6 Keys of a Holistic Lifestyle
After 12 years of actively exploring Personal Transformation, I’ve found that most things going well in life come down to these 6 Fundamental Keys of a Holistic Lifestyle. Here I will list a few keys that have helped me in each of these 6 areas :
Holistic Diet
Healthy Sleep
Exercise / Movement
Life Purpose / Career
Healthy Relationships
Connection to Nature
Holistic Diet
Introduction
When we eat, we are quite literally transforming a substance that was previously “outside” of us into new cells of our physical bodies. This is a miracle! Eating is considered sacred and central to essentially every human culture.
Evolutionarily, foods that give us pleasure are compatible and beneficial to our physiology. This is Nature’s way of guiding us to a healthy diet. If a food does not give us pleasure, then our bodies probably won’t benefit much from it.
So, what does “Pleasure” truly mean?
Holistic Pleasure
I prefer using the concept of “Holistic Pleasure” which includes a food’s total effect on Body, Mind, and Spirit – not just a good flavor. Holistic Pleasure also takes into account the many qualities of the foods you ingest, Before, During, and After eating. Also, rather than a Diet, which contains the word “Die”, I prefer to call the variety of foods I eat a “Live-it”, which contains the word “Live” and fills me with vitality! Since this terminology is probably new to you, I will usually write “Diet / Live-it.”
Here are some criteria to consider when seeking “Holistic Pleasure.” First let’s take a look at the qualities of the food Before you eat :
1. Was it grown Organically? Locally (within 100 miles of your home)?
2. Does it smell appetizing?
3. How close is the food to its Natural State?
A food in it’s most Natural State is fresh, unprocessed, and free of manmade chemicals, pesticides etc. I like to imagine a Spectrum ranging from the most Pure Natural state on the left, to the most Artificial (made in a sterile laboratory) on the right.
On this big Spectrum, each food is ranked between a Natural State and an Artificial, Laboratory-made State. A fresh, ripe apple would be at the far left side of the Spectrum, and a neon green apple flavored lollipop would be at the complete opposite side. The closer a food is to its Natural State, the more raw, life-force energy it has. As you move across the spectrum, the foods usually lose life-energy as they are processed in factories. Foods that are made in totally synthetic environments such as Laffy Taffy contain essentially zero natural life-force energy. Most artificial foods require more energy for your body to process. Thus, you are actually losing energy by eating these foods.
Rating your foods on this Spectrum is a powerful tool for integrating lots of natural and organic foods into your life.
Now let’s look at the qualities of the food During and After eating :)
4. Was the food prepared / cooked with love and attention?
5. How are the flavors, colors, and texture combinations?
6. What effect does the food cause in your mind and body? Upliftment? Deep satisfaction? Comfort? Grounding? Does this food remind you of childhood, or a fond memory from your past?
7. Do you feel more energized or less energized after the meal? Do you experience any unusual sensations after i.e. headaches, sluggishness, brain fog?
8. During the following 24 hours do you have healthy bowel movements?
These are all important aspects to explore in achieving a unique diet / live-it that works for you and provides you with the utmost Holistic Pleasure :)
A Variety of Viewpoints
There are many different philosophies for discovering what foods are most beneficial for our unique bodies. I have explored several of these, and I invite you to explore them as well. I’m not going to be overly assertive that one is better than another. The important thing is to discover what works for you, and in this dynamic and evolving world, what works for you is often changing too.
It has taken me a lot of exploration and experimentation to find my personal connection with the foods that give me Holistic Pleasure. To be honest, it has been challenging for me to discern the ideal Diet / Live-it for myself. I deeply resonate with Veganism, which I followed 99% for about 7 months in 2016. I feel a greater sense of mental clarity and spiritual connection when I don’t consume a lot of animal products. On the other hand, my body seems to feel stronger, and more grounded, when I follow more of a Paleo lifestyle.
