The Maple Tree

Oaks, Maples and Bob Marley

I’m writing this as I am landing back into the rhythm of my American summer life with children. Kids here have a 3 month summer break, compared to a meager 6 weeks they have in Europe. It’s a long break, which offers plenty of time for trips, camps and sports.

Anyway, the day before yesterday I was walking around in Amsterdam meeting a friend and getting groceries. Something that feels so normal and familiar. And now I am sitting here in Leavenworth KS, sitting by the swimming pool cheering on my stepdaughter Anne. My brain doesn’t always wrap around it, and at times I feel like I’m living a double life. Wherever I am, there is another home to long for and to miss.

I’ve struggled with this and feel like my roots are shallow in multiple places, and I feel the need to root down deep like an oak tree. I’ve just learned that maple trees have wide and shallow roots, so I’m embracing the energy of the maple at this time in my life. Juicy, sweet and rich—maple syrup is one of my favorite things ever. Paul brought me some dark maple syrup from a small farm in Massachusetts, wow.

In transferring from Europe to the US I notice I swear too much now. Americans frown when cursing, especially in front of children (which I do get). Words such as ‘damn’ and ‘shit’ are curse words too… FYI

Passing on Teachings

We are learning so much about women’s hormones during the yogic course this month with Harmanjot.

On menstruation

• Menorrhagia (heavy bleeding) is a progesterone deficiency.

• Dysmenorrhea (painful periods) is actually a liver issue

• Amenorrhea (no periods) is actually a hypothalamic issue.

• Oligomenorrhea (light or irregular periods) is a pituitary dysfunction.

Especially women need to sweat 30 minutes per day until they start to sweat at the brow point. That’s when the glands start detoxing.

Yellow raspberries in the wild

Funny thing is in Holland when I go on a run I barely sweat. And in Missouri, I’m sweating just by taking 10 steps outside. In the high summer, sweating occurs without walking at all… One thing I didn’t realize before moving to the US, is how brutal the climate is in most of the country during summer: most of it is crazy hot and moreover very humid, meaning sweat and mosquitoes. Yikes!

I watched the new movie One Love, on Bob Marley’s life on the plane. As a little kid I danced on Could You Be Loved, and I always loved Bob. (Are there people who do not like his music??) Listening to his songs again I never realized so much how spiritual they actually are. His most famous album is called Exodus, referring to him moving to London during political unrest in 1980s Jamaica. I was struck by the beautiful lyrics of Natural Mystic:

Don't ask me why

There's a natural mystic blowin' through the air

I won't tell no lie

If you listen carefully now, you will hear

Right before Bob Marley passed, he converted to the Orthodox Ethiopian Christian Church and thus converted to Christianity. I didn’t know this, so sharing this.

- - Bye for now, I will unpack my suitcase and listen to Bob as it suits the weather.

Beautiful old buildings in my home province of Groningen, an archway of pears, a mantle with pregnant women as guardians on the side which struck me as I’ve never seen this before and a drawing/collage by my niece Ise.

Amsterdam, on a biodynamic goat farm in the Amsterdamse Bos, and a dear friend gifted me this magical Celestine crystal.