Herbs

Pitta-Friendly Summer Mocktail ft. Heart-Healing ROSE Water

Wondering what to sip this summer that’s not going to dampen your agni but that’s still a little indulgent and fun?

(To my down-under ladies, you can enjoy this too, especially if you have more PITTA aka fire in your constitution!)

This cooling, goddess-worthy bev is perfect for when you wanna sip something cooling but still delicious, enjoy a mocktail, or get a hydrating boost on a hot summer afternoon.

The recipe makes 1 so be sure to double or triple if making it for friends 😉

Ingredients to help soothe inner heat while gently supporting agni:

🥀Rose Water

Rosewater is mildly astringent which gives it a cooling property both topically and internally. It’s great for balancing excess heat, aka pitta dosha in the digestive system, helping to aid digestive discomfort, bloating and heartburn.

Plus there’s nothing more nourishing to the subtle heart center than ingesting rose!

(See below on how to whip up your own rose water at home.)

🍋Lemon

If you’re not-so-new to Ayurveda you’ll know that warm lemon water is a key part of a traditional Ayurvedic morning routine—this is because lemon has a powerful agni boosting effect (meaning, it’s a major digestion helper!). Lemon gives our stomach the signal to start creating digestive juices and tells our liver to produce bile, both of which can help ease indigestion.

🍁Maple Syrup

Maple syrup encompasses the “sweet” quality in Ayurveda (plus, it’s derived from actual SAP - ojas boost, anyone?). The sweet taste soothes Pitta and Vata but can be a little aggravating to Kapha, so feel free to sub in some raw honey if you’re dealing with a Kapha imbalance.

Ingredients (makes one serving):

2 tablespoons of rosewater (see how to make your own below or purchase rosewater already made!)
Juice from 1/2 lemon
1 tablespoon good quality maple syrup
1 cup plain seltzer (or sub in hibiscus infusion)
Optional garnish: cucumber, mint, orange, strawberries, etc.!

Directions:

Step 1. Make the rose water: add 1 teaspoon rose powder to a jar or glass measuring cup. Pour 1 cup boiling water over it. Allow to sit for 30 minutes then strain with a fine mesh strainer.

Step 2. Once cooled, add 2 tablespoons of rosewater into your mocktail glass.

Step 3. Add juice from 1/2 lemon.

Step 4. Add 1 tbsp good quality maple syrup. Stir up ingredients to combine.

Step 5. Top with 1 cup plain seltzer (or alternatively a chilled hibiscus infusion if you want to avoid seltzer!)

Garnish with a few cucumber slices, mint leaves, or orange slices!

Sip and stay cool 😎

How to do a Spring Cleanse

Spring is the perfect time to do a gentle cleanse.

Ayurveda teaches us to mimic what is happening in the natural world. In Spring, the Earth’s core begins to heat up as fungi, bugs, insects, and bees make their way to the surface pollinating and helping to prepare the soil for the growth to come.

After many months enduring the cold and dampness of winter, it’s likely that some extra Kapha accumulation could be present. This can take the form of excess mucus in the lungs and sinuses, a possible accumulation of weight, or a feeling of lethargy or depression.

Thankfully, with the help of Ayurveda and the willingness to slightly shift up your routine you can be easing into that springtime flow in no time.

So, what does it mean to detox Ayurvedically?

Ayurveda does not suggest some kind of crazy fasting or overly-restrictive cleansing. In fact it’s quite the opposite.

An Ayurvedic cleanse is gentle.

What most of us actually need is something that can allow our body to deeply relax.

In order to “let go” of all the unwanted stuff inside of us, your body needs to know that you have the space to step away from your daily hustle and grind, to step into the parasympathetic nervous system and deeply relax.

This is why, for example, as part of an Ayurvedic cleanse, getting warm, medicated oil rubbed on you was always part of the cleansing protocol.

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For this simple cleanse I’m gonna share with you, it’s not at all about restricting food intake.

It’s all about giving your body and digestion the space and time to deeply rest.

We have this idea in our culture that cleansing must be about suffering and penance and purification, Ayurvedic cleansing isn’t about any of those things. It’s about sweetness and love and slowing down. And saying to your body “I’m going to let you do what you need to do to come into balance.”

NOT using willpower to force our bodies to further the goals of the mind.

So I put together this little spring Kitchari recipe and simple cleansing protocol that’s a really easeful intro to Ayurvedic cleansing.

Plus there’s some more amazing resources below if you want to take it even deeper.

