Showing posts with label creativity. Show all posts
Showing posts with label creativity. Show all posts

11.01.2021

Five Elements │ Wander & Wonder

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Happy November!


As the winter oceanic swell grows, we are baking more, sleeping earlier, and starting to wrap up the year. How are you celebrating and experiencing the changing seasons?


ESALEN 2022 We just returned from our Five Elements of Yoga & Chinese Medicine weeklong retreat at the gorgeous Esalen Institute along the Big Sur coastline. The cliffside hot springs, delicious foods, beautiful community, smiling Milky Way, and deep wisdom from the land, waters, and her people nourished me deeply. I hope you can join us at Esalen, next year!


WANDER & WONDER In one of my favorite Five Elements of Chinese Medicine classes, I shared Wandering & Wondering, a process that roots & nourishes my life, and I hope will inspire you, as well.


Download my Five Elements Wonderings class handout here:


WONDERINGS


I invite you to:

  • Open. Choose a question (or a couple). Focus on ONE element through the duration of your walk, or explore ALL elements in different sections of your walk.
  • Wander. Bring these questions, your journal, and writing/ drawing tools. Allow yourself to meander without direction through a landscape.
  • Wonder. Hold your question(s) lightly. Dialogue with the landscape of both your external and internal terrains.
  • Sit. Notice a place that calls to you. Silently sit and observe both your external and internal environments. Free-write observations & insights.
  • Thank this place before you continue wandering & wondering through other question(s), or close your journey.


May the gifts and changes of this season nourish you. May you open to wonder in moments both small and large. May you enjoy the loving embrace of your family, community, and our planet. Thank you for your presence on our Earth!


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Jiling Lin, L.Ac. 林基玲

acupuncture . herbs . yoga

​JilingLin.com

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2.28.2021

Interplay Life Practice Program

 Join us next Saturday, March 6, for a free Interplay Life Practice Program info session!






1.01.2021

Writing 2021


How do you express and process past experiences? How do you vision and plan future possibilities? 


Journaling is an embodied practice that connects mind and body by bringing pen to paper. This releases stored thoughts, memories, dreams, ideas, and more. The hidden potential of your subconscious finds a path into the world. 


This may be a cathartic release: let it out, let it go. 


Or, surprising new insights may emerge: organize your thoughts, create action items, then move your dreams into reality. 


If you are already journaling, then how can you enliven your practice? What areas of your journaling practice feel dead or outdated? How can you breathe fresh air into this area of your life? 


If you are not currently journaling, then try it. Set the stage (see below), then commit to at least a month of daily writing. With so much stimulus in our daily lives, journaling offers solace, an opportunity to rest, reflect, and dream. 


Ritual

Create a daily journaling ritual by setting the stage, then committing to it:

  • Choose a dedicated journal that feels good, and a smooth-flowing pen or pencil. 

  • Journal at the same time each day (I like first thing in the morning)

  • Journal at the same location each day 


Stream of consciousness


Julia Cameron’s “The Artist’s Way” book calls for three pages of daily stream-of-consciousness writing, first thing in the morning, every morning. This is an integral process in Cameron’s process of sparking creativity, and living an expressive life. 


I commit to one paragraph, but usually fill at least one page. Do what feels best for you. If your time is limited, then simply commit to laying pen to paper for a few minutes each morning. 


Doodling


Stream-of-consciousness writing may include not only text, but also doodles. Sometimes, our thoughts are so unformed that no words arise; only shapes or colors come out. Have colors on hand to simply make marks: small blots, large splotches, lines that go nowhere but everywhere… experiment, and feel into it. I love crayons: they make immediate marks, and are easy to use. Again, find what feels best for you


Prompts


If absolutely nothing comes to mind when sitting down to write, then here are some simple daily prompts: 

  • List three things that you are grateful for in this moment.

  • List three things that you are grateful for that are coming (visioning the future). 

  • List three things that I saw/ heard/ felt yesterday (observational exercise)

  • List three goals for today


Daily gratitude connects us with what is important to us, and a sense of connection and pleasure for what we have. It is particularly helpful to bring life into perspective during rough times: this life is a gift, and there is much to be thankful for. 


Manifestation includes clearly visualizing what we want, so that we can first internally mobilize our resources, before outward action/ transformation can occur. Listing “future gratitude” and daily goals can help set this in motion. 


