Dear Yogis,

We are all familiar with multi tasking.  I have been a single mum with 16 to 20 yoga classes a week to teach (and strong ones too), a house to keep, and children to look after, and very expensive school fees to pay, and a yoga school to run.  Yes, I had a housekeeper to do the washing and ironing, and marginal cleaning, BUT I did the rest.  This morning I was thinking about this, not just about me, but about you too.   I never heard Iyengar talk about  sweeping the leaves or doing the dishes, the same goes for any of the up-there yoga teachers and philosophers.  They all had wives and staff or disciples to run along after them.  I was even thinking of great writers and mathematicians, and the same applied.  Isaac Newton discovered calculus whilst he was self-isolating during the great plague, but I guess he didn’t have to worry about the washing or dinner (or how to entertain the children)?  But we do.

Right now in these “interesting times” we have to deal with reduced classes, the same bills coming in, the children being home schooled probably for a while longer, wondering what is in the cupboards for dinner, and not as much money in the family.  That is why I started focussing on  WILDandWEEDY, because I am a multi-tasker with all the limitations you have.  Even if we get through the troubles this time,  there is no guarantee that it won’t happen again sooner rather than later, so it would be prudent to get some repeatable routines in place. “Here is the bread”.

The only way that I could survive when I had children at home (and now), was by being self-sufficient.  It was easier when children were at home because I had help, but now I have to do most things myself except for the heavy lifting.  I like being self sufficient, I like growing things, I like foraging.. because I know they are making this time easier, and have been documenting what I am doing on the blog… www.wildnweedy.blogspot.com.  I have never eaten better than I do now, and lots  of what I do eat comes from field and garden – not Coles.  It is not hard, it just needs a certain amount of planning, and trust. There is always something provided.  Like manna in the desert sometimes I don’t know what to do with it, but it is always there, and I learn.  “Here is the bread”.  

If you plan to make cheese you just have to plan –  the cheese actually will make itself,  if you just do the basics which take about 5 minutes in between doing other things, same with yoghurt.  Some of my students are even making their own butter.  If you forage for greens or grow a few yourself, and you have butter and cheese.. well things are a whole much cheaper.  “Here is the bread”.

It is the “I can’ts” that take the time.  Just do it.  The children will love to help if you let them, and it gives them another skill. They get a great deal of satisfaction from seeing what they have grown or made appear on the dinner table or lunch. You could even make it part of their home-schooling.  Whilst cooking they could be learning weights and measures, cooking times, vitamins, how much things cost and so on.  It is especially good to have them help you to plan for the next few days.  I used to do this with my children on a Thursday after dinner.  It worked.  I was not a super-mum.  It was just something I worked out to make the days pleasant, and get rid of the word STRUGGLE.

Please look at the blog, and when the book comes out with all the recipes, hints and tips for everything from dinner to furniture polish,  “WILD and WEEDY, the cookbook”, download it, or order the hard copy with a nice cover. I will let you know when I have finished it.  “Here is the bread”.

I have to finish with this thought.  If we allow our WANTS to determine our buying patterns, the result will be chaos, and considerable debt.  This is a time for us all to come to grips with what we are spending, and how, and get rid of ‘thingification”.  This is not trouble, it is training,  Meditation and yoga is essential.   We can’t leave that behind when we get to grips with the reality of practical survival.  When you are close to Spirit then wherever you find yourself is right, and you have provision enough.  “Here is the bread”.  It is not in tomorrow.  Don’t waste today’s Grace trying to fight tomorrow’s battles.  “He who gathered much did not have too much, he who gathered little did not have too little”.

When Albert Schweitzer was travelling in America a reporter asked him why he travelled in the third class section of the train.  He answered “Because there is no fourth class!”

 

HAVE A LOVELY DAY.  STAY WELL AND SAFE…

NAMASTE, Jahne

 

Good morning Yogis….

Let’s start with JUBILEE and then we will get to Jerusalem.  The word “Jubilee” in the bible is a celebration that occurred every 50 years. (Lev.25).  The trumpet sounded calling to “liberty throughout the land and to all its inhabitants”.  The land was sparsely inhabited compared to today, however, all slaves were to be set free. All debts were to be cancelled, and all land returned to its original owner.