I do believe it’s very important to incorporate lots of living foods close to their Natural State into your diet / live-it, whether you are eating Vegetarian, Vegan, or Animal Products. It’s always key to get a good dose of vitamins, nutrients, fats and proteins. I encourage you to do your research to find a diversity of sources for these. My favorite Plant-Based fats and protein sources are avocados, coconuts, almonds, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, chia seeds, and hemp seeds. Yummy :)
If you are enthusiastic about incorporating more Plant-Based foods into your life, there are wide variety of resources online. Firstly, I recommend watching some of Ralph Smart aka Infinite Waters’ YouTube videos on Veganism. Secondly, there are many books which can guide you through the transition process into a more plant-based Diet / Live-it. With all that said, I am not 100% convinced that an entirely Vegan Diet / Live-it is ideal for everyone. Here are some other Diet / Live-it philosophies which myself or close friends of mine highly recommend :
- Eating according to your Blood type : www.dadamo.com
- Macrobiotic : www.kushiinstitute.org/what-is-macrobiotics
- Paleo : www.Paleoleap.com
- Vegan : www.veganhealth.org/articles/intro
The Bliss of Eating!
In the modern world there are often distractions which hinder our ability to be present while cooking / eating. How can we use our Evolutionary Instincts to follow pleasure if we are not fully present and aware of the sensations in our body while we are eating?
Here are some tips for bringing more awareness, sensation, and bliss into your meals!
1. Set aside extra time to prepare / enjoy your meal, so you can eat slower and really taste each bite.
2. Try eating in an environment with very few distractions.
3. Set down your utensil in between bites.
4. Become more conscious of your breathing while eating ( many ancient traditions recommend this too ). This infuses your food and digestion with fresh air and prana / energy.
5. Chew with your eyes closed and also chew thoroughly ( to break down the food, so that you receive the most nutrients ).
6. Experiment with making sounds to express your authentic pleasure while you enjoy your food. Mmmmmmm :)
-------
Because many of us have become disassociated and disconnected from our food, we have become confused about what foods give us true Holistic Pleasure. We have created substitute desires and pleasures. Also, we often attempt to meet other basic Human Needs through food. Here are some examples :
1. We crave Excitement / Adventure and substitute these things with eating at a restaurant, or with very spicy and flavorful foods.
2. We crave Intimacy + Human Connection, though we substitute this with sweet, fatty comfort foods and desserts.
3. We crave Aliveness + Mental Stimulation and substitute this with very sweet treats or stimulating superfoods, which often lead to a crash or a dependency.
4. We desire Spiritual Connection + Fulfillment, and try to fill the void by overeating.
5. We fear the intensity of emotions like fear, loneliness, anger, sadness, etc. so we distract / numb ourselves by eating and snacking.
------- I have explored all of these habits at different phases of my life, and although I’ve made a lot of progress on my path of Holistic Pleasure, I still often meet challenges. It takes a lot of self-love and discipline / blissipline to reprogram yourself towards Holistic Pleasure.
How do we address these Substitute Desires and Distractions?
1. Awareness is the main key. I recommend “Tracking” your eating habits and patterns, and journaling regularly if that resonates with you. You can also utilize the “Personal Transformation Map” from the Healing Process chapter.
2. Having friends and family who are also cultivating Holistic Pleasure is very beneficial. This way you can make meals / eat together and support each other’s successes while also discussing the challenges you are each experiencing.
I am extremely grateful for Charles Eisenstein and his book “The Yoga of Eating,” which laid much of the foundation and inspiration for all that I share around the topic of Holistic Pleasure. I highly recommend you check out “The Yoga of Eating” as well the 2 hr. Audio seminar on his website : www.CharlesEisenstein.net/project/yoga-of-eating-seminar-2006/
2. Healthy Rest + Sleep
I know that many people who are healing trauma have challenges falling asleep. Personally I have a variety of tools and practices, which have greatly assisted me in drifting into dreamland.
1. PILLOWS - It helps me to feel grounded, safe, and secure to be surrounded with pillows (preferably heavy ones). I even like to put them on top of me. I have used couch cushions and even a 10-pound massive stuffed animal giraffe (named Jeffrey) to give me the feeling of pressure pushing down on me. As a little kid I had lots of stuffed animals, which would help me feel safe to go to sleep. It is also quite nice to cuddle with someone, who can also help give this feeling of being safe and grounded.
