Think of food like relationships. Is it Love or Lust? Will it be good only in the moment or for a lifetime? I “love” and crave donuts, but I know this is just a lust for the addictive sugar and comfort of that doughy goodness. I know there will be consequences. Maybe not immediately, but over time those decisions add up. Now… a true love of mine = blueberries. A food I adore and a food choice that genuinely loves me back with the support, energy, and nutrients it provides my body. Not only do the properties give my mind a boost in function, but because I know I am making a good choice, all the feel good chemicals are released. However, knowing that still does not make it an easy choice, because that donut is so fun and looks so dang good. Blueberries are the true knights in shiny blue armor though. You may be thinking… what about a blueberry donut? Oh yes! The best of both worlds: the nutrients and love from the blueberries and the fun, comfort from the donut. Sadly though, the donut still has all those addictive sugars and empty calories. Even worse, the blueberries may be artificial flavoring. True love wins! It’s ok to enjoy a good donut from time to time, but know those blueberries are a powerful connection of life and energy.
In today’s fast-paced, high-demand, mass-connection world our minds are easily stretched thin. The flow of chaos easily becomes the norm. The more it becomes the norm, the more it becomes accepted. However, the question is are we truly accepting it or are we becoming so caught up in the flow of it all that we have to just keep swirling along with more caffeine, more coping dependencies; anything to help us measure up and meet all the expectations. Such a flow can leave us in a constant state of panic, worry, insecurity, doubt or stuck in a competitive, judgmental mindset; both make it difficult to be present and to fully grasp each moment and its intention and purpose. New Moon prep activity: create a list of expectations in your life (you place on yourself or you feel are placed on you by others/the world); anything and everything that makes you feel stressed, having to maintain the flow of, etc. We will be talking about expectations often; this is a root of stress. Too often in society we hold ourselves and others to unrealistic expectations neglecting reality, intention, purpose, and presence. Accountability and competitiveness are important, but the equation of success in such is often missing vital factors. Intention, purpose, presence, mindfulness, and patience are critical for Calming the Sea Within. Only when the sea is calm can we see clearly.
Layers of Health Activity:
Cut out 6 onion shaped pieces of paper. Tip: use jars of different sizes to trace your circles, but leave a thumbprint size top on each, so you can staple the layers of your onion together.
Write a layer of health on the front of each:
Environmental
Physical
Emotional
Mental
Social
Spiritual
(The concept of the order is based on what is the most surface based layer of health to the deeper, inner roots of health.)
On the back of each layer, write a few goals you are actively working on / hope to work on. Keep your onion with you or on your vision board to remind you our wellness and goals all influence one another, but there are many layers to doing the work. Sometimes what we are trying to get to flow is deeply hidden in the roots and layers; we must be patient with ourselves and keep gardening. This is also why meal prep is so important to the Root and Flow Method. Chopping onions can feel time consuming and pointless, and well… even make us cry, but taking the time to chop the onion, see its layers in all its glory, and add to our meal with intention and purpose is an art of independence, expression, and life.
Future activities prep: create a list of all the ruts you feel are influenced by your social environments. Examples: work schedules, budget, trends, commercials, etc; any environmental influences that you feel have an impact on your decisions. The rut may even be linked to deeper roots: lifelong habits, insecurities about self/world, coping method, etc. Circle the top 3 influences. Describe how and why they influence you / keep you in a decision “rut”. Hold on to this list for the future. (In the Root & Flow intro it is advised to keep a file or folder for your Root & Flow activities).
