1 Day Women’s ‘Soul-Spa’ Retreat, Byron Bay!

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‘Relaxation is the prerequisite for that inner expansion that allows a person to express the source of inspiration and joy within.’ ~Deepak Chopra

Join me and my very own amazing mum, Alora Waldron (with over 35+ years experience in natural therapies) for a nourishing, juicy, creative and soul-inspiring ~1 Day Women’s Soul-Spa Retreat~ in beautiful Byron Bay to welcome Spring and feed your body, mind, spirit and soul!

We have dreamed up a magical day of: yoga, dance, art-play, sound meditation, sacred ritual, self-massage, ayurveda, visioning, eating (delicious yummy ayurvedic organic lunch and treats) and 2 hours of spa pampering at the luscious Kiva Spa to top it off! …Bliss!

9am – 7pm Sunday 20th Sept, 2015
$127 early bird (until 10th sept) // $147
(over $500 worth of value!)

Book your place here… 

Re-connect with your body, your creativity and your joy!
As the old ayurvedic proverb goes…

‘When the woman is healthy, the family is healthy…’

1 Day Women's Retreat

Looking forward to sharing this luscious special day coming up! 

x Lorien

“There is a vitality, a life force, an energy, a quickening that is translated through you into action, and because there is only one of you in all of time, this expression is unique. And if you block it, it will never exist through any other medium and it will be lost.”~Martha Graham 

Listen to Your Heart Sunrise Silhouette

Wholesome Spring Ayurvedic ‘Green + Gold Soup’ Recipe!

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The chill of winter is starting to fade as the sun begins to rise a little earlier each morning; set a little later each evening and transition back to summer.

Spring is the beautiful in-between season that allows us to slowly say goodbye to winters woolly-weeks and hello to the sprouting fresh blossoms of spring.

In Ayurvedic medicine spring is a very important time of the year for paying attention to the body and practicing mindfulness towards our food and daily activities. With the start of warmer weather, our bodies know that it is time to ‘lighten-up’, cleanse, purify and clear the decks of one season to make room for the next. We go from hibernation mode to being engaged and more easily outward in the world.

In summary: having the awareness and capacity for being able to adapt to the changing environment around you is key factor in maintaining a balances, healthy strong body and mind.

Health is a state of inner-balance!

One of the best ‘foodie’ ways to specifically nourish, balance and gently cleanse your body during Spring is to eat warm, light, easy to digest foods such as Soup!

In the spirit of spring I have prepared a special soup recipe for you to get you on your soupy way!

Stay in tune with your body, spring-clean, dance in the sun and eat soup!

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Ingredients:

  • 1 tbsp ghee
  • spices: 1 tsp of each; cumin, coriander & ¼ tsp fennel seeds
  • 1 tbsp fresh ginger finely chopped
  • 1 tsp fresh turmeric finely chopped & ½ tsp of turmeric powder
  • 1 leak chopped
  • 1 zucchini chopped into small pieces
  • 1 small head of broccoli chopped into pieces
  • 1 stick of celery chopped small
  • 1 cup of pumpkin chopped into cubes
  • 1 cup of green beans chopped small
  • 1 handful of chopped fresh coriander
  • 4 cups of boiling water
  • 1 tsp of sea salt
  •  ¼ tsp black pepper

Creating your soup:

  1. Place a spoon of ghee into your pot on a medium heat and stir in cumin, coriander and fennel seeds.
  2. Stir in fresh ginger, turmeric, turmeric powder and chopped leek; toasting for 2-3 minutes to coat your ingredients in the ghee and spices.
  3. Add your vegetables: zucchini, celery, pumpkin, green beans, broccoli and stir them into the spices.
  4. Add 4 cups of boiling water, sea salt, black pepper and fresh coriander.
  5. Place the lid on and let simmer on medium heat for 15 minutes or until your vegies are soft and cooked.
  6. Serve in your favourite bowl with a garnish of fresh coriander and a few extra cracks of pepper & sea salt to taste.

I hope you enjoy this delicious simple soupy recipe as much as I enjoyed shopping for these seasonal fresh organic ingredients and making it!

Wishing you and your family a beautiful spring!

Wholesome Love & Yumminess!

x Lorien

Wheat-free, No Stress!

