Fatal drug overdoses have claimed the lives of more than half a million people in the last decade alone. Faced now with the coronavirus pandemic, the threat is only growing. The pandemic has led to increased experiences of isolation, economic pressure, and family conflict that, among other factors, exacerbate suicides and drug overdose rates. However, despite these problems, there is healing to be found, especially when we’re brave enough to ask for the help that we need.
The Other Crisis
United States suicide rates and drug overdoses have risen steadily since the 1990s. Just a few years ago, suicide was the 10th leading cause of death, and in 2018, suicide reached its highest peak since the 1940s. Whether purposeful or accidental, drug overdoses are a direct descendant of addictive behaviors that existed long before the pandemic.
In a year like 2020, where the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated many of the problems that lead to suicide and drug overdoses, we must come to terms with the greater spiritual struggle that exists from our collective experience of stress, depression, and heartache, and the healing that we must seek to overcome these issues. –
″ When it is darkest, we can see the stars. ″ – — RALPH WALDO EMERSON
Suicide and COVID-19
Social distancing guidelines have made it difficult for many who already struggled with substances or their mental health to maintain a sense of normalcy. For many of us, the distractions that work and community involvement provided helped ease some of the negative and anxious thoughts buzzing around in our heads.
Now, asked to stay alone with our thoughts, our minds are laid bare, and having to confront those demons on our own became all too much. This has been a tough year for all of us, and we do not need an expert opinion to tell us that the pandemic has worsened a lot of the conditions that lead people to end their own lives.
Since the pandemic began, more people have reported having symptoms of anxiety and depression. More people have turned to drugs and alcohol to cope, and more people have thought about or considered suicide. Indeed, the actual number of suicides sky-rocketed this year.
Drug Overdoses and COVID-19
The number of drug overdoses has also been affected by social distancing guidelines. When you think about it from the perspective of addiction, isolation is the last thing a person in recovery needs — the disease of addiction is already isolating enough. For many who rely on support groups or other forms of socialization to help them recover, the pandemic presents a significant interruption to their progress. In the months since the pandemic began, both fatal and non-fatal overdoses have increased by 20% since 2019.
According to the American Medical Association, the opioid crisis has worsened because of the pandemic; over 40 states have reported higher deaths related to opioids. Moreover, the number of first-time substance users has also increased. More people are being driven to drug use due to stress, economic uncertainty, the fatigue of staying indoors, and relationship conflicts. And the unfortunate issue is that drug use causes many other physical, emotional, and mental issues that are difficult to get rid of.
Domestic Violence and COVID-19
As our mission is rooted in helping women, it’s important to acknowledge another stressor caused by the pandemic that affects women throughout the country. Although the pandemic’s initial part was a breath of fresh air for many couples, as time went on, spending all their time together led some couples to arguing, fighting, and violence. Unsurprisingly, domestic violence cases have increased this year. However, because incidents are often under-reported, the actual number is likely much higher.
By August of this year, domestic violence reports had increased by 76%. Six months later, we are probably still facing the same or a more significant challenge. Some experts say that orders to stay at home may have inadvertently locked the abused with their abuser, creating a nightmare scenario for some women in our country. Like other traumatic occurrences, domestic violence takes up residence in the heart of its survivors, causing feelings of helplessness and depression and often leads to addiction development.
Healing in the Face of COVID-19
The pandemic has caused a rupture in our lives, and there’s no doubt about that. For some of us, the struggle is more pronounced, and the stress and uncertainty drive some to deal with their pain through drugs or contemplating suicide. However, there is help out there if you seek it. At Villa Kali Ma, we emphasize healing the mind, body, and spirit to tackle the root problems of substance abuse and co-occurring mental health issues.
More than ever, we need to surround ourselves with like-minded wisdom seekers. We believe that healing within a community strengthens our resilience for changes that afflict our daily lives, especially during the pandemic. By becoming more aware of who you are, you will learn to see your life as the treasure it is, like a garden that grows beautifully under a pulsating sun. We can teach you to recognize the garden within and show you how to tend it.
There is a myriad of names for the timeless act of recording your daily thoughts and feelings, but is it right for you? Maybe you’ve tried it before, but it didn’t feel right, or maybe you never have. With so many variables in journaling styles, it’s easy to get it wrong and dismiss the whole thing entirely. There are also so many ways to get it right, and the near-infinite nature of journaling styles means that there’s sure to be one that feels good for you.
So, Should I Journal?
The quick answer is yes. There are countless benefits to clearing out your mental dust bunnies. Your critical thinking skills, emotional processing, and trauma response are all likely to improve when you spend time with your thoughts and feelings. But it can feel stressful to begin, and to select the method that feels most healing for your personal journey. No matter how you journal, your process can benefit from remembering to WRITE: –
What do you want to write about? Reflect on the feelings, desires and thoughts surrounding the topic. Investigate those emotive responses through your writing. Time yourself. Exit with introspection.
Whether you elect to structure your journaling, create an artistic element or just sit down with a page and let your thoughts pour out as they arrive, there is healing to be found in becoming an emotional scribe.
Science Says Yes
Even the most free-flowing styles of journaling offer benefits that drive you toward not just setting goals, but achieving them. Supporting recovery in all manners is more effective when you allow yourself to take up space, and spending time in your own head validates that.
Engaging with your thoughts can help you process them, and processing them allows meaningful change to occur not just within that thought, but others like it as you move through life. It is not a stagnant indulgence. Journaling promotes active learning through reflection and can lead to better emotional processing, perspective-taking, and critical thinking skills.
Even If It Hurts a Little
While it can be uncomfortable to spend time with those painful realities taking up space in your mind, there is much to learn from them and your strength will only increase from confronting them. Connecting authentically with your emotions and processing them are keystones in recovery. Learning new methods to dispel old tendencies can be difficult or even painful, but learning is growing.
Connecting to your thoughts and emotions, making space for them, and having the opportunity to be honest with yourself are priceless tools toward healing. Journaling offers you a record of this growth and accountability that may be otherwise easy to discount or overlook. Whether you are setting goals, spending time with your gratitude or just spilling your heart on the page, that record will illustrate the strides you make.
What Should You Write?
Anything. There’s no wrong answer here, because this is yours and yours alone. But if the infinite possibility of emotional exploration feels a little (a lot) overwhelming, here are some topics to get you started:
Dear future me,
Write a letter to someone you love.
Make a “yes” list and a “no” list.
How are you really? (and don’t filter it)
Recall a memory that made you feel powerful and write in detail.
There are healing prompts or explore something more imaginative. If none of these strike your fancy- feel free to just write. Writing when you aren’t bound by structure, sense or concept can be freeing. Stream of consciousness journaling may surprise even you.
There’s No Wrong Way to Journal
It truly is that simple and that profound. Just like your recovery, this healing experience through your emotional mind is all yours. It is bespoke. Created for you, by you, and you can’t get it wrong. You cannot fail. But you can grow. Your words can change your world, and there is no limit on the change you can be in the world.
With the therapeutic benefit of healing in mind, body, and soul, you can move through the process of recovery feeling capable. Journaling can lead the charge for change and healing. But both start from within and do not require profound skills or tools to begin. Put pen to paper or letter to screen. Put thought to word and just write.