The power of Intentions
This is something we talk about often in Root & Flow. Energy is flowing through every fiber of being. We often do not have a choice of what flows to us, but we do have a choice on our perceptions and reactions; the choices and intentions flowing from us. The more we make positive choices, the more we will perceive the world within us and all around us as positive. Easier said than done, oh yes, but 100% possible! Raw energy can be confusing at times, but when we become in tune with intentions, we better understand the vibration, tone, language, and purpose of the roots and rhythms of something/someone. Exercise, dance, expressionist movement can be very raw and primal, even appear angry and dark at times. However, often this about tapping into the roots and rhythms of human behavior; a form of feeling and story-telling. We are highly conscious and impressionable creatures with methods of intelligent expression yet a channeled connection to primal roots. Embracing and positively nurturing the awareness and balance of both is vital for human behavior and wellness. When such things are out of balance and/ or lack mindfulness is when we lash out, allow feelings or primal urges to rule us, misinterpret / misrepresent intentions, or are disconnected from the power of perception. We are primal. We are conscious. We are connected to roots and rhythms of all life. Our power is our intentions and choices. Keeping a positive charge does not mean you do not feel dark, empty, angry, depressed, or negative; it means you keep working through it to keep opening channels to positive forces. Again, Easier said than done, oh yes, but 100% possible!
Here we are at this root word again: Expectations. This new moon is all about releasing the power and stress of expectations and embracing the fluidity of consciousness. Expectations are hard to measure up to or define a reality by, because each moment is a moment of life actively changing. Each moment we are learning more about ourselves, the world, and the flow of life. Embracing the change and applying ourselves is so difficult because expectations are like a security blanket; an illusion of creating control of life. The scariest thought of survival is: the unknown. Therefore, the expectations we prescribe make us feel secure and rooted to an understanding of life. However, these expectations can keep us stuck in the mud while the fluidity of life is flowing on by. “Motion stays in motion”. What happens to still water? It becomes murky, contaminated with bacteria, evaporates, etc. For good things to grow, it needs water in flow.
Activity:
Visualize a jar of water unattended to for weeks. However, imagine if this jar was left with water with the expectation it was going to naturally stay clean and continue to measure up at its intended amount without any attention or care. What would that jar look like if you check on it in a few weeks? Would it meet that expectation?
Visualize a jar of water that receives attention and care each day. Each day you check on it, stir it, empty and refill the jar if needed, etc.
Our bodies are 70ish % water!!! We are water!!! If we do not hydrate our minds, bodies, souls, and consciousness we become stagnate, deprived, thirsty, restless, anxious, because our survival is being threatened, etc. We must not hold ourselves prisoner to expectations without presence and attention; we must experience the moment - truly engage in it and soak it up. We must seek out experiences and resources to help us flow.
Activity: Dedicate a jar for self-care ideas. When you need a moment to relax, but cannot think or decide what to do - let the jar choose. Write self-care ideas, comforting / motivational quotes, and activities on strips of paper to place in your jar. You can print and use the ones below to help get you started.
This is a company I love and came across when I first opened Rootin’ . There are many ways to get back to the roots of life, but it is a common ground concept of creating the time to be more mindful, present, and sustainable. You can create your own eco gardens and terrariums, but Back to the Roots has great kits, support tools, curriculum, and a program to help you with your adventures:
Or Shop below at World Market:
World Market is one of our affiliates, in which we earn a small % from your purchase through our links. These are the little extra things that help us keep our business and free services going.
Shop this fun deck at World Market. Learn about Tarot cards and symbolism or use as playing cards.
World Market is one of our affiliates, in which we earn a small % from your purchase through our links. These are the little extra things that help us keep our business and free services going.
Fluid art is a great way to connect with the Root & Flow concepts. It is a means of creating abstract art with liquid pouring methods. You can then connect with what is flowing and get hands on to move with the details you see coming to life. This is a great way to physically meditate with the feature: Through the Fog there is Beauty. When you begin your activity, you have a cup of chaotic, mixed colors all blurring into one another. As you pour it, you see them working and flowing together to create something. As you intentionally “clear the fog” by beginning to move the colors around with your brush or tools you notice the abstract beauty. Another activity I like to do is after burning a candle - pour the wax to create and image or flow (be very careful with this activity ). Stay tuned for tutorials in future lessons.
