In the psychological thriller movie, Black Swan, Natalie Portman gives an academy award winning performance as a shy, prim and proper ballerina who tries very hard to be perfect as she prepares for her role as Swan Queen in Tchailovsky’s Swan Lake  ballet.There’s only one problem. She’s human. The black swan of her repressed ambition, jealousy, passion, and rage undoes her.

Right now a black swan swims in the backwaters of your unconscious and mine. Depth psychologist Carl Jung called it the “shadow” It’s the weaknesses, imperfections, faults, and instincts which we hide from others and ourselves by repressing them into our unconscious. The saint’s shadow is the sinner within; the sinner’s shadow is the saint within. The shadow or black swan is the disowned part of our psychological wholeness.

Despite our every effort to be good, here and there the black swan’s persistent beak pokes through the chinks in our goodness. We get into a snit because someone takes too long in the grocery line. We grab a parking space for which someone was waiting. We go into a rage because someone cuts us off in traffic.

From childhood we are trained to fit into society as “good” persons. Yet being socialized is only an initial stage of development. Being “good” by denying, cutting off and repressing parts of ourselves seems simply a matter of psychological tidiness.

Yet life and you and I are more complex than tidiness. Without preference life sustains both the month-old puppy that leaps towards you with unbounded love and also the eagle which sweeps down and carries the puppy away in its talons. The special forces soldier who by night lovingly twirls the curl of his sleeping 5-year-old daughter’s hair, by day “offs” others’ children protesting in the square.

If left unacknowledged, the black swan will undo us. The gay basher will be discovered in a back seat dalliance of the same sex. The preacher will be found in a motel with a prostitute. Yet the black swan’s beak does not poke to attack, but rather to be fed with the light of our awareness. Why? Within us resides a psychological drive to individuate (to realize one’s authentic Self) which is a stage of development beyond simply being “good” or socialized.

In part individuation results from our reconciling ourselves to the givenness of all that we are: the light and the dark. As we acknowledge the black swan, we free it from the backwaters of the unconscious. Neither do we act out, nor do we hide out. We strive for the moral courage to be neither better nor worse than we are but rather as we are. No longer do we labor at goodness, but rather at psychological wholeness.

Carl Jung warned that if societies do not attend to their collective shadow, then genocidal persecutions and world wars can result. Our era of failing institutions and broken social covenants is fraught with the dangers of unleashed psychological and social chaos. We each can do our part to safeguard each other by integrating our own black swans.

The Wisdom of  Nature

The ancient Taoists were aware of the necessity to align with nature and own our place in the web of life. All ancient indigenous cultures lived with this awareness according to their own cultural and environmental surroundings.

The 5 Element System of nutrition and lifestyle is a model of this awareness that gives people a map to live by. The Taoists were taught this model of life, death and transformation by observing nature and receiving her guidance. When we are in alignment with this energetic flow of the natural world we easefully become part of the universal creative energy that flows through all there is. When we are out of alignment we feel cut off, separated and alone resulting in illness on the physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual levels.

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Once a month I volunteer in a home for women in recovery, part of my aromatherapy seva and one of the more rewarding things that I do with essential oils. It was pretty obvious when I showed up last Thursday that almost all of the women in my class were suffering from major anxiety. Very few of them could sit still, nor could they resist the urge to talk out and talk over each other and me. So I quickly passed out some lavender oil, giving them each a few drops in the palm of their hands and instructing them to massage the oils into the back of their necks.

I then asked them to cup their hands over their noses and inhale deeply three times.
There was only one woman who did not like the smell, turning up her nose and letting us all know in no uncertain terms, that the fragrance was most unbecoming to her. Everyone else seemed to really like the fragrance, and immediately begin to soften their edges.Lavender is one of the most calming of all the oils and I like to start my sessions with lavender, as it begins to relax the central nervous system, which is why I like to massage it directly onto the neck, so as to penetrate immediately into the central nervous system which extends along the side of the spine. It takes a few minutes for that action to occur, but it is not too long after that I can perceive a subtle shift in the energy, with it dropping down a few degrees.

The inhalation serves to calm the portion of the brain associated with stress, not only the mental processes that spin wildly with thoughts, but also the emotional centers which process our thoughts and hold onto feelings, happy, sad, depressed, etc.. In addition to the emotional centers, the portion of the brain that is responsible for addiction, is directly affected by the olfactory system.

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These few weeks in gymnastics, it’s been tough. All of our conditioning leaves me sore, and no matter what I do, I can’t seem to tumble well on floor. Yet, it’s one of those things I love, and a lot too, so I try as hard as I can as long as I can. A couple weeks ago, it dawned on me that I have a real shot of moving up to level 6! So, impossibly, I tried harder.

If I had to stay without Gymnastics for a long time, I would most likely be uncontrollable with all my energy. It is like a sunburn on the back of your neck. You can’t get rid of it until it’s gone. Most of the time, Gym is either super hard and you want a rest or it is so fun, you wish you could stay forever. I really do hope I move up, because Gymnastics gives me sugar, the kind of sugar that makes you feel strong, mighty, and important. It’s the kind of sugar that makes everyone around you, and even myself, HAPPY! Happy is all you need in life!

Gymnastics rocks!!

Allergy season is upon us again. 35 million American’s suffer from seasonal allergies, also known as “hay fever” and “seasonal allergic rhinitis.” These allergies occur when we inhale pollens and mold spores from flowers, trees, grass, and even weeds.

Some of us also suffer allergies indoors from dust mites and dander from our beloved four-legged friends.