For months, people have been enduring an onslaught of news coverage surrounding the election, as well as many strong differing viewpoints. It can be exhausting to take in all this information and fight for your voice to be heard. Likely, people reading this share a heavy sigh that the election and the holidays must be so close together.
Some get-togethers have family members split down the middle with differing hopes for the election result, leading to potentially awkward or downright confrontational moments. Being mindful of your needs and approaching this time is essential for your wellness and perhaps your relationships.
Feeling Divided
The atmosphere between pre-and post-election has felt tense and almost irreparable. However, remaining in the relationships we care dearly about is essential, as is not walking around with an “elephant in the room” for the entirety of the holidays. If you would like to hold some dialogue with your friends and family about your view, consider these tips for difficult conversations throughout the holidays.
Know Your Goal
Before entering any political conversation, identify what you are hoping to gain or learn from the exchange. When talking to someone with a different viewpoint, know that it is doubtful you will change their mind with one conversation. Maybe you seek to be understood or to understand them better, or you may enjoy a respectful debate.
If your goal is to “win” the argument or prove that you are right, it is likely that the conversation elements will be very triggering to you and will not ultimately help you feel more connected to others. Proceed cautiously, both with yours and others’ intentions for the conversation in mind. Consider abstaining from discussions with others that you know will not stay respectful and divide you further.
Be Self-Aware
Remember that you are not in control of what someone else says, but how you react to them. Notice your tone, volume, body posture, and how you are feeling internally. Our nonverbal communication makes up a considerable portion of how others perceive your message, so check in to make sure it lines up with what you are trying to communicate.
Also, make sure to check in with your physical body. If you feel your heart rate rising or muscles clenching, that could be a sign to take a step back to cool off. Stay present with yourself and excuse yourself from the conversation if or when it gets to be too much. You might want to try some grounding techniques before excusing yourself from the conversation entirely.
Avoid Tactics That Build Defensiveness
Be careful about labeling, using sarcasm, name-calling, or dismissing someone. When a person feels attacked, their defense mechanisms will likely flare up, and having a genuine conversation will be almost impossible. These types of interactions also do not feel good on either side.
A good rule of thumb for conversations where you disagree is to try to understand the very best parts of their viewpoint, rather than taking demeaning shots at policies that they may not even agree with. Remember that you are talking to a person, not taking down a political party.
It is not helpful to the conversation when you regurgitate the talking points fed to you by media sources on either side. The person in front of you likely has a more detailed understanding of their political beliefs that is not helpful when you paint them into a corner based on party lines.
Listen Actively
Instead of crafting your perfect argument in your head when the other person speaks, take the time to listen and make sure you are understanding the point that they are trying to make. Please do not make the mistake of thinking that you already know what they are going to say. You are still free to disagree after, but this helps slow down the conversation and makes it less about people shouting facts or talking points at one another.
The golden rule of communication applies here, too: you need to listen before you speak. Before you move into trying to disprove their points, if you can stay curious about why they believe what they do, this helps set the conversation up for success and avoids creating defensiveness that comes from feeling misunderstood on either side.
Consider Your Limits
You may have found yourself in a conversation that feels out of hand, whether you started it or maybe discovered your way into it by mistake. Know when to end a conversation to keep yourself and your emotional health safe. See the boundaries section below for ways to help with this.
Notice the Triggers
The holidays often can be a significant trigger to drink. For one, there is usually easily accessible wine, beer, or other alcohol at gatherings. Often, drinking is normalized because we celebrate the season or the end of the year (especially this one). This time of year, there is also excellent potential for others to offer drinks unknowingly or knowingly to people working towards recovery.
In 2020, although in-person gatherings are much smaller, the temptation to drink is still very present. This is also a time when people tend to regress to a more childlike dynamic with their family. Some coping mechanisms from childhood could be to dissociate, take risks, or become combative. All of these can bring down the inhibitions and raise the temptation to drink or use drugs.
With the added factor of family members sharing views that are often emotionally triggering, this can create the perfect storm for relapse. Going into events with this in mind can help to prevent slip-ups and keep you on track towards your goals. Consider if being around or speaking to a specific person is a good idea for you and set boundaries where needed.
Suppose you will be in a potentially triggering situation; set up sober support to call at a particular time to check-in. Also, practicing saying “no” could help people who may offer you drinks. It can also be useful to have a non-alcoholic drink in hand to avoid these conversations. Taking care of yourself and working on recovery skills before these interactions can also make a huge difference!
Plan Your Boundaries
Depending on your household, you could be going into a very challenging holiday season this election year. Consider whether you do not want politics to be brought up at all and whether this is a boundary your family would respect. Having this conversation before the event could help lessen potential unwanted conflict. You may talk about this by saying something like:
“While we’re together, I want to focus on all the things we have in common rather than to get stuck in the places where we disagree.”
“I think it might be best if we save political conversations for behind closed doors, as I know this is an area of potential conflict for us as a family.”
This may not be a possibility depending on your family. Consider these boundary options to ensure that you care for yourself in the holidays instead of disappearing inside yourself or saying things you might regret. Use this boundary checklist as a guide.
1. Find a Teammate
Is there someone at the gathering or on-call which your values align with? Talk to this person to see if you can make a game plan. If you are stuck in an uncomfortable conversation with Uncle Bob, can they pull you away? They could touch your shoulder if they see you getting elevated. Discuss ways you could support each other over the holidays.
2. Consider Who You are Talking To
Some people are in a place to have difficult conversations, and others may start in attack mode. Watch out for people who may be trying to bait you into an argument with a mean or outlandish statement. If the person you are talking to is not receptive or is lost in their opinion, think of ways to shut it down instead of engaging.
3. Create a Phrase
Practice a statement to say to end conversations for situations when you do not want to discuss politics or would like to stop a conversation you are in. Creating a blanket statement that you have said before can help when you feel overwhelmed to get out quickly. If the other person continues the conversation, it is okay to be a broken record. Your phrase might be something like, “I’m not sure this conversation is helpful to our relationship,” or anything that conveys a similar message in a respectful but firm way.
4. Have an Escape Plan
Potentially there could be statements said that are very much against your values. In some situations, you may even feel attacked despite your best efforts. If you have tried to set boundaries and continue to be crossed, have a plan to leave, take a break, or be in a private room.
If you need support with the emotional toll of the holidays this season, Villa Kali Ma is here to help. Reach out today to talk about how we can support you or your loved ones during the holidays and beyond.
“As for the future, it remains unwritten. Anything can happen, and often we are wrong. The best we can do with the future is prepare and savor the possibilities of what can be done in the present.”
– Todd Kashdan
We feel it all around us. Anxiety. Fear. Even panic. It is in the air and on the faces of those we come into contact with when we are brave enough to leave the house. Whether we’re requisitioning supplies or on our way to do essential life-saving or economy-boosting work, it’s impossible not to notice the radical changes all around us. Our ‘normal’ life seems like a distant memory and we worry that it’s slipping away from us.
Considering this virus is spread from human to human, it’s almost impossible not to look around and see others as “the problem”. We review their actions from a distance. From one side: “Look at how they’re overreacting!” And from the other: “They’re not taking this seriously!” or “They’re not being careful enough!” And the exasperated cry from both: “See how they’re making this worse?!?”
