Top 10 Products We Love for May

 

1. Evan Healy Rose Face Care Kit

Simply put, your skin will thank you. This kit transforms dry, oily or combination skin into luscious silk. This rose-based line is formulated to help re-establish a healthy hydro/lipid balance with rose geranium and carrot seed. In the morning, awaken your body by cleansing with rose milk followed by toning with rose geranium hyrdosoul and rosehip serum. Don’t forget to massage in some rose vetiver day moisturizer before stepping out the door and applying on some french rose clay before snuggling into bed. 

2. Kaleidoscope Living Foods Lemon Ginger Miso Vegan Kale Chips and Fennel with Fuji Apple & Lamb Bone Broth Kale Chips

These kale chips are the new wave of healthy raw food snacking. They are so addicting, we couldn’t choose just one flavor. Kaleidoscope Living Foods has formulated gluten, nut and soy free chips that pack bold and zesty flavor into each transient bag. Our favorite vegan and Bone Broth flavors are packed with activated and nutrient dense ingredients that are the perfect pick-me-up snack to brighten your afternoon. You can truly taste the positive energy and ethical practices that go into making each single chip through their community efforts to honor and work with local farmers, wild crafters and ranchers.

3. M. Parke Studio + Parke Rituals Deep Earth Spirit Soak

We hold Melissa Rousseau’s elegant company near and dear to our hearts. With such love and devotion, Rousseau uses only the highest quality organic and wildcrafted transformational herbs, minerals and crystals to create gaia connecting bath soaks. From your root to your crown chakra, you can feel the connection of ritual and healing, as you relax and ground deeper into your infused water bath. This contains top level vibrations with each ritual jar containing a ritual guide, a muslin cloth to create your bath infusion, a rose quartz crystal to add to your bath, + palo santo for clearing your energy fields before your soak.

4. Honey Mama’s Dutch Bar

If the adorable packaging and company name haven’t wheeled you in yet, then their Dutch Bar will. Made with only five organic, direct-trade and non-GMO ingredients, single origin alkalized cocoa, raw local honey, sprouted almonds, unrefined coconut oil, Himalayan pink salt, and La Vencedora vanilla, this elegant bar will send your taste buds flying. It will melt at 75 degrees or higher, but not to worry, you will finish it before it's too late! 

5. Bee’s Wrap Sustainable Food Storage

And if you want to save the other half of that Dutch Bar before it melts, we have the solution. We are buzzing for this innovative company of the future. Founded by Vermonter and mother Sarah Kaeck, Bee’s Wrap was created as a sustainable alternative to plastic wrap. By infusing organic cotton with beeswax, organic jojoba oil, and tree resin, she has created a washable, reusable, and compostable alternative that is a step in the right direction to eliminating plastics. Families can rejoice in knowing their kids will not be exposed to chemicals or BPA through their homemade lunches. 

6. Peruvian Harvest Dried Golden Berries Covered in Chocolate with Yacon Syrup

These bewitching berries presented themselves to Sima while she was traveling through the desert wilderness of Joshua Tree. This snack is perfect for those days you are just craving sugar, however, a plain chocolate bar just wont satisfy your sweet tooth. These treats by Peruvian Harvest are gluten, dairy and, if you can believe it, sugar free! They contain no artificial ingredients and due to their high FOS content, Yacon Syrup has a low glycemic index, which won't cause your blood sugar to spike. They even claim it can help boost weight loss!

7. Urb Apothecary Lips Cheeks Tint/Blush Stick

This Santa Cruz based company’s chemical-free and organic vision comes directly from the land itself. The herbs speak for themselves by complimenting each other in this tint stick by creating a natural rosy glow. You can build your hues of pink and red to create the essential and effortless dewy look that will take you from day to night.

8. Brothee Vegan Mushroom Broth

You have probably heard about the medicinal benefits of the bone broth craze. However, if you are vegan, it can be tough to hop on the train. However, Brothee has created a potent and delicious vegan broth with wild restorative mushrooms such as Chaga, Shiitake, Morel and Porcini. Sip on the go to your next meeting or sit back, read a peaceful book and have it delivered directly to you. Available for delivery in Los Angeles.

9. Seaweed Bath Co. Unscented Body Wash

You know how we love our ethically sustainable companies. Vegan, cruelty and paraben-free in 100% post-consumer recycled plastic bottles, this versatile seaweed-based wash lathers the body in slippery smooth oils, leaving you feeling hydrated and nourished. It contains nutrient-rich and detoxifying seaweed extracts, such as bladderwrack and spirulina, and emollient oils such as neem, Hawaii Kukui, coconut and aloe vera. Don't worry, it's unscented, so you won’t smell like the ocean! 

10. Heart of Gold Rose the Beautiful Cream

As you browse this Portland based company’s site, you instantly begin to meditate on gratitude for the miraculous gifts that earth provides. Heart of Gold uniquely resonates with the beauty of color, specifically gold, as it embodies resilience and grace. Housed in high-quality glass, this buttery cream lightens and brightens the skin with superfoods and minerals such as rosewater, virgin prickly pear, squalane, sea buckthorn and calendula. With a proprietary anti-aging essential oil blend, you will combat inflammation with the elements of earth and air. 

Nettle (Urtica dioica)

By: Molly Helfend

When in doubt, use nettle. This phrase is what you could call the manual for herbalists, as we all bless the earth for allowing this tonic green goddess to thrive. Perennial and represented with the element of Fire, and known as one of the Chinese “long life” herbs, nettle is a member of its own family, the Urticaceae. Its infamous sting is the juxtaposition of medicinal healing and unfriendly irritation. Nettle is a favorite for all around remedies and is an excellent safe tonic herb that is effective and reliable for almost anyone. It's also highly nutritious and can also be eaten raw or cooked, adding a mild unique tang (similar to spinach) to almost any meal. Nettles grow throughout the United States and Canada, preferring temperate climate and semi-shaded, moist environments such as around stream and river banks. They also flourish around distressed land with high nitrogen levels left in the soil, such as along rail road tracks, at the edge of woods, or in abandoned farm fields. If you wish to grow them yourself, try to mimic these conditions in the garden. Nettles are hardy growers that should be glorified for their apt abilities to adapt to landscapes and provide salubrious nutrition to us. 

Phytochemistry: Organic acids, vitamin A, C and K, calcium, potassium, magnesium, iron, protein, formic acid, beta-carotene, chlorophyll

Herbal Actions: Anti-inflammatory, tonic, diuretic, astringent

How to Prepare: Tea, tincture, poultice/compress, capsule, urtication*, eaten fresh, dried or infused in vinegar, olive oil and honey, brewed in beer, fabric (finer than cotton or linen)

What to Use For: anemia, debility, arthritis, allergies, eczema/psoriasis, chemical sensitivities, hair and scalp, growing pains, depleted constitutions, kidney and liver function, metabolism, reproduction 

Growing Conditions: Semi-shaded with fertile moist and rich soil. Easily propagates in Spring or Autumn.

Harvesting Methods: Leaves are best harvested in Spring - if harvesting for medicine, it is preferred to harvest before the flowers open. Flowers are best harvested in early July (depending on growing conditions). Be cautious when harvesting, as the sting can be painful if you are not used to it. Chose to wear gloves or approach the plant with strength and affirm your purpose. Find mutual respect and it should leave you be. However, the sting will disappear once it is cooked, chopped or after a few hours of drying. 

Parts of Plant Used: Leaves, seeds, roots

This information is not a replacement for a medical professional, so please consult before treating yourself or others with this or any other herbal remedy.

 

Recipes featuring Nettle

 

Nutritious Herbal Seasoning 

• 1/2 cup of dulse flakes or powder
• 1/2 cup of dried nettle leaves
• 1/4 cup of dried oregano 
• 1/8 cup of garlic granules
• 3 tablespoons of Himalayan salt 
• 2 tablespoon of lemon peel 

Toss all ingredients into a bowl and mix well together. Once finished, grind in a food processor or mortar until it resembles a fine salt blend. Use in place of table salt to season any dish such as popcorn, rice, salad, vegetables or on my favorite, homemade soup! Feel free to experiment with your favorite flavors or nutritive combinations with the base of dried nettle leaf and ground seaweed.

Wild Greens Spring Pesto

• 1 handful of nettle
• 1 handful of lambs quarter
• 1 handful of chickweed or miners lettuce
• 1 handful of arugula or spinach 
• 1/2 handful of basil 
• 1 or 2 cloves of garlic 
• 1/4 cup of olive oil
• 1 whole lemon 
• 1/2 cup of sprouted sunflower or pumpkin seeds
• about 6 sprigs of sage

Throw all of these ingredients in a food processor or blender. My absolute favorite over zucchini noodles or smashed and served over a baked sweet potato.

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Molly Helfend is part of the HOC team and is an herbalist and environmental activist. She graduated from University of Vermont in 2016 with a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Studies and a concentration in Holistic Health. She will be attending University of Kent in Canterbury, England to receive her Masters Degree in Ethnobotany in 2017. She has worked for Urban Moonshine, Greenpeace and received her training with Spoonful Herbals. Her goal is to receive her PHD and become a professor at University of California Santa Cruz. Molly resides in Monte Nido, California.  

Chef Mia Wasilevich : Transitional Gastronomy

Recently, we had the pleasure to sit down for coffee at Broome Street General Store with creative author and wild plant sage and forager Mia Wasilevich. Multitalented and vastly cultured, Mia’s inherently grounded personality with plants was a breath of fresh air. We spoke about her luminous journey, new book and resonating tips for everyone to augment their relationship with plants. Be sure to check out her wild foraging and cooking classes at Transitional Gastronomy, and be sure to pre-order her new innovative book, Ugly Little Greens, being released on May 16. Read more about Mia’s story and her partner Pascal Baudar’s classes at Urban Outdoor Skills.

Your new book Ugly Little Greens comes out soon. Can you please tell our readers what this book is about?

Over the last seven years, while teaching and cooking for students and clients, I have incorporated foraged edible plants, mainly invasive “weeds” into my cuisine. These are plants that you overlook in your yard or on trails and that most people try to force out of their garden. There’s nothing particularly new about foraging or gathering wild edible plants, but each time I taught a class or did a special dinner with these plants, I found that people were amazed that you could create something beautiful, elevated yet simple and fun with them. I started getting so many requests for my recipes and I knew it was time to do a book. For the most part, these recipes are simple, don’t use too many ingredients or intricate cooking techniques, and cooks of any skill level can execute them easily. My hope is that they’ll provide inspiration for you to take the recipe, make it your own and take the dishes to a whole other level.

What recipes are you most proud of from ULG?

I think the recipes I’m most proud of are the ones that are the simplest. I love tackling the ingredients that people would think are the most difficult to work with like dandelions, for example. They can be bitter and many people just end up chucking them into a smoothie. They are probably at the top of the “Ugly Little Greens” list but you can pair their bitterness and feature it in a way that’s harmonious. I love the Braised Dandelions with Figs and Wine. I also love the savory Lambsquarters Rice Pudding with its warm and comforting richness, the simplicity of the Abdoogh Khiar (kefir over ice) with Cattail and Rosehips, and the Nettle Canederli with Wild Mushrooms and Nettle Butter. 

What is the take away message you would want readers to receive from ULG?

That fancy and good are not necessarily the same thing. To taste the plant and let it tell you if it’s a gentle flavor that needs very little or a strong flavor that challenges you to play with it. Taste your food. Look at food in a new way and open the possibility of trying new things. I think many of us get into a rut of eating the same five vegetables over and over and we prepare or cook them the same five ways. That simplicity is beautiful. Honor your environment.

Where did your love for foraging begin? Were you trained as a chef or herbalist?

I am completely self-taught as far as cooking goes. I have always been interested in food as a creative medium and I grew up during the time that food TV and the idea of “the foodie” came into being. Although my career moved into entertainment/marketing, cooking for people was the thing I did during my off time and the thing I enjoyed the most. It’s the thing that made me happy. Once I surrendered to that idea (and it is like surrendering because I did have to give up a few luxuries and some of the security that a corporate job provides) it opened a whole world of opportunities and ways to create venues to do what I really wanted.

As far as foraging, I studied with various teachers in the Los Angeles area including my partner, Pascal Baudar. I really do think that with this kind of work, you need the one-on-one experience of being taught by an actual person to give you the confidence and solid background to know what you are doing. Getting to know the land this way is like an oral history that gets passed from person to person. Studying online and from books is an excellent supplement but you can’t replace that personal connection.

I honestly don’t consider foraging some separate thing or cool “new” thing to do. It’s just another way of sourcing food. It’s like an addition to a farmers market to me. And because I had traveled a lot as a kid, I was aware that other cultures utilize what grows around and with them and integrate these kinds of plants into their cuisine and culture. There’s less of a line between weeds and cultivated plants in other parts of the world.

How did you and Pascal begin your journey together?

In true 21st century fashion, we met online. Neither one of us was particularly looking for a partner at the time, but we were both intrigued at this online dating phenomena. It was both of our first experiences with online dating and we didn’t know what we were doing. Actually, Pascal didn’t meet my online criteria but it somehow matched us up anyhow, hahaha. We both decided that we didn’t care for the online dating experience and decided to connect on the phone instead. We found some extraordinary similarities, passions and approaches to life. And most importantly, of course, what we had in common was the love of food. On one of our first dates he took me out on a forage and we instinctively just made a little feast from our harvest and the rest is history.

Why settle in such a dry chaparral climate/ecosystem like Los Angeles?

I think I tend to look at the question in reverse. I didn’t necessarily choose this location. It’s where I ended up after college and where I chose to begin my early career. This is a really important question as it lays the groundwork for my overall philosophy. When you forage, you need to adapt your expectations and skillset to your immediate environment and be adaptable, flexible, and aware. It’s not a supermarket out there or a farm where there’s a certainty of finding the type of foods you want in a specific location. Your awareness of the environment and how it shifts to accommodate the climate and weather patterns and the fact that seeds and plants move around all contribute to the need to think on your feet, be extremely observant of everything around you and to be a little intuitive. So, in a roundabout way, I have become a part of this ecosystem because I live here. I have and will continue to adapt to it and be grateful for everything it provides.

How have you remained honest and down to earth while living around the superficial or perfunctory Los Angeles scene? 

Everything is a matter of perspective. You may not be able to change certain situations or surroundings, but you always have the choice of changing your perspective. I’m not focused on the “LA scene,” per se, but I am a part of it because I’m here. I think my focusing on the kind of people I do want to meet, engage with and the projects I want to work on funnel that reciprocal energy back to me. I’ve met so many wonderful and lifelong collaborators here. It’s just incredible to me how many amazingly creative people are here and how many forward thinkers and innovators there are. And because I’ve decided to follow my bliss and do what I love full time, I’m meeting people who are doing the same. It’s wonderful. I feel like my past life was another world.

How do your recipes creatively manifest? How do you create such unique dishes? Does the plant speak to you?

Yes! Sometimes the plant does speak to me in a way. When the first little shoots arrive in the spring they give off such a light and happy little vibe that you can’t help but create something light and joyous. I also think that because I was not classically trained, I don’t have the same restraints when approaching a recipe. It’s one big happy experiment to me. And the recipes are directly inspired by the plants. I can remember at one time only having acorns and cactus to harvest and I was creating a small bespoke event. You really have to pull out all your creativity to make something cohesive and beautiful with those ingredients. That’s what I love about doing this. It’s all on the fly according to what nature provides. So really, Mother Nature is my menu planner. 

You wear many hats as also a photographer, author, chef, wild forager and food stylist. Is there one aspect of your business you enjoy the most?

Hands down the creative process of conceptualizing and making a little “story,” if you will, about whatever project I am working on. I love recipe testing and development. I absolutely love creating menus but even more than that I love crafting a unique and memorable experience for people.

Five plants you feel most connected to

There is a very specific smell to the Los Angeles area but we have so many microclimates it’s hard to say! In the spring, in my area, it’s the combination of wild cucumber (not edible) and bur-chervil that create a heady perfume. In the drier and hotter months, the spiciness of the chaparral aromatics like the sagebrush and sages and further outside of Los Angeles, the creosote. In higher altitudes, the smell of pine and fir are so fresh and prominent, and no one can forget the delicate smell of elderflowers. So, that was a hard question to answer! If I must pin just five down, I guess they would be:

• Nettles
• Bur-chervil
• Black sage
• Elderflowers
• White fir

Five wild plants you recommend we add to our diet

Definitely nettles. Always the nettles. They can do no wrong as a cooked green, as a tea or dietary supplement.