2. ANGELS - For much of my life I didn’t believe that angels actually existed, though now I’ve had countless experiences to validate their reality, and they have been very helpful for sleeping better. I simply call upon my guardian angels to surround me in a circle as I am falling asleep.
3. ENVIRONMENT - I love having a Himalayan Salt Lamp on in my room as I sleep. It emits negative ions, and adds a very tranquil, warm, cozy energy to my room. I like to spray a mist of a nice essential oil around me before bedtime. I prefer to cover my eyes with 1 or 2 soft T-shirts so that I’m immersed in darkness, which signals to my brain to produce more melatonin, a hormone that is key for healthy sleep.
4. BED / PILLOWS / SHEETS - Throughout all my travels I have experimented with many different combos and types of pillows, beds and blankets. It is truly amazing how each of these can greatly affect the quality of my sleep. I invite you to explore as you are able to find your preferred pressures, textures, colors, and sizes. Currently I enjoy sleeping on a thin mattress pad on the floor, with a Bamboo pillow, and depending on the temperature, a sheet, blanket, or my sleeping bag (North Face - Cat’s Meow style).
5. MUSIC / MEDITATIONS -
1. Gobinday Mukunday - Sashara - Sada Sat Kaur
2. Merlin’s Magic - “The Heart of Reiki” on YouTube
3. “Music for Healing Female Energy” on YouTube
My Favorite “Ask Angels” Meditations (on YouTube) :
1. High Vibrational Healing
2. Inner Child Healing
3. Chakra Meditation
6. VISUALIZATIONS / MEDITATIONS
● Imagine a time when you were really tired, feel that you are really in
that experience, it may help you drift off.
● Try to avoid thinking about anything that triggers you.
● Create mantras / songs that help you feel safe and relaxed.
If you are working on healing trauma, my heart sincerely goes out to you. I know how challenging it can be. I pray that you find the tools that can help you to heal and create new, healthy neural pathways and empowering stories for yourself. May the tools in this chapter, and the rest of this book (as well as in U.O.S.) be of service to you on your path. If you have specific questions, please send me an email ( philopgh@gmail.com ) and I will see if I can provide some sort of answer. Blessed be :)
3. Exercise / Movement
There a zillion different ways to cultivate a healthy movement practice. Here I will list a few of my favorites and some of my philosophies related to them :
Yoga
I began practicing yoga in the end of 2010. It was 2 weeks after being hit by a car on the Bike Trip. We were staying in San Francisco, and there was a super groovy studio called “Yoga to the People.” This donation based studio attracted 50 - 100 people into a massive room with a wooden floor on the 3rd floor of a downtown building. I was rehabilitating my knee after getting stitched up. With just a few classes doing as many poses as I could, I could feel my body getting stronger. When I moved back to Peaceburgh, I found the local “Yoga Hive” and began practicing vigorously, often attending 2 Vinyasa classes every day.
Since this initial love affair with yoga back in 2010, I have essentially had a daily practice. There is rarely a day that goes by without me doing some sort of yoga routine. I’ve experimented with many different styles. As you’ve probably figured out by now, I love to sweat, so hot yoga is especially near and dear to me. Bikram has its benefits, though I definitely prefer the flowing movements of Vinyasa over the more static poses of Bikram. Overall, I invite you to explore the wide array of styles, studios, and teachers to discover what styles you resonate with most.
The Extended Savasana Superpower : One of my biggest issues with doing Yoga classes in a studio is that the teacher usually gives you between 3 and 7 minutes for Savasana (the pose at the end of class where you completely relax and lay flat on your mat). I believe this is robbing you of one of the greatest opportunities for bliss, relaxation, and true union with the divine. I invite you to find time and space to allow for at least 10 minutes, ideally up to 30 minutes in this pose. I absolutely promise you that you will thank me if you try this out :) It’s supremely awesome!