Get the Guide Here

Additional Cleansing Resources:

For Learning More About How to Do an Ayurvedic Cleanse:

Ep. 07 Spirit Sessions Podcast: Detox the Ayurveda Way

For a Guide to Spiritual Spring Cleaning:

Ep. 11 Spirit Sessions Podcast: Holy Shit, How to Become a Tantric House Witch

For Boosting Your Elimination and Achieving “Poophoria”:

Ep. 46 Spirit Sessions Podcast: Poophoria: Getting Perfect ?!

Happy spring cleansing!

Katie’s Seasonal Allergies Arsenal

We are currently being overloaded with pollen over here (if you’re on the East Coast in the US at least 😉) and it’s got me thinking about how we can all navigate allergy season with a little more support…⁣⁠
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Allergies are a typical imbalance associated with Kapha season (aka SPRING) 💐⁣⁠
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Ayurveda understands that allergies are the result of an outer allergen aggravating a specific dosha. ⁣⁠
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So, Ayurveda breaks allergies into Vata, Pitta, and Kapha-type allergies.⁣⁠ (And no, this isn’t based on your constitution, it’s based on the specific allergen that’s irritating your system!)⁣⁠ Seasonal allergies related to spring (and sometimes Fall) are usually more Kapha-related.⁣⁠
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An excess of Kapha dosha brings sluggishness, mucous and water retention (read: allergy symptoms). ⁣⁠
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In order to aid our Kapha seasonal allergies, we have to heat things up, boost circulation, clear out and CLEANSE our bodies’ pathways.⁣⁠
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Allergies don’t have to be your destiny.⁣⁠ Reducing the effects of allergies comes down to boosting agni + reducing ama + supporting immunity. ⁣⁠
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To reduce the uncomfortable symptoms of allergies we have to CLEAR OUT OUR SROTAS! Srotas are the circulation channels of the body–these channels are where ama gets STUCK, resulting in imbalances. ⁣⁠
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See below for my arsenal and reference this for future seasonal allergies attacks!

👃🏽 Nose care: Neti & Nasya! Add ¼ tsp salt to warm water and pour through both nostrils using a neti pot, then lubricate your nostrils with herbal nasya oil!

👅 Scrape your tongue! If you aren’t on the tongue scraping train START ASAP–this helps to remove the toxins that your body is cleansing through the night.

🌀 Dry Brush. Boosts the lymphatic system, helps the channels of the body circulate and eliminate toxins.

🌿 Triphala + Turmeric. Triphala will help boost digestion and reduce ama (the source of allergies) while Turmeric is one of the best anti-inflammatory, anti-ama herbs.

🫖 Nettles. Nettles are your circulation-boosting, ama-clearing, waste-cleansing BFF. Brew a tea by combining 4 large tablespoons of dried nettles in a mason jar with boiling water - let steep for 1 hour and then strain!

🍒 Quercetin! Quercetin is a powerful antioxidant with amazing anti-inflammatory powers. Studies have shown that quercetin can prevent immune cells from releasing histamines which means runny nose, hives, swelling = bye bye 👋🏼

🍵 GREEN TEA. Because it’s super high in quercetin, it helps to reduce the body’s immune response to allergies like pollen!

For more information, check out our podcast on allergies here.

Herbal Sleepytime Mocktail

We had to put our Shakti-fied twist on the Sleepy Mocktail 🍹This herbal sleepy time tonic is the perfect nighttime bev for getting your beauty rest! 💤⁣
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Adding passionflower and ashwaghanda, which have both linked with stress relief, give this mocktail some extra relaxation oomf 💪🏼⁣
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Passionflower has also been linked with gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) in the brain, and GABA reduces activity in the central nervous system which can support relaxation and sleep.⁣
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Here’s what you’re gonna need:⁣
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~ ½ cup passion flower tea infusion (make this ahead of time- add one teabag or 1 tsp of loose passion flower to 1 cup boiling water. Let steep for about 15mins (you can also make this in bulk and leave in the fridge to have on hand all week 😉)⁣
⁣~ ½ cup tart cherry juice⁣
⁣~ Magnesium powder (one serving according to your powder’s instructions!)⁣
⁣~ 1-2 droppers full ashwaghanda (or 1/2 tsp powder)⁣
⁣~ A pinch of mineral salt and squeeze of lime⁣
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Add all ingredients and shake or blend!⁣
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🍒Ayurveda Rebel Version: add a splash of sparkling water (we won’t tell if you won’t 🤫)⁣
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🌬Vata-friendly Version: warm cherry juice slightly (or mix into your warm tea infusion to warm it up) and forgo the sparkling water. Enjoy 😉

