Welcome to Day 5!
I hope your first day of kitchari went well. During the Ayurvedic cleansing process we can gain more balance in our emotional and spiritual life as well. With less energy devoted to digestion we can devote more energy to our spiritual pursuits. With less toxins in our bodies we can begin to clear the toxins from our minds. This is a great time to self-reflect and get clear about what you want out of your life moving into a new season. Autumn is, after all, nature’s time to let go, to let old things decompose and produce fertile ground for new things to grow. I've created a guide to help you get started on these reflections. You can answer the following questions to help you get clear about what is no longer serving you and to begin setting the stage for spring growth. Think of these reflections like the tulip bulbs you’ll plant in November - get these bulbs of self awareness in the ground and let them overwinter for a beautiful and abundant spring growing season.
Self-Reflection
What am I ready to let go of?
What habits, expectations, stories, or commitments no longer serve the person I am becoming?
What needs my attention and care right now?
Where in my life am I being invited to slow down, reconnect, or create more space?
What do I want to cultivate in the season ahead?
What qualities, experiences, relationships, or ways of living do I want to give more time and energy to?
By now you might already be getting tired of eating only one dish. Be sure to review the article I posted in day 3 with tips and ideas for how to dress up your kitchari. If you still need more variety you can substitute oatmeal for kitchari for your morning meal. I like to add vata pacifying ingredients like pureed pumpkin, cinnamon, ghee, and oat milk to my oatmeal.
If it’s snacks you are craving soaked almonds (with the skins removed) are a good choice. And my favorite vata pacifying snack food is sautéed apples:
1 apple chopped or cut into small wedges (choose sweet varieties of apple like honeycrisp, fuji, or gala)
1/2 TBS ghee
1/4 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp nutmeg
dash of mineral salt
Melt the ghee in a small skillet, then reduce heat to low. Add chopped or wedged apples to skillet and sprinkle with cinnamon, nutmeg, and mineral salt. Slowly sauté the apples in ghee, stirring occasionally to combine spices. Continue cooking until the apples reach your desired level of softness.