Pain that is not yet come is avoidable

Pain that is not yet come is avoidable:

Heyam Dukham Anagatam in Sanskrit, a cornerstone of how one works in Yoga and Ayurveda. It’s about assessing the present moment and responding appropriately. Opening to what is. Yet we have to be willing to look at what’s going on to be able to do this.

It can be a balancing act to see what could be coming and address it together, as well as in our individual lives.

Avoiding pain that is not yet come can be as mundane as sidestepping a potential flu by slowing down and having clear broth and light nourishing food, instead of plunging ahead, working too much, and sticking with the heavy meal that was planned.

Avoiding pain that is not yet come can include honoring the natural rhythms of the day and enhancing energy by walking in the cool of the morning or the evening instead of high noon.

Or it could be about addressing the larger picture of food security in front of us How can we respond as communities and individuals, to make food availability more secure, not less? Food security nationally has been dropping. Natural disasters, unpredictable weather, cuts in SNAP, and the targeting of farm workers makes this picture even shakier.

Unexpected changes are happening

We are at a moment of unexpected revolution – economically, culturally, socially. Here in northern New Mexico, the Espanola and Taos branches of Section 8 have already been shut down. Section 8 has historically helped low-income families, elders, vets, and disabled individuals get housing in the private market. People in this federally funded program are now being asked to travel from Taos more than 2 hours round trip to Santa Fe for basic services and needs. If they don’t have the right paperwork, it’s another day’s drive (and driver) to bring it back. In addition, one friend here in Santa Fe has seen their Section 8 monthly rent cost double overnight, unheard of in their experience. While Medicaid cuts are being delayed until after the midterm elections next year, serious changes like this are already happening.

As ordinary people, how do we respond?

Changes will impact many aspects of our lives. Looking at just one issue, like food. There is personal food security, whether we’ve got access to enough food, a garden, a home pantry. There is the larger web of our community food security, how well farmers are supported, how well children are nourished, whether schools can continue to feed kids as they have steadily here in New Mexico.

I invite you to open to what might be needed in your own life and community, to consider how to prepare and connect. I’m just starting to think more about this. Many members of my community are way ahead of me. Green Fire Times, a local monthly paper, has done a great job of covering complex, earth-based issues. Here’s a particularly good issue focused on food security in New Mexico.

Take a break and make a cool drink with me

Pain that is not yet come is avoidable could feel like a challenging topic. Perhaps your nervous system is amping up at these thoughts, mine certainly has been. Working with my hands can calm my mind. I invite you to join me in making one simple recipe, Cucumber Agua Fresca (pictured on left).

Wash one organic cucumber well and slice it (about 2 cups) into a 1-quart jar. Pour two cups of water (or coconut water if you like) over the cucumbers. Add 4 teaspoons fresh chopped dill leaf or 2 Tablespoons of fresh chopped cilantro. Offer some good vibes. Put the jar in the fridge and allow to sit for 2 – 4 hours (this is called a making cold infusion).

Drink the fresh water, agua fresca, offering a toast with me to everyone who’s helped bring this drink to us. Feel free to eat the cucumbers or use them in another dish. This recipe balances all doshas, especially Pitta. It supports hydration, cooling, and plasma (rasa). All blessings to everyone who’s ever made an agua fresca and thanks to the Easy Healing Drinks summer section for this recipe.

Join forces with the veteran community

If ever there was a time to support veterans in healthy connections, it is now. My long-time respected colleague and friend Ralph Steele is leading the third year of a resilient program with depth, the Veterans Meditation Retreat, happening this September. Organized and run by vets for vets, it offers space to slow down, concentrate on the breath, and enjoy the camaraderie of fellow veterans. If you are a vet interested in this program or want to support it, there’s more info here.

Amadea Morningstar is a writer and health educator working in the US. Her latest book is Easy Healing Drinks from the Wisdom of Ayurveda.

Thanks to Rich & Manjula for long time inspiration and first introducing me to Heyam Dukham Anagatam

Yoga Image: 9 Circle Tree, Accessible Yoga, thanks to Angela, Tara, & Saraswati, photographer much appreciated (2017)

Agua Fresca image thanks to Renee Lynn and Easy Healing Drinks