We spread criticism, place judgment, and feel the mistrust quickly rising to the surface.
In many ways, our reaction to the world around us and those inhabiting it is reminiscent of the fears so commonly associated with trauma. When we believe, even for what seems like good reasons, that the world is a dangerous place, that others cannot be trusted, that the only way to stay safe is to isolate, we are setting a dangerous precedent for the long-term.
Although these beliefs, and the subsequent actions, are protective for us at this moment in time, we wonder about the future: “how will life change because of this?”, “will things ever go back to ‘normal’?”, or “can I trust others to ‘do the right thing’?”
Getting Lost in the “What if’s?”
In addition to the fears rooted in our perception of other people during this time, we must also contend with our fears about the future. For many of us, we have a constantly running doomsday news-ticker in our minds, either from the news channel we refuse to turn off or from the headspace that we now devote to harboring our “Coronavirus Filter”.
Despite the knowledge that it’s not healthy for us, we continue contemplating each aspect of our lives in the light of the current pandemic. We wonder about future plans, about the impact of this shutdown on the economy, about birthdays spent in isolation, about the next time we’ll be able to see our family.
However, when we stop to think about it, our fears about what might happen, and our endless spinning trying to adjust and make plans before we have all the needed information has actually done nothing to change the challenge we’re facing. But before we know it, we’ve lost days and weeks wondering about a future scenario that will play out in ways that are out of our control and that we cannot accurately predict.
Our Intentions are Powerful
During this time, we must remember the Law of Attraction. In light of the fear and anxiety many are experiencing, this is a very powerful notion: by giving into anxious thoughts and behaviors, we are attracting more of exactly what we don’t want.
Each day we make choices about how we spend our time, what messages we allow in, and how much free rein we give our minds to roam. Each of these choices and the energy we devote to it announce our intentions to the Universe about what we desire. Ever the benevolent mother, she grants our request, allowing us to shape our future.
“Each intention — anger, greed, compassion, understanding — sets energy into motion… What you intend is what you become…Power is energy that is formed by the intentions of the soul. It is Light shaped by the intentions of love and compassion guided by wisdom. It is energy that is focused and directed toward the fulfillment of the tasks of the soul upon the Earth.”
– Gary Zukav – The Seat of the Soul
When we find ourselves off course, whether due to the pandemic or due to deep-seated resentment or long-standing anxiety, only by learning to tap into an awareness of self can we change direction.
This process involves first recognizing the plot of land we’ve been cultivating and then weeding away that which is blocking access to light and making space for the virtues growing beneath. The weeds might show up as obsessively watching fear-mongering news programs, daily online searches for confirmation that the virus is still spreading, or that people are still not taking it seriously. Maybe even the conversation that you had with your best friend last night where you thought you were just “venting” but in actuality, it was more of a deep dive into fear, anger, and resentment. What seeds are we planting here?
When the soil and conditions favor the growth of the rapidly multiplying weeds of negative thoughts rather than the compassion, empathy, and sense of peace we intended to grow, it’s no time to give up. Rather, we press on, with more diligence. The weeds will still sprout, but our task is to notice them and heed their warning that we need to bring in more light energy or to cultivate a deeper connection to our faith in divine creation.
Creating a garden to be proud of begins with awareness, and moves into acceptance of the conditions of growth, and requires us to be clear about setting intentions for what we seek to cultivate.
What Can We Hope For Our World?
Extending this metaphor, we can consider the community garden that our plot of land belongs to.
We are all facing the same conditions of growth, although it may appear to rain harder on some than on others. For those of us with a free hand, we may want to consider helping to construct a shelter for those who need it most.
While so many are sowing fear, we can look to others who are sowing love as an example of how we would like to grow our gardens. We can take our cues from those who have learned skills and crafted tools meant to keep their garden growing, even in the midst of adversity.
We can partake in the collective understanding that this is a difficult season, that there have been many losses, and that there is uncertainty about the crop we’ll harvest on the other side. However, things can get better. There is possibility. Out of every crisis there is opportunity. What do we want to manifest?
Despite the vastness of the unknown, we can look for the unexpected moments of hope and serenity now. We can take this time to redesign our garden and cultivate our plot with more Self-directed purpose and meaning.
In place of blind consumerism and competition, can we imagine a better picture of life as a human?
Instead of endlessly running in the rat race, can we take this time to connect with our deeper selves and re-examine how we are spending the little time we have here in this life?
Instead of the usual isolation and Netflix binge, can we find ways to appreciate the value of community and human connection and bring more of it into our lives?
In place of our usual self-indulgence and instant gratification, can we donate our time or extra money to help some of our fellow humans who are less fortunate?
Without the busyness and excuses of the past, can we take time to reach out to a friend who is struggling and offer our help?
In place of our daily or sometimes hourly contemplation of “what do I want?”, can we ask ourselves some new questions like: “How can I serve? What can I give? What is really important in life? What issues do I care deeply about and how can I make a difference?”
Ultimately, where there was once darkness and ignorance, we can shine a light to better prepare for the future ahead.
Steps can be taken to make sure that our plot takes on the characteristics of the world we’d like to see created. Again, what are we sowing? Are we engaging in the weeding process? At the core of these questions is this: How are we contributing to the collective positivity?
The Happiness Formula is Broken
Positive psychology expert Shawn Achor reminds us that so often we live our lives in pursuit of happiness but with a broken formula; in our belief that hard work leads to success, and success leads to happiness.
In his humorous and inspiring TED Talk, he describes the fault in this logic. Rather than reaching our goals and allowing the wave of happiness to wash over us, we instead adjust our definition of “success”, and in doing so, subscribe to a pattern where happiness is ever over the horizon. In this line of thinking, happiness is unattainable because there is always more to get, more to see, more to do, more to accomplish.
However, as he describes, if we can reverse the formula and learn to embrace our happiness now, there is a whole host of positive benefits that will arise, including more productivity, less burnout, and more fulfillment.
Although his research has focused on the workplace, in our current economic and social climate, it is important to remember these truths, and the fundamental concept that “90% of your long-term happiness is predicted not by your external world, but by the way your brain processes the world”.
How to Practice Positive Psychology
Through simple, small acts, we have the potential to infuse our lives with happiness now, using the very skills that Achor is sharing with businesses, schools, and entire communities.
Evolving Gratitudes
By writing 3 new things to be thankful for each day, and doing so for a period of 21 days, studies have shown that we are able to re-train our brain to scan the world for the positive, rather than our natural state of focusing on the negative.
Journaling Experiences
In taking the time to write about one positive experience we have each day, we are also training our brain to revel in positivity, to pause and reflect on what’s going right.
Exercise
As we are now well aware, our bodies and minds are so clearly linked. Not only does physical exercise trigger the release of dopamine, it also creates a sense of mental fortitude when we remember our strength and our ability to overcome challenges.
Meditation
As Achor puts it, meditation is helpful in that it allows us to “get over our cultural ADHD” as we are able to focus on one thing at a time, and practice being still in present moment awareness. With practice, we gain the first-hand experience of the power of our will, and our ability to overcome the fears, doubts, desires, and attachments of the mind. We develop a powerful ability to stay happy even through adversity and say to ourselves “this too shall pass”, and rest peacefully in the knowledge that it is so.