Chickweed. My favorite delicate spring green. It’s such an important salad staple to me and can be used as a green and medicinally, as well. It’s also so abundant after it rains.

Dandelions. I love it when the entire plant is useable. The young flowers are edible (and used for making wine), as are the leaves and medicinally, the roots.

Cactus. It carries so many health benefits (pertaining to blood sugar levels and diabetes). Although a little difficult to harvest, it is easy to find even in a lot of California landscaping and a little goes a long way. Both the fruits and pads are edible. My favorite way to enjoy this is to blend the cactus pads with chia, lemon, agave and kiwi fruit and make a hydrating popsicle. Perfect for summer.

Elderberry. Besides being excellent flu and cold medicine, this plant is so versatile. The flowers and their pollen are a must for making cordial and the berries can be used fresh or dried. I like to use the dried berries in savory applications.

What has been your most unique adventure?

When Pascal and I first got together, we lived at the top of a slightly remote mountain, as in dirt roads and no street lights. We lived in a farm setting with many types of animals, bees, and critters. That was a pretty immersive introduction to nature for me. I have not worn a pair of heels since this time. We decided to use only manual powered cooking equipment or primitive equipment for a few months. All I can say is that it was both challenging and magical at the same time. Note: It’s extremely difficult to get stiff peaks with egg whites at a high altitude using a manual hand blender.

What is next for you? Any adventures planned?

We’re both moving more into teaching, writing and traveling and hopefully a combination of all of those things. We’re going to try and plan a trip to Oaxaca this year and experience another ecosystem and food journey. I’m also in the planning stages of opening my own place that will be a restaurant as well as teaching center – which is the dream.

How does your work speak to women about furthering their voice and innovative journey? 

This question goes hand in hand with the last question, BTW. It really is as simple as doing what you love. And if you are not sure what it is that you love, ask yourself what you tend to be doing when you truly have down time. What do you find yourself researching or searching for information and knowledge about the most? That will definitely give you a clue.

I can only speak for myself, but I spent a lot of time thinking about what I really wanted to do and would dream about it while going through the motions of my daily life. I can’t tell you how much energy that takes and I know why I was so tired all of the time. The hard part is, well, just doing it. Why? In my case, I had the running dialogue of “Am I good enough at what I do?” “What if I fail?” “What if people don’t get what I’m doing?”

I know I’m not unique with those thoughts. I think many people let those three questions stop them from achieving what they truly want. So, I decided to answer those questions as though I were from the future. “Yes, you are absolutely great at what you do.” “You’re not going to fail, you’re going to adapt.” “Who cares if people get what you are doing. If you are really inspired, you will be inspiring.”

Biggest tip you can give to people wanting to introduce nature into their lives

I don’t think you have to go camping to introduce nature into your life. Sometimes it can be as simple as eating dinner outside in your back yard away from your phone. Plant something…anything. A tiny little potted plant that you care for daily is a beautiful way to create a bond with nature, too. If you do go for a stroll, take a plant field guide out with you and identify and really get to know one plant really well. Repeat each time you take a walk or hike and soon you’ll have your own little mental library of plants.

Where do you choose to go decompress in nature?

We’re out in nature fairly often, to be honest, and I feel like the more often you are in nature, the less you have to decompress. The great thing about Los Angeles is that you’re not far from nature wherever you are. We have friends and clients in extraordinarily scenic and tranquil areas like Malibu and Topanga and friends with properties in the high desert, too, which is such a gorgeous landscape before it gets too hot. We were just in Palm Springs during the super bloom of desert flowers for a corporate retreat and it was breathtaking. So, I guess it’s a “hazard of the job,” that we get to spend so much time in beautiful settings already. We take road trips up the coast occasionally, but I happen to love the mountains and the cooler air that the higher altitudes have. Taking a drive through Angeles National Forest and stopping at a few of the camps for a mini-camping experience is always something I love to do. Nothing fancy, just spectacular views, an amazing picnic, and good company. That’s all you need.

Learn more about Chef Mia and get her book at transitionalgastronomy.com. 

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Molly Helfend, herbalist and environmental activist, graduated from University of Vermont in 2016 with a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Studies and a concentration in Holistic Health. She will be attending University of Kent in Canterbury, England to receive her Masters Degree in Ethnobotany in 2017. She has worked for Urban Moonshine, Greenpeace and received her training with Spoonful Herbals. Her goal is to receive her PHD and become a professor at University of California Santa Cruz. Molly resides in Monte Nido, California.  

It's a Grain-free, Vegan Cinco De Mayo for House of Citrine!

Have you ever gone out to eat, ordered something healthy off the menu, but then just felt significantly off after your meal? Maybe bloating, gas or just perplexingly lousy? The truth is, even if a restaurant claims they use all organic or wholesome ingredients, we never really know what is going on behind the kitchen doors. Recently, our team went out to eat and discovered a local Los Angeles hot spot was secretly dosing their meals with refined and parlous Canola Oil. And, sure enough, we felt the effects almost immediately. But, this event inspired a luminous idea. Many people claim that restaurant style Mexican food, negating the deletable Gracias Madre, isn’t healthy, and with our recent discovery, we were afraid to investigate further. But, we have proven that you can make flavorful and nutritious Mexican food that will enliven your senses. We have created the perfect, grain-free, gluten-free, sugar-free and guilt-free Cinco De Mayo meal recipe that is sure to impress even the pickiest eater at the table. So celebrate in style, invite friends and give your stomaches the love they deserve with truly finger-licking goodness!

Yam and Black Bean Tacos (Serves 2)

• 1 large yam

• 1 organic avocado

• 1 oz. organic mango

• 1 oz. microgreens

• 1-2 teaspoons Better Bean Uncanny Refried Black Beans

• 1-2 tablespoons Burn Fermented Serrano Hot Sauce

• 1 tablespoon Leaf Cuisine Vegan Peppery Jack Cheese

• 3-4 Siete Cassava and Chia Tortillas

• Pinch of Celtic Light Grey Sea Salt

• Dollop of Garden of Life Extra Raw Virgin Coconut Oil

First, preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Cut the yam into rounds and brush with coconut oil. Then, roast or bake for 15 minutes. When finished, either slice or mash your yams for desired result. Sprinkle on black pepper and sea salt. Next, place your tortillas in the oven or on a stovetop pan for 1 minute to slightly heat up. Once warm, spread the yams in the middle of the tortilla and add the black beans alongside. Add a few slices of mango and avocado to the middle and sprinkle the microgreens on top. Then, crumble a small amount of your vegan cheese of choice. Last and certainly not least, add the fermented hot sauce to top it off. 

 

Cauliflower Rice and Cuban Black Beans (Serves 2-3)

• 1-2 cups cauliflower rice

• 1/4 cup Better Bean Cuban Black Beans

• Celtic Light Grey Sea Salt to taste

• Extra Raw Virgin Coconut Oil to heat

 *Optional: 2 garlic cloves and 1/2 cup onion 

You may use frozen cauliflower rice or use a food processor to chop fresh, organic cauliflower. Add your cauliflower rice to the stove top with a touch of coconut oil. Heat on medium for 5 minutes. Then, add your black beans to the cauliflower. Sauté in garlic and onion if needed. Leave on stove top and add your desired amount of salt to taste.

 

Nourishing Nachos (Serves 3 - 4) 

• 1/2 bag of Siete Sea Salt Grain Free Tortilla Chips

• 1/2 cup Better Bean Cuban Black Beans or Better Bean Uncanny Refried Black Beans

• 1 organic avocado

• 1 oz. microgreens

Add your tortilla chips to your plate. Next, dice up avocado into small cubes and sprinkle on the chips. Pour on your black beans of choice and scatter the micro greens. (We love using our Nourishing Nachos as a spoon to scoop up our delicious Cauliflower Rice and Cuban Black Bean dish!)

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Sima Morrison, founder of House of Citrine, is a vibrant soul with a potent zest for life and the beauty in its simple pleasures. As a holistic nutritionist, Sima has made it her life's journey to experience, to empower, and to explore the synergy between the mind and the body. She manifests her vision through her online journal, designing recipes and cultivating conversation in the sharing of health, wellness, and inspiration. Sima lives with an open heart and views being in service to others as her most important calling, practicing compassion and helping people to heal past trauma. She is a certified Kundalini yoga instructor and meditation facilitator.

AWAVEAWAKE: Looking Back to Get Ahead

By: Karli Quinn

A conscious designer with great appreciation for a woman’s silhouette, Jaclyn Hodes, has naturally made her impact on the fashion industry (in March 2017, Jaclyn appeared in Vogue) and has brought attention to an important conversation regarding fashion and ethics. We met over matcha lattes at her favorite café near her home in Topanga, California and she shared her journey that is AWAVEAWAKE. 

Her Mission

A central tenant to AWAVEAWAKE’s philosophy is their commitment to using natural dyes in the garment production process. Though challenging, expensive and time-consuming, Jaclyn stresses that this process is well worth the extra effort and time. The consequences of using chemical dyes on our waterways are massive, and it’s safe to say those chemicals are traveling through our waterways and into our homes. In using natural dyes, this issue can be eliminated entirely — if there should be any run-off or if the skin absorbs the dyes, one can take comfort knowing that what’s used to bind the color to the material is non-toxic, plant-based and harm-free. This brings up the question we are all asking ourselves: Why aren’t all designers producing clothes this way? Well, as is in many other cases, shortcuts do exist. They work for business efficiency and against sustainability. The cost: our environment and our health. 

While the conscious fashion movement lives, it is certainly not the norm. Unless intentionally attune to a consideration for long-range impact on the environment and personal benefit, many consumers don’t contemplate how what they’re buying is made or how that process potentially affects the world. Jaclyn admits that many of her own costumers don’t understand that her garments are naturally dyed and what this means. AWAVEAWAKE is devoted to continue voicing the brand’s intention as it grows so that understanding and awareness can influence the industry at large.

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Photo Credits: AWAVEAWAKE, and top left, top right and cover: Annabel Mehran, bottom left: Annabel Mehran, bottom right: Frank de Graaf

Her Inspiration

In spite of its extra hurdles, AWAVEAWAKE’s approach to be progressive in their production process is encouraging. Jaclyn’s personal experience with mindfulness inspired her to focus on what she felt was missing in the industry by thoughtfully sourcing and treating her garment’s material. Jaclyn notes that her vision for AWAVEAWAKE matured through personal consciousness work she was doing and teachers that influenced her. She credits the ultimate push for beginning her work to the support of the community surrounding her. She vowed that her ethics had to align with her work, and AWAVEAWAKE naturally evolved.

Jaclyn notes that social context became important for her to consider when visualizing aesthetics for the brand, and so when she conceived of AWAVEAWAKE she asked herself what now looks like. For her, now was getting back to natural materials and dyes—the indigenous way. She describes her current style as ‘flowy’ with inspiration gathered from different decades, particularly the 60s and 70s.  She felt inspired wearing slip dresses and vintage pieces, and wanted to reincarnate them with her own flair. Many vintage pieces she was finding were falling apart and not made from natural materials, and it became her goal to revitalize vintage while stressing sustainability. Jaclyn drew inspiration from bias cut, (cutting on the diagonal so that the garment flows according to an individual’s body) where the structure of the garment is the body of the wearer.  Her pieces empower women to embrace their bodies, feel comfortable in their uniquely beautiful shapes, and show them off! 

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Photo credits: AWAVEAWAKE, and left: Kava Gorna, middle and right: KT Auleta

The AWAVEAWAKE Woman

The AWAVEAWAKE woman has probably planted herself in California somewhere, says Jaclyn. Ever since she started coming to California, the lifestyle and its feels left an impression and inspired her creations. She honors her time in New York and year in Paris; the cultural influence, concentrated energy, and exposure provided much to her growth. Still, the ocean and atmosphere this West Coast state offered always drew her back. She appreciates the disconnection she had from the setting and thinks that it played a part in driving her vision forward. She began to further value her authentic roots - connecting to nature. Close to nature and generally more interested in ecological and sustainable living, Californians seemed to be inherent to her vision and style. 

Fashion is a world where influence, trend, and a paved path often constrain the fledgling designer, though Jaclyn proves it’s possible to get past these things when you can see a bigger picture. AWAVEAWAKE’s birth is allowing us as consumers to think tougher about what we consume and wear, and how these choices can potentially make our environment less susceptible to harm. The more cognizant we become in selecting what we support works for the betterment of the planet and ourselves. In understanding the profits of conscious fashion, we can make a shift as a whole in the industry and the economy. Everything comes back in style, and, if it’s made real there is a good chance it will last, and in turn, help us last too. 

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Photo credits: AWAVEAWAKE and KT Auleta

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AWAVEAWAKE designer Jaclyn Hodes work has been featured in a variety of progressive fashion magazines, including Dazed & Confused, Dossier, Hobo, i-D, Lula, and Nylon. In addition, she worked as fashion editor for TheBlowUp andVice. 

On September 5th, 2012, she launched AWAVEAWAKE in an effort to start a conversation about ethical fashion and conscious sourcing. As a practicing Kundalini yogi, she strives to bring change to the fashion world, and increase awareness of the industry’s impact on the environment and economy. Each AWAVEAWAKE garment is made with ethically sourced fabric and colored with all-natural plant-based dyes. AWAVEAWAKE strives to be a marriage of functionality and beauty: easy to wear but entirely elegant; modest, but embracing the feminine and the sensual; luxurious, but conscious of its footprint and considerate of its place in the world.

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Karli Quinn is part of our HOC team. Motivated to connect with the increasingly prevalent health community that exists, she hopes to educate others through her own perspective on conscious consumerism and normalize the conversation about what it means to live a healthy lifestyle.  Karli earned her bachelors degree from the University of Southern California and is currently studying to be a Holistic Nutritionist. Read more about Karli.

May Intuitive Medicine

May delights us with the promise of fertility and abundance! The Earth comes alive and flowers, trees and bushes are in full bloom; filling the air with blissful aromatics and energy teeming with possibility. We begin the month of May with Mercury moving direct on the 3rd. The shadow period of this transit takes us to the 21st so you may still feel the energy is a bit foggy and miscommunication still possible. Take this shadow period as a time for retooling and putting the finishing touches on anything which Mercury has highlighted for you. 

On May 10th, we welcome a Full Moon in Scorpio and with it profound transformation. We are encouraged to destroy that which no longer serves to make room for new life to flourish within. It is not enough to simply affirm the desire to change. We must solidify our affirmation with intention and then commit to action. This is an excellent time for breath medicine-activating and cleansing our cells of any stuck energetic and emotional gunk holding us in place. 

The New Moon in Gemini on May 25th is a wonderful time for taking the blank slate created after the Full Moon and get creative. It’s through our creativity, writing, communication and learning that we will see new life take root in our lives. Set into motion new ventures and do not be afraid to enroll in a class or three if needed to have all the skills necessary to make this venture a successful one. Gemini is an energy which encourages that we stimulate our minds in all ways possible. 

This month opens a portal through which we foster deeper awareness about what we desire in this life. With the Saturn/Uranus trine taking place in May we find that we can assimilate lessons learned from our past to help us with crafting a narrative for the future. We may encounter a few surprise endings that bring limitation to the fore but bear in mind that anything ending now is meant to leave our lives. Rather than grasp we are encouraged to allow, knowing that with this space we get closer to actualizing our most authentic expression. 

Let’s take a closer look at the energy guiding each zodiac sign this month. I encourage you to read your Sun and Moon sign and should your birthday fall within 7-10 days of a signs transition read your cusp sign as well. 

Aries

This is a tender month, Aries. Our capacity for love expands as does our awareness of how we love and nurture ourselves. This month you get acquainted with the love that flows through your veins. The love that you show to those around you. The love that you share with the world. The relationship between our wounds and our openness is examined. To engage with the world around us in an authentic and open way we must be willing to be tender. To be vulnerable and willing to break, and break we sometimes shall. Our hearts are gentle organs that bruise easily and in a sometimes harsh world we may fear and turn away from vulnerability. We may feel our best defense is to harden ourselves when in truth this only makes us more breakable. This month you learn to create the spaciousness needed between your present and wounds of the past. You learn the power of forgiveness and make the conscious decision to approach the world with a heart wide open and spilling the love you have with each step forward. 

