Medicinal Support for Fire Recovery

My husband and I have been evacuated from our home in Ojai, CA since Tuesday, December 5th due to the Thomas Fire. As of writing this on December 13th, the fire is 237,000 acres and is 25% contained. As most of you know, I am nearly 6 months pregnant which has made this time extra tender. 

As we prepare to return home soon (hopefully) we are preparing ourselves to stay well protected from the ash and smoke in our beloved valley. Compiling this list helped me feel a little more calm about our return and clear on how we can keep our systems supported.

This list is a mixture of recommendations from various sources including Drs. (via posts in Thomas Fire community FB groups), 9/11 survivors who dealt with smoke for weeks, herbalists, and general wellness practices I use.

I wanted to compile this list to make shopping easier for all of us and as a means for easily referencing daily practices to help our systems.

This is a general list from many sources. This is not a comprehensive list and should be filtered through your own physicals needs.

There is a PDF of the list available for download at the bottom of this post if you would like to print and/or save this information.

General Supplements:

• Vitamin C 1-3000 mgs per day in divided doses
• Vitamin E at least 200 IUs
• Alfa Lipoic Acid 2-600 mgs
• N-Acetyl Cysteine (NAC) 4-600 mgs twice per day
• Vitamin A 10,000 units
• Vitamin D
• Antioxidants in any form (greens, green powders, berry powders, green tea, etc.)
• Any lung expectorant tonics/herb formulas you can fin

Herbal Lung Support:

• Mullein
• Osha
• Eucalyptus
• Lungwort
• Oregano
• Licorice Root
• Hyssop
• Red Clover
• Nettle

Mushrooms for Lung Support:

• Reishi
• Cordyceps

Eye Support:

• Pleo Muc homeopathic eye drops from Germany (available on Amazon)
• Similasan eye drops
• Very diluted Organic Apple Cider Vinegar in Filtered Water dropped into the eyes
• General OTC drops like Visine can also help with inflammation and lubrication

Adrenal Support:

• Trace Mineral Supplement (usually available as drops that can be added to water)
• Magnesium
• Herbs/Oil: Lemonbalm, Valerian, Passionflower, Lavender
• Any herbs/tonics/herbs for anxiety and/or adrenal support

Serotonin Support:

• 5-HTP 50-100mgs taken in the evening
• L-Tryptophane 500mgs taken in the evening
• L-Tyrosine 500-1000mgs taken in the morning

Daily Practices:

• Wear N95 Mask & Goggles outside
• Beeswax Salve at bottom of nostrils (under N95 mask)
• Coconut Oil Pulling
• Salt Water Gargle before eating/drinking (or at least 2X per day)
• Neti Pot Sinus Rinse
• Stay well hydrated - more than usual
• Nightly shower to rinse ash/smoke from hair
• Shoes off before entering your living space
• Wash clothing regularly
• Vacuum living space regularly - preferably with a HEPA filter (dusting is not enough)
• HEPA filter air purifier
• Wash all food that has been on counter and/or outside thoroughly

Pregnancy/Breastfeeding Safe:

• Wish Garden makes nice pregnancy safe herbal formulas including Cold Season (good for respiratory health), Immune Boost, and Stress Relief (available on Amazon and *potentially* at Rainbow Bridge)
• Mushrooms: Reishi & Cordyceps
• Herbs: Nettle Leaf, Wild Cherry Bark, Elderflower, Milky Oat Tops, Oatstraw
• Immune Boost: Elderberry Syrup, Bone Broth, Probiotics, Apple Cider Vinegar shot with Garlic, Lemon, Onion
• Vitamins & Supplements: Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Vitamin A, Vitamin D, N-Acetyl Cysteine (NAC), Antioxidants (greens, green powders, berry powders, etc.)
• Adrenal Support: Trace Mineral Supplement, Magnesium, Lemonbalm, Lavender, Chamomile, Plus the tools listed below
• Eyes: *Very* diluted Apple Cider Vinegar in Filter Water as eye drops, I am not clear on the other eye drops listed above
• All Daily Practices listed above are safe

Easy & Free Tools for Activating the Parasympathetic Nervous System:

• Speak Slowly
• Move Slowly
• Speak in a deeper tone of voice
• Breathe deep and slowly if the air allows
• Give a gentle shake/rock to your body (think of a baby being rocked to sleep)

Easy Zero Waste Potholders

Basic machine sewing skills required.