Swimming
Swimming is an excellent form of “cross training” to combine with running, strength training, yoga, etc. Swimming is great for increasing full body awareness. It can be both relaxing and extremely intense, sometimes at the same time. Swimming laps is great for endurance, and I also love to vigorously tread water in order to give my muscles a dynamic workout. Swimming also works wonders for dissolving the perceived separation between mind and body. In the water, there is only unity, and simply immersing yourself in water enhances the unity within yourself! Which way is the beach, bro? Haha, just kidding :) Whether in a pool, pond, or with Mama Ocean, swimming is a phenomenal practice.
Flow Arts and Martial Arts
When I speak of Flow Arts I mean activities like spinning poi, a staff, dancing with a hula-hoop, and things of that sort. Generally speaking it is moving in unison or in dynamic ways with another object outside or yourself. I am not yet super skilled in Flow Arts, though I have fantasies of becoming masterful with a staff and / or spinning fire. Going to festivals like Burning Man and seeing hundreds of coordinated fire spinners share their gift has left an indelible imprint of inspiration on my being. Personally, I love the game of “Peace Sticks,” invented by my friends in Ojai, California. It’s an interactive game that teaches you to be in the moment, and practice your “ninja skills.” Check it out @ www.Peacesticks.com
Related to Flow Arts is the unique and beautiful realm of Martial Arts. I am also not well versed in this area, though I have friends who’ve experienced profound healing and growth through traditions like Aikido and Tai Chi. I believe that learning how to combat with an opponent in a conscious way can be very powerful for enhancing the strength of your BodyMind System. Your body is far more durable and strong than you may think, but until you take a few hard punches or flips, you won’t realize it. The key is to do so in a safe setting with a skilled teacher, so that you do the moves correctly and don’t injure yourself.
The Power of Dance
Neither of my parents were big dancers growing up, so I never really cultivated a passion for dancing. In middle school, it was “uncool” to dance in certain ways so I steered clear of truly expressing myself through this fabulous art form. The only times I really let my body groove was at school dances, where I was either “grinding” with a girl, slow dancing, or doing the Electric Slide.
It wasn’t until my senior year of high school, when I began to break out of my overly self-conscious shell, that I began to let my body vibe with the music. I was invited to a Bluegrass Concert at a big outdoor pavilion. I wore my one and only Tie-Dye shirt, which was my permission slip to be a “free-spirit.” I let go of worrying what others would think and just let my shoulders sway, hips twirl and legs bounce around. It felt like I was shaking out of the shackles that I had placed on myself!
As I continued on my path, for a number of years I still felt self-critical when dancing. This all changed when I began to go to “Ecstatic Dance,” which is usually a big ballroom full of 50-100 people of all ages dancing however the Efff they want! There’s a wide variety of music from Tribal to Electronic to Pop, to soothing. It’s so freaking awesome! When I moved to Asheville, North Carolina, I began going to “Dance Church,” which is a huge Ecstatic Dance event every single Sunday morning. Here are 2 posts I made that were inspired my experience there :
August 31st, 2014 @ 3:20pm :
Movement is so key for every type of healing. After one week of laying low, meditating, and barely walking or interacting with people, today I felt inspired to go to Ecstatic Dance. I let my body flow and groove in a massive dance hall with 100 other beings. The evocative music activated ancient aspects of my true self. I felt tremendous breakthroughs in the various energy blocks I've been working through.
I feel that the rest and movement are two sides of the same coin. Both are crucial for holistic health.
September 14th, 2014 @ 9:47am :
Today at Church I plan to get really sweaty and bounce around like a baboon. Everyone in our church walks into service barefoot. We pray and give praise to Life through Ecstatic Dance.
From the STATIC of the mind to the ECSTATIC of the Body. The best way to get high is to get down!
-------
I have a dream that within the next 5 years, Ecstatic Dance will become popular on a mass scale. Every day, people of all ages and backgrounds all across the globe are realizing the profound healing benefits of this Movement Practice. I pray that we can all spread the word about the awesomeness of Ecstatic Dance! I invite you to find or start a weekly / monthly Ecstatic Dance gathering in your town. Check out www.5rhythms.com and www.Ecstaticdance.org for more information.
