I do owe you part two of herbal oral care, but I keep getting distracted by what’s happening in my immediate world: our epic backpacking saga, a lovely trip to visit my mom, the Northern California Women's Herbal Symposium, and the bumpy ride from the summer season into harvest.
Backpacking. I know. I may have been overreacting a bit to the coyotes. But I realized my mindset and nervous system were so on edge, nothing felt safe.
With the way the world is going these days, and this is coming from a place of safety and security compared to what billions of other people are experiencing, my motherboard is on high alert. Nothing feels certain, and the way we might expect things to go cannot be counted on at this point in time.
So while I do understand that black bears are interested in our peanut butter rather than us, and while I do not fear a coyote attack when I hear them howling and yipping from the comfort of my home, my nervous system is saying, “But you don’t know that. It could change at any time. That bear might be angry because it didn’t like the chocolate. Those coyotes could be rabid and decide they want to eat you.” When our nervous systems are not grounded, nourished, and calm, nothing is certain and everything feels like a threat.
There were some absolutely lovely aspects to the Labor Day weekend symposium this year. I, however, felt off. Distracted. Distanced. In my head. Out of my body.
I woke to join the 7:00 AM yoga class. Angie Rose was a fantastic teacher. Her flows were gentle, yet strong. She started the classes with some core work which warmed us up enough to shed the winter hats and puffy jackets needed in an outdoor class.
Fourteen hours later, at 9:00 PM, I plopped myself down with a chatty crew of women and kids, staring up at the sky for Stargazer Li’s masterful classes. Li weaves the stories of the stars. We learn about how time passes as the earth turns. We hear lore of other countries, and we are reminded that this dirt clod upon which we live is hurtling through space itself, right along with the stars and planets that we gaze upon. And not only that, we consider the fact that perhaps we are not looking up at the stars, but that we could be looking down at them. Mind shifting.
Anyway, those two experiences planted me back into my body.
Otherwise, I was energetically splayed out between all the women and kids that I felt I was holding. My flock, as it were. Checking in, making sure they’re okay. Do you need a snack, are you hydrated, do you need more layers? Are you finding the classes you’d like to take? Is your heart happy and your mind light? Well, guess what? I forgot to ask myself these questions.
I was anxious and verging on caving into my little tent because I just could not find my groove. Also: I needed more protein. But that’s a different story.
I couldn’t sink into the classes because I was feeling so drifty and separated. I’d start a class and wander off, checking into another, and then ending up back at our camp to see what anyone else was doing. Until the last class on Monday after I was already packed up and ready to head home. My dear friend, Bibiana Love, offered a class called Body of Anxiety. And boy did I need it! It was everything I needed to hear that weekend. And beyond.
We started by writing down everything that was worrying us at the moment. From the miniscule to the humungous. I filled up both sides of my page and was only a little surprised that I had that much on my mind.
Then she talked about how good walking is to help our bodies and our nervous systems. When we use our muscles and lubricate our joints, everything feels just a little easier to manage. We are in a flow.
So we flowed together around the site toward the fire where we all, one by one, threw our worries in. “We do not need to think about those again for the rest of the hour,” she said. I thought, “An hour?! I want to give them up forever!” And then I realized, she’s actually giving us an option that we can manage. For an hour, those things were not filling my brain, my body, my heart with their lead-heavy energy. I was present and paying attention to what she was sharing.
Sometimes we just need reminders of the simplest ways to support ourselves. Drink water. Breathe into your belly. It’s okay to rest.
One of my goals is to start tending to myself as though I am one of my flock. Asking myself what I might need when I notice that I’m feeling off, anxious, or irritated. Sometimes all I need to do is breathe. I’m constantly surprised at how shallow my breathing can be when I’m in the middle of tasks. And when I’m in the middle of a massage, if I take a deep breath, my client responds in the same way. I remember noticing that while holding my daughter when she was a babe. Try it. Notice who around you responds with a calming deep breath of their own.
We also did a mini cold plunge by putting an ice-cold washcloth on our faces, and stood up to do a version of laughter yoga by just bouncing and saying “Heh, heh, heh.” Both of these activities stimulate our vagus nerve which activates the parasympathetic nervous system, or rest and digest. So we shift from the sympathetic, or flight, fight, fawn, or freeze, into “I’m cool and everything is going to be all right.”
And finally, we talked about a few simple herbs to support and calm our nervous systems. Lemon balm and chamomile. Two of the most gentle herbs we can take. Making a cup of tea is a calming experience in itself. Holding a cup of tea is a comfort. Drinking a sweet, aromatic cup of tea is a pleasure that I’m going to go enjoy right now.
Remember: keep it simple.
Even if you’re not feeling anxious, it’s always a good idea to take deep, belly breaths. To drink water and eat enough protein. To move your body. To laugh, and to let go of your worries, even if just for an hour.
While Bibi’s class shifted my mindset and I felt better as I walked away with my nervous system reset, the month of September brings with it a closing of the chapter of growth. I always find this turning of the season a bit stumbly. Moving from the heights and heat of summer toward the calmer, slower season of the harvest feels a little bit like embracing death. Humans are all about immortality. Longevity. The fountain of youth. But the harvest is just as important in the cycle of life as the growing period.
I’m not very good at harvesting. I’m only growing a few pots of herbs at home: lemon verbena, lemon balm, catnip. When I notice a few leaves go from their brilliant, vibrant, lush green to a curled up, withered yellow, I panic. “More water!” I think. “They must need more food!” I fear. And then I realize…no. It’s simply the turning of the season. If I don’t collect the fresh green leaves now and dry them properly, they will die and scatter without my having preserved them to make my delicious nighttime tea. So I take my clippers and I carefully, cautiously snip snip snip.
Harvesting requires faith that the cycle will continue. So while it may be unsettling to have to turn inward and accept the quieting and the darkening of the season, knowing that spring is on the other side, and that we need this regenerative time, helps me wiggle down as though I myself am a bulb I am planting, preparing to bloom anew in a few months.
So while I do find spring to be my favorite time of year, I am encouraging myself to truly embrace the beauty of autumn. The luxury of slowing down. The crisp autumn air. Big pots of soup and cozy meals with friends. More time at home to read and knit, and cuddle on the couch.
What will you harvest for yourself this season?
A few September photos to keep it colorful
I’ve reformulated Rise & Shine!
With the changing light and foggier mornings, it’s been harder for me to wake up and feel ready for the day. The sparkle in my eye doesn’t show up until the coffee hits or Stephanie starts the barre class warm-up, which often feels like enough of a workout itself, thank you very much!
So I roll this little beauty under and around my eyes, stimulating circulation while moving the lymph. Infused with tulsi, yarrow, and green tea the nourishing oils soften the delicate skin around our eyes. Good morning!
And good night. As castor oil helps thicken lashes and brows, I also roll this on at night after I’m done reading.