The Journal


I made a 4x5 leather cover out of recycled leather scraps. I make and insert 120 pages of fresh pages into my cover about 3 times a year. This creates a travel-friendly book that’s small and portable, and  feels good: the natural oils of my hands lubricates the leather, which is shiny from daily use and years of love. I have used the same journal since 2008, and have stacks of inner booklets. 


When I feel moody, I may freehand pages of purging words and doodles with large crayons, then rip and/ or burn it. 


Create a daily ritual, then give it space to breathe. Adjust each day as necessary, but keep the basic structure: write everyday. Draw everyday. Choose one ritual activity that helps you intentionally clear the old and welcome the new to create more beauty, spaciousness, and joy in your life, and all the lives that you affect in your one wild and precious life.


Entering 2021


What were my highlights from 2020? 

What challenged me, in 2020? 


What are my yearly, quarterly, monthly, weekly, and daily goals in 2021?

How do I track and hold myself accountable for my goals? 


What is my life Purpose? 

Am I walking in alignment with my Purpose? 

How do my actions align with my intentions? 


Happy New Year. 


JilingLin.com

1.01.2020

Journaling


How do you process past experiences? How do you vision and plan future possibilities? 

Journaling is an embodied practice that connects mind and body by bringing pen to paper. This releases stored thoughts, memories, dreams, ideas, and more. The hidden potential of your subconscious finds a path into the world. 

This may be a cathartic release: let it out, let it go. 

Surprising new insights may emerge: organize your thoughts, create action items, then move your dreams into reality. 

If you are already journaling, then how can you enliven your practice? What areas of your journaling practice feel dead or outdated? How can you breathe fresh air into this area of your life? 

If you are not current journaling, then try it. Set the stage (see below), then commit to at least a month of daily writing. With so much stimulus in our daily lives, journaling offers solace, an opportunity to rest, reflect, and dream. 


Ritual

Create a daily journaling ritual by setting the stage, then committing to it:

- Choose a dedicated journal that feels good, and a smooth-flowing pen or pencil.
- Journal at the same time each day (I like first thing in the morning)
- Journal at the same location each day 


Stream of consciousness

Julia Cameron’s “The Artist’s Way” book calls for three pages of daily stream-of-consciousness writing, first thing in the morning, every morning. This is an integral process in Cameron’s process of sparking creativity, and living an expressive life. 

I commit to one paragraph, but usually fill at least one page. Do what feels best for you. If your time is limited, then simply commit to laying pen to paper for a few minutes each morning. 


Doodling

Stream-of-consciousness writing may include not only text, but also doodles. Sometimes, our thoughts are so unformed that no words arise; only shapes or colors emerge. Have colors on hand to simply make marks: small blots, large splotches, lines that go nowhere but everywhere… experiment, and feel into it. I love crayons: they make immediate marks, and are easy to use. Again, find what feels best for you


Prompts

If absolutely nothing comes to mind when sitting down to write, then here are some simple daily prompts:

- List three things that you are grateful for in this moment.
- List three things that you are grateful for that are coming (visioning the future).
- List three things that I saw/ heard/ felt yesterday (observational exercise)
- List three goals for today

Daily gratitude connects us with what is important to us, and a sense of connection and pleasure for what we have. It is particularly helpful to bring life into perspective during rough times: this life is a gift, and there is much to be thankful for. 

Manifestation includes clearly visualizing our goals and dreams as reality. We first internally mobilize our resources, before outward action/ transformation can occur. Listing “future gratitude” and daily goals can help set this in motion. 


The Journal

How can you personalize your practice?

I made a 4x5 leather cover out of recycled leather scraps. I make and insert 120 pages of fresh pages into my cover about 3 times a year. This creates a travel-friendly book that’s small and portable, and feels good: the natural oils of my hands lubricates the leather, which is shiny from daily use and years of love. I have used the same journal since 2008, and have stacks of inner booklets. 

When I feel moody, I may freehand pages of purging words and doodles with large crayons, then rip and/ or burn it. 

Create a daily ritual, then give it space to breathe. Adjust each day as necessary, but keep the basic structure: write everyday. Draw everyday. Choose one ritual activity that helps you intentionally clear the old and welcome the new to create more beauty, spaciousness, and joy in your life, and all the lives that you affect in your one wild and precious life.