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Fresh gluten-free buckwheat pancakes and organic berries for breakfast!! (pancakes made by Mary Murray in Toronto, Canada!) :)

Making the transition from eating wheat as a staple to eating gluten-free / wheat-free grains can be quite a daunting challenge and difficult at first to negotiate for many lovers of food out there who love their bread, toast, bagels, pancakes and pasta!

When choosing to embark on a ‘wheat-free’ journey there can be a lot of stress associated with having to learn to literally ‘eat’ again and figure out by yourself – what you CAN and can’t eat to stay true to your new way of life.

What you may not know is that many gluten-free processed and packaged products you see on the super market shelf are not going to do your body ANY favours… They are just as bad, if not worse.

Cheap and often nasty gluten-free ingredients to be aware of in the supermarket: Corn flour, corn starch, corn syrup, maize, potato starch, tapioca flour & white rice flour. (+Anything that is not labelled certified organic! In a big super-market it will be genetically modified if not otherwise stated.) 

Why go wheat-free?

Wheat has changed A-LOT since humans started first eating it. Through the process of agriculturalisation – the precious and highly revered staple grain for many cultures has become less than a shadow self of what it once was. The nutrients and goodness that wheat may have used to offer has now diminished. Since we eat it so much as its used as a ‘filler’ or main ingredient in virtually everything, our bodies often struggle beneath the surface to deal with the large amounts of this stuff that we eat. It is very easy to eat ‘wheat’ 3-5 times in one single day these days, the supermarket is filled with wheat products –  your cereal, toast, sandwhich, biscuit, crackers, pasta, fancy cookies… it’s all around. Wheat has made it in the big leagues ~ by far the most processed and consumed food product in the western world.

Common symptoms of eating Wheat:

Weight gain, inflammation of joints, arthritis, skin rashes, acne, pimples, obesity, malabsorption, fuzzy head, confusion, tiredness, diabetes, depression, high blood sugar levels, poor digestion, feeling heavy & fluid retention.

You don’t need to live with any of these ailments – they are preventable through looking at your food and lifestyle choices. For many… wheat is the number #1 offender. Simply cutting it out 90% of the time can lead to drastic inspiring results, weigh loss, clear thinking, reduced pain and inflammation plus feeling good about life!

Good news: Choosing Wholesome ‘Wheat-Free’ Alternatives is Easy! 

It doesn’t need to be so stressful! There are SO many delicious wonderful wholefoods you can eat and cook with to replace the wheats throne at your table!

My top ‘Gluten-free’ + ‘Wheat-free’ wholesome kitchen favourites:

  1. Buckwheat pancakes, buckwheat bread, buckwheat crisp bread, buckwheat flour for cooking.
  2. Quinoa flakes for porridge, quinoa flour for baking, whole quinoa for simply eating.
  3. Millet flour for baking, millet flakes for porridge, whole millet for simply eating.
  4. Amaranth flakes for porridge, amaranth flour for baking, whole amaranth for simply eating.
  5. Brown rice flour for baking, brown rice flakes for porridge, whole brown rice for simply eating.
  6. Besan (chick-pea) flour for baking, making pancakes and binding.
  7. Mung bean pasta, adzuki bean spaghetti, black bean spaghetti (there are so many great grain-free pastas available nowadays in your local health food shop – just ask them!)
There are SO many great ingredients and foods that make the body feel good – AND that taste good. Try some of these favourites for yourself and remember, never stress – there is a whole world of delicious, simple and nourishing wheat-free foods out there for you to love and enjoy!

x Lorien

Yoga: Iyengar Inspiration

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‘The yogi realises that his life and all its activities are part of the divine action in nature, manifesting and operating in the form of man. In the beating of his pulse and the rhythm of his respiration, he recognises the flow of the seasons and the throbbing of universal life.’

~BKS Iyengar, pg 41, Light On Yoga.

{original ‘gold om’ artwork + typography by lorien waldron.} 

x Om Shanti 

Kauai Hawaii – Fresh Red Mulberries

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Here is a little (massively juicy) photo from a few years ago on our trip to the magical garden Island of Kauai, Hawaii.

Naturally, the fresh-food-produce scene over there, CAPTIVATED me!  There was a local farmers market held on the island every day of the week. I’m not joking.

Every day! Fresh papaya’s in abundance. Flavours and tastes that had never touched my lips before visiting the Island. It was magical!

One of my most memorable adventures on the island was a walk I did with my Mum and her partner, Brian.

