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Welcome to our blog. We invite you to read our posts and feel free to leave a few comments! Your feed back is much appreciated. Thank you for taking the time to learn about Natural Building and a little bit more of what we are up to at our sanctuary. If you have any questions or would like to connect directly, please send us an email at info@ecomaste.com

Wholeness, Much Love, and Pura Vida.


In a world characterized by constant change and rapidity, the concept of cyclical living beckons us to slow down, embrace the beauty of nature's rhythms, and find harmony within ourselves and the world around us. By aligning our lives with the cycles of birth, life, aging, and death; the changing seasons; the elemental forces; the lunar phases, and the menstrual stages, we can rediscover the profound interconnectedness of all things. In this blog post, we will explore the benefits and importance of cyclical living and how it nourishes our well-being by honoring these intrinsic and inseparable cycles.


The Beauty of the Life Cycle: Birth, Life, Aging, and Death

The life cycle mirrors the very essence of cyclical living. Just as the seasons follow one another, our lives move through distinct phases: birth, life, aging, and death. By acknowledging and celebrating each stage, we embrace the full spectrum of the human experience. Birth brings new beginnings, life offers opportunities for growth and discovery, aging gifts us wisdom and reflection, and death reminds us of life's impermanence. By embracing these natural transitions, we deepen our connection to life and find meaning in the ebb and flow of existence.



Harmonizing with the Seasons: Winter, Spring, Fall, and Summer

The seasons represent nature's eternal dance of change. In winter, the earth rests and rejuvenates, mirroring the need for introspection and renewal in our own lives. Spring bursts forth with new life and energy, inviting us to nurture our passions and dreams. Fall calls us to release what no longer serves us, just as the leaves fall from the trees. Summer, the season of abundance and vibrancy, teaches us to celebrate life's joys. Embracing the seasons' cyclical nature fosters adaptability and balance, allowing us to savor each unique moment while staying connected to the larger rhythm of life.




The Elemental Forces: Air, Fire, Water, and Earth

The elements form the very fabric of creation, and their energies influence our lives in profound ways. Air represents intellect and communication, fire embodies transformation and passion, water symbolizes emotions and intuition, and earth grounds us and provides stability. By understanding the qualities of each element, we can consciously harness their energies to enhance our daily experiences. Just as the elements combine harmoniously in nature, we can also find equilibrium within ourselves by honoring these elemental forces.


Dancing with the Moon Phases: New Moon, Waxing, Full, and Waning

The moon, with its ever-changing phases, has long inspired awe and wonder. Each lunar cycle offers unique opportunities for intention-setting, growth, release, and introspection. The new moon is a time for new beginnings, the waxing moon encourages growth and manifestation, the full moon amplifies energy and illumination, and the waning moon invites us to release and let go. By aligning with the moon's phases, we synchronize our actions with the cosmic dance, amplifying our intentions and deepening our spiritual connection.



Honoring the Menstrual Phases: Menstrual Bleed, Follicular, Ovulation, and Luteal

For those with menstrual cycles, honoring the menstrual phases can lead to a profound reconnection with their bodies and inner wisdom. Menstrual bleed brings a time of rest and reflection, while the follicular phase heralds new creative energy and ideas. Ovulation represents heightened vitality and connection, and the luteal phase calls for self-nurturing and introspection. By embracing these menstrual phases, women can enjoy cycles with less negative symptoms, balanced emotional health, more productivity and focus, better physical endurance, and feel more inspired and empowered in all their relationships.



Conclusion

Cyclical living is a timeless and intuitive wisdom that brings us closer to the core of our existence. By honoring the cycles of birth, life, aging, and death; embracing the changing seasons; harmonizing with the elemental forces; dancing with the moon phases, and recognizing the significance of the menstrual stages, we embrace our inherent connection to all of creation. Through this holistic approach, vibrant well-being becomes a natural side effect, as we align our lives with the flow of nature's eternal rhythm. Embrace cyclical living, and embark on a transformative journey that will enrich your life with purpose, balance, and an unyielding sense of wonder.


Author: Amanda Luna is a multi-passionate, Holistic Health Practitioner specializing in

Yoga, Qi-Gong, and Herbalism who teaches and practices the Art of Cyclical Living.


Stay tuned for her upcoming Classes, Workshops, Programs, Retreats & 1-1 Mentoring offerings and follow her on instagram @alunaliving

for free content about holistic health and wellbeing



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Stewardship, often attributed to the practice of managing land and its resources, carries a deeper essence beyond the tangible. The act of stewardship reflects respect, responsibility, and care for all life forms, human or not. And in the context of self-growth, self-stewardship embodies a path of conscious exploration, observation, and acceptance of our inner world, leading to personal transformation and fulfilling experiences.



Self-stewardship is the act of observing ourselves with a neutral and compassionate mindset, similarly to how we might observe the natural world. This requires a neutral mindset that is free from stories, plans, and beliefs. When we apply this neutral lens to our thoughts, feelings, and sensations, we can gain insight into our patterns and habits, which can empower us to make more conscious and fulfilling choices.


