In the system of Ayurveda, there are three doshas or body types: Vata, Pitta and Kapha. Vata, the principle of movement, is aggravated by an erratic lifestyle. The more that Vata is out of balance, the more that an individual engages in irregular regimens. So, the cycle perpetuates itself. We must learn strategies for balancing […]
Add some spice to your life!
While Indians do have lower life expectancies than people living in the West, and they suffer from diseases like malnourishment and malaria, it’s a well-documented fact that they don’t suffer from some of the same dis-eases as Americans. They have lower rates of heart disease, cholesterol, and diabetes. One reason that Indians do maintain their […]
Something to smile about!
One oft-neglected regimen in our lives is our mouth and dental hygiene. We take our teeth, lips, saliva, etc. for granted until we have a problem. Then we run to the dentist. When was the last time you saw the dentist? Make an appointment today if it’s been a while since you got checked for […]
New Regimens for a New Year
Today marks the first day of the Indian new year. Yesterday was the festival of Diwali (dee-vaah-lee) or Deepavali (deep-uh-vaah-lee) – the festival of lights. Deepa means dharma (sacred duty) and avali means a continuous line. Diwali celebrates the return of Lord Rama back home after a 14 year period of exile. The residents of […]
Winter is upon us
It is November and while we’ve been having atypical weather everywhere, the true taste of winter is just around the corner. Speaking in Ayurvedic terms, winter can easily imbalance both Vata and Kapha doshas (body types). Vata is cold, dry, rough, and mobile. Kapha is heavy, static, cool, and dense. While we can consider the doshas […]
The Holidays Commence…Navratri 2007
Today marks the first night of Navratri 2007 (pronounced Nuh-vuh-rah-trii (as in bee)) in the Indian calendar. Nav = nine and ratri = night. Thus, it is the night nights that are dedicated to the celebration of the goddess. The first three days/ nights are dedicated to the goddess Durga (pronounced Dour (rhymes with tour) gah […]
The Act of Leaving
There are some leaves that are nestled in the space in my car near the windshield wipers. They’re dry and curled up now, but at some point they were bright green and more vibrant. As I was driving today, I realized that they’ve been there for a while now. I haven’t done anything about them or paid […]
Is it me or my chart?
There often seems to be confusion on the part of the general public about what an astrological chart represents. It tells the story of our personality, conditioning, personality traits, preferences, etc. It certainly gives us habitual ways of behaving. The goal of Vedic astrology or Jyotish is to illumine such tendencies in our lives […]
It’s Getting Crowded in Here!
In America, we really like our space. The expression, “You’re invading my personal space” used to be quite popular. We can take a break from a relationship saying, “I need my space”. That is reason enough, we rationalize. We talk about not having enough room in our homes, closets, offices, etc. Storage units are […]
Cultivating an Attitude of Gratitude
Pause for a moment from reading and whatever else you might be doing at the same time. Look up. Take a deep breath, blink and exhale. Take a good look around. A really close look. You may be intimately familiar with your surroundings, but have you really carefully assessed what is in your possession or […]