Entering 2020

What were your highlights from 2019? 
What challenged you, in 2019? 

What are your yearly, quarterly, monthly, weekly, and daily goals in 2020?
How do you track and hold yourself accountable for your goals? 

What is your life Purpose? 
Are you walking in alignment with your Purpose? 
How do your actions align with your intentions? 

Happy New Year.


Resources

- Book a session with me for acupuncture, herbs, yoga, and wellness treatment/ consultation. I incorporate journaling and other lifestyle protocols/ resources into your treatment plan.

- Integrate journaling practices with lunar cycles/ rituals

5.31.2019

The Process


The Process
Connective exercises for journaling and walking in nature. Nature connection, plant connection... internal and external connection. 
  1. observe
    1. internal (notice thoughts/ feelings arising and passing)
    2. external (fully-embodied sensory observations)
  2. engage
    1. gift
    2. inquire
    3. notice
    4. engage/ record (journal/ draw/ move)
  3. gratitude
  4. share
  • oral (word, song)
  • written (read)
  • visual (share drawing/ movement)

Questions (on emotions)
  1. when do you experience this
  2. how do you process it
  3. 3 actions to transform my current relationship with it

11.20.2015

Botanica Erotica (lube class handout)


Botanica Erotica
Slippery herbal unguents for female sexual health and pleasure
 Jiling Lin - 2015 - www.LinJiling.blogspot.com

(Note: This handout combines info from sweet medicine, oils, and aphrodisiacs classes. Just skip over what you know already... and move on to the juicy bits. Enjoy!)

Lube Options
- Water-based lubes (safe, but may need reapplication)
- Silicone-based lubes (unsafe with silicone devices)
- Oil-based lubes (lasts longest, but deteriorates latex)

Water- based lube suggestions
- Aloe vera gel
- Demulcent teas
- Flax seed decoction

Oil-based lube suggestions
See “Oils and Salves” section

~

Herbal Lube Considerations

Demulcent
Elm                                          Mallow
Oats                                         Chickweed

Vulnerary (skin healing)
Comfrey                                    Calendula
St. Johnswort                           Roses
Chickweed                                Plantain
Gotu kola

Anti-bacterial
Yarrow                                        Mugwort
Wormwood                                Artemisia spp.

Estrogenic (not for pregnancy)
Wild yam                                 Black cohosh

Aphrodisiac, and other Actions/ Considerations
(See next section)

~

Aphrodisiacs
(Experiment, explore, enjoy!)

Nutritive
Chickweed                             Elm
Milky Oats                             Marshmallow
Violets                                     Maca
Nettles                                    Red Clover
Burdock                                 Raspberry leaf

Adaptogen
Tulsi                                          Ashwagandha
Astragalus                                Licorice
Ginseng                                    Eleuthero
Shatavari                                 Schizandra
Mushrooms (Reishi, Maitake, Shitaki, etc)

Warming Stimulant
Cacao                                             Cayenne
Cinnamon                                     Dang gui
Ginger                                           Cardamon

Aromatic Relaxant
Damiana                                       Jasmine
Rose                                              Vanilla

Nervine
Hawthorne                                 Lemon Balm
Motherwort                                Kava Kava
Skullcap                                      Passionflower

Sends blood to genitals (use with care)
Muira puama                                 Horny goat weed
Yohimbe

Female Sexual tonic
Dang gui                                     White poeny
He shou wu                                 Shatavari

Fruits/ Berries
Goji                                                Jujube
Cranberry                                     Strawberry

Essential Oils
Sandalwood                                Vetiver
Ylang ylang                                 Patchouli
Rose otto                                    Jasmine

Turn it Red
Add 1 tsp Alkanet powder, per 1 C oil

Other Considerations
Lifestyle (ie. diet, exercise, breath, hydration)
Relationship (ie. connection, goals, trauma)
Setting (ie. candles,incense,ceremony,massage)
Pregnancy (ie. communication, choice, safety)
Flower essences (ie. Bach, Mimi Kamp, etc)
Other oils (ie. Jojoba, Almond, Avocado, Olive)