Intentional Acts of Kindness
The science of positive psychology shows that by doing kind things for others we are actively shaping our environment to be one of appreciation and support. In the same way as when we’re scanning our world for things to be grateful for, in looking for opportunities to employ our unique gifts or skill set for the benefit of others, we are re-training our brain to see ourselves as capable, competent, and as an agent of positive change.
Each of these small acts, when put together and practiced over a 21 day period of time, are key elements in actually changing the way that our brains, and thus “we”, perceive our world. Again, the choice is ours, whether we want to practice the skills that are known to widen our perspective, or whether we wish to continue feeding into negativity and fear.
In so many ways, the advice here comes down to a simple truth: we become what we choose to think. And don’t be mistaken, the choice is ours.
This juice recipe is a gift from Kali, the Warrior Goddess of Radical Transformation.
Accept this powerful gift and you will radically transform your health!
Juicing is a fabulous tool for detoxing the body, healing inflammation, and reversing years of abuse from the barrage of toxins that our systems are bombarded with on a daily basis. I personally spent three decades putting all kinds of toxins in my body and, by the time I checked into rehab, my body was breaking down and I was living with daily chronic pain and inflammation.
After being introduced to the Goddess Kali Ma while on a spiritual seeking journey in Bali shortly after rehab, I began to radically transform my life. I embarked on a journey to heal my body and my life using holistic methods. I believed that healing was possible even though conventional medicine doctors had told me it wasn’t.
I have tried many different green juices, from juice bars, health food stores, and from recipes I have found throughout the years, but this one is my all-time favorite by far! It’s delicious and packed with tons of nutrients and enzymes and has amazing healing effects on all the systems of the body.
I was gifted the idea for this juice one day on a shopping trip to the local Jimbo’s Natural Foods Market. I was chatting with the guy in the produce department about juicing and he suggested that I try jalapeño in my green juice. I immediately thought “no way”, I have never been a big fan of jalapeño and to put it in my green juice sounded weird. However, he went on about the health benefits of jalapeño and how good the spicy & sweet tastes are together, so the idea grew on me. I went home and created this recipe and it has been a staple at Villa Kali Ma ever since.
I personally consumed this juice 3 times a day for the better part of a year, along with a diet free of pesticides, artificial ingredients, food additives, and colorings, etc. Basically, a whole food plant-based diet. Within the first 3 months, all of my body pain had completely disappeared. I have now been completely pain-free for 8 years, after living with chronic pain, sciatica, restless leg syndrome, and degenerative disc disease for at least 6 years prior.
If you have pain and inflammation or any health issues for that matter, give it a try! Commit to drinking a 6 oz glass 3 times a day and cut down on all inflammatory foods then watch yourself be radically transformed! You won’t get the results if you continue eating foods that are full of toxins or that cause inflammation. You have to be disciplined. However, it’s worth it!!!!
Supply List
A Masticating Juicer (Cold Press) – This is a slow juicer that presses the juice out of the pulp. I use a Hurom but mine is old. They run around $350 but last for years with lots of use. There are a lot of good ones on the market now. For a good one, you will spend between $150-$350
A Mesh Strainer – For straining out the pulp that makes it through the juicer
12 Small glass Jars with Lids – Order online. Get jars that are single-serving size. You will want to store your juice in individual servings to keep air from getting into the container causing oxidation and degradation of the juice. I go with 4 oz or 6 oz jars because I can’t always finish 8 oz of juice at once and you don’t want any leftover because it will oxidize and lose nutrients and enzymes.
A Cutting Board, a knife, a large Spoon, 3 large bowls, and two 32 oz glass pitchers.
Our beautiful gardens right here at Villa Kali Ma where we source many of our ingredients!
4-6 Apples (depending on how sweet you want your juice)
3 Grapefruits
2 Lemons
1-2 Thumb-Size Pieces of Fresh Ginger (depending on how spicy you like it)
2 Thumb-Size Pieces of Fresh Turmeric
1 Jalapeño
One bunch of each of the following Greens:
Romaine
Dino Kale
Green Chard
Collard Greens
Dandelion Greens
Cilantro
Flat Leaf Parsley
Celery
Bok Choy (or 3 Bunches of Baby Bok Choy)
Preparation:
Use 1-2 large bowls for the Greens and 1 large bowl for the rest of the ingredients
Fill a sink with Cold Water to wash all of the Fruits and Vegetables. Start by cutting the base off of the Celery, Romaine and Bok Choy, separate the pieces and wash, then place in one of the large bowls.
Cut the long stems off of the bunches of Cilantro, Dandelion, and Parsley (I cut it right at the twist tie) so you are removing most of the stems that don’t have much foliage.
Cut the stems off of the Chard just under where the leaf starts. Do the same to the Collards.
Then wash all of the rest of the Greens and place them in the bowl. You will have to wedge them into the bowl as shown in the photo. Put the Celery in the back because you will use this last.
Now wash the rest of the ingredients, removing any stickers. I use a vegetable wash that I buy at the natural foods market to clean off the waxy coating that is sometimes present on Apples and Cucumbers.
Once everything is washed, the greens are ready to go but you will still need to prepare the Fruits, Veggies, and Roots. All of these will go in a separate bowl from the Greens.
Cut Cucumbers in half and then cut each half in half again lengthwise.
Cut the Apples into wedges and cut off the core, make sure no seeds are present as they are toxic.
Cut the navel and stem off of the Grapefruits and then cut them in half parallel to the end cuts, now take each piece cut side down on the cutting board and use the knife to cut off the peel. Then cut each piece into 3 or 4 wedges. Do the same to the Lemons.
For the Turmeric and Ginger, if you bought it organic there is no need to peel it. Just slice the pieces lengthwise into 1/8-inch slices and place in the bowl.
The Jalapeño will need to be seeded unless you want it extra spicy. To remove the seeds, put on a latex glove, or use a paper towel to hold the Jalapeño while you cut it. If you get the Jalapeño juice under your nails or between your fingers it will burn for hours (I found out the hard way!). Cut off the stem and cut the Jalapeño in half lengthwise, then cut the halves in half lengthwise again so you have 4 wedges. Then use your knife to remove the seeds, reserving as much of the pith as possible as this is where the most Capsaicin is located. Capsaicin is a known pain reliever and works to relieve body aches and pain of the muscles and joints due to arthritis, backache, and other strained muscle issues. Capsaicin is also believed to fight cancer, viruses, and neuropathy.
Now it’s time to Juice!
Set up your Juicer with your 2 bowls of Greens and your bowl of Fruits and Veggies next to it. Turn on your juicer and begin by putting a wedge of Lemon and a Cucumber through it. Then add a few handfuls of your Greens, then some Ginger, then a couple of pieces of Fruit, then more greens, then a piece of Jalapeño, Cucumber and Fruit and a few more handfuls of greens, and keep alternating this way making sure you don’t run out of Fruits and Veggies before all of your greens are juiced.
Alternating the Greens with the other ingredients should keep your juicer from getting clogged. Save your Celery for last. This will sometimes clog your juicer, and you don’t want to have to keep stopping and clearing the clog so just juice all of the Celery at the end.
