Health and Wellness with Allison

Mercury in Retrograde (October 4 - 25) Mercury is known as the Rule of Communication . It’s symbol is formed by the circle of Spirit resting between the crescent of Soul and the cross of Matter. Mercury's symbol shows that woman can creatively express herself by understanding how to unite and integrate Spirit, Soul and Matter in to her life. Her ability to express herself depends on her perception , which is also under Mercury's domain. Mercury is used to experience the Soul, express the Spirit, and fulfill one's body. Each person is different with his or her perception and creative expression. How do you see the world? With a Soulful lens, in which you see the Divine Essence in all things? From the Spirit, where you see shapes, colors, lights? Or from the body where you see the world as physical or material? Every individual is able to see the world from all of 3 of these perspectives, but many choose to view the world through one lens. There is no wron

Life Lessons from the Waxing Moon First Quarter to Full Moon are the Waxing phases of the Moon. Light covers more than have of the surface of the Moon and increases steadily during this time. Have you ever noticed that the moon seems to get full fast during this time? This phase of the moon represents the personality of the ego. During this phases of the Moon, you may feel like "blocked" or "stuck" because you are up against an obstacle(s) in life. The Moon represents the subconscious and gives us an opportunity to see what is hidden in our shadow. The experience of facing an obstacle is amplified right now by Pluto in Direct  (a time when our unseen desires surface) and with the recent change of seasons to Fall (the Autumn Equinox is known in esoteric circles as the Great Death a time when our fears are brought to light and we have to Let Go of old ways that no longer serve us). Both happenings dig up "stuff" from depths of our soul so we have a l

When Pluto was in retrograde (April 14 - September 21), transformational energies were working behind the scenes. But now, Pluto has moved in to direct (as of September 22) and our deep desires and hidden secrets are revealed to us . This is an auspicious time for personal transformation . Pluto helps us to see our need for change rather than being forced into the process by others. We encouraged to honestly ask ourselves: What in my life needs to change? And we are empowered to surrender, not to give up, but to Let Go of the old ways of doing things . Pluto represents the underworld and makes us confront our fears and the dark (not necessarily bad) side of ourselves. Sometimes what we fear the most can be our best medicine; so allow the Truth to surface! See your relationships (to people, money, and time) in a new light. Ask yourself: What relationships serve me, and which ones do not? Pluto can help you reclaim your personal power. Pluto represents Inner Earth - th

The New Moon is an auspicious time for purification. My personal ritual practice around the New Moon is to set an intention to Let Go of habits, behaviors, thoughts that no longer serve my higher purpose to create more space within me for my Higher Self/Spirit/Creator to shine brighter and take up more space in my life. For this New Moon, I created salt scrubs to symbolize the physical purification of this intention.   The New Moon is also a great time to start a project. I made an herbal body oil for emotional balance. The oil (made with dried and ground artemisia, white sage, rosemary, olive oil and love!) will sit on my windowsill for one week. The oil will soak up the sun and moon energy for healing and will be opened with the First Quarter Moon.  Salt Scrubs salt scrubs are very easy to make! you will need body salt (i recommend Dead Sea salt) and essential oil (I used Child of Eternity essential oil - a combination of 7 plants: artemisia, white sage, rosem

Mugwort ( artemisia douglasiana) guides a person in healing through their dreams. This Dream Sage herb relieves stress, depression and insomnia, curbs overeating, balances chemicals in the body, and enhances dreams. Mugwort is a powerful herb. It takes time to build a relationship with this plant and to understand its medicine. There are two ways that I take mugwort:  Burning some of the mugwort or Drinking a tea of mugwort with cinnamon. I find that the smoke affects my dreams more, and the tea makes me feel more relaxed. When I use mugwort to influence my dreams, I ask the plant a question before I light the bundle. Asking the plant a question before I go to bed, sets my intention and helps me to better understand my dream in the morning. When I burn mugwort, my dreams are very vivid, somewhat dark, and I wake up tired. (Drinking the tea calms my mind and relaxes my body and affects my dreams but in a subtler way). Mugwort helps me to heal through dreaming. The plant's med