3 Questions on Dancing :
1. Do you have any regular dancing practice?
2. What are some of your favorite ways to move your body?
3. What type of music inspires you to dance in new ways?
Exercise / Strength Training
As I began to explore the emotions hiding deep within me, I sought out healthy ways to express them. I developed a “recipe” for processing emotions. Here is an overview :
As I described earlier, the emotions are stored in the cells of our organs and muscle tissues. In order to change the “e-motion” (energy in motion) into a more harmonious state, I have discovered a helpful metaphor to understand the process. This is called “The Ice Cube Metaphor.” Imagine that your body is an ice cube. Frozen solid, it is extremely difficult to change its shape or structure. If you heat up this big ice cube, then it begins to liquefy, and becomes malleable and changeable. Once your body / ice cube is malleable, you can add a new imprint or design to it. Then, you can cool down your body / ice cube and it will remember some of these new imprints.
Each day I do my “Healing Practice,” I am reshaping one layer of my BodyMind / Ice Cube. With this metaphor in mind, here is an overview of my Healing Practice. I will go into detail of each part later in this chapter :
1. Warm up : Light jog or dancing to move the muscles and energy in my body. (Body / Ice cube begins to thaw out.)
2. Intense Exercise : I like to wear a rain jacket and a hat while exercising so that I get completely drenched in sweat and activate every cell in my body. I usually jog about 1.5 miles, and also do strength training consisting of push-ups, squats, and ab exercises (I encourage you to find your own formula to get nice and sweaty). (Body / Ice Cube becomes liquefied and malleable.)
3. Prayer / Intention : I say a prayer / set an intention like this: “Great Spirit, please help me to release the next layer of my societally conditioned self, and embrace the next layer of my true, divine, empowered self.”
4. Bioenergetic Release : I tap, smack, bang my fist, or deeply massage whatever area of my body appears to have the emotional energy stuck in it. I tune into what type of sound or breath will help me to release the energy. For releasing anger, it is usually yelling at the top of my lungs. For releasing shame / guilt, it is usually a moaning or groaning sound. Sometimes I do rapid breathing, sometimes I do long slow breathing. The key is to explore this process, and get in tune with what types of Bioenergetic release works for you. (Body / Ice Cube gets reformed.)
If I sense that there is a limiting belief related to the area of my body I am exploring, I will utilize the Affirmation Activations (explained later in this chapter) while doing this process. (Body / Ice Cube gets consciously re-imprinted.)
5. Cool down : Gentle yoga, stretching, deep breathing, savasana, lying on Pachamama. (Body / Ice Cube slowly cools down into a slightly different, new form.)
6. Deeper Integration : This process helps to ingrain the New Beliefs and New Bioenergetic Patterns into your Subconscious Mind, and subsequently your daily life. (Body / Ice Cube re-solidifies into a new, more harmonious state of existence.) These tools are explained in greater detail later in this chapter :)
4. Life Purpose / Career
This map called the Ikigai (a Japanese word meaning “a reason for being.” I believe finding your Ikigai (pronounced Ee-kee-gai) is crucial towards living a fulfilling life. Please draw your own overlapping circles on a big blank sheet of paper, and spend 15 minutes brain/heart-storming with answers to fill in the blanks.
5. Healthy Relationships
- The spheres of Interaction, Influence, and Interconnection
As you interact with your Community, it is beneficial to have awareness of the various different spheres that you are completely interconnected with. Ultimately the goal is to have a harmonious relationship with each aspect of these spheres. For example, if you focus too much on transforming your outer community, you can neglect your personal or close family sphere. If you are too uptight about having your direct personal life in perfect order, then you may forget about the joy and freedom of interacting with your tribe! The main keys to remember are Awareness and Balance :) Here is how I like to visualize the spheres of Interaction, Influence, and Interconnection :
In order to cultivate a healthy relationship with a lover, friend, or family member, you first have to build a foundational relationship with yourself. A great way to begin to do this is to explore what are your primary Love Languages :
Author Gary Chapman wrote a monumental book called The Five Love Languages. The book explains the 5 primary ways humans give and receive love. In no particular order, they are : 1. Words of Affirmation 2. Acts of Service 3. Gifts ( giving and receiving ) 4. Quality Time 5. Physical Touch
The book supports you to identify which is your primary love language. This is the form of love that makes you feel loved most deeply. I’ve found that my primary love language is Physical Touch. I believe physical touch is extremely crucial to the development of healthy humans. If a baby is not touched / held enough during its first days and weeks, it can develop many disorders and potentially die. As infants, we experience the sensation of being loved through physical touch far before we can comprehend any of the other four love languages. For this reason, I believe that receiving loving touch affects us at a Subconscious Level and helps our bodies to relax and feel at peace. When we don’t experience a regular amount of physical affection, it leads to a variety of coping mechanisms.