On Mondays, we typically do Root Chakra activities, so what does green food have to do with the Root chakra when it is most linked to Heart Chakra energy? As we always discuss, everything is connected. When our heart chakra is out of balance / blocked / distressed, then we may want to start with the root work and work our way up. We protect our hearts when we do not feel safe. Feeling safe has a lot to do with the lower 3 chakras; root, sacral, and solar-plexus. When one or all of these chakras are stressed or in need of care, then the doors to the heart chakra are difficult to open and the bridge to it is unstable. Picture those rope bridges hanging high in the sky from one cliff to another. If those fragile bridges are not well maintained, it is so difficult to cross. Any bridge not well maintained is difficult to cross; the ones in our energy (consciousness), relationships, wellness connections, etc. Therefore, this lesson is a reminder that every topic, recipe, and/or lesson is about the full Root and Flow.
How can green food connect the root to the heart chakra? Green food comes from the roots, seeds, and trees of the Earth. Before it becomes green food, it must first go through the growth process and phases. Seeds are planted, tended to, bloom, produce, rest, repeat cycle. It’s all in the Root & Flow of Life. We elaborate more on Chakra connections and info in Chakra lessons, but these insights are to plant the “Seeds of Thought”.
Tuesdays, we focus on and discuss Sacral Chakra Energy, which centers around relationships: the relationship of roots and rhythms of life, our connections of past, present, future, our relationship of mind, body, soul, and our relationships with one another; the world within to the world all around, the cycles of life. When I think of relationships, I think of weaving; every fiber has a flow and a time; each an important thread to the project. However, weaving requires patience, rhythm, and flow. Think of braiding with string or hair; it requires mindfulness and intention for each piece to wait its turn to be moved into place. Activity suggestion: practice a little weaving, crocheting, or braiding today. If you are interested in connecting with the Sacral Chakra energy use orange, brown, gold, and yellow spectrum colors. Reflect on these thoughts while you do so.
Mix baking soda and borax equal parts + shave fels-napa soap bar (you can find on the laundry detergent aile) and bam natural detergent: cleans and boosts! Optional: add essential oils
To make into bombs, add the mixture to your favorite molds with a little more liquid (essential oil and/or water), freeze, pop-out & store in freezer/fridge, then drop in your load of laundry.
Activity suggestions: 1: print this image, color it, put a name, title, or quote on the sign part of it, and in the inner circle write about / describe how life is succulent: what makes you feel good about life, what are you grateful for, or what are all the little things that make you feel bright? Feel free to share it: #dailyroots #lifeissucculent @rootinforyourlife
2: Browse succulent displays at nurseries and flower shops to boost your vibes. Or want something custom painted with succulent vibes, connect with us @therootandflowshop on IG.
Learn about Whiskey Moon Roots: a Lifestyle Brand by Rootin’ :
Root Connections
No matter your roots, root connections are all about channeling the art and lessons of living. We all have blood and pain in our roots; the negative experiences of human history, the unfortunate primal origins of devour and conquer. These are wrongs we are still trying to better understand and make peace with. There is still so much blood and pain in present day. Such forces can make it difficult to value and honor our roots and common ground, but we are our best when we work to understand the roots and vibes of one another. When I put my hands on this Earth I cannot help but feel all the heartache, distress, and trauma of life, but I also can see and feel the sharing of food, laughs, dancing; people, animals, and elements from all corners of this Earth coming together to weave the flow of life. For my root connections tune into Seeds of our Soul. Including stories from my wellness and rootin’ journal below.
Shop these leggings at our Society 6: here
Rainbows are an important part of nearly every culture. They may be perceived or referenced to differently, but the common root is it is typically a symbol of hope and harmony. It is a spectrum of colors and elements coming together to create one of the most phenomenal things on this Earth. There are many stories of what rainbows personally mean to me and how they influenced the name: Rootin’ for your Life and how the concept and experiences of such created the core concepts of all the Root and Flow lessons, but these are stories for the Seeds of our Soul Blog.