Several times during your process your juice container will become full. Stop the juicer and reach for your strainer, spoon, and pitcher. Using the strainer over the pitcher, pour the juice through it. Now you will have a bunch of pulp in the strainer. Use the large spoon to press all of the juice out of the remaining pulp into the pitcher. Then rinse your strainer to prepare it for the next time your juice container is full. Repeat this process until all of your ingredients are juiced.
Now you will have two pitchers of juice, but the ingredients will not be evenly distributed. The next step is to mix the two together, so you will need to either pour the juice back and forth between the two pitchers (if there is room) or you can use one of the big bowls to pour half of the juice from each of the pitchers into the bowl and then pour the remaining juice in the pitchers back and forth to blend them and stir the juice in the bowl and return it to the pitchers.
Once your juice is well blended, pour it from the pitchers into the glass jars and fill them all the way to the rim. You do not want room for air in your bottles because air will cause oxidation and reduce the healing properties of the juice. Now place the lids tightly onto the jars and store them in the refrigerator.
Congratulations! You have done it! Now you should have enough juice for 3 days, which is the maximum time the juice will retain its potency. Make sure to finish all of the juice by the end of the third day. Then go shopping again and repeat the process. It is a lot of work, but your health is worth it! Being pain-free is such a blessing and you will receive the blessing if you commit to the process and stay disciplined.
Once you have healed, you don’t have to do the daily juicing, you will just need to maintain a healthy, mostly anti-inflammatory diet and the problems won’t come back. I am definitely not anywhere near perfect at maintaining an anti-inflammatory diet. I love french fries, baked goods, pizza, pasta, and pancakes, but I don’t over-indulge. I make sure all of it is organic, plant-based, and mostly gluten-free. I offset any inflammatory foods by drinking some good anti-inflammatory juice a couple of hours later to reduce any inflammation I may have caused.
I used to be a junk food junkie, but the price I paid was waking up every morning feeling like I had been run over by a truck. Throughout every day I struggled just to get out of a chair, and I felt like I was living in a 90-year-old body when I was only 48! Now I am 56 and feel like I am living in a much younger body. If you have daily body aches and pains or are suffering from any chronic health conditions, I urge you to try the Healing Elixir of the Goddess!
“Trauma is perhaps the most avoided, ignored, belittled, denied, misunderstood, and untreated cause of human suffering.” -Peter Levine
We keep hearing this word, “Trauma”. Over and over again we are reminded of its prevalence in our culture. We have a vague sense of understanding that Trauma or Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) refers to veterans, or to victims of assault, or childhood abuse. We may even understand the idea that growing up in a chaotic household with chronic stress and a constant sense of feeling unsafe is a traumatic experience that affects our lives into adulthood.
We can read statistics about the prevalence of PTSD in our nation, and impress upon the fact that an estimated 70% of U.S. adults have experienced at least one traumatic event in their lives, the majority of whom before their 18th birthday. We may even find it important to note that there is a well-documented link between trauma experienced at a young age and the later development of a substance use disorder. This explains, of course, the widespread heartache our communities face on a daily basis and one common route individuals take in order to try to cope, however, this does little to describe the day-to-day felt experience of someone living with trauma.
Living with Trauma
To continue to suffer from trauma is to continue to be stuck in the past, whether physically, through inflammation in the body and the resulting health problems; behaviorally, with disturbances to regular eating and sleeping patterns or observable avoidance; mentally, via intrusive thoughts, flashbacks or nightmares, and a sense of hypervigilance that keeps us on edge and poised to react to even minor threats. Emotionally, we may find ourselves in the spectrum of emotional dysregulation, with the competing feelings of helplessness, anger, guilt, sadness, or anxiety; or we may find ourselves disoriented and numb.
We understand that trauma affects us across all areas of our lives, and although we may try to categorize and dissect it, it is clear that there is no one global picture of what it’s like to suffer a traumatic event. There is no particular roadmap to becoming reacquainted with the fragmented pieces of your soul.
There are however some predictable lies that the voice of trauma may try to convince you about yourself, the world, and your future within it. Not surprisingly, we may pick up beliefs about the world as a dangerous place, and those who inhabit it as untrustworthy. In a similar way, we may learn that our judgment or our intuition is also not to be trusted, and we build up ideas about ourselves as powerless, incompetent, or damaged. Here, hopelessness sets in, and we wonder how we’ll ever get back to ‘normal’.
The earlier we experience trauma, the less developed is our sense of self and ability to regulate our emotions. This combination often leads to some particularly destructive patterns of coping, whether avoidance, aggression, or escape behaviors. It’s not hard to see how in each aim, using substances appears to serve the primary function of avoiding pain, and hiding our truth at all costs. This, of course, is an illusion.
How We Do Things Differently
At Villa Kali Ma we understand that substance abuse treatment isn’t just about learning how to live without drugs and alcohol, it is also about healing the wounded parts of you that led you to use and abuse substances in the first place.
How rare it is, however, for someone to arrive at treatment ready to do this work. After years of practicing these patterns and fueling these beliefs, it is not an easy adjustment to make, to go against all that has seemingly protected you in the past. Learning to embrace vulnerability is a laughable request to those who’ve built their identities around having an ‘unshakable’ exterior, who have perhaps never felt safe in their entire lives. It is for them that we have shaped with intention the treatment environment at Villa Kali Ma.
When considering the specific experiences of women who have become addicted to alcohol or other drugs, it’s important to acknowledge that they come from a background of not only chronic childhood trauma or acute trauma but most have had sexually traumatic experiences as well. Studies have shown that nearly 80 percent of the women seeking treatment for substance use disorder have a history of sexual assault, physical assault or both. Unsurprisingly, many women turn to substances to cope or block out these memories, or to deal with the resulting blow to their self-worth and self-esteem.
Women’s sexual trauma needs to be addressed in ways that are not re-traumatizing for them. Telling their story to a male therapist or in a group that includes men can create an experience of intense and unbearable vulnerability, shame, humiliation and even panic. To participate in individual therapy alone can feel uncomfortable, and even threatening. Having to access those internal pieces of herself that contain the horrors of what she went through and bring them to the surface for examination is overwhelming. Doing so in presence of mixed company is inconceivable for most women. Many just won’t go there. Therefore, the dark underlying secret that is the catalyst for the substance abuse can remain buried throughout the treatment episode, out of a need to protect herself from feeling further violated.
Healing Women’s trauma requires an intimate environment where women feel supported, seen, and genuinely cared for. In a Women Only treatment setting with 5 licensed therapists and an all-female staff, we create the ideal environment for doing the intense work of trauma recovery. This type of setting, with a focus on only 6 clients at a time, creates the necessary sense of safety that cannot be created in a large facility in the presence of the opposite sex. Working alongside one another in a comfortable home-like environment, with women inspiring women, we have crafted the safe haven that is Villa Kali Ma.
We are tireless in our pursuit of making our program a safe container for those who come to us for treatment. In this same way, we acknowledge the presence of trauma in all parts of ourselves: mind, body and spirit. From day one, we provide therapy from a trauma-informed perspective, using all of the tools at our disposal: EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), Somatic processing, Breathwork, Shamanic Healing, CranioSacral Therapy, Reiki, Trauma Informed Yoga Therapy, Mindfulness and Meditation practices that each allow us to remain rooted within our bodies, as well as connect spiritually with our own divine nature and innate ability to heal and transform our lives.