We hiked for 2-3 hours in the most lush, green national park I have ever seen. Along the way Brian gave me a personalised ‘bush-tucker’ tour of our surrounds and these juicy berries that you see in my hand up above, were the star highlight of the whole experience.

Freshly picked wild red mulberries – flowers and all. Straight from the vine. HEAVEN!

So juicy, so delicious, so red, so real. So raw!

I hope to return to this magical island once again sometime soon. I have never forgotten your sweetness dear mulberries or the tranquility surrounding you in your wild luscious rainforest!

I’ll be back! :)

x Love,

Lorien

Autumn Equinox

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Since the first of March, according to the western calendar year, Summer was ‘officially’ over and Autumn had begun.

What!? Autumn! …It still feels like Summer!

On the first day of Autumn however, I found myself at the beach, taking respite in the cool waters of the ocean and enjoying the warm air ~ delicious fresh Papaya by the spoonful and long summer-love-story short, …it certainly STILL felt like Summer!

That is because the seasons don’t stop and start like a machine. Just like we don’t stop and start (when living in balance) like a machine. We are alive, breathing beings, organic in our true nature. Mother nature and her seasons are the same, really we are mini living manifestations of her divine creation. That is a whole other exciting ‘macrocosm’, ‘microcosm’ conversation though… Back to the seasons. Mother nature and her seasons are gradual and as such we must allow ourselves to gradually adapt during a seasonal juncture in order to rebalance to our new and changing environment as well as allow for our bodies and minds to cleanse from the previous season to create a clear fresh space that is appropriate for the current season that is beginning.

Autumn brings an increase in the air + ether elements, (Vata). 

As the cooler air and wind causes the leaves to dry and then fall to the ground. There is a ‘dryer’ and less humid quality to the air as we shift from the heat and moisture of summer to the slightly cooler movement, via wind of Autumn. The earth beginning to prepare for winter!

Seasons are so beautiful, they show us that everything grows, transforms, cycles and evolves… And for harmony to be maintained, this cycle and process must continue ~ year, after year, after year!

Change is what is always constant! It is a blessing and time of ritual and ceremony in many traditional cultures, where the people honour the sacred earth elements.

At all seasonal junctions through out the year, it is important to take extra care of yourself and to listen to your bodies needs as the environment around you shifts.

To balance your Vata, you must respond and adapt your lifestyle habits and routine to suit and harmonise with the changing environment around you.

You may find yourself eating less, eating lighter foods, warmer foods, more nourishing foods and even wearing different clothes as the climate changes, even just subtly.

The official Autumn Equinox 

Yesterday, the 21st of march marked the autumn equinox in the Southern Hemisphere. Equinox meaning ‘equal’ light and dark. From yesterday onwards we will move from having more light and warmth in each day to slightly less as we glide into winter. The opposite is occurring in the northern hemisphere as they move towards the warmth and longer days.

Ayurvedic medicine places great significance on seasonal change as it is important that way have the tools and knowledge to align and re-balance during the various transitions and changes in life for the health of our body, mind and spirit, our optimum wellness.

Spices in the garden

3 Simple Lifestyle Tips for Seasonal Change you can do at home: 

My top #3 Ayurvedic Lifestyle tips for you to smoothly navigate and re-balanced during this seasonal juncture that we are in right now are…

#1 Make sure you give your body adequate rest, I’m talking 7-8 hours sleep each night so your body can rejuvenate and balance out during the night. (I went to bed at 9pm last night and it felt amazing!!!)

#2 Eat warm, light meals to give your digestion a little rest, think soups, kitchari, stewed fruit, steamed vegies… Warm and simple. This is also a great time to do a mini cleanse or soup/kitchari fast for 2-5 days. The best time of year for it! (I made a pot of Kitchari yesterday and have fasted on Kitchari and fresh Papaya during the day today, feels amazing and so great to have a little digestion re-set!)

#3 Drink warm water and warm herbal teas in place of cold drinks during the day, night and first thing in the morning to gently cleanse your digestive system, support your agni, (digestive fire) and ground your mind and body due to the relaxing and healing qualities of warm h20! (I carry a 1 litre thermal drink bottle with me everywhere, filled with warm water so it is easy for me to stay hydrated and drink warm water wherever I am. The best invention ever. Warm water really makes a difference!)

