Satsang means being in the company of truth. One of the most important aspects of your practice is being in a community with like-minded people.

I recently picked up the book You Are The Universe: Ram Dass Maps The Journey, arranged and illustrated by Amy Buetens and Julie Weinstein. It is a compilation of teachings of self-discovery, sourced from recordings and writings by the spiritual teacher, Ram Dass.

Photo by Robert Ruggerio, via Unsplash

It's that quiet time of summer when the birds are not singing so much. The air is heavy with moisture, and everyone is trying to squeeze in the last few vacations and beach trips.

We were interviewed by the Vermont Standard about our recent Kirtan event in Woodstock. I thought you might enjoy reading our responses to the reporter's questions.

• What is Kirtan music and why is audience participation an important part of it?

When my family boarded our return home flight from Italy last summer, my husband looked at me and said “if they serve us eggplant on this flight, I am going to be sick.”

I am often asked what my yoga practice looks like. So here is a sneak peek at what I practice every single day.

The significance of Abhyasa and Vairagya in a yoga practice.

photo by Laura Olsen

image by Chelsea Shapouri

The significance of 108 repetitions in Japa Mantra practice.

I enjoy foraging and wild harvesting. I am always on the lookout for wild greens, berries, herbs, and wild mushrooms. This vegan Nettle Soup is easy to make and tasty too!

The United States is no longer one of the top 20 happiest countries in the world.

I didn't realize we were ever in the top 20.

Life is raw and tender.

Upholding our practices and staying connected to ourselves and to solid teachings seems increasingly important.

Do you struggle with making big decisions?

Do you find yourself caught up in thoughts like "Is this the right choice? What if I mess up? What if it isn't successful?"

And in that struggle, do you end up making no choice at all?

image by emma gossett via unsplash

Last week I wrote about finding one’s center. This week, let’s look at what it means to be rooted.

What does being rooted mean to me?

It means feeling at ease with myself, my body, my thoughts, and with my life direction. It's a feeling that…

The Winter Solstice is a time to renew, to remind ourselves of the need for both light and dark, and to tap into our inner reserves of creativity.

Some days I feel quite frantic with all these responsibilities, and I wonder how I might try to lighten my load...

But then other days, I feel completely peaceful and at ease with all the tasks that are to be completed. Sometimes, I even wonder what other offerings I could add to the mix.

I have noticed that this mental shift is entirely dependent on

Sweet potato is one of my very favorite vegetables. My quick go-to easy vegan lunch is a simple baked sweet potato. I pop a potato in the oven for about 45 minutes and I have a satisfying and nutritious meal. I can easily bring a baked sweet potato with me on a road trip, since it comes in its own packaging!

It is no exaggeration to state that my mom makes *the* perfect vegan pumpkin pie. I have served her pumpkin pie at many celebrations with friends and family, and it is always the star dessert offering. I have had many other attempts at vegan pumpkin pie that left me longing for more. They are usually too runny, or too soft, or lacking in that good pumpkin-pie flavor.

When was the last time you were bored?

I mean, most of the day, not sure what to do, stuck in the silence, really bored?

When I was a child, I was bored on a regular basis. But my mother, strangely, never seemed to be nearly as bored as my younger brother and I. Perhaps all that opportunity for boredom was a gift I didn’t fully appreciate at such a young age.

photo by @priscilladupreez

The burden of recent human tragedies and atrocities seems to be reflected in the very sky, at least here in Vermont, with the near constant gray clouds and rain. I know all things cycle and spiral, from the weather and the seasons to personal emotions, family dynamics, and socio-political circumstances. In these times, it is so essential to remember that the quality of our minds reflects the quality of our lives.

photo by @kilarov345

When the weather gets colder, and the sniffles arrive, I always reach for a ginger concoction to keep me warm and nourished. This tonic recipe was recently shared by the Little Herb Shop in Littleton, NH, and I felt compelled to pass it along to you. I hope you try it out. Photo via Unsplash

For a period of time, our family was obsessed with the show Cupcake Wars on Netflix. Admittedly, I am seriously behind in my pop culture. The only reason I knew about the show was because one of my favorite vegan chefs, Chloe Coscarelli, won an episode of the "Wars" several years back.

What a frantic mess of a show! I couldn't pull my eyes away from the chaos in the kitchen