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Have you turned on your air conditioning yet? I don’t know what it is about 2020, but a hot and humid Small Fullness seasonal node is not what I expect from Minnesota. This year is weird. But hey, at least we are getting thunderstorms now. Last week we entered the second seasonal node of summer and this post will cover the diet and lifestyle changes we should keep in mind as we move more deeply into the season of fire.

Staying Cool during the Small Fullness Seasonal Node

Have you turned on your air conditioning yet? I don’t know what it is about 2020, but a hot and humid Small Fullness seasonal node is not what I expect from Minnesota.

This year is weird. But hey, at least we are getting thunderstorms now.

Last week we entered the second seasonal node of summer and this post will cover the diet and lifestyle changes we should keep in mind as we move more deeply into the season of fire.

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By Jessica Gustafson, ago
If there has been one comfort during the Corona-crisis it is the constant of change. The natural world’s impetus for change can’t be denied or prevented by any being, mammal or virus, on this planet. Nothing lasts forever and neither will this. Regardless of everything that’s happened since February, the seasons march on. Spring has shifted into summer. The expansiveness of summer is palpable and now more than ever you have the chance to harness that change for greater health. But first, a little explanation about why I’m telling you that summer started at the beginning of May. Cover image and featured photo by Karolina of Kaboompics.com via Pexels

Finding your Fire in the Beginning of Summer

If there has been one comfort during the Corona-crisis it is the constant of change.

The natural world’s impetus for change can’t be denied or prevented by any being, mammal or virus, on this planet.

Nothing lasts forever and neither will this.

Regardless of everything that’s happened since February, the seasons march on. Spring has shifted into summer.

The expansiveness of summer is palpable and now more than ever you have the chance to harness that change for greater health.

But first, a little explanation about why I’m telling you that summer started at the beginning of May.

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By Jessica Gustafson, ago
April is over halfway gone and summer is finally on the horizon. Our windows are at least cracked most days and Minnesota had its first thunderstorm. And with that rain and lightning came the final seasonal node of spring: Grain Rain. Like Clear and Bright, the Grain Rain seasonal node is both wood and earth, carrying the upward energy of generation and the tumultuous energy of transformation. There are steps we can take to harmonize these two energies, ranging from how to eat to how to journal. But as always, the first step to resonating with a seasonal node is to understand its flow. Photo by Rocsana Nicoleta Gurza from Pexels

Grain Rain: Transformation into Summer

April is over halfway gone and summer is finally on the horizon.

Our windows are at least cracked most days and Minnesota had its first thunderstorm. And with that rain and lightning came the final seasonal node of spring: Grain Rain.

Like Clear and Bright, the Grain Rain seasonal node is both wood and earth, carrying the upward energy of generation and the tumultuous energy of transformation.

There are steps we can take to harmonize these two energies, ranging from how to eat to how to journal. But as always, the first step to resonating with a seasonal node is to understand its flow.

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By Jessica Gustafson, ago
While we’re all adjusting to stay at home orders the world around us marches on. This past weekend the spring equinox seasonal node shifted to the clear and bright seasonal node. It’s this inevitability of change that is giving me a foundation of hope and positivity in chaotic times. The only universal constant is change. Cycles persist. So, while our lives are wrought with emotional anarchy, social disharmony, and disruption to our routines, maybe we can find solace in the quiet, patient turn of the seasons. And to do so for the next two weeks, we turn to the wisdom of the clear and bright seasonal node. Featured image and cover photo by Dom J from Pexels

Clear and Bright: Centering and Growth for Spring

While we’re all adjusting to stay at home orders the world around us marches on. This past weekend the spring equinox seasonal node shifted to the clear and bright seasonal node.

It’s this inevitability of change that is giving me a foundation of hope and positivity in chaotic times.

The only universal constant is change. Cycles persist.

So, while our lives are wrought with emotional anarchy, social disharmony, and disruption to our routines, maybe we can find solace in the quiet, patient turn of the seasons.

And to do so for the next two weeks, we turn to the wisdom of the clear and bright seasonal node.

