Here’s your winter immunity boost recipe (and home-made gift idea!)
Here’s how to make it:
~ 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
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.
Then sip daily (you can also add it to your salad dressing or food, but don’t heat because of the honey! 🍯🍯🍯)
Winter
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.
🌹 Skullcap: Think soothing, stress relief, and relaxation - this nervine is an emotional balance supporter and restores the functioning of the nervous system.
🌹 Damiana: This aphrodisiac helper pairs well with skullcap for relaxation while also giving a little boost to mood and digestion.
🌹 Rose: Associated with the heart chakra, rose is said to help heal a broken heart and enhance feelings of self-love and emotional balance.
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
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.
Enjoy in small servings as a healing tonic for your heart ❤️ (or add to your wintry mocktails) 🍯
Ojas-Building “Hot Shake”
We have to clue you in on one of our ultimate Ojas-building aphrodisiac tonics!
Ojas is our core immunity- our bodies’ ability to renew itself. In the body, it’s related to our reproductive, hormones, and cerebrospinal fluid.
It’s also your psychophysical shield, helping us ward off stress and disease (both physically and emotionally).
Having strong ojas isn’t just about building it up, it’s also about not losing it. What (and WHO) we pour our creative energy into (if you know what I mean 😉😉) can deplete our ojas especially if we’re not being intentional.
But, when we make love with an attitude of complete surrender, and without fear or reservation, Ayurveda says that it can actually BOOST our sense of trust which in turn builds health.
Aphrodisiacs can help turn up our passion-pleasure-zest. What we consume also helps build our emotional-physical-resiliency, aka our ojas. That’s where this ojas-boosting love tonic comes in.
This warm, spicy-sweet milk is amazing for building ojas, and when combined with these virility-boosting super herbs, it gives our inner lover just the boost we need. Make it for you and your lover before or after your holy lovemaking sesh (or for yourself!)
Ojas-Building Hot Shake Ingredients:
- 10 skinless almonds
- 5 dates, pitted
- 2 cups milk (any kind)
- 1/2 teaspoon ashwagandha
- 1/2 teaspoon kapikacchu
- 1/2 teaspoon vidari kanda
- 1/2 teaspoon maca
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- Pinch of ground nutmeg
Ojas-Building Hot Shake Directions:
- If you wish, soak the almonds and dates overnight, then drain. (This makes them more digestible, but is not required.)
- In a small saucepan, bring the milk to a low boil. Add the herbs and spice and whisk.
- Pour the milk mixture into a blender, add the almonds and dates, and blend on high for 30-60 seconds, until completely smooth.
- Enjoy with your lover (or inner lover 😉)
Carrot & Winter Squash Chutney Recipe
Ingredients:
- 1 small delicata squash or any other winter squash (acorn or butternut would work well), seeds removed and chopped
- 2 carrots, chopped
- 1/2 cup roasted and unsalted almonds
- 1 small piece of fresh ginger, peeled and chopped
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- 3 tablespoons olive oil or ghee
- 1/2 teaspoon cumin seeds
- 1/4 teaspoon asafoetida (hing) - a pinch
- 1/4 teaspoon ajwain
- 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon ground coriander
- 1/4 teaspoon ground fennel
- 1/4 teaspoon ground turmeric
- 1/4 teaspoon mustard seed
- Water
- Salt to taste
Directions:
- In a large pan, add the cumin seeds and roast them for a minute or until they become fragrant. Remove and set aside.
- In the same pan, melt 1 tablespoon of ghee over medium heat and add chopped squash and carrots. Add 2 tablespoons of water, cover, and cook 25 minutes, or until softened all the way through. Stir occasionally and add water as needed to keep from sticking to the pan.
- In a food processor, combine the roasted almonds, ginger, lemon juice and 1 tablespoon of water. Blend until you have a coarse paste.
- Add the remaining 2 tablespoons of olive oil or ghee, ¼ cup of water and all the spices (asafoetida, black pepper, ajwain, coriander, fennel, mustard seed and turmeric) to the mixture. Once the carrots and squash are softened, remove from the pan and add to the food processor.
- Blend again until everything is well combined. You can adjust the consistency by adding a little water as needed.