First I want to say, we're making potholders today and it's valuable to remember that these things do not need to be perfect or even pretty. They really just need to be functional. My ultimate goal was to meet my need for functional potholders while also employing 2 of my life values: create more than you consume, leave no trace/leave each space cleaner than when you arrived.

When it comes to making crafts for my home, I really can't be bothered with overly complicated projects. It's not a matter of not having the time, but rather not valuing spending my time in that way. There are places that I deem are more important to put my energy than into the perfect potholder that literally nobody gives a fuck about. 

I've been sewing since I was 12 and I have always gone the route of upcycling old garments into new items. As a child, this was out of necessity because I couldn't afford fabric or patterns. I did have the opportunity to learn to read a pattern and use a sewing machine though. A family member gifted me a sewing class after I fractured my back to help me feel better and I still think about what I learned in that class today. (Like how to thread a drawstring into pants - simple but valuable shit.)

After taking the class, the only time I used a pattern and new fabric for myself was for making a special occasion outfit - which happened twice. 1. a corset dress for grade 8 graduation and 2. a dress for my cousin's wedding that same year. I learned a lot about how clothing was constructed by deconstructing it. I learned about different fabric types by failing my way through thrift store upgrades. And ultimately I set in motion a pattern that would stick with me throughout my life -

using my creativity to turn what I had into what I needed.

When I made things for myself as a child, I needed the process to be fun and engaging, not methodical and linear. That definitely still holds true today. 

When it came time to meet my need for potholders I knew a few things going in:

1. The process needed to be easy & fast because they're potholders and they don't deserve a ton of my time.
2.  I didn't care to give the energy to the construction of these items to make them stunningly beautiful. Function & Zero Waste were my top priorities.
3. I was not going to buy anything new to make them.

So, as we get into this tutorial I want to remind you all that this is not a specific recipe that needs to be followed as if you're baking a cake. This is more like creating a flower arrangement. You really can't fuck it up. Regardless of how 'good' your potholders turn out, if they meet your needs, they're a success! Keep it all in perspective - they're just potholders.

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Easy Zero Waste Potholders

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STEP ONE | PICK YOUR FABRIC

Today, we're going fabric shopping in our closet. Whenever I go through my closet I always save the clothes I don't want to wear anymore for future projects. Actually, let me back up a bit here. Whenever I buy clothes I look for natural fabrics like linen, cotton, hemp, wool, bamboo, etc. Then I know I have options when I don't want to wear them anymore. I really try my best to take full responsibility for whatever I bring into my life. That means, when I don't want a shirt anymore, it is my responsibility to deal with it - not just send it off to the thrift store. (Look into what happens to the majority of clothes that get donated. Hint: they end up in landfills.)

Purchasing natural fabrics will both help you keep a minimal eye when shopping and gives you a lot of options when reusing the material. You can dye it, felt it (knit wool), unknit it and bring it back to yarn, and so on. I can also tell you that I really do not put a ton of money into my wardrobe. Most of what I own has been thrifted or made with thrifted material, plus a few additions of some new higher end, consciously produced items. (And some borrowed items while I'm pregnant.)

Picking your fabric for projects like this really starts with what you choose to wear.

For my potholders, I picked some scrap fabric from shirts I had already cut into for previous projects. I used a felted wool and cotton.

STEP TWO | PLAN YOUR LAYERS

I decided to go for 3 layers

1. Cotton
2. Felted Wool
3. Cotton

If you're not sure how many layers you'll need to properly insulate your hand, fold your shirt/dress/pants up and test it out. With my felted wool middle layer, I knew I didn't need to make them any thicker than 3 layers. I also made 2 potholders so I could always double up if absolutely needed.

STEP THREE | CUT YOUR SHAPE

Once your layers are decided, pick a shape for your potholders. I kept mine simple and didn't even make them the same size because I was working with shirts that had already been cut into. We're not working with completely flat bolts of fabric here, so be conscious of how many shapes you need to cut from each garment. If you're making 2 potholders and want 2 layers from a specific fabric for each, make sure you have space to cut out 4 shapes total. You'll likely be working within some boundaries of your article like seams and shaped edges. Remember, function is the goal, not perfection.   

One way to meet zero waste is to plan your shape so that there is no scrap leftover. That wasn't an option for me since my fabric was so irregular already so instead I'll save all of my scraps for future repurposing. (Yes, even little bits of thread.) 

