Once every 28 days nature supplies us with an intense yin energy that comes with the full moon.  It is especially good to practice qigong, meditate, and let go of what no longer supports our health and happiness during the full moon.  This natural rhythm helps to maintain a healthy balance for our mind, body, and spirit.

Seasonal Eating

One of the best things you can do for your health is to eat foods that are fresh and in season. Summer is the perfect time to eat fresh berries, watermelon, cherries, tropical fruits, and herbs such as cilantro, mint, or basil. Red fruits are particularly beneficial; the color red helps us to stay balanced in the hot summer months. Try these summer food ideas: Add a handful of red fruits such as raspberries or strawberries to your morning breakfast. Check out a new recipe for summer salsa. Experiment with avocado and mango. Get creative when making a "beat the heat" summer drink - add mint and watermelon for a natural cooling sensation.

Beat the Heat

Watermelon, mint, and cucumber are the best foods to help you cool down without creating a digestive imbalance. Get creative and try some new recipes using these foods. If you find a recipe you like post for all to share.

Watermelon Salad

4 cups cut-up seedless watermelon (about 1 pound)

1/2 cucumber, halved lengthwise and sliced

1/4 cup fresh mint

1 tablespoon fresh lime juice

1 teaspoon canola oil

1 teaspoon local honey

sea salt and black pepper


Toss the watermelon, cucumber, mint, lime juice, oil, honey, ½ teaspoon salt, and ¼ teaspoon pepper in a medium bowl.

Serve room temp. Enjoy!

Summer is the season of the Joy

Look closely at the events around you. Everywhere, you can see summer vacations, swimming with friends and family, and backyard parties. Summertime is a great time of year to focus on the areas in your life where you would like more joy. This time of year nature most readily supports us to have more fun and play. The energy of summer exists all around you as well as inside of you. Where can you find more fun and play in your life?

Best Cranberry Orange Cookies

Here is a link to the best cookies. These are my very favorite!!! Enjoy :) http://allrecipes.com/recipe/cranberry-orange-cookies/

Time to let go...

If you are unhappy, that simply means that you have learned tricks for being unhappy, and nothing else. The world is absolutely neutral. It has thorns, it has roses, it has nights, it has days... Now it depends on you as to what to choose. If you have decided to choose only the wrong, you will live in a wrong kind of world, because you will live in your own chosen world. Once you have learned this happy frame of mind, this positive vision of life, you will be surprised that the whole existence starts functioning in a totally different way. It starts mothering you. It starts helping you in every possible way, it becomes a great friend... translation from Osho

Spaghetti Squash With Almonds

1 

3-pound spaghetti squash, halved lengthwise and seeded

3 

tablespoons 

olive oil

1/4 

cup 

sliced almonds

2 

tablespoons 

fresh lime juice

1 

tablespoon 

honey

1/2 

teaspoon 

ground chili powder

sea salt and black pepper

4 

scallions, thinly sliced

Heat oven to 400° F. Place the squash on a rimmed baking sheet, drizzle the cut sides with 1 tablespoon of the oil, and turn cut-side down. Roast until tender, 40 to 50 minutes.

Meanwhile, spread the almonds on a baking sheet and toast in oven, tossing occasionally, until golden brown, 6 to 8 minutes.

In a medium bowl, stir together the lime juice, honey, chili powder, the remaining 2 tablespoons of oil, 1 teaspoon salt, and ¼ teaspoon pepper.

With a fork, gently scrape the strands of squash flesh into the bowl and toss with the lime juice mixture. Sprinkle with the almonds and scallions.

Enjoy!

Winter Support

We know that experiences of settling into your being will be only momentary in the beginning. One moment you will find yourself relaxed into your being, another moment it will be gone... One moment all is fragrance, and the next moment you are searching for it and you cannot find it, where it has gone. Only glimpses will happen in the beginning. Slowly, slowly, they become more and more solid, they abide more and more. Slowly slowly, slowly slowly, they settle forever. Before that, you cannot be allowed to take it for granted: that will be a mistake. Between sessions, use the method. Drop the method when you are in meditation. But this will happen only for moments in the beginning. For a moment the clouds had separated and you had seen the sun. Now the clouds are there again; it is all dark and the sun has disappeared. It is so incredible, it looks so impossible, that it could have happened to YOU. With all this stupidity in the mind, with all these clouds and darkness, it had happened to you: you saw the sun for a moment. It doesn't look probable - you must have imagined it, maybe you had fallen into a dream and seen it. Between sessions start again, be in the boat, use the boat again. ...translated from Osho Have a peaceful winter. Take the time to be gentle with your with yourself. Some days naturally feel better than others. Take the time to relax into your qigong practice, to relax into the life of your dreams.

Happy New Year!!

I hope that you are already finding happiness in 2012.   It's a good time to get a fresh start on those projects that you have been dreaming about.  In the New Year remember to be flexible and gentle with your self and your schedule. 

The Year of the Water Dragon enters on January 23rd. The Water element lends balance and a sense of calm to the energy of the Dragon.  In the Chinese zodiac the dragon is related to good luck and healing power. Let's hope that you can capture these qualities in your daily life.  We look forward to practicing and growing with you in this special year. 

Note:  The energy of each year only repeats every 60 years.  So, the next time we will be in the Year of the Water Dragon will be in 2072.  Take the opportunity now to love, laugh, and practice!!