the medicine of mate & the master brew

For just over a year I have found a great friend in Yerba Mate.  It never affected me in the same way as the caffeine in coffee or green teas did.  I never experienced the jitters, a crash, or the dehydration with Mate.  What I did experience was really clear thinking and Oh! such happiness!  I mean, happy, positive thoughts, and enthusiasm for life in all the shapes it took.  

We began our move here to Los Angles last spring and it just so happened that was when Mate became my daily companion.  Honestly, I thought I was just so excited to be here, in a new city, a new life, with a new wide open future ahead.  And this was true.  However, little did I realize that the Mate was a medicine to match all the positive happening, and maybe creating an even more enthused me that might not have been without it's help.  Little did I know this, until that is, a couple of months ago.

A couple of months ago, I decided that I was going to let go of this companion, Mate and transition to what a friend of mine calls my 'Master Brew.'  More on that shortly.  In all my years of drinking coffee or green tea, never did I ever go through any kind of with-drawl symptoms.  Of course, that could have something to do with the fact that I transitioned from one to the next.  But in my defense as well, I did have a period of time in Tucson in which I did enjoy a variation of my Master Brew. . . oh yay, that concoction did include raw cocoa powder, didn't it?  Well then, I guess it is safer to say, I have never really been too long without some form of stimulant in my system in a very, very, very long time!

So, as I was saying, a couple months ago I decided to do without my cherished Yerba Mate.  Wow, was I in for a surprise!  Confusion, sleepiness, foggy brain, crankiness and depression set in.  I didn't even know I was going through with-drawl for a few days.  Finally I saw a post on Face Book from someone else who just so happened to be leaving her Mate behind too.  I was relieved to find similar sentiments in her comments and I felt better knowing I wasn't alone in this unsettled state of mind.

I took solace in my Master Brew.  Being what we would refer to in Ayurveda, a Vata-Pitta constitution, my body was really calling out for some balancing, calming, soothing and nourishing.  After a year of transitioning, beginning two new businesses, and also holding a demanding role in my 'job', no wonder I was feeling the need to sooth. A Vata type can only be on go-mode for so long!  The Master Brew fed me on so many levels.  I began to balance out, the fog lifted, the mood rose naturally, and the crankiness softened.

In all honesty though, the Mate held something that I couldn't regain on my own.  I struggled with this odd dependency I was pulled toward, only this time it was conscious.  I played with it.  Every couple of days I would indulge in a Mate, remain present to what it was creating in my mind, and then let it go again.  My sensitivity to it increased with it's absence and I found my desire for it to become balanced as well.  

What I have concluded for myself is that it is a medicine that I can utilize with consciousness.  There are some days when I have a lot of mental work that needs to take place, I do invite the medicine of Mate to aid this process.  There are days when I recognize it is best for me to be in a higher vibe, I invite Mate in to help here too!  However, in this conscious approach, it has been discovered that this body does not always need or desire it's particular vibration and qualities.  There has been an evening out in my system in which it desires to experience peace, an inner quietude, a groundedness that comes with the Master Brew.  

In the end, I find both to be incredibly beneficial to my health, peace of mind and enthusiasm for life.  I feel grateful to this body for communicating to me it's needs and the ability to be conscious in the skills of discernment of the body's messages.  As I have balanced out, the messages are clearer.  I partake without guilt and now the high vibe happiness that used to be ignited by Mate, has found a genuine expression without.  I must admit though, that there is a specific quality of happiness, enthusiasm and clarity, present all at once with the medicine of Mate, that I have yet to perceive all by my little ol' self! And there are days that fullness is accessed!

More and more, it is the Master Brew that calls out to me.  As my meditation & yoga practice are now becoming more consistent, once again, the qualities of peace and calm win out.  The Master Brew for anyone who may wish to explore it's nourishment, along with a few of the many benefits, is as follows:

Ashwaganda Root: 

Boosts immune, combats stress, increase memory & learning, aids anxiety/depression, balances blood sugar & cholesterol, anti inflammatory . . .

Astragalus Root:

Increase vitality & immune system, combats stress, heart health. . .

Cats Claw:

Increase immunity, anti-inflammatory, aids arthritis, positive affect for breast cancer, supports digestion. . .

Pau d'Arco:

Increase Immunity, fights cancers & infections, stimulates red-blood cell production, blood purifier . . .

Holy Basil/Tulsi:

Increase immune, decrease stress, increase mental clarity, antioxidant properties, soothes headaches, supports skin & heart health, balances hormones, increases joy, increases cerebral circulation . . .