By working through trauma and finding healing, the women completing treatment at Villa Kali Ma are better equipped to gain control over their substance use and fully embody the resiliency and empowerment that comes with bringing light into the darkest areas of their past. Reach out and get connected with us today!
with an EASY and gentle Cleanse that does not require suffering through cravings and hunger pangs!
Now is the perfect time to begin to shift out of the damp heaviness and stagnation of winter and do some Spring Cleaning! Personally, I hate most cleanses. I just don’t enjoy the process and it sometimes makes me feel so much worse than I did before I started. Headaches, body aches and pains, exhaustion, starvation, etc.
However, I began studying and practicing Ayurveda several years ago and was introduced to the Kitchari cleanse. This is a gentle and effective mono-diet that removes the toxic build up in the intestinal lining, improves digestion, optimizes absorption of nutrients and improves the health and functioning of the whole body.
Weak Digestion = Weak Immune System
Our bodies are amazingly intelligent, and they know how to heal themselves. However, we are constantly bombarding them with toxins day after day, year after year and this can cause our self-healing mechanisms to begin to break down. Most cleanses suggest a lot of raw greens because of the high nutrient and enzyme content. Unfortunately, I know from my own experience that this can cause bloating, gas, headaches, nausea and other side effects. Although raw food may contain many important nutrients, your body can have a hard time assimilating them if your digestive system is slow and weak or filled with toxic buildup. Having a healthy digestive system is the key to properly absorbing nutrients and eliminating toxins.
Ayurveda is an ancient system of medicine that has been practiced for thousands of years and Kitchari is an ayurvedic prescription for removing toxins and improving digestion. In Ayurvedic philosophy, immunity is achieved through building Ojas which is described as “the glow of radiant health”. The unfortunate fact is, most of us live a lifestyle that depletes our Ojas. We are overworking, under sleeping, not getting enough exercise and eating unhealthy nutrient deficient junk food. We are rushing, stressing, worrying, arguing, and multi-tasking ourselves into anxiety and exhaustion. The result is depleted Ojas and a weakened immune system.
Kitchari is an Anti-Inflammatory Gut Healer
Kitchari is an easy to prepare dish made of rice, mung beans and spices that are packed with health benefits. Mung beans are known to remove toxins, pesticides and other chemicals from the body and help to purify the blood. They are a good source of protein and fiber and provide high levels of essential micronutrients to nourish the body.
The rice combined with the mung beans creates a complete protein dish that provides all the essential amino acids the body needs in an easy to digest form. The spices in this dish have an impressive list of healing benefits and will improve the digestive fire (agni in Ayurveda) and stimulate the metabolism. Strong Agni is key for proper digestion, assimilation and elimination and these processes are the most important factors for health and immunity.
Spice Up Your Life for Radiant Health (Ojas)
The ingredients in Kitchari provide nourishment to all the tissues of the body and provide a boost in strength and vitality to the whole system. The blend of spices used in Kitchari are chosen not only for how they taste, but for the qualities, properties, and action they have on the Doshas (imbalances) in the body. The purpose of this cleanse is to eliminate toxins, reduce inflammation and heal the digestive system, thereby boosting the immune system and creating a powerful increase in Ojas (Radiant Health). Once you understand and experience the healing properties of these spices you can use them as often as needed to bring your system back into balance.
Ayurveda uses combinations of herbs and spices as medicine to heal all sorts of ailments in our bodies.
Here are some of the medicinal properties of the ingredients in Kitchari:
Organic Coriander Seeds
Improves digestion
Relieves gas
Helps with urinary or digestive disorders
Increases Agni (digestive fire)
Improves absorption of nutrients in the digestive tract
Calms muscle spasms
Reduces inflammation—even shown to help with rheumatoid arthritis
Organic Cumin Seeds
Stimulates agni (digestive fire)
Decreases gas
Helps with indigestion
Flushes out toxins
Relieves congestion
Contains antioxidants and iron
Soothes inflamed mucous membranes
Improves elimination
Organic Fennel Seeds
Strengthens the digestive fire
Stops cramping
Increases mental alertness
Relaxes the digestive tract
Increases the burning of fat
Aids in moving lymph
Helps regulate blood pressure
Reduce water retention
Reduces constipation, indigestion, IBS and bloating
Reduces asthma symptoms
Helps purify blood
Preventative against cancer of the skin, stomach and breasts
Improves eyesight
Great for acne
Organic Cardamom Powder
Rich in antioxidants for anti-aging benefits
Boosts immune system
Supports respiratory health
Reduces cold and cough symptoms
Stimulates the secretion of digestive enzymes
Has antimicrobial and antibacterial properties
Fights streptococcus, candida that cause gastrointestinal infections
Supports kidney and bladder Health
Supports healthy blood glucose levels
Promotes healthy metabolism
Support healthy cholesterol and triglyceride levels
Organic Turmeric Root
Reduces arthritis symptoms
Boosts immune function
Helps support cardiovascular health
Helps prevent and treat cancer
Helps manage irritable bowel syndrome or IBS
Prevents and treats Alzheimer’s and other brain diseases
Builds Immunity
Reduces Body Pains
Boosts Skin Health
Aids Weight Loss and Digestion
Good for Liver Health
Antioxidant
Anti-Inflammatory
Organic Ginger Root
Reduces pain and discomfort in joints
Helps with nausea
Relieves Gas
Facilitates elimination of wastes
Clears the microcirculatory channels of the body
Facilitates better absorption of nutrients
Stimulates digestive fire to improve digestion
Helps clear mucus
Soothes nerves
Improves circulation
Organic Coconut – Raw Unsweetened Flakes
Helps boost metabolism
Aids in fat elimination
Aids in detoxification of the body
Balances and soothes the digestive tract
Improves digestion and absorption of nutrients, vitamins, and minerals
Aids in the removal of free radicals that cause premature aging
Restores oxidative tissue damage
Supports immune system health
Acts as an anti-viral, antibacterial, anti-fungal and anti-parasitic agent
Good source of healthy medium-chain fatty acids
Improves insulin secretion and symptoms associated with diabetes
Reduces the risk of heart disease and improves good cholesterol (HDL)
Organic Bay Leaf
Anti-Cancer properties
Protects against oxidative stress
Protects against bacterial infections
Helps alleviate flu symptoms and reduce fever
Slows the aging process
Speeds wound healing
Optimizes the digestive process, stimulates digestive juices, reduces gas
Reduces inflammation
Alleviates respiratory issues
Helps manage diabetes
Helps remove toxins from the body
May reduce celiac symptoms
Organic Cinnamon Sticks
Helps alleviate cough and phlegm
Prevents growth of acne causing bacteria
Good for skin and complexion, relieves dry skin
Enhances blood circulation
Promotes hair growth and strengthens hair roots
Reduces triglycerides
Balances blood sugar
Lowers LDL cholesterol
Reduces symptoms in type 2 diabetes
Dramatically improves digestion and absorption
Acts as an anti-bacterial agent that heals infections in the GI tract
Relieves sinus headaches
Mineral Salts
Helps eliminate waste from the body
Aids in the proper function of the digestive system
Boosts the digestive fire
Relieves pain in the colon
Soma Salt Reduces inflammation
Himalayan Pink Salt good for all constitutions
Sea Salt is heating and increases digestive fire, improves circulation
Organic Lemon Juice
Provides the sour taste
Stimulates Agni (digestive fire)
Helps relieve Gastritis pain
Relieves Cough
Helps with indigestion
Relieves thirst
The Miracle of Self-Healing Begins Now!
