“Warriors of Peace”–contradiction in terms?
So you want “the best” in life? You want to have this experience of life be of “the highest” vibration?
I do. Maybe you do too…but how?
Well, “the best” and “the highest” are by definition the most rare and the most difficult to attain. So, no matter what the answer to “how?” is, it’s going to involve work.
Let’s take a moment here to appreciate how intimidating these words can be. We can have compassion for all the times we talk ourselves out of what we know is best for ourselves because we don’t want to do the work. (I forgive myself here…:))
After all, to attain “best” or “highest” means moving from where I am (the betterment process), and that movement = applying energy in a direction = work =practiced discipline.
We are fighting the natural force of entropy (disarray, a.k.a. vata) to establish and maintain a rhythm. Rhythm, rhythm, rhythm so we have a stable foundation = sense of security = a faith from which we can surf the waves of life with more balance.
Who wrestles the untamable degenerative force of wind/vata? You do; with your disciplined practice = routine.
So for all of you whom aren’t yet annoyed with my inserting equal signs yet, the work of betterment is accomplished through routine. What you do routinely, or what the rhythm of your life is made of doesn’t matter as much as the fact that there is a rhythm. I cannot think of one suggested road to greater balance/health/happiness that isn’t based in some kind of practiced discipline.
So, why “warrior” of peace (as opposed to lover of peace)? Well, because this means facing a challenge knowing that it is never-ending; that it will not be easy; and that you will only succeed if you keep your focus on how you benefit from it–all akin to the discipline of a warrior.
“The ‘battle’ is not really against the self, but against the entropy that brings disorder to consciousness.” (From Flow: the psychology of optimal experience)
To battle entropy, establish practiced discipline, or routine, in your life. That routine will bring more kapha energy into your life, and diminish vata. This means more contentment, stability, and being less affected by stress= peace.
Related posts:
Establishing Routine: 2 week challenge
I once heard it takes about 12 consecutive days to create a habit of any practice.
In my own experience, and in that of my clients, it takes about 2 weeks of consistent implementation of a lifestyle change to see a difference.
We all have something we’ve been meaning to implement in our lives….soooo, try it!
Bring any one new practice into your life for 2 weeks, just 2 weeks (the hard part is consistency). Then, see how you feel about it at the end of the 2 week trial. Has this practice become a habitual part of your routine (or life)?
Now I look forward to oil-pulling the way I do a shower, and it seems almost as indispensable (!). Maybe, for example, you’ll feel incomplete without your morning dose of triphala…
Synonyms of routine
ground
anchor
set
base
foundation
rhythm
rate
directed flow
pattern
stability
less vata
more kapha
Poop Reading 101
Signs of Vata Imbalance
- dry or hard
- not pooping everyday or at all different times (no rhythm)
- look more like little pebbles instead of a log
- straining to get it out
- gas, bloating
Signs of Pitta Imbalance
- loose or watery
- more than 2 times a day
- burns when it comes out
- long skinny poops indicate inflammation in colon
- red/ green/ yellow in color
Signs of Kapha Imbalance
- smells like it has been sitting in the colon for a while
- comes mostly after eating
- mucous in stool (globs or stringy)
Tongue Reading 101
There’s a coat of stuff on my tongue! What does that mean?
- Any coating on tongue=digestive fire is too low to burn through the food you are taking in
The coating on your tongue is also coating your entire digestive tract. - The thickness of the coating is proportional to the amount of toxic buildup in your colon.
- The color of the coating can reveal which doshas are imbalanced in your digestive tract (the first place to see doshic imbalance).
What do the colors tell us?
- White=kapha imbalance
- Brown/ Black/ Blue/ Gray= vata imbalance
- Red/ Yellow/ Green= pitta imbalance
What about all the other markings?
- “Scallops:” These are the marks of your teeth impressed along the edges of the tongue. It’s easiest to see these first thing upon waking. These mean you are not hydrated enough and there is vata in the colon.
- Deep lines in the middle: These grooves also indicate vata in the digestive tract.
- Ulcerations or cold sores/ fever blisters indicate pitta imbalance or excess heat in the digestive tract.
(The above is a good starting place without being trained in tongue diagnosis)
Mantra changes your physiology…
When I first started chanting, I used to imagine a deity coming in and helping to adjust the universe to my desired outcome (I realize how silly this is now…).
After a few years of mantra, I realize that chanting doesn’t do anything to change external situations; it changes you from the inside.
Mantra is putting out a sound vibration. What we put out in to the universe is what we attract.
So your universe does change, but it’s a reaction to the change within you.
So chanting Ganesh mantra doesn’t literally remove your obstacles; rather, you will change so that what you consider obstacles may change–or you may see opportunity where you once saw obstacles.
powerful…or should I say “shakti-ful”…:)
Remember your ABCs
This morning, Zehya says I should tell everyone to “remember their ABCs…”
Simple (brilliantly simple) way to remind us to focus on our basic building blocks of life: good friends, good food, good intent, good words, good actions.
Reframing your to-do list
When I feel overwhelmed, I think of all the things on my ‘to do’ list and visualize them in terms of what good energy they bring into my life, or what direction they move me.
Somehow, this helps me to motivate. Also, by looking at things this way, I prioritize differently: I recognize the importance of things that help restore/nurture… me (which I tend to put off).
Chanting at work
Don’t want to bust out your mala at work?
Try 108 row table in MSword or Excel. Type or copy and paste your mantra…each time you read the words, you are chanting with your inner voice.
Modern vedic living…:)
What to do at the start of a yeast infection
Late springtime is a common time for yeast infections as both pitta and kapha are elevated this time of year. Many of us do not want to have to use conventional yeast products because they have side effects; or because we want to come back into balance so the yeast stays gone (instead of coming back 2-3 weeks after taking diflucan or monistat… 
). Below is my suggestion for what to implement at the very start of a yeast infection:
DIET
- decrease kapha in the diet (especially simple sugars)
- decrease pitta in the diet (especially fermented things….fermented sugar=alcohol, so that’s out too)
- increase the use of coconut in your diet in every way…naturally fights yeast and helps to soothe inflammation
- watch out for kefirs and “probiotic” products that have a lot of simple sugars
HERBS (we carry all of these, by the way…)
- shardinuka/ gurmar helps to decrease sugar cravings and reduce kapha
- licorice tea is great for douching because it cools and soothes and helps counteract yeast
- ginger is a natural antimicrobial and reduces kapha
- turmeric is also a natural antimicrobial and reduces kapha
- echinacea is another great immune support and balances both kapha and pitta
- triphala–(of course…everyone knows why, right?)
SUPPLEMENTS
- Candex- This approach is to disable fungal cell wall synthesis so yeast cannot grow. It’s noticeably effective within a few days. (Thanks to Aleks at The Birth Sanctuary for introducing me to this product.)
- Probiotics-You don’t need a super expensive one. Homemade yogurt is the best. The important aspect is consistent use.
- Ampachakvati-reduces ama and restores healthy digestive fire
OTHER
- Comfortable, loose fitting clothing or being naked
- Routine!