fall

Ep. 188 Your Fall Ayurvedic Kitchari Cleanse Guide

This is a picture of Katie Silcox. The text reads, "Spirit Sessions: Find your true spiritual home with Katie Silcox."

As the seasons change so do our body and spirit! According to Ayurvedic tradition, fall is a sacred time of year when we can experience deep clarity and insight into our life purpose. Through a traditional, seasonal kitchari cleanse we can align with the lightness, mobility and clarity of the fall season in order to become wiser, improve digestion and boost our immunity as we ready for winter.

Tune in to this episode to learn why we cleanse, then join Katie LIVE for our FREE Online Fall Ayurvedic Cleanse Webinar on Thursday, September 26th at 11 am Eastern Time US. You’ll learn how to do a kitchari cleanse and take home a beautiful PDF guide that includes all the recipes and information you need to complete your own Ayurvedic kitchari cleanse. We hope to see you there!

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER!

This graphic has a picture of ginger, ginger tea, and ginger powder on a dark blue background. The text reads "Free Webinar: Ayurveda Fall Cleanse Guide. Register Now." It links to a podcast episode about why we do seasonal Ayurvedic kitchari cleanses.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

~ Why fall is considered a “sacred window” in Ayurveda

~ The spiritual gifts of fall

~ How is the Ayurvedic approach to cleansing different?

~ The intention behind an Ayurvedic cleanse

~ What’s so special about kitchari?

~ What happens in your body when on a kitchari cleanse

Learn more:

Help Us Spread Our Pod Wings!

Did you love this episode about why we do seasonal Ayurvedic kitchari cleanses? 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 seems 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.

Happy cleansing!

From my heart to your screen,

Katie

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!

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.

Pumpkin Blow-Ya’ Mind Smoothie (it’s hot!)

I love a hot fall smoothie. It has both deeply nourishing elements, and some reducing spices to counteract the heaviness.

This is my go-to. So easy. So good for the time of the season!

Ingredients:

- 1 cup canned organic pumpkin puree

- 1 cup almond milk (or any milk of your choice)

- 2-3 fresh organic figs, chopped (dried if you can’t find fresh)

- 1 tablespoon maple syrup (adjust to taste)

- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

- 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger

- 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves

- A pinch of Himalayan rock salt

- Whipped coconut cream (optional, for garnish)

- Chopped dried figs and a sprinkle of pecans and cinnamon (for garnish)

Instructions:

Prepare the Figs: If using dried, start by chopping the dried figs into small pieces. You can use kitchen scissors or a sharp knife.
Heat the Almond Milk: Pour the almond milk into a saucepan and heat it over low-medium heat. Heat until almost boiling.
Blend the Ingredients: In a blender, combine the canned pumpkin puree, hot almond milk, figs, maple syrup, ground cinnamon, ground nutmeg, ground ginger, ground cloves, and a pinch of salt.
Blend Until Smooth: Blend the mixture until everything is well combined and the smoothie is creamy. Be careful, its hot! I place a towel over the lid for extra safety.
Serve: Pour the hot pumpkin smoothie into mugs or cups. If desired, top each serving with a dollop of whipped coconut cream, chopped figs, and a sprinkle of cinnamon for added flavor and presentation.
Enjoy: Serve your hot pumpkin smoothie immediately while it's still warm and enjoy the cozy fall flavors!

Feel free to adjust the sweetness by adding more or less maple syrup according to your taste preferences. This hot pumpkin smoothie with fall spices and figs is perfect for warming up on a crisp autumn day or as a comforting treat by the fireplace.

Ep. 161 Fall Rituals & Routines

This week, Katie dives into the potent energetics of fall. Learn why fall is the best time to reignite, rethink, and revisit your life vision. As the leaves fall and surrender to the ground, we too can let go of old patterns and transform into something new.

Katie shares Ayurvedic lifestyle practices, foods, and herbs to support your health and boost your immunity this fall! Deepen your spiritual practice and build immunity by aligning your daily routines with the energetics of Fall. This episode is an excerpt from the free Fall Routines & Rituals webinar we hosted last month.

In this episode you’ll hear:

~ LAST CALL for early bird tuition rates! Prices for Ayurveda School go up on November 1st, so get in now if you want to deep-dive into spirit and holistic health in 2024. Click here to learn more, register, or book a call with a graduate of the program.

~ Katie’s #1 tool for boosting your immunity this fall!

~ How the seasons are our teachers

~ Why fall is the best season to get deep spiritual insight

~ What are the Pitta and Vata doshas and how do they relate to fall?

~ Lifestyle practices, foods, and herbs to fight the fall blahs

~ How to practice lymphatic self-massage

Ayurveda-Inspired Pumpkin Spice Latte

In deep reverence for our Crone Mama Fall, I am bowing before the altar of all things spicy, warm, orange, yellow and brown. (South hemisphere ladies, we see you in your bikinis!)