In preparation for the cleanse, I recommend minimizing or removing some things from your diet for at least 1 to 3 days before your cleanse. I usually start to taper off on a Monday and then begin my cleanse by Friday. The great thing about this cleanse is that it’s an easy reset and will conquer any cravings you are currently struggling with. If you’ve been craving sugar after every meal or craving too much caffeine, this will give you a clean slate and inspire you to eat healthier and get more exercise.
Begin limiting the following:
Alcohol
Caffeine
Meat
Dairy
Refined sugar, and foods that contain corn syrup and other processed sweeteners
Flour products such as cookies, pastry, cakes, doughnuts
Canned and Highly processed foods
Cold and Raw foods such as raw veggies, salads
Cold cereal, granola
Frozen smoothies (fresh smoothies and juices without ice are fine)
Fried Food
Candy and Chocolate
Eat whole fresh organic foods, mostly cooked from scratch, avoid cold leftovers from the refrigerator. Eat easy to digest foods such as veggie soups, fresh steamed veggies like broccoli cauliflower carrots zucchini. Roast veggies such as brussels sprouts, asparagus, sweet potato or butternut squash. Use cooked grains like quinoa, barley, farro, millet or rice. Eat lots of fresh whole fruits and berries. You can make baked apples or pears with cinnamon, nutmeg and ginger and sweeten with maple syrup or honey for a delicious desert.
Eat with the Cycles of the Day
Each day of your cleanse you can prepare some fresh oatmeal for breakfast and then make a batch of Kitchari which you will eat for both lunch and dinner. You can make enough for 3 days and keep it in the refrigerator if that’s easier for you, however I prefer to make a fresh batch daily. Your lunch should be your biggest meal of the day and have your dinner no later than 6 pm. This is an Ayurvedic Dinacharya (daily routine) practice of eating with the cycles of the day. Lunch is the time of day when the Sun (fire) is highest in the sky and this is believed to be the time that your digestive fire is the highest, enabling you to digest a larger amount of food more efficiently. Try not to eat anything after 6pm, your digestive fire weakens after this time. Ideally you would have breakfast at 7 am, lunch at noon and dinner at 5 pm.
Take a teaspoon of Tahini and 6 Golden Raisins before each meal and in between meals to stimulate the digestive process and lubricate the digestive tract. This will help eliminate the fat-soluble toxins as well as excess cholesterol in the body. Tahini is high in alkaline and high in minerals which will help strengthen the immune system. Tahini has more protein than milk and is loaded with B vitamins and Vitamin E, which will help with brain function and energy during the cleanse. Tahini is also an excellent source of calcium. Golden Raisins are also high in calcium, minerals and antioxidants loaded with health benefits and will insure against constipation during the cleanse.
Add Some Fuel to the Fire
Try not to overeat. The rule in Ayurveda is to keep your stomach at least ¼ empty. This includes liquids. It is also recommended that you avoid drinking cold drinks with meals. This will dilute your digestive juices and put out your digestive fire. This is the big mistake most of us make every day. We drink cold beverages with our meals. In Ayurveda you drink between meals but never or very little with your meal. The maximum you should drink is ¼ of your stomach capacity. Following this rule, after a meal your stomach is ½ food, ¼ liquid and ¼ empty. After learning this practice it became a healthy habit for me and I now eat this way all of the time. It’s easy once you practice it a bit.
Between meals it’s good to sip Fresh ginger tea. Ginger is a heating spice that stimulates your digestive fire. We want to keep our fire hot throughout the cleanse by only drinking hot or warm spiced teas and no cold beverages. Drink as much water as you like, however hot water is best or you can have it at room temperature.
To make Fresh Ginger Tea use a piece of organic ginger root about the size of your thumb and slice it into strips (no need to peel), boil it in 5 cups of water for 5 minutes on med heat, then reduce heat to low for 10 minutes. Strain and put in a thermos and drink throughout the day. If it tastes too spicy you can add a little honey.
Another option for increasing the effectiveness of the cleanse is to make up a batch of CCF Tea. This is a classic Ayurvedic detox tea made with Coriander, Cumin, and Fennel. This combination of spices builds the Agni (digestive fire) and stimulates the lymph to release toxins and flushes toxic waste out of the body.
Follow this easy recipe to make CCF Tea:
½ Teaspoon Organic Coriander Seeds
½ Teaspoon Organic Cumin Seeds
½ Teaspoon Organic Fennel Seeds
4 cups of spring water
Boil the water and seeds over medium heat for 5 minutes, then reduce heat to simmer for 5 minutes. Strain the water to remove the seeds and pour into a thermos to keep warm. I like to combine the two recipes personally. I just add the ginger to the water with my seeds and prepare it all together. I make a big batch and keep it in the refrigerator and heat up a cup at a time when want it. At first I thought the taste was a little weird but now I love it. It makes me feel good to be consuming something warm and spicy that’s good for me. Again, add a little honey (after you brew it; do not add honey to boiling water) if it seems too spicy for you.
Circulate, Detoxify & Nourish
Exercise is also recommended to stimulate blood flow and circulation throughout the body and facilitate the elimination of toxins from the blood and lymph. Exercise just enough to break a light sweat, do not overdo. Try going for an early morning walk outdoors at a brisk enough pace to stimulate a sweat. You don’t need to sweat profusely, just dampness on the forehead, armpits, or back of the neck is enough. You just need to stimulate the sweat glands. Also take a hot bath, hot shower or steam bath or use a sauna to help the body sweat. Try to do one or more of these activities for at least 20-30 minutes each day.
Nourish yourself. Get a massage, facial, craniosacral therapy or acupuncture treatment. Walk barefoot on the beach. Breathe deeply. Take a gentle flow yoga class or restorative yoga. Many of the studios are offering online classes now, so you don’t even need to leave the house. Read an uplifting book or listen to soothing music.
Pay attention to what you are taking in. Avoid negative energies such as TV or movies with violence, crime, intense suspense, etc. These will cause you to feel negative emotions which will release stress hormones into your body. Spend time in the garden or go to a park and picnic under a tree. Do things that open your heart and nourish your soul.
Goodbye Toxins! Hello Radiant Health!
There are many different versions of the Kitchari Recipe and you can find them easily with a quick google search. I am sharing with you my favorite, which I have made many more times than I can count. This is a delicious blend of ingredients that includes all 6 tastes, which is another lesson learned from this ancient practice. Ayurveda believes that in order to have balance in our body and mind, we need to include all six tastes in our meals. Each individual ingredient (food and spice) has an individual quality, energy, action and effect on our being. The six tastes are Sweet, Sour, Salty, Bitter, Astringent and Pungent.
This is one of the reasons Ayurveda is considered “The Science of Life”. Ayurveda looks at the 5 elements; Earth, Water, Fire, Air and Ether, the cycles of the day, the seasons, and the climate and tries to live in balance with all of these qualities and energies. We each have a constitution (Prakriti, Dosha) that is made up of a combination of these elements and each person has their own individual combination. In order to balance the energies, you need to find where you are out of balance, what elements are being affected, and then bring them back into balance. One way to facilitate balance is to reset the digestive system with healthy medicinal meals that contain all six tastes. So, let’s get started!
