A few years ago, I took a trip up to the coastal wilderness of Northern California to meet with Native American elder, Dennis Martinez. Born of O’odham and Chicano heritage, Dennis has spent his life educating both native and non-native people in the practices of indigenous reforestation and wild ...
The other day I did something I shouldn’t have. Before going to bed, my wife Michelle and I made the mistake of reading some mainstream news headlines, which — as you know — are fear-based with only small bits of level headed truth. Not a smart way to end the day! “If it bleeds, it leads!” ...
Ready for something personal? Gulp! Here we go. Late last year, I began to hit a serious dip in my energy levels. Each day, I would wake up feeling like I had been beaten up in my sleep, rolling out of bed with pain in my muscles and zero energy. Walking up the stairs felt like a herculean effort—and ...
I grew up in my mom’s New England restaurant, and the kitchen has always been my sanctuary. The ritual of making a meal, in and of itself, can bring calmness and deeper connection — but when you prepare herb-infused foods that relax the body, as well as the mind and spirit, you’ve got the perfect ...
Happy new year! Psst… between you and me, this could be the best year of your life — why? Because 2021 is laying before you right NOW. All you have is the present moment, and if you keep your heart and mind centered on living fully every minute, ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE. Now, I know a lot of people are ...
For centuries, indigenous people across varying cultures have used fire and smoke as a carrier and symbol for their thoughts and prayers. They believe that the smoke ushers their prayers to the Great Spirit or higher being. Burning rituals are still used today as a means to relinquish the past and rid one’s...
Have you ever noticed that all the famous Christmas movies begin with the main character unhappily scrooging their way through the month of December, before some unforeseen event transforms them back into a state of joy and gratitude to humanity? (In case you’d like me to pony up some references, here are a...
For many in the Western world, the shift to winter barely registers — except that maybe it’s time to haul your heavy coat out of storage and turn up the dial on your thermostat. However, when we carry on living the same way regardless of the season, we lose the opportunity to connect with nature… ...
Christmas is almost here and the team and I have been busy unraveling some of the medical mysteries associated with this ancient midwinter tradition. Tucked quietly into many of the world’s most celebrated holidays are hidden codes, sacred symbolism, and my personal favorite – valuable and often ...
The history of chocolate is as rich as its flavor. Chocolate is made from seeds of cacao trees (Theobroma cacao), which originate from the Upper Amazon Rain Forest. At one time, cacao seeds, or beans, were thought to be more valuable than gold and were used as currency by the Aztecs. Today, cacao is ...
Today I’m excited to share a delicious condiment idea with you. It is a genius concoction that is not only a family favorite, which I learned from my Italian grandparents, but it includes one of the most powerful herbs on the planet. An herb that has been used for thousands of years to enhance the flavor ...
When we were children, most of us didn’t have a care in the world during the snowy months. No jacket, no scarf, no hat, no precaution (we were invincible, or at least that’s what we thought). But now as adults, we go to great lengths to protect ourselves during the cold and flu season. Germs thrive in ...