Apart from the impositions that Covid has imposed, which are not unlike Jubilee, I can’t imagine that happening today voluntarily,  primarily because we don’t trust the universe (God) to provide, and we certainly don’t trust our neighbours enough to limit themselves in that spirit.  If faithfully executed (and humans being humans I guess sometimes it was not) it would totally eliminate the problem of the rich becoming richer and the poor becoming poorer,  because once in fifty years, every fifty years everyone was on the same footing.  Parents who had sold themselves into slavery knew that their children would not be crushed by this economic legacy. They could have a fresh start, and conversely the wealthy also would know their advantage was not perpetual.

It also meant that land was only useful in so far as the crops it could provide.  Land in this way was not an investment.  The children of Israel did not own the land,  they only had use of it for 50 years.  God said “The land shall not be sold in perpetuity, for the land is mine” (Lev.25:23) .  It is very much the Aboriginal view of land – they believe they are just custodians.  The land looked after, cared for, and divided equitably so that all could benefit.

We have no written evidence of the Jubilee or its execution, what it does show us is the people’s concern for justice and equity.  We can see in this law the special consideration for the helpless and the needy which is always an important ingredient in simplicity.

It is interesting to consider which of the Yamas is/are highlighted by this practice? 

Now for “Jerusalem”.  You might be thinking the place, but no, I mean the plant. The Jerusalem Artichoke.  I planted one bulb years ago, and I now have them all over the garden.  I became disenchanted after gorging myself on the occasion of my first harvest. I became jet propelled if you know what i mean! I lost faith in them but they didn’t lose faith in me, and every year the patch got bigger and bigger, and I gave more away.  I have been more circumspect this year because I have learned how to cook them and take the “fart” out of “farti-chokes”.   That whole tray came from the four stalks in the photo.  They are growing on an old futon which I put in the garden (that’s where they always go after they are replaced).  It traps the moisture, provides a good home for insects and you can see, artichokes love it.

 

If you have artichokes I have found that roasted they are splendid, made into pesto (after roasting) they are delicious (and can be frozen for later)  and pickled they are crunchy gorgeousness.  But never, never,  ever sit down and eat a bowl of pureed artichokes… they can be disastrous.  You can make them into a dessert cooked in milk with fruit, but once again, not a big bowl full.

Enjoy your gardening.  This is perfect weather.

Keep well, Keep warm and keep safe..

NAMASTE, JAHNE

 

 

 

Dear Yogis, 

I’ve been practising LIFE STYLE YOGA  professionally for decades now.  I do hatha, but I complete the picture with “Eat, Breathe, Move and Live” as the basics, not just asana.

We are going through a pandemic, however, there will be another, there may even be round 2 of this one (watch Bill Gates on TED TALKS) .  The best thing you can do is prepare your immune system.  Shutting your doors and hiding in your toilet paper fortress will not be helpful.

For most people contemplating starting a health lifestyle, changing their morning routine no matter how unhealthy, is usually the biggest  stumbling block.   Today the Universe is speaking to you – and the  lockdown has opened up some space for this – don’t waste this opportunity. This is a chance to get into the habit of starting each day for health. This enhances your immunity but also re-programs you internally for positivity so your whole life will change. It starts in the morning.  This is how your body is programmed.

With the lockdown in place it is easy to rationalise sleeping in.  It is easy to excuse randomly working all hours without a plan and without a goal.  It is easy to begin to feel anxious, depressed, deprived and all of the other emotions and feelings that loneliness, or imposed change can trigger. Especially eating… All of this weakens your immunity, and saps your motivation.

My LIFESTYLE YOGA prescription? Gradually (not too gradually) swap all the little habits that weaken your immunity and sabotage your health, for new habits that activate your inbuilt ward-off and bounce-back functions. Starting first thing.  Wake up early, do your yoga, have a shower, take the supplements, have breakfast.

Getting up early is the most powerful medicine for mind, body and spirit and it’s free. I was looking at morning habits of great writers.  The ones who had really made a difference, won Pulitzers, been best sellers.  They were the ones who got up early.  Now you may not want to get up at 4am like Oliver Sacks and others, but how about 6.30am instead of 9am.   Take charge of your morning, you’ll be in charge of your health, your day and your destiny will follow.  You will be in charge.  It is a good feeling.  My cat wakes up at about 5.30 and sits on my chest.  It is hard to ignore and she doesn’t have a snooze button.  She is pretty much in charge, but as she is a Princess and a yogi I just give-in.  Anything else is a wast of time.

Bye the way – I think that getting used to “real life” when the restrictions are lifted will be a challenge too – start your wellness regime TODAY.

 

Keep safe, Stay well…  NAMASTE – JAHNE