Today, I simply ask you to celebrate the rainbow, the flow of all life, the harmony of colors coming together to create this world we live in. When we let the need to be superior or right, the fight for survival, the programming of our ideals and beliefs / predisposition programming fade for just a moment, and focus on the deepest root and flow of all life, which is: not everything is meant to be understood, sometimes we are just meant to be here, in this moment, and grateful for life. We create our own luck by learning to embrace there are things we are still working to better understand as humans. Our human history is so rooted with brutality towards one another; these are such debts that are difficult to overcome, but we do this by taking a step each day to be more consciously present.
Going out, having adventures is great, but there are also great adventures to be had at home. Some of our favorite things to do are to do themes and challenges. It does not have to be elaborate. Keep it simple and have fun !!!! Some times we just need to play with our food to get back to the joy and adventure of a meal. Activity Suggestion: come up with a theme night for you and your crew. Brainstorm with the family and give each person a role to bring the adventure to life.
Sometimes the best exercise routines are not the ones planned out or the ones we regularly prescribe to. Listening to what our body needs and when it needs it, is so important to Root and Flow. If you are an active person with an active job, you may think this is your exercise. It is a great to be active: “a body in motion stays in motion”. However, our body gets “immune” to our daily flow; it jumps into the rhythm of auto-pilot. This can help us to flow like a “well-oiled" machine”, but sometimes we need to upgrade our machinery and methods to progress or further nurture our flow. Sometimes we need to completely uproot and reevaluate our flow to better understand and adapt to the changes of life. If you are not very active and are overwhelmed by the thought of exercise, then finding your flow is the most important part. The best way to do this is to explore different styles and types. No matter your activity level, change of any sort can be difficult, this is why much of our content is online and our goal is to offer our Root and Flow tools to you at home, so you can take a few steps out of your comfort zone while being in the security of your own surroundings.
Today’s activity suggestion: get comfortable with space and movement. If you are new to working out at home, then dedicate a little area of space as your work out zone. Connect with that space by taking the time to do some movements, poses, and/or stretches. If you are familiar with working out from home, then today try something different or new in your space or think of ways to enhance or upgrade your space to better fit your flow.
This is a very rare full moon because it is followed up with another Libra Full Moon next month. It is like a gateway staying open to ensure you grasp the lessons and opportunities flowing to you. Libra is all about balance, justice, aesthetic, adventure, insight, and connection. These full moons are encouraging us to put more effort into our perceptions, connections, relationships, and life balance. To grow with this flow and to prep for next month: brainstorm, meditate, or create lists on ways and things you would like to do to improve your relationships, perceptions, and life balance.
Let’s get to having fun in the kitchen with Wine and Root. Blow some bubbles in your bubbly or ditch the wine and literally blow some bubbles. An important part to preparing meals is to get in the right mood. Bubbles make us all a little happier and at ease.
Activity suggestion: create food that makes you feel like Spring is in the Air.
Pictured: Chocolate Re-Charge Flourless Cookies and Lemon, Ricotta Flourless Cake. Stay tuned for tutorials and recipes.
Zen spaces can be the great outdoors, your meditation space, a garden, or one you can pack up with you. Activity suggestion: work on your zen space: create a meditation space in your home or garden or create a zen to go kit.
One of our feature concepts is: Through the Fog there is Beauty. The fog often represents a state of life in a blur in some way, whether it is stress, confusion, depression, etc. However, the fog is of great purpose. Without it we would lose value and appreciation for the calm, beautiful moments of life. The fog is often where we learn our most powerful insights. Sometimes we need to have our heads in the clouds or fog. This is where we allow ourselves to soul search, seek answers, and try to better understand life, dreams, etc. The hardest part of valuing the fog as an opportunity of insight is having patience. Not being able to clearly understand, focus, or see can have our primal instincts of survival; fight or flee, in overdrive mode. This is when we must Calm the Sea Within and practice the Art of Patience.
