Gifts of the Season: Juicy Secrets to Holiday Ease.

As we creep deeper into fall and the approaching winter, we long for cozy, hearty foods that feel sustaining as well as situations that are warm and cozy. It used to be that you just ate it and it didn’t matter what time of the year it was, except we had more fruit in the summer.

Now we know that each season not only shows us their gifts, but encourages us to join in. These gifts depend on where you live, thus eating locally is an element. Though if you live in really cold places, there would be snow and whatever is hidden under the snow, yes? I don’t want to dig into snow. What I do want to do is to suggest that you make more rooted nourishing things.

Here are some super simple but delicious and hearty suggestions:

Take all the root veggies you love and even try a couple you don’t love too much and sprinkle them with herbs… I love herbs de Provence, or a combo of your backyard herbs. I also like oregano, thyme, sage, tarragon and even add some fresh slices of ginger for extra warmth. Toss the herbs and olive oil together and put all the cut veggies in this wonderfully infused oil to sit for 5 -15 minutes. Then put the root veggies in a baking pan and roast at 350 degrees. Easy and yummy.

Nothing is more comforting and nourishing then a hearty soup! I am doing the food map diet and every soup organic or not has onions, garlic or beans—all things I can’t have! So I made my own and it was wonderful. Take whatever veggies you want and make your own broth by boiling them down. Pitch the veggies and keep the broth adding 1 can of organic tomatoes, lots of celery, carrots and herbs (any of those listed above will work). You can sauté an onion to give it that great onion flavor (on the food map diet it can be purple onion). Make a big pot so you have it ready when you feel hungry. It will sustain and nourish you. Also this is a great junk food antidote. Have a bowl when your pantry is calling and you won’t ever pick up the bag of chips.

This is the time of year to nourish ourselves. Food yes also soul food. What are you doing just for you to sustain you during the holidays? If you don’t plan it and put it into your calendar it will not happen. I will be going into detail about this in the 2nd part of the 2-part teleclass: 5 Juicy Secrets to Holiday Ease. Make sure to sign up for the replay of part 1 and to access part 2 on December 17th. Then come back to this email and find 5 steps to begin to nourish yourself right away:

1. Pick something that takes you down every year during the holidays and ask for help to do something differently. What will that be?
2. Look at your holiday patterns and sort them out like you would your closet. See which ones serve and which don’t. Make the ones that do really big. Go toward them. Keep choosing them.
3. Look at who and what you react to and start doing the prayer of light around them every day from now till you see them and after. You can find the prayer here on my blog.
4. Look at what you can do that would make you feel more loved. Simple things you can include each day.
   • Meditate earlier and longer.
   • Do 10 or 20 min more yoga or exercise you love.
   • Pay attention to how you go to sleep. If you need support on how to get better quality sleep in a shorter period of time this book, The 13th Month, will help you.
5. Write down something wonderful that you could do that would make you feel loved so you could love more fully.

Making simple and easy changes way ahead of time will keep you from crunching up at the end like a train wreck. There is nothing mystical nor spiritual about burning out at the holidays or any other time for that matter. Do what sustains your spirit for this is the time of the Spirit. Awaken yours so you can in turn awaken others. Rise up you merry gentlemen and women. Sing sing sing. Chant chant chant. Tis the time to allow your voice to be heard. Allow yours to be energetic and uplifting. Wahe Guru.

Deep Love and Blessings to you,

Gurutej Khalsa