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By Jessica Gustafson, ago
Reverie hit a milestone moment a few weeks ago: I hit 100 posts. I know that this seems like a small thing but in the middle of having to close my clinic due to the coronavirus crisis and the drastic shifts I am making in my life to accommodate for that, I’ll take any glimmer of sunshine I can get. I wanted to do this post for my 100th post but other things took precedence. After all, this blog is here for you: as a reference to my patients and as a resource to everyone else. But whether you are a regular blog reader or not, 100 posts is a lot and it’s quite possible that you may have missed some of the most popular posts I have to offer. So that’s what today’s post is: a round up of the 10 most popular posts over the past two years. I hope that you can find something that serves you. Featured image and cover photo by Malte luk from Pexels

Milestone Moment: Reverie hit 100 posts!

Reverie hit a milestone moment a few weeks ago: I hit 100 posts.

I know that this seems like a small thing but in the middle of having to close my clinic due to the coronavirus crisis and the drastic shifts I am making in my life to accommodate for that, I’ll take any glimmer of sunshine I can get.

I wanted to do this post for my 100th post but other things took precedence. After all, this blog is here for you: as a reference to my patients and as a resource to everyone else.

But whether you are a regular blog reader or not, 100 posts is a lot and it’s quite possible that you may have missed some of the most popular posts I have to offer.

So that’s what today’s post is: a round up of the 10 most popular posts over the past two years. I hope that you can find something that serves you.

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By Jessica Gustafson, ago
At 9:30 AM last Tuesday, I got the first question from a friend: “How do you manage to work from home?” Over the course of the week, more of the same trickled in as friends and patients alike were thrust into new routines because of quarantine. Some people are having a hard time adjusting and this is especially true for friends and patients with kids. Before quarantine, a quiet joke among work from home parents was that we were seen as hobbyists. “Like, what do you even do all day?” Eve 👏 ry 👏 thing 👏. Now that everyone who can is being thrown into the work from home lifestyle, the nation is lifting the curtain on the reality of multitasking, connected parenting, and productivity that we work from home parents have been trying to tell you about. This blog is the tip of the iceberg of what I have figured out as a work from home mom over the past few years and I hope that it can serve you through this quarantine and beyond. Featured image and cover photo by Plush Design Studio from Pexels

Six Tips to Work From Home More Productively

At 9:30 AM last Tuesday, I got the first question from a friend: “How do you manage to work from home?”

Over the course of the week, more of the same trickled in as friends and patients alike were thrust into new routines because of quarantine. Some people are having a hard time adjusting and this is especially true for friends and patients with kids.

Before quarantine, a quiet joke among work from home parents was that we were seen as hobbyists. “Like, what do you even do all day?” Eve 👏 ry 👏 thing 👏.

Now that everyone who can is being thrown into the work from home lifestyle, the nation is lifting the curtain on the reality of multitasking, connected parenting, and productivity that we work from home parents have been trying to tell you about.

This blog is the tip of the iceberg of what I have figured out as a work from home mom over the past few years and I hope that it can serve you through this quarantine and beyond.

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By Jessica Gustafson, ago
Can you believe that spring is only a couple of days away? At least, spring as the modern Western world understands it. For those of us who work with the seasons for preventative health, we’ve been working in spring for about six weeks now. But on Thursday, the yang of the day will be equal to the yin of night and every day after that will bring us closer to the summer solstice. Are you ready? Do you have the reserves of energy necessary for the hard work of summer? Is the machinery of your life in proper working order to manage the generative and expansive energy of the coming months? Not sure? Read on. Featured image and cover photo by Tabitha Mort from Pexels

Flow Freely with the Spring Equinox

Can you believe that spring is only a couple of days away?

At least, spring as the modern Western world understands it. For those of us who work with the seasons for preventative health, we’ve been working in spring for about six weeks now.

But on Thursday, the yang of the day will be equal to the yin of night and every day after that will bring us closer to the summer solstice.

Are you ready? Do you have the reserves of energy necessary for the hard work of summer? Is the machinery of your life in proper working order to manage the generative and expansive energy of the coming months?

Not sure? Read on.

