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3 Steps Toward Divine Feminine Ayurveda

A Movement Towards True Ayurveda and Healing

Feminine form Ayurveda is the true Ayurveda of ancient India. You might wonder—what does it mean for something to be the true Ayurveda? There are two answers to that question.

The first is that before India came under British rule, Ayurveda flourished not only as a system of medicine, but as a spiritual practice. Healing was known to be a spiritual affair, medicine and spirit were one. The influence of the West in India changed India’s approach to medicine. The wisdom of Ayurveda was all but lost under British rule. For Ayurveda to have legitimacy as a healing system, it needed to conform to allopathic (Western) medicine’s approach. Thus, it was stripped of its spiritual and feminine roots.

Second, it was the women of India who continued to practice the Ayurveda of pre-colonial times. There are two reasons for this: i) woman had always been the communities’ healers, both in the West and in the East. Their knowledge was passed down orally; and ii) In the age of modernization and patriarchy, women were excluded from the healing arts, medicine became institutionalized and one had to study for many years in order to “practice medicine”. This excluded woman who were mostly kept out of higher education and the sciences.

In the West, the eradication of feminine form healing arts was exhaustive due to the millions of women killed during the witch hunts that cycled through Europe and the Americas. We have of our Indian sisters to thank for keeping the flame of feminine form medicine lit for us.

That is why I refer to feminine form Ayurveda, and why my students have now come to call it Divine Feminine Ayurveda. It’s an approach to health that is radically different from the “traditional medicine” that we are familiar with in the West. It even differs from what Indians of the last few hundred years have known due to the Westernization of Ayurveda in India.

Begin Now: Divine Feminine Ayurveda

1. Intentionally cultivate and expand your community. The human Ātman, soul, desperately wants to be seen. Not necessarily fixed or saved, but simply witnessed and loved unconditionally. Organize a potluck and extend the invitation to your outer circle of acquaintances, plan a community activism meeting and get in the habit of regularly volunteering your time to a nonprofit. Feminine medicine comes through the oral tradition, through community, and through relationships. It’s not entirely taught and learned through a textbook, it’s learned through direct experience and relationship.

2. Honor your desires—spring is when we are intuitively most attuned to our deepest driving desires. We learn Divine Feminine Ayurveda not through the pre-frontal cortex alone, but through the back of the brain and body as well. This is foundational because it means that we first heal ourselves and learn the healing arts through our own practice of self-love and self-healing. It means digesting the material IN and WITH the body, not just the intellect.

There exists a culturally imposed need to be very masculine about our approach to health: What pills, what herbs, what’s wrong with me? With a feminine approach to health, we’re not adding anything, instead we are subtracting what isn’t real anymore, what’s not serving us. Divine Feminine Ayurveda ask us to find the place within our being that is already balanced, that needs nothing else, and begin the process of healing from there first.

A practice to connect with your subconscious self:

For 40 days, first thing every morning, write down your dreams. The more you practice this the more you will remember from your dreams. Our beloved Ayurveda father, Dr. Vasant Lad, explains in our Shakti Ayurveda School textbook: "Dreams are a discharge of the nerve cells, the drainage of incomplete thoughts, actions, and feelings. In a dream, you finish unfinished business and the brain is able to restore order”[1].

According to Ayurveda, dreams are classified as vata, pitta, kapha. Vata dreams are very active, includes: flying, death, autumn and are sometimes fearful; pitta dreams are fiery, includes: feeling of having arrived too late, being embarrassed, problem solving, summer; and kapha dreams are often romantic, includes: doing something slowly, eating, spring or winter.  Dr. Lad says “Classify the dreams, then treat the dosha and you will have good results”.⠀

Many times, studying our dreams gives us a window into the subconscious—our deepest anxieties and dreams.

3. Adaptability as health. The adaptability of our nervous and immune system is directly linked to the strength of our Ojas, the subtle energetic honey of our body. Think of Ojas as your psychophysical container or shield. When Ojas is strong, we have abundant energy, strong immunity and can adapt to the ever-changing circumstances of life with ease.

My go-to super ojas building plant is Shatavari (Asparagus racemosus). It’s a staple in my kitchen and I always recommend a student on the path of Ayurveda befriend this unctuous plant. Shatavari builds the tissues and fluids of the body. It’s a nutritive tonic, powerful adaptogen and a wonderful demulcent for vata-type bodies that struggle to retain water. It’s especially recommended for regulating and rejuvenating the female reproductive system. To stay hydrated, strong and lubricated, use Shatavari to make a tea. Let it steep as long as you like (a whole day even!) and then sip it warm, little by little, throughout the day.