That’s it. Simple awareness of your body, mind, spirit and breath at all times in life ensures balance and harmony to reside within you and allows your bodies natural innate intelligence to shine, re-balance, heal and guide you on your journey inside and out.

Love your body and listen to it’s callings… 

Happy Autumn Equinox beautifuls!

With love and all things yummy and wholesome,

x Lorien

Poetry of Truth

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Truth ~ Satya

We are made of our mother and our father

We are made of the soil and stars…

We are made from the dancing fire, the falling rain…

The clouds and the fresh breeze…

All of this; will remain.

Our task while here is to honour this truth…

You are creation in motion, energy in flow

You are all knowing and all seeing…

Your heart will show.

Listen to her whisper, listen to his call…

Intelligence beyond logic, intuition beyond any fear.

When things don’t make sense any more, comfort in this truth my dear…

All that matters is in you. Never to be lost. Always to be found.

The only quest for your spirit to pursue, is what is false and what is true…

No mind needed, no ego to push and shove.

No battles of thought that get you caught ~ no more drowning panic…

Truth is your path. Like a flame in the dead of night.

Truth is your guide when there’s no answer to wrong or right.

All else will drop away…

Your pure heart,

Your peaceful heart,

Your TRUE heart is here to stay.

Truth my dear, truth is your song,

Truth my love is where you belong.

“Satya (Sanskrit: सत्य) literally means truth, reality. It also refers to a virtue in Indian religions, referring to being truthful in one’s thought, speech and action. In Yoga, satya is one of five yamas, the virtuous restraint from falsehood and distortion of reality in one’s expressions and actions.”

Some Juicy Wholesome Goodness = Is On. Its. Way!

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Hello Beautiful Soul, (yes, I’m talking to you – the beautiful being reading this!) :)

Wholesome Loving Goodness, (my mission)  is going through a magnificent transformation. More than ever I wish to share with YOU inspiration, tools, tips, info ~ holistic living that is nourishing, chemical-free and good for the soul!

  • My Holistic Ayurvedic Lifestyle + Recipe book is coming this year, 2015 – release date to be announced soon!
  • Women’s 1 day and weekend getaway retreats in Byron Bay (and perhaps some other exotic destinations) co-faciliated with my very own Wholesome Mother, Alora Waldron – expert teacher on all things chemical-free, organic and transformational are coming this year, 2015 – dates to be announced soon!
  • Ayurveda+Cooking+Yoga 1 day immersion workshops coming this year, 2015 – dates announced soon!
I’m feeling moved beyond moved to serve communities of families, youth and children in bringing love into food, cooking and life this year. Projects and collaborations to make this dream a reality are underway. This will be the big focus of 2015! 

It’s time to DREAM big friends – it’s time to make the difference you are here to make – starting with the basics, proper nourishment and wholesomeness pure chemical free living so that you and your family, society and the planet, can thrive!

It’s been a while since I’ve shared ‘What Is Up’ – in Wholesome Loving Goodness land. So here you go. I’m so excited and look forward to sharing with you in this magical year of 2015!

++JOIN ME++  If you would like to work with me, retreat with me, cook with me or transform your lifestyle with me in 2015 – if this year is THE year for YOU! …Look to the sidebar on the right of this page and join my Cardamom Pod Newsletter List!

Join me, I’d love to work with you in this powerful year of possibility, 2015! 

“Miracles occur naturally as expressions of love. The real miracle is the love that inspires them. In this sense everything that comes from love is a miracle.”

~Marianne Williamson

x Om Shanti x

Ayurvedic Warm Spiced Milk

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A little warm Ayurvedic spiced morning milk on this cooler summers morning in my fairy garden, all my regular spices to aid digestion (cardamon, fennel, cinnamon, fresh ginger + today a little nutmeg + saffron) plus a little something extra from the beautiful ladies at Ayurbotanicals ~ thankyou for your lovely New Years gifts of your herbal blends!

Today I added a teaspoon of their ‘pure performance’ herbal blend that has specific herbs for strengthening the body and giving extra stamina for the day ahead!

…When the weather is cool and windy, balance yourself out with warm and grounding foods and drinks. Herbal teas, spiced milk, soups, porridge… All the warm yummy things! Your ‘vata’, the air element in your body will thank you for it!

(P.S. Milk is boiled biodynamic raw dairy milk) for this cooler summers morning.

X