An empty mirror and your worst
destructive habits, when they are held
up to each other,
that's when the real making begins.
That's what art and crafting are. --From Rumi's "Childhood Friends"
I'm definitely feeling the need to do some fall cleansing this week. My last blog outlines the principles of a gentle paleo cleanse, but I thought I'd add a few more suggestions for those who would like to go deeper and refine even more. I love Rumi's poem "Childhood Friends" because it emphasizes that our imperfections are what makes us uniquely human--and our inclination to change and address our shortcomings. He maintains that anyone who thinks they are "healthy enough" needs to do some work. Now I'm not advocating perfectionism (that is its own form of arrogance and hubris) but rather a willingness to be open to the exploration that comes with cleansing. Think about what prompts bad habits such as making the wrong food choices, getting too little sleep, not exercising, not taking time for quality reading or time spent in nature. Cleansing is a time to step out of the realm of "overwhelm" which often leads to exhaustion or sickness.
Some additional things to incorporate into a cleanse:
destructive habits, when they are held
up to each other,
that's when the real making begins.
That's what art and crafting are. --From Rumi's "Childhood Friends"
I'm definitely feeling the need to do some fall cleansing this week. My last blog outlines the principles of a gentle paleo cleanse, but I thought I'd add a few more suggestions for those who would like to go deeper and refine even more. I love Rumi's poem "Childhood Friends" because it emphasizes that our imperfections are what makes us uniquely human--and our inclination to change and address our shortcomings. He maintains that anyone who thinks they are "healthy enough" needs to do some work. Now I'm not advocating perfectionism (that is its own form of arrogance and hubris) but rather a willingness to be open to the exploration that comes with cleansing. Think about what prompts bad habits such as making the wrong food choices, getting too little sleep, not exercising, not taking time for quality reading or time spent in nature. Cleansing is a time to step out of the realm of "overwhelm" which often leads to exhaustion or sickness.
Some additional things to incorporate into a cleanse:
- A saline nasal spray--to moisten the sinuses.
- Rubbing a bit of coconut or olive oil inside the nostrils.
- Running a diffuser at night with essential oil added. For fall I am loving Plant Therapy's "Fir Needle". Smells like autumn.
- Taking a bath fortified with epsom salts (to soften the muscles).
- Using a lovely body butter (I'm enjoying my peach one currently).
- Spritzing your face several times a day with Rosewater (Heritage makes an affordable one).
- Using squalene as a facial moisturizer. Squalene is the oil essence of olives (or other plant/faunal material). It will feel like a thick, dry oil on your face. Be patient and let it sink in. Very restorative. You can buy it for under $5 on Amazon.
- Pay extra attention to the hands. I've been applying argan oil to the backs of them.
- Listen to some inspiring music. I love Yo Yo Ma's "Goat Rodeo Sessions" this time of year, or Verdi's "Autumn"
- Sit outside and enjoy the changing season. Do nothing but observe.
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