My appreciation for Basil has grown to the next level! As an apprentice with Lucky Six Farms , I am learning how to work with plants and experiencing their healing properties (aromatherapy). And I have recently graduated to distilling herbs for hydrosol and essential oil - yay! This past week I helped distill artemisia californica (sage brush) and basil.  I am using  Basil hydrosol to alleviate my back pain and Basil essential oil to relax the very tight muscles in my jaw.   Before I explain the benefits of Basil hydrosol and essential oil and how to use it, let me tell you what hydrosol and essential oil is.  Hydrosol is "flower water." Hydrosol is extracted from all of the water soluable constituents in the botanical material (flowers and leaves). Hydrosol is much less concentrated than essential oil but has a variety of complex plant components that are never found in essential oil.   Hydrosols are great to use in baths, as facial toners, deodorant, and to

artemisia californica (california sage brush) is a plant for healing.  The Chumash used artemisia as medicine and in sacred ceremonies. The plant is native to Southern California and Mexico but is also found in Northern California along the coast. I first met artemisia while on a school assignment: I was to find a plant and talk with it. I actually found this amazing plant by walking straight into it! I expected to be scratched by doing so, but instead, was welcomed by a sweet minty smell and gentle embrace. A bush of  artemisia appears dry, but in fact the plant is very soft. I wrote later in my paper that I felt I had (re)met an old friend :) Yesterday was my first experience distilling artemisa with Master Medicine Woman Monica ;) from Lucky Six Farms , and I am so happy with the results! The essential oil and hydrosol capture the plant's healing properties and both are perfect additions to your aromatherapy collection. artemisia californica can help detoxify your body,

Basil has been used for centuries by many different cultures to ward of evil spirits, attract mates, and to heal migraines and chest infections. The word basil is derived from "basileum," the Greek name for king. And with its popularity in food dishes and many health benefits, Basil does reign!    You can use this herb in a variety of ways. You can eat the leaves, make a basil tea, use the leaves in a bath, or apply basil essential oil on the body.  The Benefits of Basil: Alleviates migraines and colds . Basil can help with throat and lung infections like bronchitis. Fights mental fatigue. Basil strengthens the mind and heart and improves memory and sharpens the mind. Anti-Depressent. Basil's uplifting aroma helps bring clarity to a confused mental state and lift one out of a depressed mood. The plant helps relieve anxiety and stress.  Relaxes muscles . Basil is anti-inflammartory, soothes the nervous system, and helps calm muscle s

Meditation and Breath Work for Grounding Growing your Roots Meditation To begin, sit comfortably in a seated position. You can sit on the floor cross legged, on a pillow, or in a chair with your feet flat on the ground. Sit comfortably and tall with a straight spine. Allow your hands to relax on your knees or in your lap. The first part of the meditation is the Breath Work (Pranayama) a 4-4-4 breathing exercises. Inhale for a count of 4. Relax the belly and breath slowly and deeply from the pelvic floor, filling the belly and chest. Hold the breath for a count of 4. Notice the "in-between" state of the breath. Then slowly exhale for a count of 4 . As the chest falls, relax the shoulders. At the end of the exhale, draw the navel in towards the spine to push out (gently) the stale air in your body. Once then cycle is done, take a normal breath. Start the 4-4-4 breath count again and continue for 5 minutes. After you have completed the breath work, and feel more rela

Mint's refreshing fragrance and delicious taste makes this plant a popular herb to cook.  It is also revered as one of the best healing herbs.      The two main kinds of Mint used in cooking are Spearmint (photo) and Peppermint. Peppermint contains the chemical menthol which affects the nerve endings in our mouth and gives us that cooling sensation. I have also found that Spearmint, although it does not have that chemical, also has a cooling affect on the body. Mint can provide you with relief from the heat this summer!  Add a couple of leaves to your glass of water or a handful to a pitcher to enjoy the mint flavor. Make a hot tea with the leaves and then combine the hot tea with cold water in a pitcher to make a refreshing iced tea.     Or try combining the mint leaves with a few slices of cucumber together for a deliciously reviving flavored water! Mint heals the body!   Spearmint is a digestive aide, increases metabolism, and is anti-inflammatory.