- Taste the chutney and adjust the salt and seasonings according to your preference. Keep in mind that Ayurveda recommends reducing salt for Vata balancing, so be moderate.
- Heat a small amount of ghee in a small pan. Add the roasted cumin seeds to the ghee and let them sizzle for a few seconds. Pour this over the chutney and mix well.
Ep. 20 Honoring Our Ancestors This Winter
Coming to you from snowy Virginia! We invite you to feel the healing power of hibernation and cozy up with today's podcast episode about honoring our ancestors. The winter season provides a unique opportunity to deepen your understanding of your lineage and connection with your ancestors.
Learn rituals and practices you can use to more deeply honor your ancestors this winter while resolving and dissolving family patterns.
In this episode about honoring our ancestors, Katie talks about:
~ Winter hibernation
~ Ancestral connection and deepened understanding
~ Inheritance and our roots
~ Rituals and practices honoring our ancestors
~ Resolving and dissolving patterns
~ The importance of intuition and gratitude
Or Subscribe on iTunes
Learn more:
Help us Spread our Podcast Wings
Did you love this episode about honoring our ancestors? This show is a passion project that I produce for the love of sharing. If you enjoy this show and want a free and easy way to help it grow, the most effective way you can help is to:
- Subscribe to the show by clicking “subscribe” in iTunes
- Write us a review in iTunes
- Share this show with one friend right now!
It’s simple, but you’d be AMAZED to know how much it helps my little love project reach more people. iTunes’ algorithm uses ratings and reviews to know who to show our show to in their app.
Here’s the link to leave us reviews in iTunes.
From my heart to your screen,
Katie
Ep. 19 BONUS Thanksgiving Special
Join Kaite and surprise guest, Vera Silcox (aka Katie's mom) for a sweet, candid conversation about Thanksgiving, dating, and the special relationship between mother and daughter.
Topics discussed in this special Thanksgiving episode:
~ Dating
~ Popcorn
~ Sweet spicy tea we love – our wine alternative
~ On changing patterns
~ On mothers and daughters
~ Constant growth
Happy Thanksgiving!
Or Subscribe on iTunes
Learn more:
Help us Spread our Podcast Wings
Did you love this special Thanksgiving conversation? This show is a passion project that I produce for the love of sharing. If you enjoy this show and want a free and easy way to help it grow, the most effective way you can help is to:
- Subscribe to the show by clicking “subscribe” in iTunes
- Write us a review in iTunes
- Share this show with one friend right now!
It’s simple, but you’d be AMAZED to know how much it helps my little love project reach more people. iTunes’ algorithm uses ratings and reviews to know who to show our show to in their app.
Here’s the link to leave us reviews in iTunes.
From my heart to your screen,
Katie
Ep. 18 Sleep Like a Baby this Winter…Yes Please.
Excitement for the winter is percolating! Here at The Shakti School, we love the way the winter season gives you permission to be a bear and hibernate. So in today's episode, Katie talks about all things sleep!
Learn about the systems in our body that regulate sleep including the nervous system, hormones, and our bodies natural detoxification system so you can start sleeping better!
In this episode about sleep, Katie discusses:
~ Parasympathetic Nervous System
~ SLEEP
~ How the body heals, detoxes, and regulates hormones
~ Immune System
~ Healthy Brain Processing
~ Obsessions of the Mind
~ Insomnia
~ How to Sleep Better
~ Subconscious Support Tools
~ Integrity
~ Day and Evening Routines
Sleep products mentioned in the podcast:
Or Subscribe on iTunes
Learn more:
Help us Spread our Podcast Wings
Did you love this episode all about sleep? This show is a passion project that I produce for the love of sharing. If you enjoy this show and want a free and easy way to help it grow, the most effective way you can help is to:
- Subscribe to the show by clicking “subscribe” in iTunes
- Write us a review in iTunes
- Share this show with one friend right now!
It’s simple, but you’d be AMAZED to know how much it helps my little love project reach more people. iTunes’ algorithm uses ratings and reviews to know who to show our show to in their app.
Here’s the link to leave us reviews in iTunes.
From my heart to your screen,
Katie