Activity suggestion: take a little time to upgrade or work on your vision board today. If you have had trouble creating one or deciding what to put on it, take a little time to brainstorm: create a list of things you would like to manifest in your life. Even if it is something you may think is beyond possible, add it, because you never know what is possible; “when there is a will, there is a way”. I would suggest dividing your vision board into two categories or creating two vision boards by short-term goals and long-term goals and/or what is most important to you and what would be additional bonuses to your life journey.
Roots and Rhythms is our feature for energy workouts. It is not about precision or performance. It is about mindful movement, raw expression, natural abilities and instincts, and connections to roots and rhythms. It is about the freedom and trust of letting go and being present while channeling the roots and rhythms of life. Before we start really diving into these lessons and this feature, it is important to take steps to set the tone and get comfortable.
Today’s activity suggestion: create a space where you can “dance like no one is watching”. Then…. “dance like no one is watching”.. be completely free and uninhibited. Sometimes in life we allow ourselves to become self-conscious or convince ourselves something is stupid, pointless,etc…when in reality those are things that typically free us the most; the things our souls crave to experience. However, sometimes our ego or shadow self stands in the way with all the whys and what ifs.
Just… Breathe…. Remember, the power of breathing. Get in your space. Close your eyes. Deeply Inhale and Exhale in the same rhythms of your movements. Example: Raise your arms as you inhale. Release your arms and your breathe. Be free!!! Breathe!!! Move!!! Dance!!! Discover YOUR rhythm!!! Allow yourself to Root & Flow!!!!
The Heart of Aging
The paradox: 8 things better with age yet more difficult
Remember, there are always the pros and cons to everything. Everything is about energy and perspective.
Aging can be a beautiful journey of experiencing life in its fullest, but it can also be a difficult journey.
Learning to value the moments gets better with age yet more difficult. As children it easier to be present and in the moment, because there is not as much weight on the responsibilities of life. Also, in our youth, we are still fresh sponges trying to absorb as much as we can from life; trying to soak up and learn from every moment.There are always the stress and pressures that make living at any age difficult. However, the older we become the harder it is to be fully present in each moment. Time is steadily racing by and it becomes harder to not look back at the past or stress about the future. However, the more we age, the more we experience and lose time and people, the more valuable the moments become. We may find ourselves steadily getting caught up in all the stress, but at the end of the day , what really matters? When we focus on the power of perspective, the more we can be fully present.
“It is better to have lived and loved, than never love at all”. Losing loved ones is one of the most difficult parts of life, but the opportunity to be a part of one another’s story in some way is the essence of the circle of life. Those moments together and the imprints we leave on one another continue to flow.
As we age, it can be so difficult to not be able to do all the things we were once able to do. However, when we remember the power of perspective, we must focus on being grateful for once being able to do those things and grateful for all the new things we understand and are able to do. Sometimes we get so caught up in focusing on the changes of what was lost rather than what we have gained.
The older we get, the more comfortable we become with who we are. We spend so many years searching for who we are and if/how we measure up, what others may think, trying to be better versions of ourselves, etc. It is important to never stop working on self-improvement, but as we get older the more we learn to do for the right reasons; for the deep roots of self-love not the surface values. However, self-care can become harder and harder, because there is more to keep up with from all the things we are trying to manage in life, trying to heal from the past, caring for our aging minds and bodies, etc.
One of the most amazing parts of aging is witnessing the life you have built; even if it may not be what you pictured or still where you want to be, you must remember you are on a journey, but when you take a moment to think about the positive impressions you have left in people’s lives - it is something to smile about. However, sometimes remembering the positive can be difficult, because we dwell the most on what was wrong or painful, because such feelings grow like wild vines, harder to deal with and remove. We must keep working on the vines and planting the seeds we want to grow in our garden.