Taurus

Your world has been shaken and you feel as though you are trying to stand still in quick sand. And while many may resist or fight this sense of instability you are instead surrendering to it. Creating a technicolor vortex that sets things into motion in a most profound way. In a truly lasting way. Because now you are the observer. You are the witness. You create breakthrough in the most interesting way - by standing completely still and quiet; by letting go. By allowing and honoring what is happening in this moment. You are listening to the words coming through the veil and seeing the patterns that have limited you. It’s time to shake off the dust of the past and welcome a luminous and truly rich future. While you may have a very serene approach this is not to imply you will not feel the challenge that arises when we must let go of the control we all crave on some level. It is time, however, to trust in the Universe to lead you to the next phase, the next tier of your journey. 

Gemini

Your relationships provide you with a deeper reflection this month, Gemini. You are seeing “you” through the eyes of those closest to you. For some this may be a rewarding and truly uplifting experience. For others, we may see things we dislike about ourselves and how we are perceived. Our relationships are tools through which we work on our karmic lessons. We attract to us those who can mirror the essence of what we are to see within ourselves now in our journey. They bring the gift of evolution and no matter how long or short the connection there is always a mirror held for us to see ourselves, perhaps for the first time. We honor and welcome the deep emotional interchange that takes place when we bond with others and learn from this how to bond to ourselves. 

Cancer

It’s not the ether that calls to you this month. Nor is it the emotional. This month you are encouraged to examine the landscape of your material world. To honor the exquisite body of work you have created and ponder how you can make your life better, bigger and grander. The material world has so much to offer us when we exchange with it with balance and integrity. There must be a balance between the spiritual and the physical so that we find wholeness and equilibrium in our lives. So, we take with us this month the practicality of this energy. We tend to the garden of our lives. We master ourselves by mastering that which we may have let go untended. We mind the small things, the mundane things and we make a ritual out of tidying our physical life in all ways possible to us now. 

Leo

What do you desire, Leo? What is it that you want out of this experience, this life? This month opens a door through which you can cultivate greater awareness around these questions. You are to touch the very essence of that which brings heat to your body. That gives rise to the excitement within your cells. What mysteries call to you now? To achieve our deepest dreams, we must first be aware of them. We must have a crystalized vision that leaves no room for doubt or confusion. Rather a vision so clear, so detailed that we cannot help but taste it and experience it even in its intangible form. You may be afraid of your deepest desires. You may have created a gap so large between you and them that you question the ability to get back. You may even fear getting so lost in your desires that you never find your way out. But its through this emersion of that which lights us up, that brings zeal to our lives, that we attune to our desires in a way that makes them achievable. That makes them safe and that makes them accepted not as some far-off dream but as our immediate reality. 

Virgo

This is a month of taking charge and utilizing what the physical world, the physical body offers us. This is a month where we lead not through grand or flamboyant actions but through practical application of what we know and must accomplish. We have, as they say, our nose to the grindstone. This month you become deeply acquainted with the goals that drive you each day. You begin to create the structure needed for us to manifest our deepest desires. This is about having a plan and knowing that right now we need the structure of routine to make real that which we dream of. This is not the time for extraneous distractions that drain you of your precious energy but rather a time for honoring what your body needs. What your mind needs. Taking the time to honor the rest we need today that will fuel our action tomorrow. The portal is open but it takes your effort, your hard work to make this opening fruitful. Do not let this energy go to waste or spend it on the wrong things or the wrong people. Get focused, get clear and get moving. 

Libra

This month feels like arriving to an abundant oasis after a long and tiring journey. You stretch out your arms and flex your fingers. The power has returned and you feel it humming through your every cell. This is a time of celebration and reverie. This is a time of feeling in control, clear and commanding. You can look back upon the challenges you faced and see them as the blessings they are. These challenges have forged you into the splendid creature you are in this moment and every moment here forward. And now you can rest. You can look around at all that you have created, all that you have moved through and faced and feel secure. Secure enough to sit for a moment and simply be. To tend to the needs of your body, mind and spirit. To honor the deep calling within and celebrate that which you still have to achieve. Because now you know. Now you see that no matter what the path ahead contains you have everything you need to see your way through it. To make the impossible, possible. To bring life to previously dormant parts of yourself. The power has returned. 

Scorpio

There is an inner knowing that resides within us all. A guidance system which knows what to do and when. What to say and how. Where to go and how to get there. For many of us, however, this guidance goes unheeded. It is chalked up to happenstance or coincidence and we train ourselves instead to only trust in that which we can see and touch. But these senses are oh so limited and offer up only a fraction of that which exists in every moment of every day. This month you are encouraged to honor this guidance. To honor that deep inner knowing that is as old as time itself. That exists within you and within me. That is here to be served and be of service. That will add dimension and color to our lives beyond our comprehension. We are all entitled to a life that is as abundant, colorful and filled with love as we can dream and with intuition guiding us forward we find achieving this infinitely possible. 

Sagittarius

We are all glorious puzzles pieced together in a divine order to create a complete picture. There are parts of this puzzle we adore and take great pride in. Others we like to hide, gloss over or ignore entirely. We see these parts as unsavory or unacceptable. We feel guilt or even shame that these pieces are part of us. But like all things in this life there is a balance. When we hide from our shadow we hide from our light. To ignore one is to reject the other. We must embrace both for the transformation to be complete. This month you must obliterate your shame and guilt and explore the darkest, most hidden inner corridors. There is great change on the horizon and now, as we near the end, is when we tend to lose focus and find our energy lacking. But now more than ever we must push forward. We must integrate all parts of ourselves to find the power necessary for crossing the threshold. You are nearly there, do not give up now. 

Capricorn

This month presents the challenge of feeling stuck and limited in what you can do. You see what you desire - you reach out and can nearly touch it but it resides just beyond your reach. You are stuck in a gilded cage. This reminds you that sometimes the structures we build in our lives end up becoming our own personal prison; confining us and holding us hostage. If you feel like effort is all in vain you may be tempted to throw in the towel and let desperation to take hold. The problem with this course of action is that desperation, in this case, leads to more inaction and inaction is not necessarily the wisest approach. A different tactic is called for. What we have done in the past likely were the very actions that resulted in the situation we see, at least in part, so it stands to reason that doing the same things will only result in more resistance. Instead we must open our eyes and elevate our perspective. Thinking outside the box and seeing what actions we can take that can alleviate at least some of the tension and will help restore our sense of personal power. From here the burden begins to lessen and we find we are dominated no more by hopelessness. Instead we step beyond our confinement and onward to personal revolution. 

Aquarius

You stand atop the mountain with arms outstretched, coursing with personal power and fully open to the vast and prevailing energy that surrounds you. You have outgrown the narrative you once told about your capabilities and are shedding the skin that once held these cells together. You are becoming and with this comes greater self-knowledge. You no longer question if you are capable for you know that you are. You take the risks that will allow you to travel far and wide. You embrace the cosmic force guiding you now and take every opportunity to attune to the raw potential it holds. You are ready and will not compromise yourself for anyone or anything. Your values, what makes you, you, is precisely what will carry you forward. 

Pisces

For many years, we wander the world in a bubble where concerns are focused primarily upon the self. It’s our needs we seek to have met. It’s our desires we seek to attain. We see the world through the lens of impact that is deeply personal. Then comes a moment when something or someone strikes us in such a way, hitting such an emotional chord that our previous perception is annihilated. Suddenly we want the world to better for them. We are protective and guard what we value from outside harm and molestation. We find, perhaps for the first time, a sense of valuing something/someone beyond ourselves and with this realization we move beyond the authority of vanity and self-absorption. The energy of May is opening the way for connection of the deepest and most profound kind. For those who have felt adrift, without a family to call their own, this is a time when you can make active and great strides towards creating supportive community. This is a time when we give of ourselves so selflessly to those we value that we find in return we have a sense of support and nurturing otherwise unattainable. A support that allows us to feel safe and capable of ascending to our highest, most divine potential. 

General forecasts are great but nothing goes as deep as a one-on-one session with me. Arrange your personal intuitive reading session and gain profound insight and guidance to assist you on your journey. Schedule your session today!

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Laura Brown is an Taroist, Master Certified Life Coach, Healer and Intuitive Reader located in Denver. Her purpose is to help women look deep within themselves to find healing, wellness and greater self-worth which facilitates their deepest and truest potential. She holds space for women, radicalizing the notion of therapeutic discussion by working with tools of both a holistic and traditional persuasion. You can schedule a session at Laurabrown.co and follow her visual diary on Instagram.

Healing Chaga Latte

This tonic elixir is the quintessential drink for someone who is weaning off caffeine. Not only is it completely delicious, but it also has immune boosting and hormone balancing properties. It can even be made hot or cold. We use Tieman's Medium Ground Fusion Coffee because it is exceptionally gentle on the stomach and is ideal for people who have digestive issues with normal coffee. Tieman's is special because it has low acid and also boasts special ingredients like rooibos, goji berry and matcha. Interestingly, you cannot taste these individual treasures in the coffee, but you can feel their medicinal benefits in the form of zero jitters. However, coffee is still dehydrating, so drink enough water to supplement your body. 

We also brew Raw Revelations Chaga Tea and add this earthy delectable to our elixir, as it pairs great with raw cacao and coffee. Chaga mushroom, known as the king of medicinal mushrooms, is a nutrient and antioxidant dense powerhouse of the mycelium species. It possesses almost shamanistic properties such as promoting a strong immune system, inhibiting tumor growth, lowering inflammation, preserving youth, and balancing “Chi.” It contains numerous antioxidant constituents such as melanin, betulinic acid, beta gluons, sterols, polyphenols and polysaccharides. It also contains essential vitamins B and D, calcium, iron, magnesium, and zinc, to name a few. We choose to brew a large pot of Chaga tea by using two spoonfuls to every liter of filtered water. Then, boil on medium heat and simmer for 8 hours. 

Tieman's Tonic Elixir

• Tieman's Medium Ground Fusion Coffee

• Raw Revelations Chaga Tea

• Macadamia Nut Milk

• Pinch of Celtic Sea Salt

• Heaping tsp of Sun Potion Cacao Powder

• 1/2 teaspoon Sun Potion TOCOS

• Local Raw Honey or Stevia

• 1 scoop of Vital Proteins collagen

Enjoy!

Photo credit: Julia Corbet

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Sima Morrison, founder of House of Citrine, is a vibrant soul with a potent zest for life and the beauty in its simple pleasures. As a holistic nutritionist, Sima has made it her life's journey to experience, to empower, and to explore the synergy between the mind and the body. She manifests her vision through her online journal, designing recipes and cultivating conversation in the sharing of health, wellness, and inspiration. Sima lives with an open heart and views being in service to others as her most important calling, practicing compassion and helping people to heal past trauma. She is a certified Kundalini yoga instructor and meditation facilitator.

Nahko Bear : Transcender of Musical Spirits

We had the pleasure to interview and spend time with Nahko Bear, of the musical collective Nahko and Medicine for the People. Musician, activist, magical being and earth warrior, Nahko and his Tribe are voices of unity, equality and positivity, promoting oneness with all of Mother Gaias’ creatures. Portland born, with an eclectic ethnic background, Nahko uses his creative and awe-inspiring voice, both spiritually and physically, to bridge cultural gaps. Together, we enjoyed a bottle of heart-opening jun mixed with some of our scrumptious House of Citrine approved tinctures and talked about a range of topics from inspirations, music, animals, to the current state of our government and life. 

Where do you feel your music transcends from? Does it intersect with your spiritual beliefs? What message would you like to promote through your activism and creative?

The music transcends from another dimension, one that exists within our own but perhaps undetected to most. It's a layered question that is hard to really answer, but I definitely feel as though there are channels connecting us to those dimensional spaces. There's a lifeline or a chord that plugs us into the creator's hard drive. We each download at our own rate. Some of us write songs. Some build cities. Others hatch babies or make delicious food. Different works for different birth times under different moons. So, yes I believe the music I write comes from a very special place. 

You are so positive. But you are also human and must be faced with challenges – how do you deal with adversity? 

It's different every time. I problem solve a lot in my brain before I speak it out. There are certain folks in my life that are perfect sounding boards. When it comes to the movement, music, and road, I usually just breathe through the challenges. Kind of all you can do. With family and friends, it's a lot of talking and processing, I suppose. In my life, as with all of us, I tend to climb the mountains and valleys and just get through it, y’know?

You are very enthused by and appreciative of nature; where is your favorite place in the world to be alone with your thoughts? Where is your favorite place to be with the people you love? 

The ocean.  Surfing is one of the most meditative practices. She doesn't judge you, but will punish you if you are not humble and do not respect her. There are so many gorgeous places in the world that I have shared with loved ones...and so many yet to discover. One particular magical place that comes to mind in Turtle Island is Mt. Shasta. I've been going back to this place for many years now and each time it shows us a new facet of her beauty.  

How would you describe your lifestyle? 

Weird, wet, and wild. Unique, abstract, and void of anything boring. Colorful, chaos, but always cultivating cool creations.  

They say that you are a combination of the people you spend time with, so to choose them wisely. Who do you surround yourself with and how do they inspire you? 

I believe that to be very true. The people I've surrounded myself with have all been teachers to me. In life, you lose people along the way to various life happenings or a million other reasons...but, it seems you always call into your field the right people at the right time. That is magic. No way to explain it. My squad is very unique. Everyone has a different role they play, but the key is that we all look out for each other. There's a sense of gratitude and balance that follows us everywhere.  Kindness is cool, y'know?

What are your essentials before getting on stage to perform? Do you have a routine? 

There's a general movement that happens with all of us. It's actually really funny from an outsider’s perspective. There's a lot of jumping around, push ups, animal sounds, laughter, and then we circle up and pray.  There's a round of water and tea and then we have our Sandlot moment and hit the stage. Ritual is important for all of us in our different ways. Quiet moments before getting loud are also precious to us.

What is your favorite song of yours to sing...what is its significance? 

Usually, it's the newest song, however we normally don't play those ones yet. So, for the set we've been playing over the last year my favorite is a toss up between Dear Brother and Love Letters to God. Both take you on a journey and I go through SO much in the delivery of these poems. To me, they speak to the heart, the planet, and the world in a way I cannot find words for. It's a beautiful mystery.  

What is your favorite (not limited to your own) song? 

Let's talk records. Paul Simon Graceland is an all time favorite. Bright Eyes I'm Wide Awake It's Morning.  K'naan: The Dusty Foot Philosopher.  Those are three of my all time favorite records.  It's too hard to name a song that is my favorite. But, I'll give you one for fun: Led Zepplin: Since I've Been Loving You.

We read somewhere that you and your band eat paleo? Can you tell us about what foods nourish you and any challenges you face in finding them on the road?

Well, none of us are strictly one thing or the other!  We've all tried different diets and such over the course of our working together, but at the moment we're all doing our own things. Most of us are meat eaters, but who knows that may change tomorrow! Our horn player, Max, is in charge of making sure our fridge is filled with the best of the best! Each tour we switch things up with lunch and snack items. Each dinner night we are often on our own. Options can be super limited in certain parts of the world, so you do your best to find healthy grinds!

Do you take any supplements?
Nope! 

What plant medicine resonates with you the most?

I don't use horsetail, but I love its purpose and its name. I wrote a song about it over a decade ago...still one of my favorite songs. I'm also a huge fan of Osha. We use it a lot in ceremonies. There are so many plant medicines that I adore so I'll leave it at that. 

Photo credit: Brett Morrison

Bone Broth

By: Molly Helfend

Last year, as I was graduating college, stress began to transform my life. The realization that I was entering the unknown beyond the comfortable cushion of a classroom is what usually makes almost every college graduate anxious and uneasy. Like many others, my stress manifested in my gut, as the nervous and digestive systems are linked. It was then, that I began battling many digestive issues. What started with food intolerances, transformed into leaky gut, candida overgrowth, SIBO and all the horrible side effects that came along with them. Since then, I have tried almost every diet, herb and recommendation under the sun to help heal my gut issues. While many have improved my symptoms and I have seen tremendous results, I still have fought food intolerances and weak digestive fire that causes bloating, gas, and inflammation. But, it wasn't until I started introducing bone broth into my diet that I truly started seeing the anti-inflammatory results I wanted. This was hard to accept, as I was an avid vegan and raw food eater, but with a strong Vata composition, I realized I needed to put my health first in order to properly heal. So, I began to make my own bone broth to save money and modify and balance my recipe with the medicinal herbs I needed. Just one cup every morning warmed over a light flame on the stove and taken with my Ojai Energetics CBD Oil, and my stomach feels nourished and ready to awaken to the earth. 

