon, lavender, and tea tree are a few great oils for multi-purpose cleaning.

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“Is the spring coming?" he said. "What is it like?"...
"It is the sun shining on the rain and the rain falling on the sunshine...”

― Frances Hodgson Burnett, The Secret Garden

3 Comments

Favorite Essential Oil Diffusor Blends for Spring

2/15/2016

6 Comments

I know we're not there yet, but I'm dreaming of spring and wanted to share a few of my favorite diffusor recipes. I invite you to take this time in winter to collect a few essential oils and your favorite candlelit diffusor. Notice your spirits lift as you transform an ordinary room into a sensuous, serene, healing space.

I hope you enjoy these diffusor blends!

Awakening of Spring
5 drops of lavender
2 drops of geranium
3 drops of clary sage

Refresh
3 drops of peppermint
7 drops of lavender

Move Kapha & Stimulate the Mind
3 drops of ginger
4 drops of lemon
3 drops of rosemary

Spring Slumber
5 drops of lavender
2 drops of Roman chamomile
3 drops mandarin

Happily Ever After
1 drop of neroli
3 drops of petitgrain
4 drops of sweet orange
2 drops of rosewood

Do you have a favorite essential oil or blend for Spring?
Feel free to share in the comments below!

6 Comments

Natural Winter Skin Care

12/3/2015

8 Comments

I'm so excited to introduce you to our newest guest blogger, Camille Leinbach.
Camille is an holistic skincare expert and owner of Autumn Moon Aesthetics.
I hope you enjoy her insights!

When the winter’s glorious chill sets in, it often brings about a new set of skin care concerns. When the temperature begins to drop, spending more time in indoor forced-air heat can quickly dehydrate your skin. Going outside into the cold causes skin to quickly lose moisture to the air. It is a recipe for dry, itchy, flaky, unhappy skin.

Here are a few tips to keep your skin naturally healthy and moisturized in cold weather:

Drink plenty of water, coconut water and herbal teas to help keep your skin hydrated. Eat plenty of fruits and veggies to also increase hydration in your body.
Try to avoid caffeinated drinks, as they dry out your skin. If you must have your coffee in the morning (and, believe me, I understand!), drink an extra glass of water for each cup.
Try to avoid alcohol, as it also dehydrates your skin.
When headed outside, cover your skin as much as possible with clothing. Cover any areas of exposed skin with a thick, natural lotion to prevent moisture loss.
Apply lip balm frequently throughout the day, especially before you go outside.
Keep baths and showers short and warm (not hot). Hot water dries skin out by stripping your skin of its natural oils.
Gently exfoliate dry skin with a brush, loofah or exfoliating gloves prior to getting into the bath or shower. Dry, flaky skin needs to be removed from the surface of skin to allow products to work more effectively. Be SUPER gentle if your skin is overly sensitive, and perform this treatment only a few times a week.
Avoid cleansing your entire body every day, especially with a foaming soap or body wash, as they can strip your skin of precious oils. Skip a day of sudsing, or wash only those most important bits daily.
Try replacing your regular body wash with 1 part honey to 1 part oil (jojoba or coconut is lovely) a few times a week in place of your regular body cleanser. You can also wash damp skin with a simple body scrub made of a bit of oil added to organic sugar to make a paste.
Apply oils and lotions immediately after showering or bathing, while your skin is still damp, to capture moisture and seal it into your skin.
Layer your products to protect skin from loss of precious moisture to the elements - start with a layer of oil, followed by a rich lotion or body butter.

Helpful Ingredients for Dry Skin:

Oils like olive, coconut, hazelnut, grapeseed, jojoba, sesame and sunflower work to replace lost moisture, while being easily absorbed into skin.
Humectants like honey and vegetable glycerin help to pull moisture from the air into your skin.
Oils like rosehip seed and carrot seed help to increase cell regeneration, repairing damaged tissues.
Products containing beeswax add a breathable, protective layer to skin that helps to retain moisture.
Products containing aromatic essential oils like helichrysum, patchouli, lavender, ylang ylang and sandalwood help to soothe and heal dry, itchy skin. Gilded Camellia™, an aromatic facial oil available in the Autumn Moon Etsy Boutique, is ideal for supporting healthy, moist skin.
Aloe soothes, heals and stops itching. Look for 100% pure aloe, as many packaged aloe products actually contain fillers, dyes and added fragrances.
Herbs like calendula, chamomile and lavender are soothing, healing and anti-inflammatory for dry, irritated skin. A nice oil infused with these plants is a great treat for dry skin.
Herbs like rose, licorice, marshmallow and chickweed are cooling and demulcent (they form a soothing, protective layer on dry skin). Try using an infusion of one or more of these in place of your usual toner. Keep your infusion refrigerated and use within 48 hours for freshness.

I hope this offers some easy, helpful ways to hydrate, repair and protect your skin during these upcoming months.

Stay cozy, warm and soft!