Cultivating observational skills is a crucial component of self-stewardship. Nature holds an unexplainable serenity and harmony that teaches us compassion, neutrality, and co-existence. Similarly, through deep presence, we can observe our own inner world without judgment or any filtered lens. Simple practices like settling into a quiet moment, focusing on the breath, and feeling the body's sensations provide opportunities for unbiased observation and centering, which is necessary for ultimate growth.


The journey to self-stewardship can come in different forms, and through various means, one of which can be land stewardship. Starting by learning how to be stewards of the earth, starting with small steps such as growing your food, planting trees, or creating a compost, one begins to understand how to take care of themselves. Ultimately, self-stewardship requires full responsibility for one's life, including owning it, seeking to understand, and keeping the commitment to be a positive guiding force in life.



Embracing the spiral of life, which brings unforeseeable ups and downs, is also a vital component of self-stewardship. Seasons of change in nature are linked to moments of life when we are tested, stretched, and sometimes even broken. But embracing the challenges, accepting them as an opportunity for growth, can be among the most transformative experiences of our lives, just as the changing of seasons can remind us of the cyclical nature of life. Both continuous transformation and the understanding that life is continuously evolving can help with handling the daily gritty moments of life.


Coming full circle, self-stewardship is a journey of self-acceptance, personal growth, and accountability. It requires cultivating the skill of neutral and compassionate observation, connecting with nature, and embracing the spiral of life. In essence, it is connecting with nature by tapping into the most valuable treasure of all, which is within ourselves, opening the possibility for a fulfilling life of self-knowledge, abundance, and purpose.






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Holy Basil Tulsi Plant Profile


Latin name: Ocimum gratissimum – Family: Lamiaceae, (Other variety – Ocimum sanctum syn. Ocimum tenuiflorum )


Holy Basil has been used for thousands of years to support overall health and well being. Originally from India it is revered as the herb sacred to the goddess Lakshmi, wife of Vishnu, the god who preserves life. Ayurveda is an ancient and multidimensional system of healing originating from India that has been around for over 3000 years. In this system Tulsi is considered as a very powerful and sacred plant, giving this amazing basil a long lineage of healing and supporting many generations of vitality! Tulsi translates to "matchless" its rich history shows this herb lives up to its name.


There are 60 different species within the Ocimum genus all are related to the common culinary sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum). Within the Ocimum genus there are two species of holy basil, O. sanctum and O. gratissimum. The medicinal qualities of the two species are relatively similar and taste are slightly different but in general sweet and pungent.


At EcoMaste Ocimum gratissimum, or Vana Tulsi, thriving year round. We use fresh aerial parts of the plant regularly in tea. Tulsi is multifaceted and you can take it internally and topically.



Holy basil similar to culinary basil is slightly warming and pungent. It's a carminative, meaning it supports digestion and eases bloating, nausea and gas. Research has shown that the leaves and flowers soothe general pain due to the constituent eugenol. Tulsi can be used both topically and internally to treat infections because of its antimicrobial effect which fights against viruses and bacteria. It is also known as a cardiovascular tonic supporting circulation and regulating cholesterol levels. The other healing qualities its known for are diabetic remedy, respiratory problems and juice can be applied to insect stings. On the psycho-spiritual side it is known to be a heart opener and used to ease heart-ache, depression, and grief.


Today we hear alot about adaptogens and essentially they are herbs that have a non-specific action but help our bodies self-regulate in response to stress and maintain our overall homeostasis and vitality.


When you begin taking an herb its always good to do your homework some plants have side effects. For example; Tulsi does have some contraindications:

**Be aware this herb can be blood-thinning and should not be taken with blood-thinning pharmaceuticals. Holy basil has also shown success in decreasing blood glucose, which should be noted for those taking insulin to control diabetes. Some sources site tulsi as contraindicated during pregnancy. As always be mindful and diligent and please consult your healthcare practitioner before working with tulsi if you have any of the above medical conditions.**


One of our favorite ways to start the day is with:

Tulsi VitalTEA Recipe

Fresh herbs:

1 part Tulsi Vana

1 part Tulsi Rama

1 part Tulsi Amrita

1 part Thai Basil

1 part Juanilama


Dried herbs:

Juanilama






Make it a ritual and set an intention for your day and give gratitude to all the herbs you used to make your VitalTEA.

Bring water to a boil and add herbs.

Once herbs are boiling turn the heat off. Cover with a lid and let them steep to 15-20 mins. Enjoy the healing benefits and delicious flavors


To learn more about herbs stay tuned and Join Amanda Luna on her

Guide Tropical Medicinal Plant Walks Monday- Friday by appt.







Resources:

Maggie. Holy Basil June 2019 Plant of the Month – Tulsi – Retrieved May 21, 2023 from, https://www.holisticlivingschool.org/2019/05/28/june-plant-of-the-month-tulsi/

Chevalier, Andrew. The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants. Holy Basil-1996, pg 114 .


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