STEP FOUR | QUILT YOUR LAYERS

To be fully transparent, I don't know how to quilt. I understand the basic idea behind a quilt (top layer, batting, backing, stitching to bind it all together) but I've never made one. For this tutorial, I'm using the term quilt to simply mean stitch your layers together.

I opted for a diagonal pattern and was not precise with it. If you want to have a more uniformed look, you can mark your quilt lines before sewing. 

I used a basic straight stitch for this.

I also want to note that I didn't pin any of this and wasn't bothered by jagged edges. I somewhat took care of those edges later - but again, wasn't overly concerned with refined finishing.

If you want to shorten your steps for these potholders, align your edges and make sure everything is straight & tidy.

Once your diamond pattern (or whatever pattern you choose to quilt) is finished, use a zigzag stitch to sew around the edge of your potholder.

Halfway through the diagonal pattern.

finished diagonal stitch + my 20 week bump

STEP FIVE | TRIM YOUR EDGES

Making sure not to cut into your zigzag stitch, trim the edges of your potholder if they're super jagged.

For truly zero waste potholders, save your little fabric scraps (or don't make scraps - see step 3). I'm testing out some ways to use fabric scraps and will share more when there's something tangible to share.

For simpler potholders, stop here. For finishing options, continue reading & making.

STEP SIX | FINISH YOUR EDGES + ADD A HANDLE

The way that I decided to finish my edges was to use some felted wool strips to wrap around the edges of my potholders. I also knew I wanted to hang them so I added a little loop.

FOR THE EDGING

The felted wool I used won't fray so I didn't need to worry about finishing the edges. I used a 1.5 inch strip to wrap my potholder edges. I wrapped each strip around the edge and pinned in place. After stitching with a straight stitch, I trimmed the extra fabric so it was just below my stitch line. (see photos)

If you have a fabric that will fray, decide how wide you want the edging to be and add 1/2 inch. Tuck 1/4 inch in on each side. Make sure your stitches lock the tuck in place. You may want to iron your edging first. You can also make bias tape using a bias tape maker. 

I edged 3 sides and added my handle before finishing the 4th.

FOR THE HANDLE

To save yourself some time, cut a strip of the seam from whatever garment you've used. Look for a thicker/hemmed seam to use. This will skip the time it takes to finish your handle so it doesn't fray. You could also use a bias tape maker, but again, I'm all about simplicity when it comes to home projects. Scissors and pins are the most I want to pull out.

After deciding how big I wanted my loop to be, I trimmed my piece of seam and tucked it under the final side of edging. 

I used a straight stitch horizontally across the handle first. I stitched back and forth a few times to make sure it was secure. Then I finished the edging below and trimmed the fabric to match the rest of the sides.

The handle loop tucked under the final side of edging before pinning & sewing.

A side of edging pinned before it was stitched and trimmed.

AND THERE YOU HAVE IT!

A perfectly imperfect, functional, zero waste potholder. Stay tuned for my adventures through experimental fabric scrap repurposing.

Devotion in Action Scholarship Recipients 2017

I am so thrilled to announce this year's POC/LGBTQIA scholarship recipients for Devotion in Action. 

Khara @kharaperk
Tierrah @Ti3rrah_
Taylor @taydatottts
Taylor @sacredmujer

Taylor, Tierrah, Khara, and Taylor will be joining 10 others this August for a 6 month journey through creativity, consciousness, and community service.

Thank you to all those who applied. Every application was an honor to read. 

Only This Moment is Real

All that is real is this moment. This, right here, right now. This word on the page, this breath on my lips, this drumbeat of truth within my heart. But where is the mind? Does it not run forward and backward trying to make sense of what I can become and who I have been? Forward and backward, trying to fix or find everything that is already existing right now.

Here is the ultimate liberation: only this moment is real. Only this moment is real.

So I breathe. Only this moment is real. What a relief.
In this space, I feel the most complete reality: love.
It feels effortless, all-consuming, infinite.
Moments pass, this love persists.
Hours pass, this love persists.
Days pass, this love persists.
And then, my humanness falls on top of me.
Only this moment is real, but this moment is shit.
The illusion of this moment feels terrible. It is, after all, the divine lila (play) and this is just my role today.
This perspective reveals yet another attachment.  
I look around, I see myself as human. I see my expectations. I see my attachments.
I look within. I see myself as truth. I see myself as love. I see myself.
I look around, waves are splashing, the sea is churning.
I look within, the water is still like glass, unchanged.
Only this moment is real and all moments are the same.
I am everything and everything is me.
Within, I am unchanged in all moments.
Only this moment is real and this moment is infinite.