Camille

Camille Leinbach, owner of Autumn Moon Aesthetics, is a holistic aesthetician, aromatherapist and herbalist with over 15 years experience in the skin care industry. Visit her at www.plantglamour.com for more natural skin care tips and artisan botanical skin care and cosmetics.

8 Comments

Autumn Recipes: Gluten Free Kabocha Tea Bread

9/10/2015

2 Comments

Lois Leonhardi is an Ayurveda expert, yoga instructor, and author of two incredible Ayurvedic cookbooks. Every recipe I have made from her books has been exceptional!

I'm so excited that Lois is generously sharing one of her delicious recipes for this blog.
Enjoy!!

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Gluten Free Kabocha Tea Bread

Kabocha is a delicious squash that is often referred to as “Japanese Pumpkin”. It is sweeter and moister than a pumpkin, but less sweet than a yam. It is reputed to be an aphrodisiac and loaded with vitamin A & C – kabocha will keep you healthy through the winter!

Ingredients

For the Orange Glaze:
3 ounces full-fat canned coconut milk
2 tablespoons coconut sugar
1 teaspoon grated orange rind
1 teaspoon cardamom, ground

For the Bread:
3 eggs
6 ounces full-fat canned coconut milk
⅓ cup Grade B maple syrup
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 teaspoon almond extract
1 cup kabocha squash, peeled, cubed, boiled
1 cup almond flour/meal
¾ cup brown rice flour
¼ cup arrowroot flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
¼ teaspoon baking soda
¾ teaspoon Himalayan salt
2 tablespoons ground cinnamon (yes – 2 tablespoons!)
¼ teaspoon ground anise
½ teaspoon ground nutmeg

Make the Orange Glaze:
In a sauce pan, heat the coconut milk, cardamom and coconut sugar over medium high and bring it to a boil. Reduce heat and continue to cook, stirring consistently, until coconut milk has thickened (10-15 minutes). Stir in the orange rind and allow glaze to cool.

Make the bread:
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a 9” loaf pan.

In a Vitamix™ put the eggs, coconut milk, maple syrup, olive oil, almond extract and squash. Turn to low setting first then switch to high, blending until puréed (about 10 seconds). Alternatively, you can use a hand mixer or food processor.

In a separate bowl, mix together the remaining (dry) ingredients. Add the wet ingredients to the dry, and mix. Pour batter into the prepared loaf pan and bake for 45 to 55 minutes.

Remove from oven and cool for 20 minutes. Remove from pan spread the orange glaze over the top. Wrap in wax paper, then aluminum foil; eat within 3 days.

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To learn more about Lois Leonhardi, check out her beautiful website: Yoga With Lois
You can also pre-order her newest book, The Essential Ayurvedic Cookbook.

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Healthy Seasonal Living ~ Indian Summer Aromatherapy

7/26/2015

8 Comments

Photography by Sandra Marie

Late Summer is considered to be a fifth season in the Five Element Theory of Chinese Medicine.
It begins in late August (3rd week) and ends at the Autumn Equinox (Sept. 23rd).

This short, still season is a transition point between the hot, outgoing days of Summer and the focus and inner reflection of Fall.

Late Summer is associated with the Earth element, which corresponds to digestion and nourishment. It is an important time for centering and grounding. Instead of resisting change, aim to cultivate adaptability, relaxation, and faith.

A Few Indian Summer Health Tips:

~ Drink chamomile tea, which soothes the stomach and helps calm the nervous system.
~ Relax, sit, and savor a meal. Eat in a serene environment in an unhurried manner.
Light a candle to accompany your meal.
~ As the weather cools, you may want to incorporate some warming foods that support the Earth element. Foods like ginger, squash, pumpkin, fennel, and mustard greens help your digestive system.
- The Earth element corresponds to community, so make sure to savor the last days of summer with family and friends.

A Few of My Favorite Essential Oils for Indian Summer:

Cardamom ~ Warming and comforting. Restores an "appetite for life." Cardamom has been utilized to support digestion for thousands of years.

Cedarwood ~ Fortifying and strengthening. Steadies the mind during times of change.
Coriander ~ A joyful oil that promotes creativity and a sense of peace. Supports healthy digestion.

Frankincense ~ A deeply spiritual oil that is beneficial for meditation, contemplation, and prayer. Nourishes the skin and has pain relieving properties.
Mandarin ~ Refreshing, cleansing, and uplifting. Eases tension and supports a healthy nervous system.
Mandarin Petitgrain ~ Made from the leaves and twigs of the Mandarin tree. Strongly relaxing and soothes muscle cramps.
Neroli ~ Also known as Orange Blossom. Exquisite scent and emotionally nourishing.
Patchouli - Grounding and soothing; brings balance to difficult moods.
Sandalwood ~ A mesmerizing, sweet-woody oil. Eases obsessive worry and promotes peace and insight.

Ylang Ylang ~ Exotic, sweet aroma that releases inhibitions and encourages feelings of euphoria.

If you're interested in more seasonal wisdom for Indian Summer, take a peek at my newest offering; Indian Summer Aromatherapy.

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