Personally, I know that my parents loved and still love me deeply despite us speaking different love languages. Both my Mom and Dad demonstrated the other 4 Love Languages regularly, though cuddling was not something we did very often. I believe this led part of me to feel unloved and unlovable. As a result, I often felt afraid and created scary scenarios in my imagination. I thought that monsters, ghosts, aliens, robbers, and everything in between were out to get me. I truly believe that if my parents had just held me more often, I would have felt a deep sense of peace instead of being worried about all these boogie monsters. I choose not to blame my parents, or myself, for the way my childhood unfolded. I believe our souls chose each other to learn certain lessons so that we could each grow in unique ways. Since discovering this “wound” within myself, I’ve been finding ways to nurture myself and help my Inner Child to feel at peace. Receiving massage and Reiki from others is very beneficial — and especially giving it to myself. Also, having a conversation with my Inner Child helps him to feel like his voice and needs are heard. I probably wouldn’t have discovered the depth, beauty, and power of all these tools had I not experienced a lack of physical affection growing up.
——
Please meditate for a few minutes on each of these and journal on at least one memorable moment from childhood, when you experienced each of these Love Languages. Then, please journal about which ways you feel most called to give and receive Love in your current life. :
1. Words of Affirmation
2. Acts of Service
3. Gifts ( giving and receiving )
4. Quality Time
5. Physical Touch
6. Connection To Nature
Art by Mariposa Galactica
Many tribes in South America refer to Mother Earth as “Pachamama.” I resonate deeply with this name, so I choose to use it too. Rather than seeing the Earth as an object, by calling her “Pachamama” I am honoring that she is a living, sovereign being. Of course this is “up for debate” in the scientific community, though I believe she has her own feelings, thoughts, and purpose, and that these are all intimately linked with the feelings, thoughts, and purposes of us humans and all other creatures. Some people also use the name “Gaia”, which I like, though I prefer Pachamama. Another option is to create / receive your own name for her.
I believe that seeing Pachamama as an object allows us to destroy her beauty, and see ourselves as separate from her. There is a big difference in relationship when we simply switch the language we use. By saying “the” Earth, we are implying that she is an object. Imagine if you spoke about a family member like they are an object. For example, say you are sitting in a room with your sister Maria, and you referred to her as “the sister,” rather than saying her actual name. Wouldn’t that feel weird and distance you from your sister?
By reconnecting with Pachamama, it brings about a shift in consciousness and allows you to see the unified web of life with greater clarity. Over the last 7 years, I’ve been consciously deepening my link with Pachamama. Here are a few simple Superpowers I’ve learned along the way :
The Golden Hours : These are the magical windows of time during the first and last hours of the sun shining above the horizon. As the sun rises and sets, it illuminates all of creation with a mystical, mythical, and magical Golden Glow :) I also like to call this “Gold Time.”
All throughout history, sunrise and sunset have stirred the human soul and imagination. It is a time of Earth and Sky, Dark and Light coming into union. Many say that the “veils are thin” at these times, meaning that the boundary blurs between the Material and Spiritual world as well.
I recommend enjoying and communing with the Golden Hours at every opportunity. I love being surrounded by wilderness if possible, though even in a busy city you can find the peace and magic of these times. It is so cool to see humans, birds, and trees “in a new light” - literally! The Golden Hours are a great time to meditate, practice yoga, or simply appreciate the beauty of life :)
Your Sacred Sanctuary : As you connect deeper with Pachamama and all her creatures, it is highly beneficial to have a place near your home where you can go to retreat, tune in, and power up. The goal is to find / cultivate a place where you can feel safe, free, and connected to the web of life.
