Although native to China, this fungus can be found growing in many a wooded area in the United States and around the world. Chances are high that you've passed one by if you've ever gone for a walk in the woods and passed by a dead, decaying tree. It got its name from its resemblance to the plumage of a male turkey. In Japan it is know as "cloud mushroom".

Torpor can be a real killer. But not the kind of killer that shoots you in the face, comes after you with an axe or pushes you off a bridge. Rather it is death by 1,000 needles. One needle on it's own isn't going to do all that much and make not even be noticed. 10 needles won't be a good time but it's hardly something to go to the hospital about. We really would start to pay attention at 100. 1,000 is another story all together.

Confession... I don't do all of this everyday.

However, this is an ideal for me to follow and I feel like a million bucks when I set aside time to complete everything. As I mentioned in my earlier post on dinacharya, I'm a big proponent of customization and strongly encourage you to incorporate only what resonates with you.
 

"Habits are much easier to maintain than commitments" - Seth Godin

In Ayurveda, self care is of paramount importance. This daily routine is meant to create a foundation for excellent physical, mental and emotional health. Maintaining a stable, regular self care routine creates balance and stability. It's important both when we are ill and when we are in good health.

When I studied Ayurveda in India I was presented with a step by step routine that was touted as the ideal. I felt that there was a lot of wisdom there but I am a big proponent of customization. Certain things felt important to me and certain things didn't. Some steps I do only when I am at home but are set aside whilst traveling.

This ritual is a love letter to myself.

I've long been interested in self care rituals that both enhance and preserve beauty. When I was in Kerala in 2018 I leapt at the chance to take a course on Ayurvedic Beauty from the school I was doing my 3-week Ayurvedic detoxification at. We studied many aspects of beauty from hair to eyes to hands. However, I was most interested in how to nourish and protect the skin on my face. The following ritual was one of the highlights of the course.