How to Detox without the Commitment

Hey lovely Balanced Souls!

If you haven’t explored the Pagan calendar and feast days, I would suggest that you give it a bit of energy and time.  Why? Well, it is a tradition that honors and focuses on the cycles of the earth and the elements, full of a beautiful lexicon to understand and integrate as we search for understanding our Mystery.  I find that as I tune into, and become more sensitive to these patterns, that Paganism holds space for my experience and says, “Yes, that is valid, and here is why.”  It’s a rich, beautiful place to draw from, and connect to.  It need not shake the ground beneath your FaithFull Feet….although it might just another open door from my Heart to your’s.

According to the Pagan calendar, spring has begun.  Imbolc, which was on the Feb 1/2,  is the moment in the year when we are between the winter solstice and spring equinox in the Northern hemisphere, and the tiniest seeds of potential are planted in us.  The light is returning, and the air has moments of smelling like Growth.  There are lots of ways to honor Imbolc, and Brigid, the Goddess associated with this turning.

My favorite, and what feels extremely natural to me, is to cleanse, gently, during the weeks following Imbolc.  Now, there are a-plenty of ways to cleanse.  Usually I find mySelf breaking a fast because my will leaves the party.  If I am abstaining from sugar, I’ll go buy a cookie, and damned if it isn’t the most delicious thing I have ever tasted.

Harumph.  This stumbling block is one that I am done with, as much as anyone can say that, and have it be true

But! I DO have a different way of detoxing that seems to be working pretty nicely for me, and I hope to stick with it for the next week or two.

I ADD certain things into my diet, and “cleanse” during certain hours of the day.  Outside of those hours, I am not thinking “oh man, I am detoxing so I need to deprive mySelf,” but rather, “Hey I can keep it clean or find something that nourishes this craving, rather than try to get away from it.”

Turns out, when I stop fighting mySelf, things like “clean” eating are really easy!

Here is what I have added: 

Water with lemon in it, in the morning and evening.

Detox tea 1-2 cups a day

Detox bath or foot soaks (in Epsom salt and nice hot water)

Raw fruit and veggies, especially before 1 pm.

I chose to block the hours of waking until 1 pm for my “cleanse” and that is when I do the majority of my movement, green juicing, supplement-taking and the like.  Then, the rest of the day, I eat: protein and vegetables, mostly, but I don’t deny myself anything.  I don’t “stay away” from stuff, except Excess.  Cleansing is becoming more about moderation and really Listening, rather than dictating to my body what it gets, and when.  I have been staying away from processed foods, in general, but that’s natural for me.

If you tend to eat a lot of processed foods, then simply cutting them all out and learning to cook whole foods will help you immensely, and become its own kind of “cleanse” when you do it for an extended period of time.

I also take in extra greens: chlorella, chlorophyll, and tinctures that support liver function, like dandelion and milk thistle.  I prefer tinctures because they are really easy for the body to absorb, but a good quality supplement will work, too.

When I do these things, I am automatically paying more attention, and noticing what makes me feel Vibrant, versus Bogged Down.

I also try to move my body and get warm every day.  Sometimes, it’s yoga with lots of twists and long holds.  Other days, it’s good ol’ squats and push-ups, or floor Pilates. It’s still chilly in the northeast right now, so my desire to go walking in nature wanes.  I am blessed to live in a place that has a yoga room, with sunshine that streams in during the morning hours.  HELLO RADIANCE!  I go in  there, move around, give thanks, and kick up my metabolism.

You don’t need that, though…just move a little bit! Run the stairs, use your own body weight, and look on pinterest or youtube for ideas.

I also Cleanse toxic emotions as much as I can.  I really amp up the gratitude and expressions of Love during this time, when I can.  Don’t get me wrong….I still get grouchy!  But rather than let it soil a chunk of time, I apologize, hug, and move on.  I try to focus on feeling Good…or really, Amazing, as much as possible.

So there ya go….start Loving yourSelf and letting go of the old stuff, by adding things that truly make you feel Wonderfully Authentic.

Enjoy!

I wish you Blessings, ease, and plenty of sunlight

R

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