ALL OF YOU
Because even your sense of 'not belonging'
belongs so deeply in presence.
And please, do not abandon
that old feeling of abandonment
when it comes again;
commit to never leaving it.
And your unworthiness
is not unworthy,
but an intelligent expression
of the whole!
(Remember it's just a feeling, not a fact).
And your doubts are undoubtedly sacred.
And your uncertainty
is certainly shimmering
with life.
And if you can find
a feeling of lostness,
you can hold it close,
breathe into its delicate heart.
And you can be the home
for the world's homesickness.
So no feeling is a mistake;
feelings come to you for love,
for an embrace as vast as the Universe.
you are the One; your nature is loving; your time is Now.
- Jeff Foster
"Belonging to ourselves means being called to stand alone — to brave the wilderness of uncertainty, vulnerability and criticism. And with the world feeling like a political and ideological combat zone, this is remarkably tough. We seem to have forgotten that even when we’re utterly alone, we’re connected to one another by something greater than group membership, politics and ideology — we’re connected by love and the human spirit. No matter how separated we are by what we think and believe, we are part of the same spiritual story............Belonging is the innate human desire to be part of something larger than us. Because this yearning is so primal, we often try to acquire it by fitting in and by seeking approval, which are not only hollow substitutes for belonging, but often barriers to it. Because true belonging only happens when we present our authentic, imperfect selves to the world, our sense of belonging can never be greater than our level of self-acceptance."
- Brene Brown
Notes on LEMON BALM by ANA
Lemon balm is a lemon scented member of the mint family- it looks almost exactly like regular mint and has a mild lemony scent and flavor
It’s native to Southern Europe.
Lemon balm is calming and simultaneously uplifting.
Lemon Balm is another nervine- it tones and restores the nervous system. It’s particularly indicated for those who tend toward anxiety and nervousness (I drink a lemon balm infusion almost every night)
Studies have shown that lemon balm works by stimulating GABA in the body. GABA is an inhibitory neurotransmitter— basically, helping calm nerve cells so they don’t charge as much. When nerve cells are over-charged, one of the things they do is make adrenaline, even during sleep or while we try to relax.
So again, lemon balm can stimulate GABA, which inhibits or modulates this action.
Lemon balm can be taken alone, but it also plays well with others- meaning it works synergistically with other herbs.
It plays a role in optimizing immune health, digestive health and providing a sense of balance for the nervous system.
In the digestive system, lemon balm has historically been used to calm occasional discomfort associated with indigestion, gas and bloating.
In vitro studies show promise for this herb in helping to promote a healthy immune system by initiating a healthy immune response and promoting health of the cell wall.
Lemon balm has also been traditionally used to support cognitive function
As mentioned, I like to make an infusion. I infuse my lemon balm with chamomile and sometimes, I like to add coconut milk, honey and nutmeg for a cozy bedtime beverage. I call it Moon Milk
Lemon Balm can also be taken as a tincture.
I’ve mentioned Herb Pharm before as being one of my favorite companies to get tinctures from.
If you feel like doing your own introduction for on a marae.
Ko ____________ te māunga
Ko ____________ te awa/roto/moana
Ko ____________ te waka *
Ko ____________ tōku tīpuna *
Ko ____________ tōku iwi
Ko ____________ tōku hapū
Ko ____________ tōku marae *
Nō ____________ ahau
Ko ____________ rāua ko __________ ōku mātua *
Ko ____________ tōku ingoa
The mountain that I affiliate to is _________________________
The river/lake/sea that I affiliate to is ____________________
The waka that I affiliate to is ____________________________ *
My (founding) ancestor is _______________ *
My tribe is _____________________________
My sub-tribe is _________________________
My marae is ___________________________ *
I am from _____________________________
My parents are __________ and ___________ *
My name is ____________________________