“Look at the stars, look at how they shine for you and everything you do. Your skin, yeah, your skin and bones, turned into something beautiful.” These are some of the lyrics from the song “Yellow”. There’s a beautiful rendition of this song that I personally love by Alex Parks.
What does your lunar self-care look like daily?
Do you even have a lunar self-care? What does lunar self-care mean?
Lunar care is not only important to aid in protection and nourishment of the body and a good nights sleep but also aids to support a strong immune system. Washing your hands, feet and face right before bed will rinse off samskaras in nerve endings. This has such a therapeutic impact on our nervous system. In summer use cool or cold tap water; in winter, warm water.
Pandit Rajmani Tigunait gives a great understanding of samskara’s – https://yogainternational.com/article/view/what-are-samskaras-and-how-do-they-affect-us
In today’s busy world, it can be almost impossible to find even five minutes for yourself. But could you take even three minutes every day to renourish your soul just before bed?
Just three minutes ~
~ seated in the moonlight or perhaps as the sun sets, in a comfortable position with left hand spread across your heart, right hand across your lower abdomen, gaze at low lids or eyes closed.
Invite a pause.
And for just three minutes, soak in the rays of the moon….. there may be no moon, but a sky sparkling with brilliant stars. Bring every inhale into your soul and every exhale dispersing this peace throughout mind, body and soul.
and then
repeating this mantra silently to yourself……
“My soul in not in my body, my body is in your soul. I am beautiful ~ from the inside out”
And if the mind is racing with too much chitta (aka chatter), practice this version of nadi shodhana pranayama. This version of alternate nose breathing will inhale thru the left nostril and exhale through the right nostril.
~ fold the index and middle fingers inward until they touch the palm at the base of the right thumb (Vishnu mudra). You will alternately use the right thumb to close the right nostril and the right ring and pinky fingers (together) to close the left nostril.
~ start with taking two to five normal breath cycles
~ on your next inhalation, use the right thumb to close the right nostril and inhale through the left nostril, deep into the belly allowing the breath to travel upward along the left side of the body. Pause briefly at the crown of the head.
~ next, use the ring and pinky fingers of the right hand to gently close the left nostril and simultaneously release the right nostril while exhaling through the right nostril, surrendering the breath down the right side of the body. Pause gently at the bottom of the exhalation.
This completes one round of nadi shodhana. You can take two normal breath cycles inbetween repeating this pranayam or just continue the same pattern; inhale through the left nostril, exhale through the right nostril…. slow, long and smooth.
Repeat this alternating pattern for several more rounds, focusing your awareness on the pathway of the breath—up one side of the body (from the pelvic floor to the crown of the head) and back down the other side of the body (from the crown of the head to the pelvic floor). Keep the breath slow, gentle, fluid, and relaxed throughout the practice. If this pranayam causes any discomfort or anxiety, go back to a normal breath pattern.
Nadi shodhana can be immensely rewarding, even when practiced for as little as three minutes on a regular basis.
Other suggestions for your lunar care are applying organic sesame oil in the navel – this supports the digestive fire. The belly button is a marma point for digestive fire.
~ 100 steps under moonlight to build kapha and support digestion
~ watch the dusk bringing contemplative pause with self-inquiry
~ apply organic sunflower or organic sesame oil in palms and foot soles. Rub a marma stick on palms and foot soles. This is good for arthritis and restless leg syndrome AND it calms the nervous system. If you don’t have a marma stick, simply rub palms and soles.
~ apply organic sesame oil in nose aka nasya. Put 1 drop in the nostril or dip pinky finger in oil and run into nostril (I use a q-tip). This eases the mind. Organic sesame oil in all seasons; ghee can be used in the summer. Oil both the nose and the inside of the ears (again, I use a q-tip).
~ to calm pitta and vata in eyes, take cotton pads and pour ghee over it to soak. Put cotton pads on eyes and lay down for five minutes. Take off cotton pads and wipe off the eyes.
~ as you lay down to sleep itself, scan thru the body – the six zones ~ feet, pelvic region, abdominal region, chest region, throat and skull.
Nighty, night….
Peace, love & dogs,
Linda Benton