Divine Feminine Ayurveda understands that there is no ideal health. That the mind/body complex is never in perfect balance, but always in flux. When we study Shakti, Life Force, we see that she is always shifting and changing. For that reason, she is not reaching for a standard of perfection, but instead concentrating on her own resources of adaptability. Feminine form medicine understands health as your ability to adapt to the changing environment and circumstances of your life.  Divine Feminine Ayurveda is subtle.

The Laws of Nature

Divine Feminine Ayurveda is the ancient wisdom of the body and the cosmos. It reminds us of what we have forgotten--it asks us to remember, Smarana, our ancient knowing. Divine Feminine Ayurveda is deeply connected to nature. It awakens the deep knowing: You Are Nature. You are Already Connected to Nature.

Our society has confused scientific opinions, social media, and advertising, with the limitless knowledge that lives in our hearts. Instead, feminine form medicine asks us to trust ourselves and our bodies. It’s a practice of radical trust, creativity and insight in ourselves: radical self-sovereignty. It asks us to claim our power, our experience and our understanding of our bodies.

Divine Feminine Ayurveda asks us to trust in OWN bodies, as our bodies contain the intelligence of the cosmos, the intelligence of nature. Nothing external can help us if we are not in conscious communion with our body. It posits that we can find balance through our OWN resources.

Divine Feminine Ayurveda bows to nature as the eternal feminine, the most creative and nourishing channel of this world. It is not static or idealistic. It has no preconceived notions of what our body should look like or our minds should be like. It is not authoritarian structures, it is not statistical averages and standards. It is fluid and adaptable.

With this self-sovereignty and trust in nature, feminine form medicine stresses the importance of asking—What do I need now?

It’s a meditation on self-love as the very first step in healing. It’s a mentorship with Self. We are in a moment of revitalization of the feminine. We are remembering Her and finding the courage to live from the heart. We are awakening the Divine Feminine Ayurveda.

 

[1] “Chapter Five Dhātus.” Textbook of Ayurveda, by Vasant Lad, Ayurvedic Press, 2002, pp. 161–162.

A version of this article appeared on Banyan Botanicals blog on June 20, 2018.

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In the latest episode of Spirit Sessions Podcast, In the latest episode of Spirit Sessions Podcast, Katie is joined by marketing expert, author and philanthropist Mark Young!⁠
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Katie shares her career journey from A.I. to “Ayurveda Intelligence,” while Mark reflects on life lessons as he approaches a milestone birthday. They offer practical marketing advice for Ayurvedic coaches and other heart-centered entrepreneurs, discuss the role of AI in their lives and share how you can build a wildly successful business by cultivating relationships and trusting your unique voice.⁠
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In this episode about marketing and more, you’ll hear:⁠
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~ Shifting gender roles in our modern world⁠
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~ Heart-centered marketing⁠
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~ The importance of scheduling time off and buffer days⁠
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~ Why Katie and Mark aren’t afraid of A.I. taking over⁠
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~ Practical ways Mark and Katie use A.I. in their lives⁠
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~ The importance of relationships over transactions⁠
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~ Being authentic vs. oversharing⁠
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~ Advice for new business owners who don’t have a big following⁠
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~ Trusting your unique voice⁠
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And much more! ⁠
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🎧 Tune into Ep. 218 Marketing, Gender Roles & A.I. with Mark Young now at the link in bio!
There is a strong connection between taking care o There is a strong connection between taking care of our health with food and sleep, and our soul’s ability to thrive and be happy. 🧬⁠
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When our digestion is good, our sleep is deep and our emotions are being channeled properly, we have more energy to engage in our passions and pursuits in life. ⁠
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When our health is good, we can enjoy pleasure, seek success and purpose, strive for material gain and seek out the practices and mentors that will teach us to live a more integrated, enlightened, soulful life. ⁠
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Ayurveda offers us the foundational principles for balancing our health and reclaiming our vitality, so that we can express who we really are in the world. ⁠
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Shakti Ayurveda School is a journey to help you reclaim health, vitality, purpose—and yes, even the pursuit of your material aims—as inseparable components of you living your fullest expression in this one, precious life. 🦋⁠
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P.S. Right now, we’re running a Summer of Love sale and we’re gonna give you a ton of gifts when you sign up for our Ayurvedic Wellness Coach Certification Program before August 11th. ⁠
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Here’s what you’ll receive when you join us:⁠
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💰 $100 off tuition (any payment plan for Level 1 or Level 2 Ayurveda School!)⁠
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💦 A free cooling mini-gift set from Paavani Ayurveda (basically an instant-summer-goddess-kit)⁠
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🌼 1 year FREE in Spirit Sessions Membership, our mentorship membership that includes live monthly workshops, a huge resource library and my full, in-depth Chakras Course ($1000 value)⁠
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🌹 A drool-worthy summer Ayurveda recipe book (cue the Hibiscus-Rose Coolers with Damiana, please!)⁠
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If you’re ready to take a step towards radiant health, greater vitality and soul purpose starting right now, join us in Ayurveda School now with the code SummerofLove at the link in our bio!
The healing era hits different when you stop exili The healing era hits different when you stop exiling parts of yourself and invite them ALL to take up space in your inner world. The inner chaos gremlin? She may not always have the best delivery, but she puts us back in touch with our instincts and our fire. (She just needs to work in close collaboration with our more adult, wise, heart-centered Self to be truly effective 😉🔥.) 