Shakti Fire Cider

Here’s your winter immunity boost recipe (and home-made gift idea!) ⁣⁣
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Here’s how to make it:⁣⁣
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~ 1 medium onion, chopped⁣⁣
~ 10 garlic cloves, smashed or roughly chopped⁣⁣
~ 2 jalapeños, sliced⁣⁣
~ 1 organic lemon (grate it and juice it)⁣⁣
~ 1/3 cup grated ginger⁣⁣
~ A bunch (3-4 sprigs) of fresh rosemary (dried is also fine!)⁣⁣
~ 1 T black pepper seeds, crushed⁣⁣
~ 1 T cardamom pods, crushed⁣⁣
~ 2 blood oranges, finely sliced⁣⁣
~ A few of cinnamon sticks⁣⁣
~ 1 T cloves⁣⁣
~ A big dollop of raw, local, honey ⁣⁣
~ Apple cider vinegar⁣⁣
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Add all ingredients to a quart size jar. Cover completely with ACV (push down everything in the jar so that it’s below the ACV). Place a piece of parchment paper between the lid and the jar to prevent any transfer from the lid. Shake daily, storing in a cool place for about a month.⁣⁣
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Then sip daily (you can also add it to your salad dressing or food, but don’t heat because of the honey! 🍯🍯🍯)

Heart-Opening Winter Elixir

The holidays can be a season of both feelings of connection and grief. We’ve created this special Shakti School heart opening elixir featuring skullcap, damiana and rose to get you through the waves of beauty, bliss, and pain.⁣
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🌹 Skullcap: Think soothing, stress relief, and relaxation - this nervine is an emotional balance supporter and restores the functioning of the nervous system.⁣
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🌹 Damiana: This aphrodisiac helper pairs well with skullcap for relaxation while also giving a little boost to mood and digestion.⁣
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🌹 Rose: Associated with the heart chakra, rose is said to help heal a broken heart and enhance feelings of self-love and emotional balance.⁣
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Here’s how to make it:⁣

~ 1/4 cup dried skullcap⁣
~ ¼ cup dried damiana⁣
~ 1/4 cup dried rose petal⁣
~ A few cinnamon sticks⁣
~ 1 T gently crushed cardamom pods⁣
~ 1 T gently crushed star anise⁣
~ 1 T gently crushed cloves⁣
~ an orange peel⁣
~ 1/2 c honey⁣
~ Brandy to cover ⁣
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Add all ingredients to a mason jar. Cover completely with brandy (push down everything in the jar so that it’s below the liquid). Place a piece of parchment paper between the lid and the jar to prevent any transfer from the lid or vice versa. Shake daily, storing in a cool place for about a month.⁣
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Enjoy in small servings as a healing tonic for your heart ❤️

Fall Lickable

This little lickable is great for when you’ve got the ick (a.k.a. Cold and Flu season)

Add together:

3 tablespoons Manuka honey
3 tablespoons Grass-fed ghee
1 tsp. Turmeric powder
1 tsp. Licorice powder
½ tsp. Cinnamon
¼ tsp. Cardamom
A few dashes of Cayenne Pepper powder (*leave out if it’s too much heat for your system)

Mix all together until a smooth paste.

Lick a teaspoon a few times a day!

Parsley Magic, Moon Gazing and Dream Yoga – Yes, Please!

As the spring equinox arrives in the Northern Hemisphere, we shed the cold, dry, dark of winter to welcome spring’s 🌼 blessings🌷— rejuvenation and rebirth, promising seeds and unfurling leaves, euphoric birdsongs and glorious blue skies.

I hope this finds you dancin’ into spring with joy in your mind, body and spirit.

Or… maybe spring is kinda kickin’ your booty!

While the transition of vata to kapha season brings incredible abundance and beauty, this rtu sandhi (seasonal juncture) can carry with it an intensity that’s as challenging as it is euphoric.

Just as nature is thawing and cleansing the toxins and heaviness accumulated during winter, so are our bodies. And, not every sexy goddess’s body moves gracefully into new phases of the year. Mine included!

You may feel unbalanced, lethargic and blah as your body pushes out of hibernation mode to make room for the lightness of spring. Allergies, congestion and colds are common. And, with the rise in spring’s water element, your emotions (hello, anxiety!) can feel OUT OF CONTROL.