My Forest of Imagination

Today I am living in the thick forest of my imagination. Sometimes I stumble upon a meadow of wildflowers in here, sometimes I find hidden medicine beneath the trees, and every now and then I step right into a pile of shit.

I know this place well. I’ve spent years living here, perhaps, even more, time here than in the ‘real world.’ Sometimes I snap myself out of the daydream in my head to a perplexing reality. My forest is often much more luxurious than my physical reality, it’s far more intriguing, and definitely more fun. At any given moment it can whisk me away to its intoxicating land. Even as I type this words I feel it pulling on my leg pleading, “come play with me!” 

These daydreams may seem like an escape from reality, but I believe they are far more meaningful than a route out of town. It’s here in this world that I have learned exactly how to be myself. Here in this world I have created and destroyed so many versions of my life. Here in this world, I watch myself die, decay, and rot, then rise again as a whole new being.

This is precisely what I am witnessing today as I romp through the thick brush. Peering out over the edge of a fallen tree, I see her. There she is, grasping for air, hand reaching for the heavens, pleading, “please don’t let me die.”

It’s my job right now to study her. I cannot offer any assistance, it’s her time to go. All I can do is watch, listen, and do what I can to understand her. 

This is the most uncomfortable part of growth. The space between what was and what will be. The old way is dying, the new way has not been born. Oh yes, I am here, I am standing, but I have not yet been born. The me that is watching is a hollow shell waiting for life to enter. The me that is watching is as innocent as an embryo. What do I know about life in this physical world? Nothing yet.  

This is the most uncomfortable part of growth.

The Universe of My Soul

The Universe of my Soul reminds me to pray at the Womb of her Life. “Sit down, child,” she says, “and remember who you are. You were made for this moment in time and into it you shall rise.“

In the Valley of the Soul

Deep in the valley of the soul, I bathe, I breathe.
Wondering when the next stick of lighting will break the sky to touch me,
Teach me.
I meet the day with curiosity, breathing in the possibility
Of
All
That
Can
Be.
I reach inside, retrieve an ember, and watch it dance around me. 
Pieces of my flesh give way under the pressure of the sky
And again
I am whole
Deep in the valley of the soul.

Reclaiming Myself

This morning over coffee Daren and I talked about my process of reclaiming my artist self. As we talked, I realized that for the past few years I have been focused on helping others tell their story, and now it's time for me to tell mine. 
I love assisting in people's journeys to truth & self, *and* I have so much to share from my own journey. This reclamation is me claiming a life in a 'yes, and' world. It's my journey to find the balance between helping others tell their story, & continuing to create mine.
I have so much to share and I am ready to bring you all into /my/ inner world through my art. 
When teaching I feel it's important to take a back seat to my students. Their path to truth is unique so I do my very best to guide &assist from behind, allowing them to choose their own way. While this has been fulfilling in many ways, it has also left me feeling empty in places that once overflowed.
Art has been a passion of mine since I knew what it was. I always had to seek it out& fight for it's presence in my life because I didn't come from a family that cared much about it. For many, many years (far longer than healing work) I poured over fine art books, melted onto the pristine floors of galleries, and identified as an artist. I interned as a junior curator at The Albright Knox gallery in Buffalo, NY during high school, which pulled me even deeper into my love of how a clean white wall can tell the most intimate story in the most clever ways.
Today I still hold that softness for a gallery, &I've been seduced by the way fine art can live &breath in our daily lives. I love the way we can pluck an artists treasure from that clean wall& drop it into the center of a bustling cafe, adorning somebody's body. @zelmarose is such a beautiful example of this. Whenever I wear a piece of hers (like the necklace pictured) people approach me &say "what is that /thing/ you're wearing?" People don't understand if it's a necklace or fine art &just the possibility that the two could coexist seems to throw minds so far from their comfort zone. 
This is just a little snippet of what I'm excited to share with you in the coming years. 
There's more to say but I'm out of room...

Every Day I Wake

All I can do right now, and forever, is bow down to the grace of infinity.
Bow down with humility and trust the ground beneath me.
Everyday I wake, breathing. Everyday my feet touch solid ground as I rise. Everyday I have food to eat, water to drink, a warm bed to sleep in, and love in every direction I turn. 
So I bow in gratitude to this sacred land that provides all I need. Thank you. May we live our lives to honor you fully every day.