When you stop managing yourself like a math equation and start embracing the mythical essence of all of your inner selves, your true magnetism, radiance and energy is unleashed. 🗝️
Summer makes us want to worship the sun – and it Summer makes us want to worship the sun – and it makes sense. We like feeling warm, golden and satisfied. The sun is literally life-giving! 🌞 In addition to ruling our agni (i.e. our inner fire, also known as our metabolism) the sun gives us ENERGY: ambition, passion, clarity and that unmistakable glow. Of course we want to bask in it!⁠
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The key to basking in summer’s warm glow is to take care so that we don’t end up overheated, fire-engine red and hungover.⁠
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To balancing the fire element in summer, aim to:⁠
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🏋🏽‍♀️ Avoid intense exercise during peak sun (10am-2pm)⁠
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🧘🏼‍♀️ Cool down any hot, fiery intensity with slower-moving exercise and breathing techniques⁠
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😴 Sleep on your right side to cool the nervous system⁠
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🕶️ Slowly acclimate to spending time in the sun and avoid peak UV exposure; get morning or late afternoon sun when instead (sunrise and sunset are ideal times to soak in the light!)⁠
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Are you ready to harmonize your routines, nutrition, herbs and spiritual practices with nature’s rhythms, and support other women in doing the same?⁠
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🌸 The Shakti School’s Summer of LOVE sale is here! 
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Here’s what that means: Sign up for 2026 Shakti Ayurveda School during our Summer of Love Sale (now through August 11) and receive:⁠
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💸 $100 off tuition⁠
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🌺 A free Paavani Pitta Summer Kit (cooling spritzer, body oil and spice blend)⁠
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💎 A full year of access to Spirit Sessions—my monthly membership with meditations, classes, and my full Chakras course ($1000 value) aka, start studying with me now!⁠
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📒 A downloadable Ayurveda for Summer recipe book, straight from my kitchen⁠
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Use the code SummerofLove at checkout to receive all your gifts!⁠
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P.S. The code applies to both 2026 Level 1 & 2026 Level 2! ⁠
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🏖️ Join before August 11 with code SummerofLove at the link in bio to claim your spot.
Goddess - I can’t wait for you to get your hands Goddess - I can’t wait for you to get your hands on my Summer Ayurveda Recipe Mix Tape - where every slurp, sip and spoonful is a devotional act of beauty, pleasure and full-body honoring. 🍓💦 ⁠
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My personal Ayurveda Summer Recipe Mix Tape is a sun-drenched love letter from my witchy kitchen to the depths of your feminine soul.⁠
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Inside its 30+ drool-worthy pages you’ll find smoothies that melt like silk on your tongue, hydrating herbal coolers that will kindle your inner flirt and goddess-approved, belly-loving meals that whisper: ⁠
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“Slow down, lady. You’re allowed to feel this good.”⁠
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Because that’s what Summer of Love is really about.⁠
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👉🏽 Here’s the download. ⁠
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Right now we’re offering the LOWEST price, PLUS the highest-value free gifts, that we’ll be offering for Shakti Ayurveda School all year. Period. ⁠
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And it only lasts until August 11th.⁠
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Sign up for the 2026 Ayurveda School before 8/11 and you’ll get my Ayurveda Summer Recipe Mix Tape e-book FREE, plus:⁠
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🍒 $100 off tuition⁠
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🌴 A Paavani Pitta Summer Kit full of cooling body magic⁠
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🍓 A full year FREE inside our Spirit Sessions platform (with meditations, movement, my CHAKRAS course + monthly workshops with me and my fave wise-women leaders)⁠
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Ready to claim 2026 as your most transformational, soul-honoring, juicy year yet and join us in Shakti Ayurveda School? ⁠
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🌹Use the code SummerofLove at checkout and let the kitchen seduction begin. 😉

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