~

Making Oil Infusions and Salves

Oil Infusions

Oil Infusion Methods
- Long/ slow infusion (2 weeks)
- Solar/ Lunar infusion (can do with slow infusion)
- Hot infusion (faster. For mucilaginous, or thicker plant materials ie. Barks, roots, and seeds)
- Crock pot (on low, 2-12 hrs)
- Stove top/ Double boiler (1/2- 1 hr)
- Oven extraction (120 F, 8-12 hrs)

Making Oil Infusions: folk method
1. Prepare the plant. Collect fresh plants. Depending on the plant and your preferences/ access, you will use it fresh, freshly wilted, fresh dried, or dried.
2. Process the plant. Chop it into small pieces. The smaller the better, to expose more surface area to oil. If using dried plant materials, you can even powderize the plant, though I find that difficult to strain afterwards.
3. Fill a glass jar with your prepared plant material. Leave two inches at the top. Pack the jar so that it’s firm, but not tight.
4. Fill the glass jar again with oil. Completely cover the plant material. Poke it all with a stick, to release any air bubbles.
5. Cap, and use your desired oil infusion method (see above).
6. When finished infusing, strain out the plant material, and rebottle your remaining infused oil. I like to keep old natural-fiber clothing, and cut it into squares to place over containers as strainers, then just throw away the cloth afterwards.
7. If you infused a plant with higher water content, then let sit for 2-4 days. Any remaining water from the plant will sink to the bottom. Pour off oil from the top, to separate that from the watery mix. Use the watery oil up first, separately. The “pure” oil will last longer.
8. Label, and store in a cool, dry, dark place.

Oils to Infuse into
(Other oils may work, too)

Heavier oils:
- Olive oil
- Jojoba oil
- Sesame oil (raw)

Lighter oils:
- Almond oil
- Apricot kernel oil
- Grapeseed oil

Solid at room temperature:
- Coconut oil
- Animal fat

(Note comodogenic vs. non-comodogenic oils, for sensitive skin types)

Oils/ Waxes to add
Butters:
- Cocoa butter
- Shea butter

Oils:
- Avocado oil
- Argan oil
- Castor oil

Antioxidant oils:
- Rosehip seed oil
- Carrot seed oil
- Evening primrose oil
- Vitamin E oil

Waxes:
- Beeswax
- Carnauba wax (from the Brazilian palm tree)

Salves

Salve Proportions
Adding more wax creates a harder salve; adding less wax creates a softer salve. Experiment with what consistency you like.
1 oz wax (weight): 4-8 oz oil (volume)

Making Salves
1. Prepare your oils. Measure out how much salve you want to make, and blend our oil infusions and other oils accordingly. Pour into a glass jar with a pouring spout (I love beakers), and place into a metal pot. Fill water around your glass jar, to create a double boiler.
2. Heat it up.
3. Add wax, at your chosen proportions. It’s easiest to have pre-grated beeswax, and a dedicated grater just for beeswax.
4. Mix it with a spoon. Take out a small amount on the spoon and put into the freezer, to test its consistency texture. Modify as necessary, adding small amounts of wax or oil, until satisfied. It’s easier to slowly add more wax, instead of oil.
5. Once ready, remove it from the stovetop. If you want to add vitamin E or essential oils, then let it cool a little bit, then stir it in at the end, before it solidifies. The essential oils can explode, if the temperature is too high.
6. Pour into the awaiting jars.
7. Let cool. You might have to top off the salve as it dries, as it can create a funnel in the middle of the salve, as it dries.
8. Cap and label.
9. Store in cool areas. Enjoy!

~

Some Lube Recipe Ideas

Basic Vag Salve
1/4 C liquid oil ((ie. jojoba, almond, olive, or infused oils)
1/2 C cocoa butter
1/2 C coconut oil
1 T vitamin E oil
2 tsp beeswax
1 tsp lanolin
(optional) essential oils (ie. Lavender, rose otto, rose geranium, chamomile, sandalwood)

Flax Seed Decoction
- 1 T flax seeds
- 1 C water
Boil, then simmer on low heat for ~20 minutes, until it’s reduced by half. Strain, and it’s ready to use! Can store in the fridge for 2 months.