To make my recipe, I chose to use Buffalo bones, as they are a healthy and sustainable alternative to beef (and happen to taste delicious), but you may use whatever animal bones you have access to. I use Sun Potion Reishi Mushroom Powder for its anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial and immune enhancing properties, and buy the rest of my herbs from community apothecaries and Mountain Rose Herbs. I use Ashwagandha root, as I feel it extracts the potent medicinal properties better than powder, to reduce my overall mind, body and spiritual stress. Horsetail is rich in silica and minerals, making it fantastic for strengthening bones, hair and fingernails. The key ingredient, Marshmallow root, best prepared as a cold infusion, is demulcent, which is essential for soothing the digestive system and reducing inflammation. Hawthorn berry is astringent and increases circulation throughout the body, promoting gentle equilibrium. Shiitake and Kombu are extra nuggets of digestive gold, as they contain digestive enzymes that help reduce bloating and gas, while significantly toning the intestinal wall. 

Molly’s Medicinal Bone Broth

• 3-4 lbs of Buffalo bones
• 1 red onion
• 5 large cloves of garlic
• 2 tbs of apple cider vinegar
• 1/2 lemon
• 2 tbs Reishi
• 1/4 cup Ashwagandha root
• 1/8 cup Astragalus
• 1/8 cup Horsetail
• 1/4 cup Marshmallow root
• 2 tbs Hawthorn berry
• 10 Shiitake mushrooms
• 3 Kombu seaweed
• 2 Bay leaves
• Handful of cilantro

*If you have a very weak stomach, feel free to add one or two packets of your choice of Vital Proteins Collagen Powder for an extra digestive coating

To make:

Combine ingredients in a large pot or slow cooker, adding enough water to cover bones. Cover and bring to full rolling boil over medium heat, then reduce to low or simmer. Skim off any foam that rises to the surface within the first 30 minutes. Simmer for 18 to 24 hours, until bones are soft or broth appears milky, adding more water as needed to keep bones covered during cooking. To add more nutrients to broth, mash the bones with potato masher after about 7 hours. Once ready, drain the broth through a strainer and discard the bones, herbs and other remnants. Seal in mason or glass jars and refrigerate. Broth will become thick and gelatinous as it cools. Before using, skim off and discard fat on top. Use refrigerated broth within two weeks or freeze for longer storage.

Read more about how Bone Broth heals your gut

Check out Sahara Rose to find out what Ayurvedic composition your body and mind are and get recommendations for healing living.

Photo Credits: Julia Corbett

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Molly Helfend, herbalist and environmental activist, graduated from University of Vermont in 2016 with a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Studies and a concentration in Holistic Health. She will be attending University of Kent in Canterbury, England to receive her Masters Degree in Ethnobotany in 2017. She has worked for Urban Moonshine, Greenpeace and received her training with Spoonful Herbals. Her goal is to receive her PHD and become a professor at University of California Santa Cruz. Molly resides in Monte Nido, California.  

Top 10 Products We Love for April

 

1. Vintner’s Daughter Active Botanical Serum

This 100% active oil boasts some of the highest quality raw ingredients, including nutrient dense essential oils, to restore vitality and balance to the skin. Vintner’s Daughter founder draws from her fine winemaking experience to create super-powered formulas that leave the skin flawless, without looking oily or greasy. The smooth and glossy primer is the perfect finishing touch to add to anyone’s post makeup or nighttime skincare regime. If that doesn't leave you intrigued, keep in mind that this altruistic company shares 2% of every purchase with charities dedicated to protecting, educating and empowering woman and children around the world.

2. Virgin Raw Foods Bee Panacea

A western alternative to chyawanprash, Bee Panacea combines superfoods like spirulina, chlorella and maca with herbs like shilajit and reishi and complex honey flavors like raw honey, bee pollen, royal jelly and propolis. Together, this formula creates a sweet blend of salubrious goodness that tastes delicious in almost any smoothie, drink or scooped right out of the jar. Side effects include increased antioxidant intake and equilibrium throughout the body! 

3. Brown Bear Herbs Classic Sexy Smokes Herbal Cigarettes

Only in Portland could someone find a sui generis company like Brown Bear Herbs. Introducing an actually high-spirited, healing and frankly sexy way to ingest herbs - by smoking them! With organic and wildcrafted herbs such as Damiana, Blackberry Leaf, Rose, Hibiscus and Mullein, Sexy Smokes foster a slight head buzz with a feeling of herbaceous grounding that makes smoking appropriately cool. Great for users who are looking to heal respiratory infections or smokers trying to quit tobacco. 

4. PHI Kind Matcha Ginger Truffles

Who couldn’t love PHI Kind’s heavenly sugar free raw chocolate delights? Feel free to splurge on these nutritious treats because PHI Kind makes it possible to enjoy chocolate without any guilt. With the premium matcha powder, MCT oil, and hints of ginger, these idiosyncratic flavors blend together to create sophisticated and beautifully shaped truffles that are almost too good to be true. Perceptively encased with completely fair trade 70% coconut mylk chocolate, make sure to grab these off the shelf before they sell out.

5. Goldthread Replenish

From one of our new favorite companies, Goldthread Herbal Tonics combine the restorative power of plants with succulent flavor to create appetizing medicinal elixirs. Based around the Taoist philosophy of Qi, Replenish is stock full of viridescent, nutrient dense herbs that are the perfect cooling beverage to introduce to your body as warmer weather begins to blossom. Steadily refresh your depleted minerals with a combination of sweet and earthy tones. Their message of sustainable interconnectedness amongst cultures and the natural environment make us ponder about our ecological footprint with every sip. 

6. BURN Habanero Hot Sauce

Burn, baby, burn! This Santa Cruz based company makes some the best darn hot sauce we have ever tried. Fermented with probiotics and organic farm to table ingredients, you can choose your heat spectrum preference to match your taste buds from mild Cayenne to hot Habanero. Our House of Citrine team likes to drizzle the extra hot Habanero hot sauce in our Siete Cassava and Chia Tortilla creations!  

7. Coco Kind Organic Full Brow Balm

Are you one of the victims of the over-plucking eyebrow fad from the late 90s/early 2000s? Well, we have found the perfect remedy to quell that dilemma. Coco Kind’s organic brow balm will stimulate growth in hair follicles, while also creating thicker, darker and healthier brows! With only five superfood ingredients, this balm provides full touch, great coverage with an interesting twist of natural tint from raw cacao powder. 

8. Foods Alive Rockin’ Reishi Crackers

A staple in our diet, these special high fiber flaxseed crackers combine seeds, nuts, Bragg’s Aminos and freeze-dried reishi to create the ultimate plant-based snack. This family owned company only use the cleanest, highest quality ingredients, making it impossible for us to not finish an entire bag on the spot. These are perfect to add to your picnic baskets with hummus and guacamole for spring and summer. 

9. Wildcare Palo Santo Hydrosol

So beautifully elegant, this delicate hydrosol clears negative energy and purifies our intentional spaces. Made with fresh spring water and ethically sourced Palo Santo, we love misting this hydrosol for a refreshing and liberating pH boost. Be prepared to balance your aura and heighten heart-opening zest in your chakras. 

10. Moon Deli Mushroom Adaptogen

This blend of wildcrafted herbs work symbiotically to cherish your adrenal and immune systems for the optimum kickstart in your daily smoothie. With raw cacao, Himalayan pink salt, chaga and cordyceps mushroom, we love the simplicity of using a multifaceted combination blend for the best results. Energy, vitality and nourishment are all wrapped up in Moon Deli’s sustainable glass jar. 

Nootropics: A Class of Botanicals Utilized For Mental Clarity, Focus + Ascendance

By: Dr. Christine Surrago

We are in the midst of transferring from biospheric consciousness to nooospheric consciousness. The demands on our mind to quickly update and adapt while remaining focused is increasing.  Mindfulness is spreading like wildfire throughout our culture.  There is a yoga studio on every corner of Santa Monica.  Our collective energy is no longer focused on physical necessities and the building of a society.  Our foundation has been made for our next step of evolution, which is the work of living a mindful life in harmony with others in every single moment. 

It has never been easier to get on the ride of awareness.  For those of us who are pioneers leading the way, it has never been more challenging as it requires deeper awarenesses and connections with the self, the collective and the universe at large while also responding timely to the waves of energy that are coming in.  

Nootropics are a sacred class of botanicals used to enhance the overall connection, conduction and synergy of the brain, body and its surrounding environment.  These botanicals enhance neural connections to operate at higher conduction speeds with flexibility and adaptability, leading to higher levels of awareness, dexterity, focus and cognitive function. With this heightened ability you have a unique opportunity for self improvement, learning and team play with everyone around you. 

My highest intention is for you to be constantly finding your balance and alignment with yourself and the whole.  This is a reminder to focus on progress while in balance.  These should not be used as a means to “get ahead” leading to instability and imbalance in all areas of your life.

Many nootropics improve cognitive functioning, memory, decrease inflammation and improve the speed and flow of neural connections. They can prevent and alleviate decline in Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, dementia and epilepsy. They often lead to lower inflammation throughout the body while reducing harmful stress hormones.  

Below I have listed my top 3 nootropics.  Each plant can be used as your medicine, in combination with other tonics, for strong enhancements in cognitive function and stress reduction. Utilize this information with care, integrity and intention. 

Bacopa monnieri (Brahmi)

Bacopa is also referred to as “Brahmi” which is in reference to the Hindu creator god Brahma which gives you an idea of your potential when taking this medicine. This plant has powerful energetics invoking intelligence, grounding and creativity.  It can connect you to the flowing streams of intelligence + creativity that are already inside of you. This botanical has been studied in cognitive decline, dementia, epilepsy with positive results. 

Centella asiatica (Gotu Kola)

Gotu Kola, also known as another “Brahmi” is a potent nootropic and nervine, calming the nervous system while enhancing focus.  It has other incredible properties as a blood and skin tonic.  It is used to treat numerous conditions like depression, brain fog, anxiety, venous insufficiency, hemorrhoids, eczema and rashes. 

Withania somnifera (Ashwagandha)

In Sanskrit, ashwagandha means “the smell of a horse.” A better translation would be “the essence of a stallion."  Ashwagandha creates a sense of focused, relaxed and rooted strength. There are countless effects that Ashwagandha has on the body and more are being discovered. It is known as a thyroid, adrenal, liver, brain, heart and blood vessel tonic. This plant is a member of the nightshade family and caution should be taken for those who react to nightshades.

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Dr. Christine Surrago, Naturopathic Doctor, is committed to the healing of the entire planet, each person at a time. She holds a strong intention for everyone to live a life of alignment with themselves and the rhythms of our earth.  She sees that each person has a unique gift, that when nourished and strengthened, will contribute to the healing of the entire planet as we know it. From the depths of her connection to human experience and her love of life, she will be sharing with you vital knowledge for your own personal healing, alignment and vibrant aliveness. 

As a doctor, she focuses her treatments to heal the subconscious of the body, at the very source of illness. This leads to radical healing from the inside out. She is in a constant state of awe as she observes the miracles of the human body.  Through honoring the intelligence of life, she treats her patients with steady guidance and discernment.

Dr. Christine practices in Santa Monica, CA and is currently taking patients of all ages and conditions. She specializes in bioenergetic healing, women’s health, fertility, autoimmune conditions and alternative cancer therapies. She thoughtfully blends ancient earth medicines with the most cutting-edge treatments out there.

She completed her medical training at Bastyr University in Seattle, WA.  She served as an adjunct clinical professor at Bastyr University Clinic in San Diego, CA teaching the holistic treatment of patients with constitutional homeopathy.

April Intuitive Medicine

Welcome to April, a month known for its melody of colors and sometimes tumultuously sporadic weather. The Earth is yawning and adjusting after her winter sleep and we too experience an inner awakening. A call that asks we begin anew and open to the fertile possibilities before us. 

This month is rich with astrological events which pave the way for new beginnings and contemplation and begins with Mercury Retrograde beginning April 9th, the day before the Full Moon. Mercury will first retrograde in Taurus, a phase which could bring trouble with how we choose to use our words. The penchant for oversharing or even gossiping will be strongly balanced with moments of extreme reticence where we hardly speak at all. When Mercury moves through Aries our words will become tools where we can clearly pitch our ideas and convey our thoughts in a manner which will be highly persuasive - again being mindful that we are using our power of increased persuasion as a means of doing good and not for selfish or manipulative ends. 

On April 10th we welcome a Full Moon in Libra. This transit has us balancing the fiery individualism of Aries (where the Sun will be positioned) with our interaction in our relationships and community. We are encouraged to explore how our sense of self is shaped by the awareness that we are part of the collective. When we look into the mirror we are encouraged to see not just the face of the person we are today but every version of ourselves that has come before. We celebrate our evolution both past and present as the face that will stare back at us in 5 years’ time will be different than the one we see today. The fantastic joy of being an organic and constantly evolving human being.

April 26th ushers in a New Moon in Taurus - a time when the seeds we planted during the New Moon on March 27th begin to take form. They start to open and curl up through dirt, reaching ever skyward. This is a great time to take a look at the intentions you set last month and explore what added stability you can lend. Taurus, as an Earth sign is a powerful energy for grounding our desires. But its more than simply desire - intention is a commitment to creating achievement. This means that this transit will be more about the actions we take, or don’t take, then it will be simply sending out our desire into the collective consciousness. 

Let’s take a look at the intuitive transmissions for each sign, this month paying attention to what we can awaken to within ourselves just as the Earth is awakening, stretching her limbs upward. I encourage you to reach both your Sun and Moon sign and should your birthday fall within 7-10 days of a signs transition (cusp sign) read that sign as well. 

Aries

Can you feel the power humming in the air around you, Aries? As though you are standing atop a mountain gazing out over a brilliant vista with lightening curling through the sky above you, there is a sense that movement may prove difficult and yet paradoxically, essential. The choices before you will leave you more confused than certain. The penchant for searching and grasping at absolutes will only further this sense of being adrift. Rather you are to awaken to your relationship with balance. With the power to create absolutely anything you desire how can you entertain desire with obligation? How can you approach a choice not with a sense of a right or wrong path but rather through an honest assessment of what each choice presents to see which holds greatest resonance? The more that you can ground with a sense of practical assessment rather than the quick, hair-trigger reactions your sign is sometimes known for, the more that you will find no matter the storm, you stand strong. 

Taurus

This month you awaken to expanding into hope. To welcome the return of that ever present but sometimes obscured radiance that helps to light the path ahead. You have travelled far. You have encountered shadowy figures and experiences that have, at times, tested your resolve and your will. Now, however, you are encouraged to embrace the radiance before you; no longer obscured this light beckons to you. "Follow me", it whispers and follow it you should. So long as you maintain your faith, maintain your progression on the path you are currently on the light will lead you to the threshold where all that you have gone through will be in the past. Deviate from this path or allow doubt and fear to grab hold of you and the darker influences you have slain will return. Now is not the time to question what was or to doubt actions taken to get you to here. Because here is the way. Here is the path forward. 

Gemini

There is a beautiful duality that infuses each of our lives and this month you are awakening to the duality within yours more closely. You are examining a desire to be loved with the desire to be independent. You are balancing the need for security with an insatiable desire for what can destroy it. And when you peel back the layers and take an honest look at what lies beneath it all you find fear. A relationship that has been built with fear over time. A relationship that you may no longer be conscious of or understand how it became what it is today. You are awakening to the ways in which fear has been given the keys and the wheel and the title of the car and has driven your life in such a way that you cannot help but to wonder how things may look different now that you know what fear has done. Now that you have chosen to take back ownership of your life. Now that you recognize you're cable of balancing the duality life presents without allowing fear to keep you trapped in smallness. 

Cancer

April brings forth fresh opportunities for you to return to innocence. To return to the child you were who created jungles rich with verdant plant life and wild animals within your backyard. The child who would leap from tree branch after tree branch, impervious of fear even when you missed the mark. The child who couldn’t fathom something the mind could conjure would be impossible to achieve. It's time to awaken again to possibility that exists no matter your age. All the places your imagination could take you still await. This possibility did not betray you or leave you but rather you left it. You became an adult with adult concerns and put aside dreams and wild adventures. They call to you now - they ask that you get to know them again and see the magic they can weave within your life. 