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By Jessica Gustafson, ago
We need to stop panicking about Covid-19. Covid-19, otherwise known as the novel coronavirus, 2019-nCoV, and as “the coronavirus” is a mutation of a common upper respiratory infection that has been making headlines for everything from its death toll in China to cleared shelves at Costco. Friends and patients alike have asked me for my opinion about Covid-19 and I thought I would write a newsletter to send out. And then it exploded into an essay. Fair warning: this is a long read regarding what a coronavirus is, other coronaviruses you may know of, Covid-19 compared to influenza, the real dangers of Covid-19 beyond symptoms, and what you can do to protect yourself and others. Featured image and cover photo by Susan Jane Golding via Flickr

Teasing fact from fiction: how to respond to Covid-19

We need to stop panicking about Covid-19.

Covid-19, otherwise known as the novel coronavirus, 2019-nCoV, and as “the coronavirus” is a mutation of a common upper respiratory infection that has been making headlines for everything from its death toll to cleared shelves at Costco.

Friends and patients alike have asked me for my opinion about Covid-19 and I thought I would write a newsletter to send out. And then it exploded into an essay.

Before we get into it I want to be abundantly clear: Covid-19 is serious. Deadly serious. You might be fine. You might catch it and feel like you only have a minor cold. Or you might catch it and spend the next four months recovering your ability to breathe.

I mention the flu A LOT in this piece. Covid-19 isn’t a “bad flu.” And to understand the difference we have to get down to basics.

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By Jessica Gustafson, ago
How’s your posture right now? Do you remember your drive in to work today? What did your lunch taste like? How many of those questions are things you didn’t even think about until you read the words? We spend so much of our time in mindless routine, thinking the same thoughts and preforming the same actions and we don’t even realize it. Mindful eating is a way to change that. By becoming fully present in such a mundane activity, we can habituate ourselves differently. Food is more than nourishment. It had a look, a feel, a taste, a smell, and a sound. And by engaging all of your senses in the consumption of your food you can change your world just by training yourself to truly perceive it. Featured image and cover photo by Daria Shevtsova from Pexels

Hack Your Brain with Mindful Eating

How’s your posture right now?

Do you remember your drive in to work today?

What did your lunch taste like?

How many of those questions are things you didn’t even think about until you read the words?

We spend so much of our time in mindless routine, thinking the same thoughts and preforming the same actions and we don’t even realize it.

Mindful eating is a way to change that. By becoming fully present in such a mundane activity, we can habituate ourselves differently.

Food is more than nourishment. It had a look, a feel, a taste, a smell, and a sound. And by engaging all of your senses in the consumption of your food you can change your world just by training yourself to truly perceive it.

(more…)
By Jessica Gustafson, ago
Things are moving beneath the earth. Rather than being the premise of a horror movie, this is an exciting sign of seasonal progression. Roots spread their toes and stretch through the soil, drawing in the nutrients needed to drive shoots upward, out of the darkness, towards the sunlight. The frost releases its hold on the topsoil, allowing water from melting snow to bathe the new life below in the water. And insects awaken. They run the winter’s hibernation from their eyes and get to work beneath the eath helping with nutrient exchange and prepare the plants above them for the tremendous growth ahead. The Insects Awaken seasonal node is about movement: upwards toward the sun and around our bodies, underneath our skin, to help us function better in the world around this. And the way to accomplish that is simple.

Insects Awaken: Movements in the Earth

Things are moving beneath the earth.

Rather than being the premise of a horror movie, this is an exciting sign of seasonal progression.

Roots spread their toes and stretch through the soil, drawing in the nutrients needed to drive shoots upward, out of the darkness, towards the sunlight.

Franco Vannini via Flickr

The frost releases its hold on the topsoil, allowing water from melting snow to bathe the new life below in the water.

And insects awaken.

They run the winter’s hibernation from their eyes and get to work beneath the earth helping with nutrient exchange and preparing the plants above them for the tremendous growth ahead.

The Insects Awaken seasonal node is about movement: upwards toward the sun and around our bodies underneath our skin, to help us function better in the world around this. And the way to accomplish that is simple.

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By Jessica Gustafson, ago