No matter what the source, we all know what allergies feel like: itchy eyes, runny nose, sneezing, scratchy throat, headaches. The symptoms of allergies are to say the least, unpleasant. So we pop antihistamines for any relief we can get, even though we know that antihistamines and allergy medicines, although fast-acting, can have harmful side-effects and can do more damage than good in the long run.

As a long time allergy sufferer myself, I wanted to know more about what I could do to alleviate my allergy symptoms without drugs.

I believe in Ayurveda and natural remedies to strengthen the immune system so the body can fight allergies. I’ve written this article to share with you the natural ways you can feel better, without having to suffer from the unpleasant side-effects of taking drugs!

5 Ways to Win the Battle Against Allergies Naturally!

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Imagine yourself riding a wave. If you don’t stay balanced and ride out the wave completely, you could easily drown. Riding this wave of transformation requires becoming one with it, feeling every motion, twist and turn it takes. You have to position yourself perfectly in the sweet spot to hang on for the ride of your life. The wave gives you a memorable experience that will change you forever. You feel the thrill of merging with an awesome power.

When we merge with this wave we are given the opportunity to experience an outrageous ride that integrates life, death and transformation; cycle after cycle supporting us to live by nature’s law.

What on earth does this have to do with food? Seasonal local food grounds us and supports the balancing on this wave, which keeps us healthy. Nature nourishes us in a way that supports us to feel the sweet spot on this wave and have an incredible, transformational ride through life. We become and embody this wave of energy.

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One of my favorite memories as a 9 and a half-year-old was making my first fairy house. It was so much fun to do this with my brother, Jake. We did an easy house, but decorated it to be fit for a queen, or a king. We combined our ideas, as well as a couple of my grandmas, and pretty soon we had a memorable, beautiful fairy house! Jake himself told me he wanted me to share with you what we did so that you can have a good time just like we did while you make your house.

Here is how.

1. Find 15-20 sticks that are around a foot tall and are around the same size.
2. Find a spot in your garden where it is natural, and where you think is perfect.
3. Form your sticks in a tepee shape. You may also lean HALF the sticks against a tree.
4. Make a roof! (Optional.) Find some pretty leaves and cover up what you feel should be covered.
5. Decorate! Dig a hole and put in a bowl to make a pool! Find a flat rock to make a table and stick some tacks into the ground to make chairs. Hang jewels from a near by bush or tree. Any other idea? Add it!
6. To make the fairies welcome, add some small pieces of fruit to harvest on and maybe the next day, you’ll get a letter! You’ll know they came by the sparkles!

I hope you have as much fun as we did!

I woke up that morning staring into the eyes of my grandma Lala. Immediately, the flood of images from the night before came to me. I met Lyeda, my guardian angel,and drifted off to sleep with her green eyes watching over me. “Good morning!” I said to Lala. “Good morning sweetie! You slept in late today!” Lala announced.

Suddenly, I was back on the beach with Lyeda. “Go to the fairy garden”, she told me. “I have a surprise for you!” I sat up quickly, followed by Lala. “I think we should go to the fairy garden Lala. Lyeda wants me to go there. “I would love to do that, Sami!” she replied. I excitedly jumped up, and put on Lala’s comfy purple silk robe

.“I dreamt about Lyeda all night, Lala!” I exclaimed. “I dreamt about my guardian angel too!” Lala admitted. We walked into the corner of our garden marked off with rocks. The ground was covered in different kinds of green plants. Also, behind the plants were flowers and fairy dust surrounded by a giant tree stump. But there was something new. On the mossy stump was a shiny silver box, which looked about the size of a shoebox. “Open it Sami!” “Ya! Okay!” I whooped. I was stricken. Lyeda was real, sweet and all mine!

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“Lay down” says the familiar, angel voice belonging to my grandmother. I obeyed, not knowing what for, but simply because I trusted her. I got into the bed that we had so many memories in and she told me to lie on my stomach. Then she put her warm hands on my back and asked me in a soft tone “Would you like to meet your guardian angel?” I excitedly answered, “Yes!” “Alright. Close your eyes,” Grandma Lala said. Again, I obeyed, but with this new excitement in me, it was an impossible task. “I want you to picture yourself in a happy place,” Lala said.

“Where are you?” she asked. “I am on the beach with mommy, daddy and Jakey. I don’t know where, but it seems familiar, and it’s very warm,” I informed her. This was one of my favorite illusions, being on the beach with my family. I can always see the water rushing up towards me, giving up and then sending more waves again to attack me. I pick up shells, running to Jake and mommy to show them off. “Good” said Lala, bringing me back to life. “I want you to look for your Guardian angel,” she announced.

I closed my eyes again, stepping into the other dimension. “This is like Alice in Wonderland,” I murmured. All of the sudden, I saw something I hadn’t noticed before. “I see it! I see it Lala!!” ”What is it? Who is it? Is it a girl or boy?” Lala asked excitedly.

I walked up to a cave on the beach. Inside, I could easily see the outline of a cat. A CAT! Its eyes were amazing. A green so bright it seemed like it would glow in the dark. It stepped out into the light. I lost my breath from its beauty. It had orange fur with an occasional white spot. Who are you? I somehow asked the cat. My name is Lyeda, and I am your protector. We’re gonna be best friends in no time! Said the sweet girley voice. I instantly felt relief. I have to go now. See ya later! I opened my eyes.

“Her name is Lyeda! She is a beautiful cat with big green eyes and fluffy orange fur.” “Congratulations!” replaid Lala! “Now you must go to sleep,” she whispered. I closed my eyes, and Lyeda appeared behind my eyelids. She sang me a lullaby and in a matter of seconds, I was asleep.

To be continued…