Your Sacred Sanctuary can be at a park, deep in the woods, or in your backyard. A good way to find this place is by locating an “Elder Tree.” These are most likely the oldest living beings in your neighborhood / city! These will usually be the largest, most powerful trees in the area. You can use your intuition to sense which ones are the oldest. I truly believe these trees contain immense wisdom. In many Indigenous Tribes, sacred ceremonies and events were held in the presence of one or more “Elder Trees.” Simply being in the energy field of such a tree-being for 20 minutes can put you in a heightened state of consciousness! No wonder Buddha got enlightened : he was chillin under a super wise tree!
Ideally, your Sacred Sanctuary will be a place where you won’t be disturbed or distracted by other humans. This way you can connect with all the awesome non-humans like trees, flowers, birds, and squirrels! The test to see if you feel safe there is : “Can you sing loudly and do semi-awkward yoga poses without feeling self-conscious and anxious?” And the bigger test is “Can you fall into a deep sleep there without being afraid the cops will wake you up?” If you don’t pass one or either of these tests, then you won’t be able to enter a deep enough state of peace to experience the full magic of Pachamama.
I recommend bringing a journal and pen with you whenever you feel inspired. I guarantee you will receive creative insights and inspiration, and as I always say “A Notebook is an External Hard Drive for the mind!” As you go to your Sacred Sanctuarymore often, here are some questions to ask :
1. What other creatures live in this place i.e. plants, animals, insects, fungi, birds?
2. What are these creatures teaching you / communicating to you? ( I highly recommend utilizing the absolutely amazing “Medicine Cards” by Jamie Sams and David Carson.)
3. What subtleties and changes do you notice in this environment throughout the different times of day i.e. morning, afternoon, evening, nighttime?
4. How does your BodyMind System feel different when you are in your Sacred Sanctuary?
Connecting to the 7 Directions : Indigenous Tribes all over this planet have always been connected to the 7 Sacred Directions. To quote some Flowetry from my 1st Album: “East, West, North, South, Up, Down, and the One-Within, let this rhyme remind, so we never Forget-Again.” Your Heart Center is the 7th direction, where all the other 6 directions come into Unity.
As you deepen your relationship with Pachamama, it is helpful to establish a sense of where you are in relation to the 7 directions. Through this process, I am now able to estimate what time of day it is by where the sun is in the sky. It is also much easier to navigate while driving if I know the 4 directions and how they apply to the city I’m in and its road system. Overall, it gives me a sense of my primal awareness. No longer am I a robot in a foreign environment, but I feel like “Yes, I am home on this planet, and I know how to navigate it!”
To deepen your connection with the “Up” direction, you can also study Astrology and/or Astronomy. I also invite you to cultivate your “Mama Luna Connection”, which is your relationship and interaction with the Moon Cycles. In the same way that the tides of the ocean are dictated by the magnetism of the moon, so too are the waters inside our bodies (our emotions) affected by the lunar cycles. This is why historically full moons are tied to people having wild emotions and becoming “luna-tics.” Also, in the same way that I have gotten closer to Pachamama by using that name, I like to switch from saying “the moon” to “Mama Luna,” which implies a personal connection.
It is so much fun to align with each New Moon and set intentions during this time. I especially enjoy gathering with soul family and affirming each other’s intentions. Then as Mama Luna moves through her cycle to becoming full, you can work and play to manifest your intention. On the Full Moon, you can get a clear reflection of what dreams have come to fruition. For great insights on your evolving relationship with Mama Luna and all the stars, I recommend exploring www.MysticMamma.com.
If you want to dive super deep with all 7 directions, you can study the work of Tom Brown Jr. and his “Tracker School,” which teaches you how to navigate and survive out in the wilderness.
As you link up with the 7 Directions, I also recommend utilizing your “Internal Compass” and the exercises connected to it, back in that chapter. This will help you to realize the ancient Hermetic principle that states, “As above, so below. As without, so within.”