Buy everything ORGANIC, you don’t want to add more pesticides when you are trying to detox:
Split Yellow Mung Beans or Sprouted Mung Beans
White or Brown Basmati Rice (white is easier to digest; brown has more fiber)
Coriander Seeds
Fennel Seeds
Cumin Seeds
Turmeric Powder or Fresh Turmeric Root
Ground Cardamom
Fresh Ginger Root
Ceylon Cinnamon Sticks
Unsweetened Coconut Flakes
Bay Leaf
Fresh Cilantro
Fresh Kale or Spinach
2 Lemons
Coconut Oil
Organic Low Sodium Vegetable Broth (or homemade)
Fresh Vegetables (choose 2-3, avoid nightshades)
Vegetables may be added to your dish or served on the side. Consider carrots, sweet potatoes, celery, broccoli rabe, butternut squash, beets, green beans, cauliflower, rutabagas, yuca, kohlrabi, or radishes. I usually do sweet potatoes roasted with Garam Masala Seasoning with mine (recipe below) and I serve them on the side. However, you can choose any vegetables you want as long as they are fresh and organic. You can roast them, steam them or cook them in the Kitchari. Avoid frozen or canned as the necessary enzymes and nutrients are depleted during processing. Avoid nightshades due to the fact that they have a natural built in pesticide called glycoalkaloids which can affect the nervous system and cause inflammation in the body, exactly what we are trying to combat.
Ayurvedic Kitchari Recipe
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 40 minutes
Makes enough for 3-4 servings depending on portion size
Ingredients:
1/2 Cup Split Yellow Mung Beans soaked overnight (or already sprouted mung beans)
1/2 Cup Rice
1 Tablespoon Coconut Oil
3 Cups Vegetable Broth
1/2 tablespoon of Fresh Grated Ginger
2 tablespoons of Unsweetened Coconut Flakes
1/2 cup of Spring Water
1/2 tsp Cumin Seeds
1/2 tsp Coriander Seeds or Powder (seeds have a very strong flavor, I like it, some don’t)
1/2 tsp Fennel Seeds
1/2 tsp Turmeric Powder or 1 tsp of Fresh Grated Turmeric Root
1/4 tsp Ground Cardamom
1 Bay Leaf 1 Cinnamon Stick
1-2 tsp Mineral Salt to Taste
1/4 Cup Fresh Cilantro
1-2 wedges of Fresh Squeezed Lemon or Lime (to taste)
2 Kale Leaves, stems removed, torn into bite sized pieces or a handful of fresh spinach leaves
Optional: 1-2 cups of chopped vegetables of your choice
Directions:
Rinse the rice and mung beans and set aside.
In a small glass or measuring cup mix the grated ginger with the coconut flakes and water and set aside.
Using a 3-quart pot melt the coconut oil over medium heat. When the oil is hot add the cumin, coriander, fennel, turmeric and cardamom to the pot and cook until sizzling and fragrant (1-2 minutes).
Now add the ginger and coconut mixture along with the bay leaf and cinnamon stick and cook for 2 minutes.
Now add the rice, mung beans and vegetable broth and bring to a boil.
Once you have a good rolling boil going you can add your chopped vegetables (optional). Bring back to a boil, reduce heat to low and cover with a lid. Set timer for 30 minutes.
Now is the time to prepare your vegetables if you are serving them on the side.
Check your Kitchari occasionally and add extra water if needed. If you want a more soup like consistency you may need to add more liquid. Otherwise it should be more like a porridge consistency.
After 30 minutes stir in the salt and taste to see if your rice and mung are soft. If you used white rice and sprouted mung beans your dish should be just about done. If you used brown rice and split mung beans, you may need to cook another 10 minutes.
Now add your chopped kale or spinach and cook for another 5-10 minutes.
Lastly, top with fresh cilantro and squeeze of lemon or lime juice and serve.
Sweet Potatoes Roasted with Garam Masala
Ingredients:
2 large sweet potatoes
2 tsp Garam Masala Powder
2 Tbsp melted Coconut Oil
1/2 tsp Mineral Salt
Directions:
Preheat oven to 400
Wash potatoes and cut into wedges. Place in a large mixing bowl and sprinkle with the garam masala, coconut oil and salt. Toss well to coat wedges with the spice and oil. Place on a baking sheet and cook for 10 minutes. Turn over with spatula and cook another 10 minutes. Serve with Kitchari.
I hope you enjoy this cleanse as much as I have throughout the years. It’s actually so easy to stick with and the results are amazing. It will motivate you to take better care of yourself on a daily basis and give you the jump start you need to improve your overall health and wellbeing. Ayurveda played a huge part in my own recovery from 30 years of addiction and depression which had taken such a toll on my physical health that, at 48 years old, I felt like I was living in a 90 year old body. My healing journey began in Bali in early 2012 where I met an Ayurvedic doctor who showed me how to heal myself. In a few short months, I completely recovered and have been pain free for almost 8 years. I hope this inspires you to learn more about these ancient practices that heal the Body, Mind and Soul and teach you how to live a beautiful, joyful and healthy life!
Enjoy this healthy and delicious baked curried bananas recipe from our Chef and Nutritionist Anne Masri! It’s easy to make, not too messy and takes less than an hour! If you’re looking for a good vegan recipe and would like to branch out your taste buds, this is an excellent sweet and savory curry dish you can make with just a few ingredients that you might even have on hand. This tasty curried banana dish can be served as an appetizer or a dessert!
At Villa Kali Ma, we like to use organic ingredients to make sure our dish is free of chemicals and pesticides or other additives that our body recognizes as toxins. Toxic ingredients can trigger an immune response by the body. One theory as to why autoimmune disease is becoming an epidemic in this country is because of the toxins added to our food. So if you want to make a healthy dish, start with healthy ingredients that are free of chemicals and toxins.
Look for extra virgin unrefined Coconut Oil for the greatest Coconut Oil benefits. Coconut Oil not only tastes good, the medium chain fatty acids are said to improve memory and brain function, which makes it an excellent ingredient to bake with. Apricot Jam, made with fresh locally grown apricots, can usually be found at your local health food grocery store or farmer’s market and tastes fantastic! Curry Powder, which can be found at any grocery store, gives the dish a golden yellow color and adds an abundance of rich, delicious flavor.
Coconut Sugar is becoming a fairly mainstream ingredient and can be found at most grocery stores, however you will definitely find it at specialty health food stores such as Jimbo’s, Whole Foods, Lazy Acres or other natural food markets. Coconut Sugar is an excellent replacement for cane sugar due to its low glycemic index. The main ingredient, Bananas, is probably already in your kitchen and if not, I’m sure you know where to find them. The ripeness of the bananas is up to your liking. If you would like the dish to have more of a savory flavor, I would start out using bananas that are just turning from green to yellow and still quite firm. If you want it to be more of a sweet caramelized dessert dish, then go with ripe bananas. Or you can try both and see how you like them.
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The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checbox-others
11 months
This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary
11 months
This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance
11 months
This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy
11 months
The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