Yoni Butter (aphrodisiac/ lube, by Aviva Romm)
- ½ C cocoa butter
- ½ C coconut oil
- 4 oz unsweetened dark chocolate
- 2 T marshmallow root powder (or slippery elm root powder)
- ¼ tsp lavender essential oil (or other essential oil)

Ride and Glide (a nourishing lube, by Margi Flint)
- 0.8 oz grated beeswax
- ¼ C infused oil (with black cohosh, comfrey root, calendula, wild yam)
- ¼ C coconut oil
Combine and heat the above ingredients, then add:
- 1 T wheat germ oil
- 1 T vitamin E oil
- 1 tsp emulsified vitamin A
- essential oils of 30 drops lavender, 30 drops rose geranium, 10 drops rose otto

Coconut oil suppositories
Coconut oil with your choice of other oils (ie. Jojoba, vitamin E, wheat germ, evening primrose, borage, black currant seed oil). Warm and mix the oils together, then freeze in ice trays to harden. Cut each cube into 2-3 sticks. Use a stick before sex or before sleep.

Herbal ointment (a post-menopausal possibility, by Rosemary Gladstar- in equal parts)
Oil infusions, with:
- Comfrey leaf and root
- St. Jonswort
- Calendula
Heat oils, then add grated beeswax (1/4 C beeswax for each C oil), until beeswax melts.
(Optional: vitamin E, cocoa butter, coconut, etc. oils)

~

Chocolate

Making Chocolate from Scratch
¼ C cocoa butter                 4 T cocoa powder
2 T sweetener                                 ¼ tsp vanilla extract

1. Melt cocoa butter in double boiler on low heat.
2. Stir in cocoa powder.
3. Add sweetener/ vanilla.
4. Add herbs/ nuts/ seeds/ fruits/ etc. (Optional)
5. Pour into molds.
6. When solid, release from molds… and enjoy!

Using Existing Chocolate
1. Melt the chocolate.
2. Add in what you want. Here’s options:
- Add in nuts, berries, solid/ powdered herbs/ tinctures/ sweet preparations, let resolidify.
- Layer herbs (infused into sweet menstruua) onto melted chocolate that has solidified a bit. The herbs can be swirled in lightly, or completely mixed in.
- Use marc from coconut oil infusion to make chocolate. 1 Coconut oil marc : 1 Chocolate. Melt together, and mix. (ex: rose petal marc). Can also use herbally infused coconut oil.
3. Mix thoroughly, and let resolidify. (Optional: If you have molds, such as ice cube trays, then you can pour into them, and skip the next step.)
4. Score or cut in desired shapes, once chocolate is hard enough to hold its shape.
5. Let dry slowly and completely. Do not refrigerate, as elements of the chocolate may separate.
6. Enjoy.

~

Flying Ointment
(Note: use only under the guidance of a trained herbalist, in small quantities, and well monitored. Not for recreational use.)

Traditional plants:
- Belladonna (Atropa belladonna)
- Datura (Datura stramonium)
- Henbane (Hyoscyamus niger)
- Mandrake (Mandragora officinarum)

Traditionally used poisons (do not use):
- Opium poppy (Papaver somniferum)
- Death hemlock (Conium spp.)
- Monkshood (Aconitum spp.)
- Foxglove (Digitalis spp.)

Other considerations:
- Poplar buds (Populus spp.)
- Calamus root (Acorus calamus)
- Cannabis (Cannabis spp.)
- Sages (Artemisia spp.)
- Mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris)
- Wormwood (Artemisia absinthium)
- Yarrow (Achillea millefolium)

~

Other Considerations

Ingredients to Avoid in Commercial Lubes
benzene derivatives (sodium benzoate, methyl, ethyl, propylparaben, benzoate of soda, boric acid), propylene glycol, parabens, salicylates, anammic aldehyde, synthetic fragrances, glycerine (for irritation/infection-prone folks)

Food as Medicine
- Essential fatty acids (from fish, olive oil, hemp, flax, walnut, almonds, dark leafy greens, whole grain foods)
- Seaweed (and other iron sources)
- Healthy fats (unsaturated fats, only)
- Phytoestrogenic foods (ie. Soy, beans, flax, etc)

~

Resources

Online

Some simple aphrodisiac recipes

My oils/ salves class handout

My sweet medicine class handout 

Past "Botanica Erotica" and "Botanica Aphrodisiaca" class handouts

Flying ointment


Book suggestions
“Herbal Healing for Women,” by Rosemary Gladstar
“Anatomy of Arousal,” by Sheri Winston
“Botanical Medicine for Women’s Health,” by Aviva Romm