Leo

What is slipping out of you hands as of late, Leo? What things did you let go of that perhaps you wish you hadn't? Life is fickle at times and causes us to, in turn, be fickle in response. We think that something doesn’t matter or that the effort needed to keep something is simply too much. And you know what? Sometimes we are right. Somethings are meant to slip through our hands and move on for the highest good of all. And sometimes we realize that we let go of something that actually did have value. That brought value to our lives and that, when we are really honest with ourselves, we truly miss. This month you are encouraged to open to protectiveness that allows us to guard and maintain that which matters most to us. It requires that we set aside ego and vanity and instead step fully into selflessness to do so but I am assured that its totally worth the effort. 

Virgo

There are paths before you that will take you places. They will bring relief to any struggles you've encountered. There are paths that will make freedom a reality rather than a long sought and hardly attained dream. But you have to be willing to awaken to their existence. You must open your eyes and climb as high as you need to look down and see the bigger picture. What you think imprisons you right now really is just an illusion. Its made worse by the panic that sets in when we become reactive and allow our minds to project the worst case scenario. The beasts seem larger, the situations direr. In truth we simply need to elevate our perspective to see that with hardly any fancy footwork at all we can saunter, confidently, past the obstacles. Past the beasts that now seem so small. Past the fear and panic that hang their heads knowing now you see them for what they are and are moving beyond them.

Libra

The work that you have done is coming to completion, forming a bond with ourselves, spiritually, that allows you to see clearly that which you came here for. You stand before the world fully formed and strong in your expression. You no longer waver or doubt but rather with a sound awareness and an unshakable strength, you stand tall.  You see the circle. You see the path that you have travelled and nod your head in understanding. Every hiccup and every challenge has meaning. No longer are you hampered by self pity or woe. Rather you see how each event, the good, the bad and the indifferent, led you to this moment. And in this moment you feel complete. You feel ready to share what you have learned. You feel capable of being authentically you and in so doing help others to find the same for themselves. 

Scorpio

Every relationship of meaning and purpose contains seeds of duality that balance the dynamic when two become one. Their strengths help balance our weaknesses. Our interaction together assists the elevation of our collective consciousness, which brings rise to a greater bond and intimacy between us. In order to achieve this level of union and intimacy, however, we must first have the fortitude within. We must have a strong relationship with the self. We must know our worth, be connected to our voice and feel confident in who we are. Until then we find we grasp rather than allow. We sabotage instead of construct. We struggle rather than experience ease. But when we find these things for ourselves; when we fill our well from a place that acknowledges our value while also digs in deep to the parts of ourselves we may not yet feel confident about, we find that we can create bonds that stand the test of time. Relationships that seem nearly effortless. We find that where once there was grasping now there is exchanging. 

Sagittarius

This month you open to all the ways in which adversity has helped you to become the person you are today. A person who knows that there is always a calm within the storm. Someone who is able to stand triumphantly atop the mountain that once blocked the path. We know that it all begins with a choice. And that choice, when we seek it consistently, becomes our truth. For many years we have allowed our choice to remain the same. To follow the same path, with the same experiences, the same patterns and the same reactions. And in return we saw that nothing truly changed and perhaps only marginally got better. This month, however, you awaken to the choice to choose differently and with that comes a greater power to affect change in your life. Because there is no adversity that will take you down. There is no struggle too great with the self knowledge you have gained.

Capricorn

It can be a struggle to manage it all. To build something for ourselves that resonates while being of service to our family, our home, our community. It can be difficult when we are a beacon that attracts those to us who need something. And to us they come because they know that we have an innate ability to make them feel better. To make them feel safe and comforted. But it’s something we can manage and manage well when we are sure to show that same level of nurturing to ourselves. To ensure that there is a balance between what we give to others and how we give to ourselves. This month you are to awaken to all the ways you show love to yourself each day. To write them out so that you can see the tangible reflection of the self love you hold for yourself. You are encouraged to examine whether your list is long and fluid or if you struggle to come up with anything to write down. Because its in awakening to the ways you do or do not show consistent self love that you become aware of how you can improve your personal well being and in so doing show up more fully in all other roles that are important to you. 

Aquarius

This month you are to cradle yourself. To nurture your soft spots. Your vulnerabilities. To support all the tender parts of yourself that are calling for your attention. To see how soft you can be towards yourself and then push yourself to be even softer. We must care for ourselves as a mother would care for her child. Rather than the aggression and self loathing that we sometimes dish upon ourselves with reckless abandon we must see ourselves as a small child, who sometimes gets scared in this big, big world. Who sometimes just needs someone stronger than her to hold her. To remind her that all will be right again. That no matter what scary monsters we think hide under our bed, the morning will come again; the light casting out the darkness. Be this for yourself, Aquarius. Remind yourself that the way towards true harmony with who we are is to be as tender with ourselves as we would any small child. Feel how this expands your ability to create. How it allows you to radiate and manifest fulfillment in all things you do. 

Pisces

There is a sense of divine feminine awakening taking place in April for Pisces. A sense of radiant energy emanates from our fingertips and reaches outward even while we have our feet planted firmly on the ground. We are reminded of our ability to participate in the divine even while walking within the mundane. And in so doing we see doors opening before us. Doors that invite new energy, events and opportunities to our lives. Newness can be daunting, however, and we sometimes have to resist the urge to back away from new things coming towards us. We may doubt or fear that we are not enough. We may worry that we are not ready. But we are ready. We've been ready and we have also been longing for each of the things that are coming towards us. Now is the time to embrace what we have long asked for, not run away in fear. Because what we've longed for has also longed for us and its here now, ready for us to make room and to nurture its magic. 

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Laura Brown is an Taroist, Master Certified Life Coach, Healer and Intuitive Reader located in Denver. Her purpose is to help women look deep within themselves to find healing, wellness and greater self-worth which facilitates their deepest and truest potential. She holds space for women, radicalizing the notion of therapeutic discussion by working with tools of both a holistic and traditional persuasion. You can schedule a session at Laurabrown.co and follow her visual diary on Instagram.

Springtime Tea

By: Molly Helfend

As we pull back the white veil and mop up the clouds’ tears of winter, we inch closer to the new beginning of the spring equinox. Spring brings fresh awakening to not only the earth, but our souls as well. This spirit-lifting energy pulls those hazy shades of winter out over our eyes and brings forth the reception for spring cleaning. With creative energy and scenic wonder blossoming across the land, we free ourselves from the heaviness and lethargy of the cold season. With the offering from tonic spring herbs, we allow luminescent energy to flourish and guide circulation and lymphatic movement into our bodies.

Springtime herbs speak directly to tonic teas. These herbs support liver function, urinary tract health and gentle detoxifying, as bring forth vitamins and minerals to course through the body. During winter, most of us have an inaccessibility to a constant fresh supply of greens, especially since we tend to eat heavier more root-based plants to sustain energy and warmth. Verdant herb teas are extremely beneficial for springtime, as are including other yin (aerial parts of plants, including leaves and flowers) herbs to our teas to kindly detox the body after such winter illnesses as upper respiratory infections and sluggish digestion. 

One of the primary base herbs used in this tea recipe is nettle. Represented with the fire elements, nettle is rich in vitamin A, C and K. It also has very high mineral contents as well as calcium, potassium, magnesium, iron, protein, formic acid, beta-carotene and chlorophyll. It is tonic, anti-inflammatory, astringent and diuretic. The other primary base herb used is chickweed. Represented with the water elements, chickweed has a very cooling nature and is excellent for healing conditions of heat, sluggishness, inflammation, itching, and rebuilding vitality, while also helping to shed extra winter pounds. It is also a storehouse of vitamins and minerals including iron, calcium, magnesium, manganese, silicon, zinc, phosphorus, potassium, protein, sodium, copper, carotenes, and vitamins B and C. Its herbal actions include emollient, astringent, carminative, demulcent, diuretic, expectorant, laxative, and vulnerary. Chickweed also can be found almost anywhere, growing with moist, cultivated soil. I personally prefer it fresh, as not only does it have such a lively viridescent flavor, but it also is richer in medicinal components. However, you can dry them yourself or if it does not grow around you, buying bulk dried chickweed is great as well. 

Dandelion, represented with the air elements, is a wild, free and abundant herb, rich in vitamin A, C and D, as well as, iron, potassium, calcium, and inulin. This bitter herb is a diuretic, alterative, urinary tonic and liver and kidney decongestant. Calendula, represented with the fire elements, is a bright burst of color in your spring tea! Gently cleansing and enriching almost every system, it helps with sluggish digestion, painful menstruation, skin irritation, and lymphatic congestion. Its herbal actions include vulnerary, anti-inflammatory, anti-fungal, emmenagogue, and lymphatic. Red clover, represented with the air elements, is a sweet-tempered vitamin-rich herb. A graceful flower, it is alterative, lymphatic, expectorant, demulcent and anti-catarrhal, while promoting nourishing re-growth within various systems in the body. Mullein, represented with the fire elements, is the quintessential herb for healing respiratory conditions. Expectorant, demulcent, antiseptic, and antispasmodic, it clears chest congestion and inflammation in the lungs. Linden, represented with the air elements, has a lovely flavor with pacific properties. It is a cardio-tonic and nervine relaxant that supports blood vessel integrity, normalizes heart muscle conditions, soothes the respiratory system, and eases anxiety and nervous tension.  

The herbs used in this tea were blessed by one of my herbal mentor’s Barbara Raab, and by her mentor Dr. Tieraona Low Dog, to create a hot-infused spring tea recipe, that was carefully crafted with mindful energy and solicitude. A hot infusion was chosen because it draws out vitamins, enzymes and aromatic volatile oils from the plants that work synergistically to heal and cherish. Please listen to your body, mind, soul and spirit when alchemizing and ingesting this tea blend and try to chose sustainable companies and businesses such as Mountain Rose Herbs or your local coop to purchase your bulk dried herbs from. 

Awakening Spring Tea (yields about 8 cups) 

• 1/2 tablespoon of dried nettle leaves
• 1/2 tablespoon of dried chickweed leaves
• 1 teaspoon of dried dandelion leaves
• 1 teaspoon of dried calendula flowers
• 1 teaspoon dried red clover flowers
• 1/2 teaspoon of dried mullein flowers 
• 1/2 teaspoon of dried linden leaves

        Additional Herb Options

• 1 teaspoon of goldenrod flowers (If you are especially prone to severe allergies with the blooming of spring)*
• 1/2 teaspoon of parsley leaves (If you are looking for more earth-based foliole nourishment)*

If possible, wildcrafted is even better than cultivated

Add 1 teaspoon of dried herbs (or 3 teaspoons of fresh herbs) to 1 cup of boiling water. To infuse the tea, put the herbs in a teapot or cup, using an infuser for easy removal. Pour boiling water over the herbs and allow the tea to steep covered for 5-10 minutes. Make sure to cover the teapot to keep the heat from dissipating. Then strain, serve and enjoy!

~ If you choose to use fresh herbs, use 3 times the amount of dried herbs in your tea blend. If harvesting yourself, make sure to give gratitude back to the earth and plants themselves. Please harvest with gentle love. The general rule of harvesting the aerial parts of plants is that they are best harvested during the peak sunlight hours. This will ensure all the dew has dissipated and the plants have had adequate time to soak up nourishment from the sun. However, if you are ever in doubt about the time to harvest, ask the plant yourself! ~

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Tonic - strengthens specific organ or whole body
Anti-inflammatory - helps combat inflammation
Astringent - reduces flux of moisture and removes toxins
Diuretic - increases the elimination of urine
Emollient - soothes, softens and protects the skin
Carminative - soothes and settles digestive gut wall
Demulcent - soothes and shields irritated internal tissue
Expectorant - removes excess mucus from the lungs
Laxative - stimulates the bowels to promote movements
Vulnerary - highlights healing in wounds and inflammation

Alterative - restores health and vitality; blood cleanser
Anti-fungal - used for fungal infections
Emmangogue - stimulates menstrual flow and activity
Lympathic - influences cleansing in lympathic system
Anti-catarrhal - removes excess catarrhal build-ups
Antiseptic - inhibit growth of microorganisms to tissue
Anti-spasmodic - prevents or eases spasms or cramps
Cardio-tonic - beneficial action for the heart
Nervine - beneficial effects on the nervous system

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This information is not a replacement for a trained herbalist. Please consult your medical professional before treating yourself or others with this or any other herbal remedy.

* Goldenrod

• AIR

• anti-catarrhal, antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, diaphoretic, vulnerary

• upper respiratory congestion

• wounds

• blamed for seasonal allergies like hay fever (fall especially), ragweed blooms the same time

* Parsley 

• AIR 
• nutrient powerhouse
• vitamins and minerals, folic acid, beta-carotene, flavonoids, and antioxidants
• warming circulatory stimulant 
• astringent 
• BEST AVOIDED BY PREGNANT WOMEN (can decrease breast milk production)

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Molly Helfend, herbalist and environmental activist, graduated from University of Vermont in 2016 with a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Studies and a concentration in Holistic Health. She will be attending University of Kent in Canterbury, England to receive her Masters Degree in Ethnobotany in 2017. She has worked for Urban Moonshine, Greenpeace and received her training with Spoonful Herbals. Her goal is to receive her PHD and become a professor at University of California Santa Cruz. Molly resides in Monte Nido, California.  

The 4 Phases of a Woman’s Moon Cycle

By: Lydia Jarjoura

There was a time, before our mothers and our grandmothers and perhaps even their mothers, where all life and time was governed by the Menstrual cycle.  Before artificial light, endocrine disrupting diets (processed foods) and the rise of hormonal birth control, most women would experience their period together on the New Moon and would ovulate at the Full Moon. This cycle is our default setting and, until recently, it is what controlled our cycles of rest, work, creativity, and play.  

In fact, civilization’s way of tracking time was born out of the lunar rhythms of a woman’s monthly cycle, or Moon cycle. The origins of the word Moon, come from the word month and menses both in Old English and Greek. This is where we get the words month, menstruation, menarch, and many more words with “me”- to measure.  The Lunar Calendar is what is innately inside each of us and, as women, many of us are beginning to remember this cycle, and to align our lives with it.

A woman’s cycle not only mirrors the phases of the Moon, but also the four seasons. The first season, or phase, is winter. This is the New Moon phase when the sky is black and Moon is dark.  Like winter, when a woman is experiencing her New Moon phase, she is withdrawn. This is typically when a woman bleeds; her physical energy is low, but her creativity can reach the stars.  During her New Moon phase, there is little distinction between intuition and logic. The veil is thinned between the Spirit and Earthly worlds.  

After the darkness of winter during the New Moon, the light begins to grow. So we enter the Waxing Moon phase, or the springtime phase of a woman’s cycle. This is after bleeding stops and new energy begins to rise to the surface. Like fresh flower buds, a woman’s energy begins to awaken to the world around her.  This is when senses are heightened and nature beckons. During the Waxing phase, the earth becomes ripe and calls to be walked upon with bare feet. 

As the Moon’s light continues to grow, it becomes Full.  During a woman’s Full Moon, or summer phase, her energy is at its height. Her body is fertile and her femininity flows. Just as we start to harvest the fruits of our summertime labor, this is the time when a woman tends to nurture others, more than herself.  Practice self-care on the Full Moon, as you release what is no longer, to make room for what’s to come. 

When summer ends, and the Full Moon has passed, the brightness starts to dim. This is a woman’s Waning Moon phase or autumn. Many women experience pre-menstrual symptoms during this time and, just as autumn arrives, we are invited to start to slow down and draw within.  During this phase of a woman’s cycle, it’s important that she be gentle with herself. Just as if she were coming inside from the wet hot heat of summer, she must cool herself and calm her energy.  During the Waning Moon, self-care is vital, so that energy can be conserved for the next phase, the New Moon phase, that starts the cycle over again.

Every woman who has ever existed has experienced these four Moon phases and four seasons within her body; whether it be physical, emotional, or spiritual.  When we can learn to live in alignment with these phases, we can truly start to flourish. In each of us is a New Moon Wise Woman, a Maiden of Spring, a Mother of Summer, and a Priestess of Autumn.  

