Healing Sage

Sage has been used by healers of various cultures for millenia. The dried herb can be burned as a way to purify the air, it is used in opening/closing ceremonies and cleansing rituals, and many believe that sage brings about peace and protection. 

Burning dried sage is a form of smoke cleansing, and this process has been shown to change the molecular makeup of the air and overall energy in a space. This change happens as the smoke attaches itself to negative energy and as it dissipates, the negative energy dissipates as well. Studies show that burning herbs, like sage, can even reduce bacteria in the air. Practicing smoke cleansing not only smells great, but can positively impact your mood, since smoke increases the oxygen supply in the brain. More oxygen in the brain = muscle relaxation = happier self. 

When doing a smoke cleansing, set a positive intention for the practice. Bring positive energy to the space or person you are going to cleanse, and allow the smoke to take away any negative energy. (Be aware of hot embers that may fall, and have a small bowl in your other hand under the bundle to catch these, if needed.)

We recently picked sage from our healing garden and have bundled them up as small gifts for you. Next time you have an appointment at MindBody Wellness, feel free to take a sage bundle for your use. 

References


Garza, M. Make Your Own DIY Floral Sage Bundle to Cleanse Your Space. Retrieved from https://www.yogiapproved.com/life-2/diy-smudge-sage/

Limao, J. (2017). Homemade Sage Bundle + Smudging. Retrieved from https://pleaseconsider.com/homemade-sage-bundle-smudging/

Be Grateful to Everyone

You may already be familiar with Pema Chodron’s work. Her writing and teachings have inspired many to live a more grounded and spiritually-aware existence. Pema Chodron has written many influential books, including When Things Fall Apart, The Wisdom of No Escape, and Living Beautifully, to name a few. 

One of her excerpts from Start Where You Are is titled: Be Grateful to Everyone. This slogan teaches us that when we reject or dislike other people, we are actually rejecting or disliking pieces of ourselves. If we are able to be grateful to everyone, in turn, we are able to be grateful to ourselves. 

Pema writes, “If we were to make a list of people we don’t like--people we find obnoxious, threatening, or worthy of contempt--we would find out a lot about those aspects of ourselves that we can’t face. If we were to come up with one word about each of the troublemakers in our lives, we would find ourselves with a list of descriptions of our own rejected qualities, which we project onto the outside world” (p. 56). 

Another way of understanding this idea is: “...other people trigger the karma that we haven’t worked out. They mirror us and give us the chance to befriend all of that ancient stuff that we carry around like a backpack full of granite boulders” (p. 56). 

Sitting with the reality that we all have unfinished business and baggage we carry around is tough. Reflect on how this happens for you, without attaching any guilt or shame. Once you become aware, you can begin to change habits and patterns. Start by taking a curious stance and when you notice yourself becoming annoyed with someone, ask yourself, “what piece of this other person is actually a reflection of what needs attention in me?” Be patient and kind to yourself as you dig down to the issues coming up in yourself. Through this practice, you can start to embody the idea of being grateful to everyone. 

References
Chodron, P. (1994). The Pema Chodron Collection. “Be Grateful to Everyone.” One Spirit:

Shambhala Publications, Inc.

Energizing Exercise: Connecting Heaven and Earth

Have you been feeling sluggish and tired? When you wake up in the morning, do your joints and muscles feel sore? Are you someone who gets up and immediately starts moving through your morning routine? If any of these describe you, consider starting your day with a simple Energy Medicine exercise. 

“Connecting Heaven and Earth” is an exercise that opens the meridians, brings oxygen to the cells, and activates mood-boosting endorphins as well as the immune system. Try this stretch for the waist, hips, and torso at the start of your morning or whenever you need to feel refreshed throughout the day. 

  1. Stand up, and put your hands on your thighs, fingers spread. 

  2. Inhale through your nose while bringing your arms out and together in a prayer position. Exhale through your mouth. 

  3. Inhale again, stretching one arm up and one arm down, pushing with flat palms. Hold, exhale through your mouth, and place your hands back in prayer position. Switch arms and repeat. 

  4. Let your arms fall at your sides, fold your body forward at the waist, and bend your knees slightly. Take two full breaths before slowly rising back to a standing position. 

References

Eden, D. (2012). The Little Book of Energy Medicine: The Essential Guide to Balancing Your Body’s Energies. New York: Penguin Group.