Lavender or Rose Petals: 

Both are cooling, calming, soothing and increases the feminine energies. . .

If you need some soothing in this stimulating world, perhaps the Mater Brew will call to you too.  I might add, I am not an herbalist or doc, so always research based on your own health and any medications you might be taking and listen to your body!

Happiness & Health!

katy perry - firework

thank you katy perry

Yesterday we went to see the new movie, "Katy Perry ~ Part of Me."  We loved it and felt great after seeing it.  Not being familiar with her or her music really, I was left humming, singing and smiling! From the personal glimpses in the movie, I really appreciated her joyfulness, humor and enjoyment of life.  I was also taken by the embodiment she has achieved of not only being a beautiful and sexy woman, but she has yoked that with a childlike whimsy and wholesomeness.  Even as she hits the stage, minimally clothed, in a large busted bra with tassels swinging from the  nipples, there is a brightness and charm that is always present.  While it seems like most of her audience is young, even they seem to remain connected to their innocence of candy-fairy land dreams in the midst of singing along with Katy, "I kissed a girl and I liked it . . ."  My favorite aspect of the movie and her message though, is that of embracing who you are, be it geek or starlet, follow your dreams,  find your individual spark of authenticity and let it SHINE!

I am a push-over for true stories, celebrity stories and come-back kid-against the odds stories.  I love to feel inspired and reminded that we all have dreams, we are all filled with inspiration that moves through us, and we all have our own unique purpose of why we are here.  The trick however, is to wade through the conventional expectations and sometimes very real survival aspects of daily life. I do believe we all have dreams, aspirations and a special purpose, but sometimes the reality is that it is way too difficult to FEEL those things are true for us.  We watch those who do live out their dreams and continue to feel it is out of our reach.  It is for those few, not for us.  I believe that is one of the reasons our society is mesmerized with celebrity.  We revere celebrities as royalty, whether they are movie stars, musicians or athletes.  We are intrigued and enamored with the ways we are shown 'they are just like us.'

Of course they are just like us.  Well, maybe not in all ways.  One thing that seems to be consistent for them and maybe a bit different than us average Joe's and Jane's, is that they have dedicated themselves to their dream.  They believe they can reach that star!  They are willing to risk hardship, disappointment, and being thought of as being ridiculous by those around them.  They are also willing to live outside the box of conformity, they are willing to risk the comforts of security and they step out into their fears, the unknown, and allow what comes through them to take the lead.

I certainly don't believe all this is conscious, yet I do believe there is a surrendering process to something bigger than them, whether it all makes sense or not!  I feel we are in awe of the people who push the edges of the box, who risk and put themselves out there, because they reflect to us a part of ourselves.  It is as if we project onto them what we also have within us, but we may fail to recognize our awe is attempting to awaken us to ourselves!  Our own spark is trying to ignite when we get all turned on by those whose names are in lights.

That is another one of the beautiful messages I heard in yesterday's movie . . . We are the spark! Let it shine!
Katie is sending this powerful message to young people today and they are listening.  Those who were interviewed shared how she has helped them to accept themselves, however they are; to reach for what brings them joy, for their dreams; to be true to who they are.

Young people are not the only ones who need to hear this truth.  It wasn't until I was in my 30's that I even began to listen inwardly and believe that I was here to follow my dream, give life to my purpose and come alive in the voice I am here to speak with.  When we wake up later in life, it also means we have to take off the heavy blankets of misconceptions or lies that we have been told.  But that in no way means that the work isn't fruitful and shouldn't be started.  It is never too late to find what we love and give that attention, energy and life.

So, the layers have sometimes slowly, sometimes rapidly been shed as I become more aware of what lies inside of me.  My dreams may not be of stage lights and autographs, yet they are not any less powerful.  I may not have to overcome fears of succeeding/failing in the eyes of millions, yet the fears I get to work through are still scary.  The authenticity of voice may not have to be fought for as those that are under big money contracts, yet I still find I have to delve into self-imposed ideas of how I should let my gifts flow.

It also seems to me, that if we connect to our inspirations, feel them as a voice of guidance, then have the courage to follow them ~ whatever the risks, we would be more creative, more joyful, more peaceful, more whole.  If we as individuals were more creative, joyful, peaceful and whole, that would impact our world in an uplifting way.

I am reminded every time I find myself feeling an energy surge from those who I see as 'making it', that I am seeing myself, my life and my dreams coming to life and hopefully I can touch others in the way Katy is!
 I will close by simply saying 'Thank you Katy Perry! For the playfulness, beauty, authentic expression of your gifts, and uplifting all of our hearts with smiles and possibility!'