Here are a few questions to explore regularly :
1. Where does your home and bed lay in relation to the 4 directions?
2. How does the Sun and Moon illuminate the various areas around and inside your home?
3. How does your feeling walking upon Pachamama change, when you are in tune with the 7 directions?
Laying with Pachamama : It cracks me up to hear these “Scientific Studies” with new findings advocating that humans walk barefoot on the Earth. They call it “Earthing!” - hahahah. Go figure! “You mean to tell me that standing on the actual living surface of the planet I live on is beneficial? But why?”
As sad as it is, many people go large portions of their life without walking barefoot on Pachamama, let alone actually laying down in the grass. Both walking barefoot and laying for 30 minutes or more on Pachamama have been extraordinarily healing for me.
According to the Scientific Studies, Earthing allows you to draw electrons in from the Earth, which neutralize harmful “free radicals”, which in turn decreases inflammation in the body. You can also discharge excess electrical charges in your body into the negatively charged Energy field of Pachamama. Lastly, you can harmonize with the “Schumann Resonances”, which are the frequencies that our planet is vibrating at. The most powerful and palpable is 7.83 Hz (cycles per second).
An article online discussing the Schumann Resonance noted a study where :
“Professor R. Wever from the Max Planck Institute was interested in the effects of the Schumann resonance on human beings, and carried out tests on volunteers in an underground bunker which completely screened out magnetic fields, including the Schumann resonance of 7.8 Hz.
After four weeks underground the volunteers were suffering from emotional distress and migraine headaches. After a brief exposure to 7.8 Hz, the symptoms of dis-ease cleared up and volunteers felt healthy again. The same problems of depression and illness were reported by the first astronauts and cosmonauts, who, out in space, also were no longer exposed to the Schumann waves. To counter this, modern space crafts are said to contain a device which simulates the Schumann waves of 7.8 Hz.”
-------
Regardless of what the scientific studies show, I know from thousands of personal experiences that having direct contact with Pachamama is healing and beneficial. Countless times I have felt stressed out and overwhelmed, and simply walking barefoot, or laying down in the grass for 20 minutes, I felt totally recharged! It is truly amazing. I recommend connecting with Pachamama for a minimum of 20 minutes a day. You can also go out for 5 minute periods several times a day. I envision a world where this is a top priority for all humans, and cities will be filled with parks and natural spaces for “Earthing.” YAY for reconnecting with Pachamama!
The Permaculture Revolution! : Permaculture is so freaking awesome :) I can’t hold back my enthusiasm for this amazing way of life! During the Cultural Recyclists bike trip across America, we visited many Permaculture Farms and Gardens, and it filled me with enough inspiration to last a lifetime. Previous to this, I had studied sustainability and how to solve climate change, but now it all became REAL! The solutions jumped out of the books and landed right in front of my face. As I dug my hands in the rich, warm, dark soil, I could feel the reality and beauty of the Permaculture Revolution. So, what exactly is Permaculture?
Through Industrialization and the development of highly populated cities, many humans have essentially cut themselves out of the web of life, both mentally and physically. Permaculture is an entire philosophy and way of life that re-weaves humans into the interconnected web of existence. By studying the basic laws and principles of nature, Permaculturists have applied what they’ve learned to gardening, designing homes, and all aspects of life. The goal is to design a “Permanent Culture,” which is in harmony with all life and actually regenerates the planet, rather than degrading it.
If you are sincere about reconnecting with Pachamama, then you gotta tap into your Permaculture Superpowers! Here are 3 ways to get involved with Permaculture :
1. Read “Gaia’s Garden” by Toby Hemenway and watch the incredibly inspiring film “Inhabit : A Permaculture Perspective.”
2. Books and films are awesome, but If you want to TRULY experience Permaculture, you’ve gotta visit a local farm and get a tour. Search online for a farm that is close to your home. Check out the “Regional” section on www.Permies.com and also the “Communities Directory” on www.ic.org .
3. The deepest dive is to volunteer on a Permaculture Farm and/or get your Permaculture Design Certificate, which essentially gives you the official title of a “Permaculturalist”!
——————————-