With aging comes more chapters of experiences and relationships. It is difficult to let go and move on from a lot of chapters and relationships, but as we age we learn to value and view life like a book of chapters; realizing everything has its time and place. Not everything and everyone is meant to be a part of our story forever, but everything and everyone were an important part to the series.
The older we get the more there is to learn because of the natural flow of progressions and advancements in life and society. There is more to keep up with, major changes in culture, and rapid shifts in expectations, operations, and technology. It can make the connection and understanding between generations harder and overwhelming. You may feel like if you blink, you are completely out of the loop. It is harder to feel relative and in flow with the state of life. However, again, it is about the power of perspective. With change there is opportunity. When we look at every new shift like an opportunity for learning, then the more we are able to experience in our lifetimes.
The older you get the more hats you can say you have worn. Juggling everything in your lifetime can be difficult, but think of all the roles you have had an opportunity to be a part of. Each hat you have had to wear and every role you have had to step into is a unique chapter of your life story.
What you need:
-fishing string
-embroidery hoop
-beads
-wine corks
-clay pots (optional)
-forks
-jewelry wire
-screwdriver
-twine
-scissors
What to do:
Note: you can style yours however you prefer. Example: You may not want to use the pots and use more beads and corks instead.
Step 1: Position and tie 3 strings from your fishing string in the inner ring of the embroidery hoop - space them out for balance when hanging. Then, prepare your corks by using a screwdriver to push a hole through the middle of your cork (take your time and be careful!! ).
Step 2: Get creative! Add your beads and corks as you like. You can use jewelry wire to help keep them in place or you can tie the string through and around each bead.
Step 3: Tie your forks on the end of the string and use the wire to wrap around it a few times to help hold in place. For extra creative effect you can bend the teeth of the fork.
How to create a ritual
Our day is full of rituals whether we realize it or not; everything from our self-care to exercise time to how we cook, and all the little things we do to motivate / keep our life in flow.
Keeping a Dream Journal is a great ritual to have. Our dreams offer a lot of insight into our life, fears, consciousness, ideas, and desires. It is the puzzle pieces of the past and future. When we take time to reflect on our dreams we are able to manifest it into the present and connect the dots for insight and guidance. Dreams are windows and doors to the world within. It may feel like looking through a kaleidoscope or a shadowy blur of abstract images or an episode of the Twilight Zone, but when we focus and reflect with intention by creating a ritual to do so, then we can invite clarity; Through the Fog there is Beauty.
Create a ritual by:
Choose a quiet time of day : get up a little earlier to have a little quiet time to yourself (if need be).
Grab your favorite cozy a.m. drink: coffee, matcha, tea, etc.
Greet the day with gratitude.
Go to your favorite quiet or meditation space in your home or garden.
Take your journal, favorite inspirational books, essential oils, or crystals (anything that helps you set the tone, energy, and aroma to help you welcome calming clarity and insight).
Journal your dream from the night before. You may have trouble remembering, especially if you are new to doing intentional reflections. The key is to not force it. Do not get frustrated over not remembering; if it is meant to come to you - it will and the more you practice and dedicate time to this ritual each day, the more it will program your consciousness to trust this exercise. It takes time for roots to grow. As the roots grow we are connected to the rhythms and flow. Even if you sit there and write random doodles or words, insight may come to you.
Stay tuned for more prompts and exercises on how to keep working with this ritual, but the main root of this lesson = start creating the time and space for this ritual.
Today’s #dailyroots is a summary of our March Root & Flow:
Keep in mind:
-The power of breathing
-The power of perspective
-The power of intentions
-Release Expectations
-Be present
-Find &/or Create your Zen spaces
-Life is Succulent: Surround yourself with what makes your soul feel happy & bright
-Dreams are windows and doors to the world within
-Chakras are power centers and bridges of your flow of wellness; everything is connected
-You are on a journey, you may not be where you want to be yet, you make have had some detours and roadblocks, but everything has purpose when we are present. Release the expectations, reclaim perspective: GLOW WITH THE FLOW !