By learning about your sacred cycles, you can illuminate the essence of what it means to be a woman.  

Photo credit: Lydia Jarjoura

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Photo credit: Richard Casteel

Lydia Jarjoura is the founder of Lunar Nourishment: a holistic feminine health platform.  Lunar Nourishment helps women live in alignment with their natural rhythms by providing guidance on menstrual care, fertility awareness, herbal + nutritional support, yoga, energy healing and more.  Lunar Nourishment Moon Ceremonies happen each month to connect women from all walks of life as they work towards reclaiming their cycles.

Top 10 Products We Love This Month

1. Raw Revelations Super 3

This plant-based omega 3 powerhouse is made from vegan algae with antioxidant rich Astaxanthin and Sea Buckthorn. Extraordinarily nourishing for our nerve, brain and joint tissues, use this to supplement adequate doses of omega 3 and to counterbalance the overconsumption of omega 6 in the diet. 

2. Selina Naturally Celtic Sea Salt

Unprocessed and naturally balanced, this hand-harvested salt from pristine costal regions is low in sodium and high in minerals. We love sprinkling this pixie dust on most everything, as it not only enhances our food, but our entire body!

3. May Lindstorm Blue Cocoon Balm

This balm truly quiets and clears the mind with wholesome herbs and nurturing heat. Just half a pea-sized amount in the mornings and evenings is all the skin needs to add beauty to even the most sensitive facial areas.

4. New Earth Superfoods Super Probiotic Coconut Kefir 

California locals make this 100% non-dairy “Living” Kefir culture that is extremely beneficial for any dietary needs. We love using this to enhance our bodies with loads of probiotics in order to rebalance our guts for springtime. We especially love the delicious sea plankton blend that we find at Erewhon! 

5. Sacred Rose Water Body Mist and Aromatherapy

This divine mist truly transcends our spirit and vibration. Made with 100% pure rose oil, spray on this sheer blanket of heart opening medicine, as you can inhale and soak in blissful rose blossoms.

6. Anthony Williams Medical Medium Book

Medical Medium is an essential read. Anthony Williams shares revolutionary insight into healing conditions that doctors tend to overlook. If you are feeling the least bit off balance, this book is an inspiring and groundbreaking read, that may just answer your innermost health concerns and questions.

7. Wonder Valley Olive Oil

Just as the description reads: buttery, herbaceous, fruitful and grassy are words that come to mind. The crème de la crème of certified Extra Virgin grade olive oil made from handpicked young olives in the limitless beauty and inspiration of Joshua Tree. 

8. Siete Grain-free Tortilla Chips

Finally a grain, gluten and nut-free tortilla chip that tastes just as delicious as it sounds. These are the snack chips we cannot live without. Made from primarily cassava flour, a starchy root native to Brazil, this inspiring family-owned business creates paleo-friendly guiltless chips that are almost impossible to stop eating. 

9. Earthy Tones Antioxidant Elixir

This vegan and ethically sourced ingredient elixir is a treasure trove of antioxidant teeming oils. With anti-aging and anti inflammatory properties, it is silky smooth as it fills your skin with pure goodness like organic pomegranate seed, kalahari (watermelon seed), and Hawaiian kukui nut. A beautiful message of self love resonates with this Pacific Northwest based company. 

10 Living Libations Neem Enamelizer Liquid 

Its time to elevate your enamels!  Use this in placement of your normal toothpaste to alkalize your mouth and re-mineralize your teeth with enzymes and organic, wildcrafted ingredients. Living Libations only works with integrity and the highest quality ingredients and oils. 

March Intuitive Medicine

March beckons us with the promise of illumination and profound spiritual growth but not without our willingness. Our willingness to face the feels. To face the emotional tide that, at times, may threaten to engulf us. It’s when we encounter our challenges, when we face them with fortitude and bravery, that we have a crystal-clear perception of what we are made of and what we are capable of. March wastes no time and gets us started with a Jupiter-Uranus opposition which takes place on the 3rd. This is a transit which encourages us to expect the unexpected. To take the blessing within the curse. It’s a reminder that sometimes what appears to be our worst nightmare is exactly what we need to get us to where we have been trying to go. We will need to get on board with trusting the process even if is uncomfortable. Using our voice, even when we are afraid of rocking the boat, is a necessary balance to the energy and its impact upon us during this transit.

On the 12th we welcome a Full Moon in Virgo, the first in this sign since the New Moon eclipse back in September of 2016. Since then we have gone through an eclipse season which has swept away what no longer serves; clearing the path ahead and encouraging us forward. The question with this transit is what now? Have we released everything the Virgo/Pisces eclipse season asked of us? Or are we still holding onto limiting patterns, behaviors and thoughts? Are we continuing to bog our system down with unhealthy habits which sully our vitality? This transit encourages we fully release and shed what limits us physically, emotionally and spiritually so we are free to explore our potential. 

March 26th brings us a New Moon in Aries – a fiery opportunity for manifestation and growth of even the most colossal desires which we have dismissed as impossible and improbable. Now we feel the heat of this transit pushing us forward. Begging for us to stop drumming up excuses but to really give into the process of “what if”. New Moons are these beautiful blank slates upon which we can craft a work of art that transcends all we imagined for ourselves. It’s a time for planting seeds and actively participating in their growth. 

For those ready to join in community in the flow of these transits I encourage you to join us in the Cosmic Collective. We celebrate each New and Full Moon transit with a spirited discussion, meditation and transmission. You can learn more and sign up here.

Let’s go deeper and explore the energetic transmission for each sign. Be sure to read both your Sun and Moon sign and if born within 7-10 days of transit into a new sign, your cusp sign as well, to gain even richer insight into the month ahead.

Let’s get started, shall we?

Aries

The energy of this month encourages mastery. Not mastery over others but over the self. To step up to the plate and take charge of our lives in such a way that we see massive shifts with even the smallest amount of effort. You have travelled a long and varied road. You now float, effortlessly, through what once caused you to stumble. This month presents the opportunity to face something that you have faced before and respond to it in an entirely new way. To have a more enlightened and enriched experience because you have moved from reaction. Because you have evolved and know that our evolution is only part of the story. It’s how we allow this evolution to dance through us which takes it from knowing to experiential. 

Taurus

Desire is the fourth influence upon the choices that we make. Whether it’s called lust, craving or desire, ultimately all this means is that we want something. But like all things we must establish what we want and then how badly we want it. Does what we want come at a cost and is that cost something we are willing to accept? Let’s say you want to move. You know exactly where; it’s a place you’ve visited and fell in love with repeatedly. But as much as you desire that, you know that to do so means quitting a job you also love in the location you currently reside. You may have kids you have to pull out of school or friends whom you will have to say goodbye to. Desire now is in action as we assess what we want and how much we are willing to change or sacrifice to get it. It’s not that desire is inherently good or bad. It’s not wrong any more than it’s right. Desire is simply a feeling and we must set the intention behind it to determine whether its impact upon our life increases our stability or undermines it. 

Gemini

This month brings hope front and center as you reach a successful outcome. There is a sense of joy and happiness which is pervasive; pushing its way into every corner and fiber of your being. It’s a sense of absolute contentment and joy that allows for you to face the future with hope that your success will continue. That you needn’t wait for the other shoe to drop because you know that if you worked to get here you can work to get there, wherever there may be. This month gives you a moment to celebrate all that you have worked for. To remember that our work requires that we take time out to celebrate ourselves. To put a smile upon our lips, joy in our hearts and pat ourselves on the back for the effort we have put forth. There will be no greater fuel for all the great acts to come than gratitude. 

Cancer

Choice is a powerful force. It can be used for good and for ill. It can be used to create powerful change that lasts a lifetime and it can be ignored and turned away from in fear and worry. It’s a power that we can keep all to ourselves or share with others. Sometimes it’s a force we deny outright, handing it over entirely to another. There is no right or wrong way to handle choice –there only is how you feel with the choice that you make. If you take action that leaves you feeling inspired and content, then it likely is a positive choice for you to make. If, however, you feel depleted, detached from your power or helpless then chances are you made a choice which will not and does not serve you. The answer to what we do is always clear once we check in with how we feel. Then it all boils down to making a choice. 

Leo

Do you remember what it felt like to be a child? To roam freely, to dance with possibility in all its form before the world sought to limit you with notions of impossibility? When you could soar from a tree limb and for a mere second believe you were truly flying?  Do you remember scoffing when your parents would suggest something was not possible or that our ideas were too “out there”? How it seemed that they, and not us, were the truly ignorant ones because we couldn’t conceive that we’d be given an idea that was not possible? This month you are encouraged to get in touch with this inner child again. To ask her for insight on something you face or are dreaming of this month. To see what inspiration her unfettered insight contains and then act. Act with the same belief, determination and willful perseverance that you as a child would have. Don’t stop, don’t look down, never cease believing. 

Virgo

You were here to become wise. To grow and to learn. Knowledge does not make you wise – anyone can read a book and regurgitate its content. Wisdom is the power to learn from our experiences. To understand what happened and why allows us to evaluate each moment from a place of greater wisdom – a place that will determine if we continually repeat mistakes or learn and move on. Wisdom is a deeply personal synthesis that incorporates all that our successes and failures have taught us. That integrates our intuition and emotional intelligence so that we can make choices that bring stability and productivity to our lives. That allow us to truly embody our purpose and live a life rich with meaning. 

 Libra

There is complimentary energy to everything; this is where we find balance. There is no binary means through which we approach life and if there is any sign in the zodiac which understands this, it’s you, Libra. This month your ability to operate in this liminal space will be vital as this is a month of balance and alignment for you. To understand the masculine and feminine within. To embrace both qualities within no matter our gender. To understand the nature of the this balance so that you can both protect and nurture your interests. This month you ride the wave between your passive and more active traits and learn to apply each when best suited. It’s a place known and familiar to Librans and a place where you can further growth that has been bubbling just below the surface. 

Scorpio

This month you experience life through the lens of total balance and synthesis. This is a time of great achievement where it feels as though the world has opened and granted you all that you have been working years for. Career, home, family – these important sectors are in harmony and functioning optimally. This is a time to celebrate you; to acknowledge all your hard work and celebrate the effort that you have put in to get you to this very place. This place of reward. This place of knowing all the hard work that you put into yourself, into your dreams was worth it. This is a month when you realize you really can have it all – with a little hard work and consistency life does in fact respond in kind. 

Sagittarius

There are times when we feel that no one quite understands us and what we are going through. That in the face of heavy emotions the only one we can rely on is ourselves. This doesn’t have to be a negative thing. In a world that places great emphasis on answers that reside outside of ourselves this can be an opening. An opening to check in with what you are feeling. To ask how you can nurture yourself. How can you be for yourself the friend you would want in someone else? How can you be the lover you would expect another to be for you? How can you fill the space within, that longing to be understood and seen by understanding and witnessing yourself? This month the answer to what is aching within may seem to be something we much search outward for. The truest answer, the greatest source of support, however, will only be found within. 

Aquarius

Each day is a journey; each moment an adventure, if we choose to see it as such. For many of us this can be a challenge. To see the beauty in the bruise. To see the possibility in a challenge. To see that even when we are at our lowest the quest is ever flowing. This moment is entirely as it is meant to be. It doesn’t need to be shifted or changed in anyway. So, enjoy the blessing of this moment. This uniquely crafted moment in this most sacred of journeys. Whether good or bad we understand the nature of impermanence – that everything is evolving with or without our input. So how can we be fully present in this moment for what it is, knowing that the tide is always shifting. How can we embrace the shift even if it means knowing that the positivity of today may lead to a challenge tomorrow? How can you let go of destination as motivator for the journey and instead enjoy the journey for the journeys sake?

Pisces

This month you reach a point of attainment that allows you to celebrate your hard work. To celebrate your skill and dedication that allows you to move through your work, through your life with awareness and grace. Not everything is easy – surely, we as humans seem to enjoy complicating things for ourselves at times. But this is a month where you can keep things simple and as such enjoy the plentitude that comes your way. This is a month to replenish and enjoy. To look around at the blessings which fill your life and know that each ounce was earned. Each came with the labor of your love, blood, sweat and tears. That with that hard work you have earned the right to sit back and say “Ahhh!” Not because the work is over – we are always evolving and challenging ourselves to strive for our personal best. Rather now is the time for a pause in the action, a retreat from activity while you embrace the foundation beneath your feet. To celebrate, with gratitude all that surrounds and supports you. 

Capricorn

Cogito ergo sum – I think, therefore I am. We have a growing awareness of how our thoughts influence our reality. Our thoughts create our emotions and our emotions create our actions. Following this chain allows us to see where we can provide healing or nurturing to something which feels out of miss or out of sync with the reality we desire to live. This month offers a potent opportunity for taking full accountability for your life. To look around and acknowledge that, for better or worse, your life reflects the thoughts allowed to dominate your mind, the emotions you have felt and the behavior that arose from both. Once we take this responsibility we can then transform any feelings of helplessness into empowerment. After all, if we had a hand in creating the situation before us we have the power to change our approach and craft something entirely new.

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Laura Brown is a Seeress, Intuitive Coach and Medicine Woman. She is the Goddess and Creatrix at Intuitive Alchemy,  a sacred sanctuary for Intuitive Readings & Coaching, Spiritual Development as well as online Apothecary. Ever a sacred Alchemist, Laura blends her skills as a Channeler, Clairvoyant, Reiki Healer, Tarotist and Metaphysician to create sacred offerings for soul seekers. You can stay up to date on her Facebook page and follow her on Instagram for free daily readings

Vegan Top Chef - Michael Falso

Article by Sima Morrison and Karli Quinn

Michael Falso is a name that most foodies in the Los Angeles/New York scene perk up to. That’s because he is one of the most prestigious plant-based chefs in the country. He has the eye for plating scrumptious raw foods and executing the most diverse innovative dishes. Michael is an award winning and classically trained chef who is consistently coming up with cutting edge mind-blowing recipes. We had the pleasure to find out more about his culinary life, his inspirations and his favorite foods and ingredients. Enjoy.

Describe your outlook on food, your journey, and what it means to you to be a plant-based chef.

While I was working for Mario Batali at Del Posto right out of culinary school, I was eager to eat at all the legendary high-end restaurants in New York that I’d heard about for years. I started eating out all the time and food became the center of my world. I wanted to know (and eat) everything I could. At first, I started to gain a little bit of weight here and there but I was always encouraged that this was normal for a chef - the adage implied in this industry is, after all,  “never trust a skinny cook.” After about a year of continuously gaining weight, I started to have some serious health issues that I could not ignore and that appeared out of nowhere. I was soon diagnosed with high blood pressure, sleep apnea, and I was considered to be “pre-diabetic” all within a month’s time. I was constantly struggling with a state of pure exhaustion and fatigue, frequent migraines and dangerously bloody noses—which I thought was a result from hard work in the restaurant industry but I started to realize that “something” else was very wrong. The problem was I had no clue where to begin.

There was a hot yoga studio across from my apartment and I started doing hot yoga, almost religiously 5 days a week determined to get better and get my weight under control. In the hot room I couldn’t last for more than 3 minutes standing up. I was embarrassed, ashamed, and really disappointed in myself. In the hot yoga room, you are always encouraged to look at yourself in the mirror. And I had realized at this point that it was the first time in my adult life that I was looking at myself - into my own eyes - and seeing who I was, clearly. I didn’t like what I saw. During yoga classes, I would watch myself and sometimes cry—watching my oversized-self struggle to get into the poses. Instead of shame, the yoga teachers were compassionate and encouraging—even if stern at times. They would go out of their way to make sure that I was taken care of and that I wouldn’t just give up. After about 6 months of struggling through the 90 minute yoga class, I was able to complete the entire class for the first time. I lost a little weight at first but I was still eating the Standard American Diet. While waiting in line for class one day, I overheard two people talking about this restaurant Pure Food and Wine…and that they would go get green juices before class. I had never had a green juice at this point.

As a little bit more time passed, I began doing my own research about nutrition and started reading books on my way to work…I was averaging 10-12 books a month consuming all I could about “healthy” eating and nutrition—an endless sea of confusing and conflicting information—but the one thread that was the same throughout was the importance of fruit and vegetables. One of the most profound books was “Green Smoothie Revolution” by Victoria Boutenko that was the impetus to get me to buy a vitamix and start drinking green smoothies—primarily to lose weight, and I started drinking 3 smoothies a day, even bringing them to work at the restaurant. For 2 weeks I drank only smoothies and the most peculiar thing started to happen. At first I was starving and miserable, but then I started to crave them. I lost 15 pounds that very week but I also felt I had more energy, I was sleeping better, and I was much happier and cheerier—and I had a hard time believing it was the smoothies alone.

