I'm writing this from underneath two heavy blankets...
some thoughts on creativity, Ayurveda, and the change of seasons
I want to start this week by saying that it’s been a rough one for me mentally and physically. So if it’s been rough for you, too, you’re not alone!
My mind is all over the place, I’m doing too much, I can’t focus for the life of me. And there have been physical manifestations, as well: my digestion has been off and my allergies are going bananas.
Some of it is due to the state of the world, the political climate, the election, of course, of course, but some of it just has to do with the seasonal shift from summer to fall that we’re experiencing in the Northeast.
Fall has always been something of a vulnerable time of year for me. On the one hand, I have always loved “back to school” season—always find myself invigorated by wild energy, enthusiasm, and ideas.
I’m also quick to exhaust myself. And if I’m not careful, I can really whirl myself into chaos and collapse.
But I have found some relief during seasonal transitions by working with an Ayurvedic practitioner. I’ve mentioned my study of Ayurveda—the ancient Indian science of healing—here before. A major concept in Ayurvedic medicine revolves around the three main elemental energies that can be found in the body, but also in the world.
One of the three qualities is “vata,” the energy that governs the season of fall. The qualities of vata are dry, airy, clear, and fast.
Think crisp leaves falling from a tree on a cold windy day.
When a person’s “vata” is balanced, they are energetic and creative. When there is a vata imbalance, they are anxious and scattered.
Let’s just say I’m leaning more towards the latter these days.
While there is a deep science around Ayurvedic healing and diagnosis that I am not qualified to talk about, I believe that anyone can benefit from having a basic understanding of the quality of vata and what it feels like when this energy is unbalanced—either in our internal or external world.
If you live in a place where you’re seeing the first real signs that “winter is coming,” you can watch out for how much food you consume that is “cold” or “dry”—in order words, it’s time to switch out the raw salads and cold cereals for warming soups, spicy stews, and cooked veggies.
No matter where you live, if you’re experience the qualities of vata as anxiety or lack of focus, you can watch how much information you’re taking in and schedule in time to process everything.
You can seek out grounding movement practices (because I experience both anxiety and depression, I seem to do well with grounding practices that also build a little heat: vinyasa yoga or brisk walks. Because if I’m just doing really slow restorative yoga, I end up feeling lethargic.)
Finally, you can carry around a notebook of “ideas” because you are probably going to have a lot of them. But… you may not entirely want to see those ideas through quite yet, and so cut yourself some slack if you wake up each morning wanting to focus on something entirely different than what excited you the day before.
I wish I could say I’d prepared myself for the shift this year, but I did not. And so today I’m trying to catch up after a whirlwind of a week where I simply took on, and took in, too much. I’m cozied up under a heavy blanket and thinking about what I can cook tonight that is warm and spicy. After I press “publish,” I’m going to toss on a scarf and go for a walk.
Most importantly, I’m exploring some new mental health options because I’ve been neglecting myself a bit in that area and it’s catching up to me. (Yes, I think diet and lifestyle changes can help alleviate some symptoms of anxiety, but I also need support in the form of mental health professionals!)
I’m also just leaning into the fact that what’s energizing me creatively right now is not necessarily the kind of long-term project that I’m drawn to at other times of the year. (It’s why I’m hosting a Halloween show at 8 pm on Oct. 31st and a horror story workshop at 3 pm on Oct. 24th. Think short 500-word flash fiction: stories as light and quick as vata season. If you’re interested, please email me by Monday: rainone842@gmail.com.)
Mostly I’m going to work on telling people “Maybe… but not yet.” Because this is a season of transition and I don’t know if the person I am today is the person I’ll be in a month or two.
And as much as I want to do everything, I can’t do anything if I let myself be carried away by every gust of wind rapping, rapping on my chamber door.
xoxoxo
Sarah