
September
September approaches quicker than often expected and can be felt in the changes around and inside us. The still summer nights are slowly transforming as the sun dips lower into the sky earlier in the afternoon and the winds begin to pick up. The weather is less consistent, jumping from cool mornings and hot afternoons. The atmosphere is beginning to dry out while becoming mobile and light from the winds.
From the still steady heat of the summer to the inconsistent cold winds.We’re stepping into our first few days of Autumn.
This time of year can be tough on the physical and mental body. The changing climate and increased winds can create anxiety in the mind while the cooler temperatures and lack of humidity began to dry things out.
Dehydration moves into the body allowing insomnia to set in for some, while others experience an increase in gas and bloating. Vata is rising and pitta has played its role in drying our epithelial tissues!
Now is the time to focus on staying hydrated to support digestion as the temperatures drop. We can slowly transition away from lighter foods by mixing in the heavier sweet and sour flavours. Butternut squash, yogurt, salmon, root veggies and sweet potatoes are being harvested and sold in markets this time of year.
While the winds pick up and that scatterbrained feeling sets we need to create time to settle down and settle in. As summer begins to leave us, it can be tempting to get in those last hikes or that last weekend trip. But the excess of mobility will increase vata in the body and mind only unsettling the qualities present. Spend time at home cuddled up on the couch enjoying a nice warm chia. Spend time in the kitchen, listening to sweet music while cooking roasted chicken and beets for dinner.
During the summer months Tejas is high, motivating us to stay active and move, but all of that heat driven activity slowly burns up our Ojas, leaving us with lower levels of immunity this time of year. The changing climate further affects our immune system by drying out lymphatics and leaves us susceptible to feeling run down. Changing our focus away from the go go go of Tejas to the juicy sweetness of building Ojas will get our bodies ready for the winter months while protecting our immune systems during fall.
We build Ojas through resting our body and mind while enjoying delicious Ojas building treats. Chocolate date bliss balls, almond milk with dates and honey, acorn squash with a dash of brown sugar and cinnamon, or, my favorite, mini date pecan bites, are all wonderful seasonally delicious treats to build and support your ojas right now
If you want to try your hand at making Mini Date Pecan Bites we included the recipe for you!
Ingredients make about 12 cups
2 cups whole wheat flour (freshly ground red and white wheat mixed is ideal)
1 cup rice flour
1 cup coconut flour (optional, could substitute rice flour)
2 Tbsp flax meal
1 tsp mineral salt
3/4 tsp cinnamon powder
1/2 tsp cardamom powder
pinch of clove powder
4 Tbsp ghee
8-12 large dates soaked in ghee for at least 2 weeks (if you can’t wait to try the recipe, you can use dry dates lightly cooked in ghee and water also)
12 whole pecans
water
Mix all dry ingredients in a large bowl with your hand. Add ghee and enough water to make a soft moist dough (not sticky).
Make balls of dough about the size of golf balls and lay them out on a stainless cookie sheet or glass baking dish. Press your thumb into the middle of each ball and shape them into cups with equal thickness of bottom and sides.
Bake in an oven at 375F or 190C for 7-8 minutes and remove.
Place the dates and just a splash of water into the blender and blend to a thick consistency, adding water as needed. Place the date paste into the cup and bake in the oven for 5-7 minutes then remove and cool.
Enjoy each ojas-building bite!