What’s the Tea? Vol. 3: Embracing Your Autumn

The transitional seasons are always my favorites. The welcome shifts in nature (from cold to warmth and barren to blooming in spring; from humid to crisp and green to bright reds/oranges/yellows in fall) bring about a whole spectrum of feelings.

Have you heard the phrase “sad girl autumn”? This is a very distinct, bittersweet feeling. It’s one where you’re very aware of the beautiful colors erupting from the trees and all the joyful fall activities you can participate in; at the same time, you feel that twinge of loneliness. You know the feeling. I experienced it just this past weekend, as I walked along a local trail. The sweet, earthy smell of the falling leaves touched my nostrils, and I felt a deep moment of joy, and then a deep moment of loneliness as I realized I didn’t have someone else with me to share in that joy.

Whenever I feel this way, I turn to cooking and baking, which remind me of what home feels like, smells like, and tastes like. When I got home from my walk, I decided to make my Momma’s apple crisp. The process brought me back home to myself once again. I filmed the process of me baking the crisp, and I made a little video for Instagram with a brief reflection on all this.

Cinnamon | Clove | Coriander | Ginger | Fenugreek | Chaga

  • Cinnamon: A stimulating bark that warms the body and aids digestion

  • Clove: A stimulating spice that improves circulation, treats nausea, and relieves toothaches

  • Ginger: Helps stimulate digestion and relieves nausea

  • Chaga Mushroom: An immune-boosting mushroom; high in antioxidants

  • Coriander: Improves digestion and regulates blood sugar

  • Fenugreek: Anti-inflammatory; contains maple flavor notes

Like a Leaf

May I be like a leaf—

coming into the world bright, vibrant

alive,

showing my full self

without abandon,

with full vulnerability

and strength to know

I’ll withstand the elements.

May I be like a leaf—

embracing every season as

life shifts, with

true colors on display.

May I be like a leaf—

letting go when it’s my time to leave,

breaking away from the attachment,

and fall softly,

gently,

to the ground.

And may that part of me

nourish my foundation

and make it all the stronger

for my body and soul

to stand on.

—a poem I wrote in November 2020

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What’s the Tea? Vol. 4: Moving Through Anger

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Choosing Ingredients for a Tea Blend: Medicinal Benefits