“I want to feel both the beauty and the pain of the age we are living in. I want to survive my life without becoming numb. I want to speak and comprehend word of wounding without having these words become the landscape where I dwell. I want to possess a light touch that can elevate darkness to the realm of stars.” Terry Tempest Williams, When Women Were Birds Sometimes I feel like an alien anthropologist sent to Earth to observe her beauty and violence. Poor Gaia, I think, and how much she must be suffering from withstanding the invasive human species endlessly sucking up her resources. Maybe I’m just projecting my angst and Gaia is merely a reflection of all of us. She’ll be fine, I tell myself; but many species, including homo sapiens, may go the way of the DoDo. I know I am not alone when I express having ‘world […]

In modern society, a lot of pressure is placed on younger women to appear a certain way, to be appealing and have a healthy libido or healthy sexual drive. In “Latin libīdō means desire, willfulness, lust, akin to libēre, to be pleasing.” Cultural expectations, and not living from one’s own heart, can interfere with a healthy libido. Swiss psychiatrist Carl G. Jung’s states that “the libido is identified as psychic energy… that manifests itself in the life process and is perceived subjectively as striving and desire.” It also represents a healthy balance between the feminine and masculine—the Yin and Yang aspects of ourselves. In Chinese Medicine, the libido, with its chemical mix of neurotransmitters, neuropeptides, and sex hormones, is associated with Qi and Yin and a healthy balance between the Heart and Kidneys. The Heart is said to house the mind and spirit (Yang) and the Kidneys (Yin) rule our life essence. The Kidney energy naturally dissipates […]

(Written for the book, The Moon in Your Life—Being a Lunar Type in a Solar World, by Donna Cunningham) According to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), women have seven-year cycles—like the phases of the progressed moon—culminating in menopause around age 49 (7 x 7). The functions of the spleen (digestion) and kidneys are responsible for blood and energy creation. The kidney system is like the pilot light of the body and dissipates as we age, as do the digestive functions. An early menopause is not considered healthy, nor is a too late one. Menopause serves as a natural homeostatic mechanism. While we view it as a sign of aging, it actually slows the aging process. By losing blood in menstruation beyond age 49, one could actually lose too much vital essence and could experience weakness. With the cessation of menstruation, the essence lost monthly can be consolidated and contained, and women […]

As Recommended in the book, Healthy Aging, by Andrew Weil, M.D. Many diseases today are caused by inflammation, e.g., heart disease, asthma and autoimmune disorders. Stress and stress hormones can also cause inflammation and pain, not to mention the acidic food and drinks we may consume. Andrew Weil maintains that the Mediterranean and traditional Japanese diets are the healthiest, and that the typical American diet is the least healthy. Following are Dr. Weil’s recommendations for an anti-inflammatory diet: GENERAL Aim for variety. Include as much fresh food as possible. Minimize your consumption of processed foods and fast food. Eat an abundance of fruits and vegetables. CALORIE INTAKE Most adults need to consume between 2,000 and 3,000 calories a day. Women and smaller and less active people need fewer calories. Men and bigger and more active people need more calories. If you are eating the appropriate number of calories for your […]