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After about 4 weeks of only drinking 3 huge smoothies a day, I was asked by a friend to actually dine at Pure Food and Wine. I knew that it claimed to be a raw restaurant, and I really had no idea what that meant or what it would come to mean to me. I just assumed it was vegetable plates and pickles. I planned on only having a smoothie but I was so taken by the menu, the presentation, the ingredients, and the fact that the restaurant was jam-packed on a Tuesday night that I thought I had to try out some of the food. I didn’t expect anything special, and perhaps that is why I had such a strong reaction to it. There I was, working in a newly minted 4-star restaurant by the New York Times, having graduated from The Culinary Institute of America - it probably was the first time I’d ever been at a vegan restaurant. I ordered the Heirloom Tomato Lasagna and after my first bite I was so overcome that I couldn’t speak. I remember the explosion of flavors were so intense, yet so balanced, refreshing, and stunningly simple. I then had a great epiphany—if food that isn’t cooked can taste this good, and this satisfying, why bother cooking food at all? I wanted to know how this was possible. How could it be possible? These questions rattled through my mind as I continued to work at Del Posto and I would taste (and spit out rich sauces, meats, and fish) as it was part of my job to ensure things were cooked and seasoned properly. I didn’t want anyone at work to know that I was only drinking smoothies—and nothing else—because I feared they wouldn’t understand. Something had shifted that night and there was no going back. Within about a week’s time, I had quit Del Posto and started working at Pure Food and Wine as a line cook—it’s the best decision I’ve ever made in my life. I just needed to know, to understand how created this amazing raw food. Everything—raw ice creams, cheesecakes, crackers, cheeses - it was an entirely new world for me. Today I am not as strict as I used to be in terms of diet, but there were many years that I was very strict. I’ve learned that as a chef I have to have balance and I have to create that balance for myself. 

No one in my life was happy about my decision—at first. My friends, my family, my co-workers didn’t understand why I was giving up my career (as they said) to work at an unknown restaurant that served raw food. After having dined at Pure that night, I literally became vegan overnight and for the first time I considered myself as vegan because there was no way I was ever going back to my old way of eating - there was only going forward. I ended up losing over 100 pounds in about 6 months. My entire life started to shift drastically and lots of things started fall into place—so much so that I even decided to switch coasts and come live in LA without any hesitation. 

 

Where is your favorite place to dine out in Los Angeles and New York?

My favorite place to eat out in Los Angeles is an Ethiopian restaurant called Meals by Genet. It’s not vegan, but the chef Genet is vegan and takes special care with her veggie options, it’s absolutely delicious. It’s food that is designed to be shared and eaten with your hands. I normally don’t eat tofu—not for any other reason than I just don’t seem to consume it all that much, but her tofu “tibs” would easily please any die-hard carnivore. 

In New York, one of my favorite places to eat is in Little India and it’s called Saravana Bhavan. It’s a chain restaurant that has locations all over the world, however it’s my favorite place to eat dosas. Every single time that I am in New York I eat there. I’ve been going for over 10 years and it seems like nothing has changed at all. 

What one ingredient would you say you use the most in the kitchen?

The one ingredient I use most in the kitchen is truly cold pressed extra virgin olive oil. It's the one ingredient that I will reach for every single day - whether cooking or making raw foods and salad dressings. One of the myths circulating in nutrition circles has been that you should not cook or saute at all with olive oil, and even more fragile extra virgin oil, because its fragile to heat. The truth is that olive oil is extremely durable and mostly made of mono-unsaturated fat that don't as easily oxidize by heating as polyunsaturated oils like corn or sunflower oils--which should not be heated at all. Olive oil contains many antioxidants (many, many more in extra virgin oil) that prevent the oil from degrading while its being heated, but this protection can only go so far. Olive oil, and extra virgin olive oil, does not degrade until it comes close to the temperature of 392F (200C) - which is well above its smoking point. The smoke that any oil gives off is toxic and the oil itself becomes carcinogenic when it reaches this point - the same as with any oil. However, olive oil has been used for thousands of years as a primary oil for good reason.

Name a few staples that you keep on hand in the kitchen.

I always have cinnamon, maca, lucuma, vanilla powder, and pink Himalayan salt. These are the first things that I buy when I’m moving. I often use them in combination or alone—whether in a nut milk, tonic, or smoothie. 

You have opened some of the most successful plant based restaurants in Los Angeles, where do you get inspiration from to create your recipes?

Thank you! Well, honestly, I get inspiration from everywhere—even very unrelated disciplines and experiences. However, I think of recipe testing and creation very much like solving a puzzle, trying to get certain pieces to fit together. Sometimes it’s fast and obvious, other times it takes much, much longer. I really feel that everything that I make is some interpretation or representation of something I had or experienced previously.

I jokingly say that the ingredients tell me what to do with themselves—and I’m only half joking. I say half because, of course, ingredients are not literally speaking to me. Something reverberates within me and I just intuitively know how much to use, in what amounts, and in specific combinations. It doesn’t always happen that simply or all at one time, but in steps and missteps. It can take one time to make a great recipe or twenty-five times; it’s all very relative. But the commonality at the end of the process is that when looking at the completed recipe, everything seems so obvious. It’s almost like there’s a moment where you say to yourself, “duh” and it all makes sense and becomes obvious in the process. That’s usually an indication to me that the process is complete and I can stop tinkering for the time being, because ultimately, I never stop tinkering or editing.

I suppose it’s like writing a poem. You have an idea, you start writing out the lines and adding them up. Usually, the words are ultimately trimmed down to their most essential points and to me that is when the collection of words becomes an actual poem. A poem that can be understood in different ways and interpreted without necessarily revealing the why’s and how’s of everything. Somehow each part functions for the completion of the whole revealing some universal truth or experience or feeling. That is much like a recipe and the process of editing is a very big part of that process.   

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What has been one of your biggest challenges in your career, especially living in a city that is very tapped into health and wellness?

Having gone to culinary school, I thought I knew a lot about food. Working with raw food forced me to question and re-examine everything that I thought I knew and see it through a different set of standards. My good friends from culinary school were very upset with me and thought that I was crazy. They would argue with me and get quite mad. My family, and more particularly, my mom, was concerned I was becoming anorexic because she thought that I wasn’t eating. Friends would try to take me to restaurants and order for me, and then actually have fights with me when I wouldn’t. They just couldn’t understand what I was doing, why I was doing it, and they thought it was just a passing phase and a fad. Maybe at one time I did, too, but there was something more there. After a few months, the tensions calmed and my friends started accepting that I would only eat vegan food that happened to be raw. I would make them salads and small items to persuade them to try and they were all usually shocked at how flavorful everything was—but as impressed as they were, they always thought of it as “just” a salad—even if it was delicious. They didn’t see what I made as respectable “food.”

In a lot of ways I felt like I had to completely start over. I had to re-learn food, what it means, what it is, and what purpose it served in my life. This was the first time I made the connection that the food you eat is directly related to health and how you feel in general. I bought a dehydrator and started to learn how to soak and sprout, how to manipulate nuts, how to blend textures and use them in strange new ways, how to use sea weeds, chia seeds, how to ferment, how to pickle—the list can go on and on and on. These things were familiar to me, but new at the same time because I never looked at them in terms of nutrition. Some of my culinary friends that are still working in traditional high-end restaurants don’t know how to make their own mustard, which I think is a shame. I think it’s these little details that makes my food different. Today there seems to be a lot more open-mindedness about eating healthier and things like flaxseeds, chia seeds, and nutritional yeast are starting to pop up everywhere, even in places like Walmart. That was not the case ten years ago. Now, people are more willing to try foods of all types and varieties. It was a huge challenge to get people to realize eating healthy doesn’t have to be flavorless, boring, and unsatisfying. In Los Angeles, we are lucky because healthy eating is chic and a part of the culture, so naturally, there is always a vegan, paleo, gluten and/or dairy free option wherever you go to eat. In New York, this type of thinking has started to take root but it doesn’t compare to Los Angeles. 

What is your ideal working environment?

My ideal working environment is one that encourages constant growth and exploration. I am always asking questions and wondering why. I’m always tinkering. I like to watch things change and evolve. It keeps things interesting and you are always on your toes!

What do you do to decompress after a workday?

I like to read to decompress. Sometimes it’s about food, but other times I like to check out completely and get lost in a book that has nothing to do with food. I speak French fluently, so I am usually trying to read classical French literature in order to maintain my fluency. It takes me to a different place quite literally and in my mind, using a different part of my brain altogether. Other times, I like to read about astrophysics—it sounds funny and pretentious, but it’s really not. I just find the fact that most of the minerals on Earth come from outer space—we are truly made of stars—and that the earth has 40,000 storms a day—with lightning striking every second. How is that not fascinating? And thankfully I can read about it without having to do any calculus or math!

In your opinion, what is one of the most nutrient-dense foods that someone with a plant based diet should get in his or her system on the daily?

Interesting question. I don’t think that there is one miraculous food, superfood or ingredient that people should consume. It’s more of an overall approach to eating fresher. I think people should try to avoid eating anything that comes out of a box and that has been highly processed. Even cartons of almond milk are misleading. They are often mostly water and maybe 1 to 2 almonds thickened with stabilizers and preservatives. If you make your own home made nut milk even once, it’s hard to go back to the store bought kind. Those kinds of little changes will have a big effect. The one thing that I do honestly believe everyone should take is a mineral supplement. A lot of people don’t realize you can all the vitamins in the world but without minerals, your body cannot use vitamins. Most people don’t know about minerals or think about them very often, but they are so vital to overall health yet largely disregarded.

Tell us about your favorite juice or milk creation and its benefits

One of my favorite milks that I’ve made is my favorite for a couple of reasons. It’s called Black Magic Milk. First, I love it because it’s a creamy black/charcoal color, which I love seeing in my food, and second, because of the many health benefits it offers. The flavor is very peculiar to most people and I love it. The base is a rich, sprouted black sesame milk. It’s lightly sweetened with dates and enhanced with shilajit, he shou wu, cistanche, vanilla powder, a tiny splash of toasted sesame (to round out the flavors), and pink salt. The salt, I think, I absolutely necessary for this drink. It’s totally different from anything that I’ve ever tasted.  

Black sesame seeds are a great natural remedy for greying hair and contain the highest oil content of any seed. One tablespoon of sesame has significantly more calcium than a glass of milk, around eight times the quantity. Also, due to high iron content, it can alleviate anemia, contains tryptophan and assists in regulating mood and sleep. Black sesame is also reputed to help improve fertility.

Shilajit is extremely powerful and mineralizing. It supports fertility, improves energy production at the cellular level, and protects the heart due to high antioxidant activity while improving memory due to high fulvic acid content among many, many other things. 

He Shou Wu, like black sesame, also prevents hair loss and premature greying, supports the functions of the internal organs, nourishes the reproductive system and helps balance blood pressure.

Cistanche is an excellent mood supporting herb and has gained the reputation of being a serious libido enhancer, but also as the same time a very potent physical energy enhancer for much the same reason. It is powerful, yet gentle, enhancing immune function and possessing strong anti-aging, antioxidant, and neuroprotective properties.

What is one thing you wish you could change about our food system?

This is a loaded question for me that has many parts.  I would like nothing more than to change the way we look at the food system in terms of quality and waste. Our soils are very depleted and overworked. Factory farming is unavoidable but it doesn’t have to be such a toxic cesspool of mediocrity. Eating more locally and seasonally has a lot to do with eating the better quality and more nutritious foods. It doesn’t have to be an all or nothing approach, but visiting farmers markets is really a great way to get fresh, vibrant food—and you also get the ability to know your farmer personally, which isn’t so common in our high-tech digital world.

For example, strawberries are available year round yet the most sumptuous strawberries only seem to appear during summer. I would bet that these delicious summer berries are much, much more nutrient dense than the out of season, astringent, barely red berries. Fruits and vegetables are not allowed to ripen as long as they need in order to get the longest shelf life and to survive shipping. Not only is the flavor and texture completely compromised but the nutritional value also suffers as well. In the restaurant industry there is an excessive amount of daily waste. Most people outside the industry don’t know and those in the industry are desensitized because we are conditioned to think it is a normal part of the process. It’s really staggering to see how much food—a lot of it still perfectly good—goes straight into the trash every week. 

Town Clothes: Slow Fashion, Full Transparency

Article by Karli Quinn

Town Clothes is a Los Angeles based women’s clothing line focused on long lasting minimal design by Krista Bachmeier Fox. Krista sources deadstock and overstock fabrics and uses organic US grown cotton when deadstock is not available. When dyeing her pieces she uses natural plant based dyes. Krista is influenced by her native state of California on all counts; the music, landscape, way of life, and her peers all lend to her creative process. She holds California near and dear to her and wishes to expand and educate herself and consumers about the importance of the slow fashion movement via Town Clothes. 

Describe the slow fashion movement, your viewpoint on its stance today, and what you see for its future?  

The slow fashion movement is quite similar to the farm to table movement that Alice Waters and the like helped establish. Slow fashion is about smart consumerism. As a consumer it’s about knowing where your garment is coming from, and knowing it was made with the least amount of waste possible in the healthiest way possible. It’s about being a proactive consumer and spending your money on thoughtful businesses. As a producer and maker it’s about knowing where your fabrics are coming from, what the process of making those fabrics is, who is sewing your garments, dyeing, etc. It’s about pure transparency and unfortunately this isn’t a task that is easily achieved. It’s not normal practice or procedure to think about these things. That’s not to say there aren’t designers out there who do care passionately about knowing these things but the information is not easily attained because it’s not a common practice. I hope that one day we can wear our clothes and know who sewed them, who grew the cotton and in which state, country, region. I want it to be completely transparent and I know that’s an idealist point of view but if we start small and local we can radicalize the fashion industry - one of the most detrimental industries in the world to both the environment and human rights. 

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Why do you think more people aren’t taking a sustainable approach in creating their garments and products?

I think a lot of people don’t think about it, it’s not a concern they are dealing with on a day-to-day basis because they are so wrapped up in the rat race that is the fashion world. They are busy staying on trend and staying relevant because not only is the fashion calendar making them stay up to speed but now there’s social media dictating how quickly a new style or season needs to be produced. So I think a lot of people are overwhelmed and the last thing on their minds is sustainable business practices. I do think it’s changing though. I mean I look around at my peers and all of their ideals and ethics are so in line with mine and it’s very uplifting and exciting. There seems to be a backlash uprising against the fast fashion ethos of yesterday. There’s a stronger sense of community and unity and I hope that keeps growing, I have faith that it will.

Your brand exists to expand and educate consumers about the slow fashion movement. What is something you would like to share with all fashion consumers?

It’s so important to support small brands with a thoughtful ideology because throwaway fashion is very unhealthy for our environment, our animals and most importantly other human beings! And if you can’t afford to support small brands a wonderful alternative is vintage and thrift clothing!

What would you like to ask or say to designers who are taking an unsustainable approach to design?

It’s like any industry— I would just want to know why they are doing what they are doing. Are you happy doing it, is your heart in it, what is the point of making it? There’s so much waste in this world already because of cheaply made clothing, why not go the extra mile and make it count.

Tell us about your style and how Town Clothes was born.

I have always gravitated towards people who look and act different from the norm. Music is a huge influence in my life and my design process. I grew up going to punk shows and have always been inspired by the free thinking and radicalized ideas that most punks live by. I’m also extremely into classic country and that plays a huge role in my design aesthetic. And I love uniforms, tailored pieces and androgyny. My good friend Sheila and I started Town Clothes a few years ago. We had both made the move from San Francisco and had always wanted to create something with one another as we have very similar taste and we get along well. Sheila has since left Town to pursue other artistic avenues but we will definitely collaborate on things in the future. Starting the business with her helped tame my anxiety to start this clothing line and I’m so thankful she helped make Town come to fruition.

How would you describe yourself as a consumer? As a designer? 

