Mind Body and Subtle effects of Cordyceps Sinsensis

Cordyceps Sinensis is a parasitic mushroom that grows out of the head of a caterpillar.  Known for thousands of years as a powerful tonic herb, it has in the last 30 years been hybridized to more strongly express its beneficial attributes.  With its long history of use in Asia, it has relatively recently become known in the West primarily after Chinese Athletes broke 9 world records at the '93 National summer games.  Suspicion arose that they were using performance enhancing drugs, but were found to only be using cordyceps. 

Cordyceps is a lung tonic and known to increase endurance.  Cordyceps is said to increase our ability to harmonize mind body.  Cordycpes strengthens the skeletal system and joints with a special affinity for knees and ankles.   For this reason it is a highly valuable tool for people with an intense Asana or Hatha practice.  Modern studies have showed that cordyceps increase energy production in mitochondria and increases oxygen uptake by the lungs.

Like any good tonic herb cordyceps is known to be a sexual tonic, and given to women to increase fertility.   Cordyceps is also said to increase sexual endurance and cure impotence.  Cordyceps clearly has a tonifying physical affect on the sexual systems of the body.  Energetically cordyceps may assist our ability to awaken and harness Kundalini.  Sexual energy is intrinsically linked to life force energy, and skillful use and maintenance of this force is paramount for yoga practitioners.

Cordyceps is very beneficial to the immune system and increases immunity against bacteria, viruses and fungus.  Cordyceps is being heavily researched in China as a cancer cure.

Cordyceps is a supreme brain tonic.  Cordyceps is said to increase mental clarity and create better mental focus. 

Cordyceps has traditionally been consume as a broth, all though the rarity and power of this mushroom make it very expensive.  Perhaps the best way to consume cordyceps today is as an extract. 

We have laboratory grown cordyceps sinesis that is then hot water extracted to 10 times the potency.   It has an strong but not unpleasant nutty flavor which combines well in a smoothie or tonic elixir.  Available here.

Guided Yoga Practice 3: City Becomes OM

Why anyone thinks Meditation is Boring?

This is a "concept" that has come to me in meditation on a few occasions.

What is there was a lifeforms that we could not see, because in our three dimensional perceptive awareness, the manifest aspects appeared to be something else.  What if the 3-dimensional physical world supported non-material beings, which were primarily manifest in higher dimensions.  What if there was a whole kingdom or "life", which three dimensionally is expressed as systems, of which plants, fungus, animals and nature are the cellular building blocks or provide non-material nourishment to consciousness as far advanced from humans as humans are from single celled organisms.

Could it be the complex organization of our society enables, allows or is food for subtle, energetic anatomy of a more advanced awareness than human.   That we are only a rung on a ladder of consciousness levels, and the only reason we don't see those above is is because our perspective is too small. Or perhaps the existence of higher beings is simply

New Guided Practice

Yama and Niyama

Yama and Niyama are fundamental but often subtle energetic distinctions....  Simply these are the does and don'ts of a practice of awakening.  These are often mistakenly taken as moral guidelines or judgement.  Yoga practice is a practice of awareness of the non-dual self, or remembering that opposing forces which appear to be separate are non-separate.   Rigidly holding to ideas of "this" and "that", "right" and "wrong" can actually be an obstacle awareness of "this" as non separate.  In Yoga there is no "right" and "wrong".  These are relative terms... Something that is right for one person, may be wrong for another.  The archetype of the Goddess Kali, Destroys all that is in her path, but of coarse destruction becomes new life.  We might object to humanity being wiped off the earth, but animals on the verge of extinction might appreciate it....

The object of practicing Yama and Niyama is yoga.  Practitioners have found the the energetic effects of a the Yama and Niyama practices are conducive to the state we call Yoga.  Don't take these as dogmatic rules that you "have" to do.  Everything leads back to Yoga eventually, including action that in the short run (many lifetimes) may cause bondage and suffering.  These practices are meant for those seeking transformation, they are to prepare the way for greater energy and awareness to manifest in the experience we call life.....

Some Fun Kelp Recipes, that Kids might like

So I've had a surprising number of conversations recently with people struggling with how to incorporate kelp into their family's diet.  If you're like "wait... what, Kelp?" click here.

Now take into consideration that my daughters have never had refined sugar, and its gettin' on 15 years since I have, but....

We've been working the kelp from quite a few different angles, one of my favorites is in "smoothies".... Not just any smoothie, Kelp can throw off the taste of a mere fruit smoothie, but what I've found is that it blends well with creamy, nutty, malty type flavors....

Another recipe approved of by my 2 year old daughters is this.....

Emerald Almond Butter

2 cups soaked almonds
1/2 cup coconut oil
2 teaspoon maca powder
2 teaspoons he shou wu extract
2 teaspoons reishi extract
2 tablespoons Chlorella powder
2 tablespoons Kelp (or to taste)
1/2 teaspoon stevia powder
2 teaspoons powdered zeolite
2 teaspoons shilajit

optional:
honey to taste

this combined in the food processor until the consistency of a nut butter.

If needed you can slowly add liquid.... water, or chaga tea work nicely...
The idea is o get as much Kelp in as possible without the taste being overpowering.