March

Astrology
March brings us the astrological new year! If you read the January blog post (and I’m sure you did, why wouldn’t you???) then you know how we feel about goal setting in the middle of winter with the Gregorian calendar’s new year. It feels much more natural to start planting metaphorical and literal seeds in the spring time and Aries energy is happy to help you with that.
Aries is the fire sign, ruled by Mars, that gets everything started. Aries is confident, adventurous, impulsive, energetic, and a good self starter that might have trouble getting things finished. You can embrace this energy by setting goals now. Don’t just set them and forget them, though. If you’re experiencing a lot of enthusiasm, maybe write about the WHY for each goal so you can come back to this energy when you falter. 
In addition to the collective energy that we all experience in each season, we are also personally affected by every sign in the Zodiac, regardless of when we are born. Knowing where you have Aries in our birth chart can help you to make the most of this season. If you have never looked up your birth chart, you will need your birth date, time and location. My favorite app for looking at it is Time Passages. No matter what you use, though, you will get a chart that looks something like this.

It might feel like a lot to look at, but right now we’re just looking for a few things. Namely, we are looking for Aries in your chart. You’ll find the symbols along the outside. Below you can see that I’ve circled Aries. It’s hovering above a red line. Everything inside that red line is located in Aries in my chart. 

Underneath that red line, I have two little symbols. That means I have two planets in Aries. For me, they are Mercury and Venus. If you, too, have symbols in Aries and you’re unfamiliar with them, you should be able to find a list view that tells you what planets are in Aries. 

If you don’t have any planets in Aries, that’s fine! You are going to look at the house(s) that Aries influences next. The houses represent different aspects of our lives, such as our sense of identity, physical health, education, family, etc. In the center of each of these sections of the chart you’ll see numbers 1-12. Depending on the system/method of reading your chart you may have one or two houses in each sign. Here you can see that Aries influences both my 8th and 9th houses. 

So what does this all mean? I like to think that Aries is providing flavor to the planets and houses. For example, I have Mercury in Aries. Mercury is the planet that rules communication. So I may communicate quickly, enthusiastically, and sometimes without a lot of tact or forethought. The 9th house represents higher learning, intuition, and religion. This influence of Aries in this house may lead me to explore a lot of options when it comes to choosing a university or field of study. It could also lead me to passionately defending my own beliefs, sometimes to the detriment of listening to others. 
The way that you work with Aries season cannot be totally summed up in just knowing what planets and houses it influences, but it can certainly give you a starting point for learning about yourself and what feeds your enthusiasm, energy, anger, and initiative. 

Ayurveda and Energy Work 
SPRING IS HERE SPRING IS HERE!!! Well, on the 20th anyway, but it is so close I can taste it! I have finally come out of my home to explore the forests once again. Warm Rayna set an intention to be outside no matter the weather. Then cold Rayna came around and stayed inside my cocoon for most of the winter. But I’ve been coming outside to see the cleavers, speedwell, dandelions, dead nettle, and henbit that have popped up in my yard gracing me with such a beautiful rainbow after such a heavy and difficult winter. Side note: EAT THE WEEDS! These make a wonderful tea for releasing what doesn’t serve you, bringing strength and fortification to your system, especially the liver, and boosting your immune system. Weeds are just plant friends you haven’t met yet ;) 
March rings in true kapha season. Kapha is a blend of earth and water, its qualities include being unctuous, cold, heavy, steady, soft, sweet, stable, and sticky. This is the season where growth unfolds around and within us. Keeping your specific dosha in mind (don’t go overboard on researching “kapha balancing diet” if you are predominantly Vata- you’ll risk increasing your Vata too much), you can incorporate more pungent spices and bitter greens into your diet to ensure there is a balance within this heavier season. 
Now that it is getting warmer, getting out to walk in the first hours of sunlight is said to boost overall wellness! If morning walks aren’t your thing, nature will settle for an afternoon or evening date to connect with the Earth and all of her beings. Earthing and forest bathing are two activities I recommend most after an energy session to get someone to feel grounded. The Earth holds a frequency that supports sleep quality, stress levels, immune system, and so much more! Plus, when we are in tune with our outer nature, we begin to notice our inner nature more and sync up. After all, we ARE nature – not living in or next to it. Forest bathing is a technique that comes from Japan where one simply walks in a forest. Not only do the frequencies of the forest support overall well-being but inhaling the intoxicating scents of the forest is aromatherapy! The smell of pine, humus, flowers, and other plants and trees comes from their volatile oils, which is what essential oils are! I love to offer forest bathing sessions where we go on a trail in a meditative and mindful state to connect back to the nature within and around us. 
If neither of these things are your cup of tea try….. a cup of tea! When my clients say they don’t like being outdoors and/or being barefoot or it’s still too dang cold, I recommend bringing the Earth inside! By mindfully connecting to your tea and all of the herbs within the blend, you are connecting to the frequency and energy of the earth. You are also connecting to the spirits of the plants. Plants hold their own frequencies and offer not just medicinal benefits but energetic benefits as well. Our kapha-supporting blends include Cosmic Chai and Night Sky Chai.