Sound familiar? Spring can be darn HARD on your body, y’all.

My dear friend, use this time of dynamic renewal to tune DEEPLY into yourself. Observe the exuberance of spring, and enjoy this sense of thawing and awakening. Set judgment aside to breathe deeply, turn your face to the sun and receive the melody of nature with open arms.

I’m excited to share our April content to help guide you in seeking harmony and balance with kapha this spring. This month’s newsletter offers some simple Ayurvedic wisdom — like sipping parsley water and meditating by moonlight — to help you get the wellbeing you crave.

P.S. I’m thrilled to announce that my second book, Holy, is set to be released in Fall 2023. Look forward to a spirit-infused, sensual guide on how to connect with and 💗love your body.

Reduce the Springtime Imbalance of Kapha on Your Body

~gentle, time-tested methods for resetting~

Come kapha season, receive the abundance of spring with your fullest self by bringing balance to your internal systems with Ayurveda activities, spring diet and self-care rituals.

✨ Wake up with the sun

✨ Get outside for a walk, reconnect with nature as it
flourishes

✨ Eat your largest meal at noon when your digestive
fire🔥 is strongest

✨ Consume less meat and dairy

✨ Eat light, easy-to-digest foods: broth-based soups and
whole grains like amaranth, millet, buckwheat

✨ Favor foods that are bitter, pungent, and astringent:
lemon, dark leafy greens, chilis, mung beans, radishes

✨ Use spices and herbs: cayenne, ginger, turmeric,
black pepper, fennel, parsley, nettle

✨ Protect your immune system with 🌿parsley water🌿
(yes, parsley offers extraordinary health benefits!!)

✨ Indulge in garshana (dry brushing)

✨ Cleanse a cluttered mind by journaling

✨ Be playful, dance, invite newness and freshness into
your daily routine

Click here for more Shakti School wisdom on how to clear away kapha this spring.

Parsley is Spring Magic

~power up your health and immune strength with parsley~

I love 🌿parsley🌿. It’s the perfect spring herb. With several times the vitamin C of citrus and packed with flavonoids, chlorophyll, calcium, vitamins A, K and E, sodium, magnesium, iron, and loads of other minerals, nutrients and antioxidants, parsley is a powerful source of nutrition with incredible medicinal potency.

This potent, bitter wonder herb improves digestion, reduces inflammation, controls blood sugar and helps dry excess mucus. And, parsley’s magical green goodness can improve liver, bladder and kidney health by promoting urination, reducing urinary infections, and treating kidney and bladder stones. Yep, all of that and more!

Plus, come springtime, parsley helps drain excess kapha by flushing out winter’s heaviness and toxins — ‘cause, we all overindulged a little this winter, right?

I’m excited to share a super cleansing parsley water recipe from my friends at Blue Sage Ayurveda. It’s easy to make and crazy affordable… like $2 a day!

Click here for my simple parsley remedy and to listen to my Spirit Sessions Ep. 102 Parsley is Spring Magic podcast.

✨For more deep real-talk on sex, spirit and shakti-infused self-care,✨
subscribe to Katie’s Spirit Sessions podcast.

It’s Time To Start Moon Gazing

~add this mind-body practice to your spiritual routine~

Did you know that lifting your gaze to the moon can calm an anxious mind, reduce anger and irritation, and soothe inflammation? I was recently featured in InStyle Magazine, sharing how the timeless practice of moon gazing has been used for healing all over the globe.

Moon gazing is simply soaking in the calming energy and effusive glow of our celestial gift.

The moon’s liquid-like energy is feminine in nature and has long been associated with women’s health, vitality and spiritual wellbeing. Basking in the moonlight cleanses, replenishes and EMPOWERS our Divine Feminine force. And, it activates our sex and bonding hormones, too!

By incorporating moon gazing into your practice, you can add a level of internal peace that transcends what you achieve with your regular meditation routine. With the promise of warmer evenings ahead, why not schedule intentional time with the Earth and cosmos?

How to meditate while moon gazing:

✨Go outside and sit or lie down where you can see the moon. Connect to your breath as you softly let your eyes move to the moon’s light and shape.

✨Gaze at the moon as an object of meditation. Become curious about its shape and contours as if you were observing something you really loved.

✨As you breathe and observe, begin to gently pull the cooling qualities of the moonlight into you, filling your body with this healing light.

Check out the full InStyle article on moon gazing. Then head outside and soak in the silvery energy of this benevolent light source. Let me know how it goes!