Did you know that it’s almost impossible to be upset and grateful at the same time? It’s one of those universal truths that is easy to prove — just try it yourself. Being thankful flips a switch inside of you that clears out any negative feelings you were experiencing a few moments before. “Gratitude ...
Sometimes this quest for lost healing medicines can feel kind of like an Indiana Jones movie. We come across amazing cultures, with such fascinating traditions… and the promise of new medicines that could save lives. You just can’t make this stuff up! And today’s piece is no different. Do you know what ...
I came across a poem yesterday that gave me a perfectly timed dose of insight. The wisdom it contained was something I’ve heard spoken before by a shaman, but using different words. The piece below — from the 13th century poet Rumi — carries within it an essence that is central to many spiritual...
There are a handful of go-to herbal remedies that my wife Michelle and I keep around the house at all times. Plants are super powerful and our ancestors knew it — thankfully they’ve handed many of them down to us. Today I want to share 3 of these recipes with you! With these medicines on hand, ...
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 ...
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 ...