Spice up your Watermelon this Summer! My good friend Monica has a great recipe that adds a little spice to watermelon and enhances its flavor. This watermelon recipe is so delicious, especially after a hot day! Watermelon is not only a delicious fruit, but also a very healthy food! It is both hydrating and detoxifying. It gives you the electrolytes you need to replenish your body after a long day in the sun, and it helps the kidneys to flush out toxins. The ingredients you will need (serves 2): 1/4 watermelon salt cayenne pepper 1/2 lime Cut watermelon into cubes and put the pieces in a bowl. Juice half a lime and pour the juice onto the watermelon. Add salt and cayenne pepper to taste. Mix the watermelon up with a spoon and  ENJOY!

It's been an emotional winter season for me. And it is in times like these, that I am grateful for my meditation practice. I am reading Pema Chodron's  When Things Fall Apart: Heart Advice for Difficult Times.  In her book, Chodron shares meditation techniques and tremendous insight into the lessons we can learn from difficult times. The Buddha said that a person can meditate at any time and all the time. One can meditate while walking, sitting, standing, or eating by completing tasks mindfully and cultivating awareness in daily life. But we can not bring objective awareness into our actions if at first we do not have a safe place to start. A formal seated meditation practice can be that place for us. As Chodron explains, the cushion is "the safest and most nurturing place" to practice neither indulging in nor repressing our emotions. It is on the cushion where we can learn how to just be with  strong emotions like anger.  I have found that sitting each morning on

Rosemary One of my teachers once told me that the medicine I need grows in my own backyard.  So yesterday, when I was feeling under the weather, I took a walk out back and found a  Rosemary bush. The smell of the Rosemary plant immediately had an affect on my mood. With each inhale of its wonderful fragrance, I felt more calm and centered.   Rosemary is one of the most useful herbs, with culinary, medicinal, and aromatherapy uses. Rosemary...  - improves memory - quickens the senses -increases circulation to the brain -alleviates headaches, hangovers & indigestion  - helps insomnia -calm nerves - decreases stress - stops bad dreams - strengthens the heart  - invokes wisdom, love & loyalty Uses of  Rosemary :  - Add the leaves, essential oil or hydrosol to a bath to soothe achy joints and help the body relax. - Apply diluted essential oil to alleviate sprains or sciatica. Rub on temples to alleviate headaches. -

New Moon Vinyasa Flow A home video to celebrate the New Moon Year (New Moon and Chinese New Year). Watch more of my videos on Youtube. Search Allison Ritter.

Chicken Broth What you need to create delicious, healthy, homemade soups! I've adopted this chicken broth recipe from  http://www.wellwellwell3.blogspot.com/2013/12/an-oldie-and-goodie-traditional-wisdom.html  (thanks, Faye!).  I'm not a big fan of meat, but have enjoyed using chicken broth in my cooking. You can read her blog to learn the health benefits of bone broth :) Ingredients  4 quarts cold water 3 chicken necks 2 tablespoons vinegar 2 onions, chopped 4 carrots, chopped  6 celery stalks, chopped 1 fennel bulb, chopped  herbs and spices to taste: salt, pepper, ginger, nutmeg, corriander, cumin, tumeric... 1 clove of garlic, chopped 1 bunch parsley How To: Add all bones, parts and vegetables (except parsley and garlic) to your pot. Fill pot with filtered water Add salt, pepper and herbs Add vinegar Let sit for 30-60 minutes with no heat Turn on heat and bring to boil Turn heat down and l

Butternut Squash Soup is my family's favorite dish that I make! I recently made my own chicken broth from scratch, and doing so has empowered me to cook delicious, homemade, and healthy soups. I'm still working on some like Cream of Broccoli soup and Carrot Ginger soup, but I'm confident about my Butternut Squash soup recipe. I'm so happy to share it with you! Ingredients: 1 cup of Chicken Broth 2 cups of Water 2 medium-large Butternut Squash (take off the skin and chop into 2" pieces). 1 large yellow onion (chopped but not too small) 1 TBS organic butter Spices: ground cinnamon, fresh nutmeg, salt and pepper What you need: Large pot or deep pan Blender How to: 1. Sauté onions in 1 TBS butter until they start to golden in color.  2. Add chopped Butternut Squash. Sauté for 5 minutes. Grate in 1/4 of a fresh Nutmeg seed (really makes the difference!)  3. Add 1 cup of chicken broth. After 5 minutes add 2 cups of water. Cover the