As a consumer my motto is buy fewer buy better. I try to make informed and thoughtful decisions on where I spend my money. Whether it’s food, toiletries, clothing, furniture, plants, etc. I support small businesses and shop local whenever possible. As a designer it’s the same idea. I want to support my local community so all of my sewers, contract workers in general are located in Los Angeles. If I were to get a mass quantity of fabric naturally dyed (if I didn’t have time to do it myself) I would look to my friend Audrey Louise Reynolds to take on that job for me. I use vintage buttons, or have my friend Tyler Frome make them in his woodshop. And all of my trims are also organic, grown in the US. I try my hardest to make my business practices and my consumer practice as transparent as possible.

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What is one of your favorite pieces and where do you wear it?

My favorite piece to wear that I’ve made is the Mara Jumpsuit. It’s a staple piece that I will make season after season in different fabrications. It’s basically a wrap jumpsuit and is flattering on almost every figure. I’ve worn it to weddings— my bridesmaids wore ones that I hand-dyed with marigold flowers to my wedding and I also just wear it out to get a cup of coffee. It can easily be dressed up or down.

What has been challenging to you in this business and how has it led to your growth as a designer and a person?

The hardest thing for me so far has been keeping on schedule and juggling my day job. It’s expensive to own your own business and even more expensive to live in California. And so that’s been the hardest thing for me as of yet, just balancing it all. That being said it’s helped me become more self-disciplined and aware of how valuable my time is. 

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Photo credit: Clara Balzary and Michelle Slater

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Women With Superpowers: Nitsa Citrine and Tasya van Ree

For months, we’ve been kept at arm’s length during artists Tasya van Ree and Nitsa Citrine’s creative process for what they’re calling Women With Superpowers. They have gathered familiar and unfamiliar faces in the community and captured their energies on camera for the world to meet. Today, we hear from the twosome about their vision for Women With Superpowers, their reverential friendship with each other, and their own superpowers we often forget we, too, hold inside. This collection of women with purpose— captured by the lenses of these two inventive beings—and the souls behind them have had us all wondering what will come of the passion project. They are manifesting empowerment, and the energy is echoing to women (and men!) everywhere. We are thrilled to walk with these strong forces and further encourage their commitment to celebrate the feminine as artist, activist and healer. 

Article by: Karli Quinn

How did you two come into one another’s lives? Describe the energy you felt when you first met and what ultimately led you two to venture in business together.

Tasya: Cosmic intervention.

Nitsa embodies a lot of divine energy. When first meeting her, the interaction was subtle and familiar, radiant and powerful. We’ve floated through different levels of friendship throughout the years but always retained a deeper form of connection. It was inevitable that we would one day create magic together.

Nitsa: We met at her art show at the Lodge in Los Angeles in March, 2015. The show was packed and there was a lot of energy in the space, but Tasya took a moment to speak with me, which I appreciated. The kindness and sincerity in her presence struck me. 

Describe your business model and the vision you each have for Women With Superpowers as well as the roles you are taking on to carry out its success. 

Nitsa: Our business model and the intention behind the project is to honor, nourish and celebrate the feminine.

Tasya: Our role is to be extremely present in the process, and we are both open to the infinite possibilities. 

Superpower is defined as having “excessive or superior power.” How do you two define superpower? And what is it about the women you choose to highlight that speaks to your own definition(s)?

Tasya: The word “superpower” is a fantastical way to describe your truth, the definitive reality in which you exist in and are from, your essence, and your force of life. 

The women are mirrors, and so are we.

Nitsa: To me, a superpower is a magical constellation of energy we recognize and cultivate within ourselves.

What enthused you about focusing on women?

Tasya: The feminine is profound by nature and I have a deep affection and intrigue for their presence.   

Nitsa: I love women! I love shooting women!!

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How do you choose the women with whom you meet? 

Tasya: Every woman is perfect, and we hope to one day photograph each and every one of them!

Nitsa: Intuition, resonance, and fourth dimensional alignment.

Do you think you will ever include men in your idea for this work?

Tasya: Anything is possible.

Nitsa: I would love to see what a Men With Superpowers series would look like.

Do you believe you have superpowers? Tell us about each of your own superpowers and how they compare to your idea of possessing a superpower as a child.

Tasya: Everyone and everything has superpowers.

My superpower is the ability to translate the unknown through a poetic prism. 

Whether you are a child or an adult, it is all based on your imagination. 

Nitsa: Multi-dimensional love frequency. 

We’ve all heard it’s not always wise to mix business with pleasure. Seeing as you two are very close friends, how does this work out for you? Can you share some advice for making this business partnership work in conjunction with sharing a close friendship?

Tasya: It’s a beautiful dynamic filled with respect, love, honesty, and loyalty. I feel that everything can flourish when these elements are in place and shared.

Nitsa: Well, we are only two months into the project so we have yet to see how it all unfolds but I will say it is an honor and delight to get to work with one of my favorite human beings. Tasya has a great eye and exceptional mind, constantly inspiring me to grow, and I trust her perspective very much. So, being able to collaborate with her is an absolute pleasure. 

Some might argue that we are all capable of having superpowers and it might just be how we define them that makes that so. Some may even say that superpowers are our individual strengths as human beings. Do you agree with this? Do you think everyone has superpowers? 

Tasya: Absolutely. Above and beyond.

Nitsa: I feel that anyone and everyone who acknowledges their power and presence as a means to create positivity and magic in the world holds the potential of a superpower – the trick is learning how to own and activate it!  

What superpowers do you wish you had?

Tasya: The superpower to save all wildlife from extinction.

Nitsa:  I have always wished to breathe underwater, become invisible, heal any wound, illness, or imbalance. And, fly!  

And – today especially – would love to have the superpower of teleportation. I am ready to master that now!

You are both active on social media, and so followers have been able to see highlights of your interactions with the women you interview. There is an aspect we don’t see that pulls your work together. How does each meeting go? What information are you looking for the women to share, and what are you hoping to capture?

Tasya: We try to create a space that is open and genuine, infinite and wild. What conspires and develops, which we try to capture through an individual and collaborative effort, is an authentic unification of color and rhythm when women come together. Beauty and gold. Laughter and a full heart of blazing joy. 

Nitsa: Well, the intention behind every shoot is to explore each woman’s inner world and superpower through a photographic lens.  Beyond this, we are pretty much in a constant, open dialogue on ideas for the project. Whether it is a stream of inspiration, women we want to weave into the series, organizational aspects, post processing details, or the cosmic back and forth.

Earlier, we wanted to know what you thought your own superpowers were. Now, we wonder if you could each describe a superpower you see in one another. 

Tasya: Nitsa is like a sacred dream painted in glowing wisdom traveling in all forms, across all time, through all space. 

Nitsa: Tasya has infinite superpowers but, if I had to pick one, it would be her ability to express her heart and imagination through her hands –and with so much honesty and beauty!

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What is the thing you want your interviewees to take away from in regard to their recognition from Women With Superpowers?

Tasya: To recognize their own superpower(s) and fall into its deep center with love and great influence.

Nitsa: Love! Unity! 

What do you want the world or you community of followers to learn? In a broader sense, what are you hoping to achieve?

Tasya: Full-spectrum love for the feminine, self, and universe.

Nitsa: Reverence for the feminine in all her forms!

Photo credit: Brett Morrison

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Keep in touch with the creative process of Women With Superpowers by following Women With Superpowers,  Nitsa, and Tasya on Instagram.

February Intuitive Medicine

Welcome to the second month of the new year-a month which while the shortest certainly does not lack in potent energy and transits which are translating to radical inward and outward shifts for each of us. We begin on February 3rd with a first quarter moon in Taurus. This is a very Earthy waxing moon that begs us to get serious about the vision of our life we desire to see. It’s time that we begin to take physical action-that we make physical representations of what we hope to consciously create in our lives over the course of the next several months. The days for merely sitting in mediation and visualizing are passed. And while visualization is a powerful means of manifesting, this energy begs action from us to match the wonderful energy we have already raised with our intentions and visualizations. As a ritual during this time pull out the journal and ask yourself what you desire to see in your life and just what you are willing to do to make that happen. Then act and make it happen. 

February 10th welcomes the Full Moon Lunar Eclipse in Leo and it’s a deeply healing and transformative Full Moon. Because it’s an eclipse something is being shed and in this case, it’s the wounds of the past and the structures they have created. All of us came into this world with a perfectly formed, beautiful and radiant personality. We were joyful, open and saw the world as a well of limitless potential. It’s through our experiences, circumstances and conditioning that we began to act in difference to this natural state. This Full Moon asks for us to reach back - to tap into that first state. To embrace the child who thought anything could happen. Who had no shame in who he/she was. Allow this being to come back. Invite this being into your present and release the need to guard, protect or hide your radiance from the world. 

Finally, on the 26th we celebrate the New Moon Solar Eclipse in Pisces. This transit highlights our spiritual side - asking what does our spiritual practice look like? How have we nurtured this side of ourselves and if we have not, then it begs the question what can we do to begin this practice. Eclipses are events which brings shifts and in the case of Solar Eclipses we are looking at new beginnings opening before us. New beginnings to embrace our inner mystic and creatrix. It’s a wonderful time to recommit or finally commit to a spiritual practice reflective of who we are and our modern lives. To bring balance and enhanced creativity as well as flow of abundance. 

It’s time to take things deeper; exploring the energy of the month for each of the 12 zodiac signs. These readings are an alchemy of intuitive channelings, astrology, and energetic imprint - a truly all-encompassing source of intuitive medicine. I have written them in the form of affirmations to assist each of you with putting your intentions into action through the month of February. To gain even deeper understanding of your month ahead I encourage you to read your Sun, Moon, and Rising signs. If you happen to fall within 7-10 days of a change in signs, then you will want to read the one after your Sun sign as well (what is called your cusp sign).

Aries

I will embody my most primal, seductive and sensual self. I will let heat build through my senses. Like a glass of fine wine or velvety chocolate I will enjoy every drop life has to offer. I will go after that which I desire and stand strong in the face of anything or anyone who dares suggest I am bound by limitation. I will be unapologetically optimistic and engaging knowing my warm and open nature is the vibration of all that I desire to welcome into my life. I embrace my vibrancy, I embrace my vitality and will see to it that each day is an edict of my radiance. That I know my worth. That the world knows my worth and that my every step ensures no one forgets it. 

Taurus

I open myself to the beauty of partnership and allow my dreams to take form not as a solitary endeavor but one which I can share with others. I acknowledge that I may have, in the past, pushed through what felt impossible to simply show that I could do it. That I didn’t need anyone or anything to help me. That I could support myself. I’ve learned a lot from this route. It has taught me so much about my strength and capability. It’s also taught me about a quieter, but perhaps more noteworthy strength: the strength to know that I can’t do it all on my own. The strength to ask for help when I need it. The strength to see how by aligning with another my vision becomes our vision - richer and more complex in its perfection. 

Gemini

I accept my destiny and walk bravely in the direction of all that I came here to do. I know that this means I must face fears. I understand that it will require that I heal wounds I have held on to for far too long. I equally accept that I can slow down - that I can stop the relentless pursuit of destiny as an outside destination and instead turn inward. Though this road is likely to be the more difficult path to travel, I understand that to step into my purpose it takes more than lip service. It requires that I be willing to see myself fully. To release what no longer serves. To construct a strength that is just as internal as it is external. Because it's time I walk my walk. I desire to have a life which is rich in meaning and purpose and this month I set into motion the deep healing that will make it so. 

Cancer

This month I welcome a new personal ideology. I understand that my thoughts become my emotions and that my emotions become my actions. I understand that to change my life I must first be willing to adopt a new way of thinking. I am willing to acknowledge that my beliefs and ideas may be outdated and no longer fit the reality I wish to see before me. I have grown into someone who may no longer be reflected in the ideas that shaped where I came from. I realize that to live an authentic life my beliefs must be authentic to me and not adopted from those around me. I seek the truth in all things and in so doing grant others the spaciousness to do this for themselves. 

Leo

I have been fortunate to have learned from some amazingly strong and inventive people in my life. I have stood on the shoulders of those who paved the way before me and I am honored to have done so. But I have ideas that are swelling within that require I make a sacrifice. I must sacrifice the path that is known. I must deviate from the well-trodden path and its predictability and instead branch into the unknown. I accept that this may be scary. I accept that I may fall as I round the learning curve but I make the commitment to get back up. I make the commitment to try again. I make the commitment to never give up or go back to thinking that to succeed I must do as others have done. I make a commitment to me. 

Virgo

I make the commitment to embrace the intangible. I have built a life that is pragmatic in nature. That is based upon fact and what I can prove and it has served me well. But I feel an inner calling. I feel the need to broaden my understanding of the world around me and know that I can do so by embracing what my intuition has to share with me. I pledge to listen to my gut and not ignore the sneaking suspicions or “funny feelings” that I get throughout my day. I choose to honor this as wisdom that is coming from a source I may not yet fully understand. But I will understand it - I will dedicate my time and effort to leaning into this knowingly, and learn to blend my rational mind with my growing and ever present intuition. 

Libra

I have gotten to where I am because I have acted with integrity. Because I have tried hard, worked hard and made sure that I did everything to the best of my ability. I am not perfect but I have earned the foundation beneath my feet. I do not seek affirmation or praise from those around me but stand in praise of myself. I am open to receiving. I allow the fruits of my labors to arrive. I accept them with grace and gratitude. I allow myself to enjoy what comes my way and do not resist it. I do not hide from what I have worked hard for out of some misguided principal that I am not allowed to experience the joy of what I have earned. I am standing within the portal, with arms wide open, to fruition and attainment with a grateful and joyous heart. 

Scorpio

This month I commit to evaluating my relationship with balance. I ask myself each day how much of my day was filled with what I wanted to do and how much with what I felt I had to do. I make the commitment to myself to strive for a balance between these two, sometimes opposite, forces in my life. I commit to finding time to doing more of what brings me happiness and joy. To what replenishes my heart and fills my soul. In so doing I know that the rest of what I do, all the roles I take on each day, will benefit greatly because I have taken the time to nurture myself. 

Sagittarius

This month I strive to make my aim true. I know that with a focused mind, deliberation action and stable emotion I can create momentum. Momentum to accomplish whatever calls to me right now. Momentum on tasks I have put off. Momentum that allows me to crash through barriers and leap over walls that I have likely created myself. To acknowledge that I have all the tools necessary to make things happen for myself and with discipline with make 2017 my best year yet. 

Capricorn

This month I work to make each thought, word and action an act of kindness and compassion. In a world that likes to make it seem as though we are all out for ourselves I strive to set the example that many of us have hearts open to see the good in all people. That we are willing to be raw and exposed in order to show love to our neighbor. To set aside bias and judgment so that a person has a chance to shine in their brilliance and not sullied under misperception of the masses. I make it my mission to stand in solidarity with those in need knowing that I once may have been in need. Knowing that one day down the line I may be in need again. I give knowing that compassion and kindness are gifts that are invaluable and that what I receive in return, however intangible it may be, is equally as priceless. 

Aquarius

This month I surrender to the flow of life. I surrender to the flow of what is and accept this may differ from what I envisioned. I let go of the need to control the flow and to hustle my way to the destination, and instead saddle in for the journey. I pause to enjoy the unfolding of what is before me. I accept what may be uncomfortable holds medicine for me and as such I do not resist but rather lean into these moments. I accept that the universe will always bring me what I need, even if that means waiting for what it is that I want. I know that all roads lead to the same place so long as I am willing to travel with an open heart: fulfillment. 

Pisces

To show vulnerability is to show strength is my new mantra for the month. I strive for absolute authenticity in each moment. To allow myself to be raw and exposed. To speak honestly of my achievements as well as my failures. To expose my insecurities and allow a greater intimacy to take root in all my interactions. I accept that within me is a gentle and empathic spirit who cannot help but feel things. I will not hide from this connection as it allows me to see others and for them to see me as well. To witness one another in this space is a great gift and it’s one I will not take for granted. I will show vulnerability this month and for it, welcome a strength that supports me in all that I do. 

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Laura Brown is a Seeress, Intuitive Coach and Medicine Woman. She is the Goddess and Creatrix at Intuitive Alchemy,  a sacred sanctuary for Intuitive Readings & Coaching, Spiritual Development as well as online Apothecary. Ever a sacred Alchemist, Laura blends her skills as a Channeler, Clairvoyant, Reiki Healer, Tarotist and Metaphysician to create sacred offerings for soul seekers. You can stay up to date on her Facebook page and follow her on Instagram for free daily readings