I am also owning the heck out of my basic self = 1. Yoga pants, 2. Furry Boots and 3. Pumpkin Spice

And so, our new team member, Eva, over here at Team Shakti has come up with this RIDICULOUSLY yummy, Ayurveda-inspired Pumpkin Spice Latte. We are currently *running* to go make this! With warming ginger, black pepper and nutmeg to help kindle your agni plus some grounding pumpkin and Ashwagandha - WHAT more could the vata in each of us need!? 😉☕🍁

Ayurveda-Inspired Pumpkin Spice Latte

Ingredients:

1 cup milk of your choice
1/8 cup pumpkin purée (or cooked pumpkin)
1 tbsp ghee or coconut oil
1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp ground ginger powder
1/4 tsp ground turmeric
pinch ground nutmeg
pinch black pepper

Optional: 1/2 tsp ashwagandha powder, 1 date (pitted or soaked) or 1/2 tsp of maple syrup to sweeten

Instructions:

Blend all the ingredients together until smooth.
In a small pot, simmer over low heat until warm.
Serve and enjoy!

Modification for Each Dosha:

Vata - This recipe is perfect "as-is" for keeping Vata in balance.
Pitta - Reduce the heat by removing or reducing the amount of ginger, black pepper, or turmeric.
Kapha - Substitute 1/2 cup milk with 1/2 cup water, use just 1 tablespoon pumpkin purée, and/or don't add the sweetener.

We hope you enjoy this delish recipe!

Subtly Sweet Harvest Muffins

~sweeter foods are a reminder of the sweetness of life~

Craving more sweets this fall? A vata-pacifying diet actually calls for more sweet (madhura) taste. Beyond being comforting, soul-hugging and grounding, the sweet taste pacifies vata, invigorates the mind, strengthens the immune system, nourishes body tissues and enhances the ojas. Satisfy your sweet taste with these yummy fall muffins crafted from whole grains, a good dose of vata-pacifying spices and some orchard-fresh apples!

Gluten-free Buckwheat Muffins with Apples & Walnuts

Dry ingredients: ½ cup crushed walnuts; 1 cup almond flour; ½ cup buckwheat flour; ⅓ cup ground flax seed; 1 tsp each powdered ginger, cinnamon & salt; ¼ tsp each nutmeg, cardamom & allspice; ½ tsp each of baking powder & baking soda

Wet ingredients: ½ cup coconut oil, ½ cup maple syrup, 3 eggs, ⅓ cup non-dairy yogurt, ¼ cup nut milk, 1 tsp vanilla extract, 2 finely diced apples (medium-sized)

Instructions: Combine all dry ingredients in a large bowl. In another bowl, mix wet ingredients, including apples. Add wet to dry and mix well. Spoon mixture into greased muffin tin and bake at 400 degrees for 20-25 minutes. Pair a freshly baked muffin with a nourishing cup of Golden Yogini Milk or another Shakti-infused recipe.

Tips for Autumn Thriving and Lovin’ on Your Liver

Just… WHEW! As we shift from summer’s on-the-go intensity to the calmer, more introspective winter months, let’s pause and take a cleansing breath, shall we? 🙏🙏🙏

Change is in the air, and we’re in that blurry space between summer and fall. During this time of flux, you might experience Mamma Earth’s seasonal changes in yourself: dry leaves = dry skin; windy weather = gassy belly; swirling, erratic leaves = scattered mind; naked trees = raw, exposed feelings. ⚡POW!⚡

Repeat after me: Grounding. Warming. Routine. Release. That’s my autumn mantra for vata-balancing goodness.

⭐Grounding: Rather than maintaining the activity of summer, now’s the time to slow down and adopt different rhythms. Savor simplicity and cultivate balance in the stillness. Stabilize your mind with rhythmic breathing and leave space in your day to rest and reflect. During your yoga practice, try less postures with longer breaths.

⭐Warming: Introduce vata-based nutrition: root vegetables like carrots, potatoes and beets; soups and broths; and late-summer harvested apples and pears. Lube your skin with oil massages, take a bath with ginger powder and use warming essential oils like geranium, mahanarayan and vetiver.

⭐Routine: Make conscious effort to stick to your daily routines of sleep, work, exercise and eating. Routine is always a good idea, especially during fall when erratic vata can knock you off balance.

⭐Release: Autumn invites time to pause and reflect on what is holding you back from reaching your life’s true dharma and purpose. Just as the leaves eventually release and let go this season, YOU TOO can release what is not serving you. ❤️

Cleanse Your Liver with Ease this Fall

~give your liver some lovin’~

Ode to the liver! As our body’s primary detoxifying powerhouse, we want to keep our livers in tip-top shape. 🎺Enter a liver detox!🎺 Before vata can take over this fall, help your body get rid of old pitta heat accumulated over the summer. A simple liver detox will help you restore and enhance liver functionality, boost your immune system and prep your body for the winter ahead.

✨Limit caffeine, alcohol, sugar and dairy and swap excess fats and proteins for more vegetables, bitter greens, aloe vera, rice and berries.

✨Eat lighter, smaller portions (broth-based soups are great!) Steam or lightly saute your foods.

✨Prioritize your Zzzzz’s. Liver detoxification happens during sleeping hours.

✨Your liver is a hotpot of emotions. Quiet your mind with meditation, pranayama and yoga.

✨Add herbs that support a liver cleanse: bhumyamalaki, kutki, guduchi, amla + turmeric.

✨Cleanse your colon. Yes, really. Your colon is home to the vata dosha and a therapeutic enema (basti) can be a powerful step in cleansing toxins and buildup.

✨If you’re seeking a more in-depth, traditional Ayurvedic cleanse this fall, get started with Katie’s kitchari recipe!