First Taste of Spring

Today I started the germination of 20 little tiny baby seeds of echinacea.  This native plant of michigan has been utilized in many practices of traditional medicine for many centuries.  I plan to germinate more closer to spring but these I will grow inside with the intention of purifying the air of my home.  And bonus the flowers are fragrant and beautiful. Echinacea can lower levels of toxicity in the air and in Native American tradition when the leaves are burned with lavender can also purify the air.

Even today echinacea remains popular in Europe and has maintained its place in herbal medicine. It has gained a reputation for decreasing the severity and length of the common cold. There has been a lot of scientific studies of echinacea's effect on the body. The results showing increased antibody responses to elevate interferon levels for fighting viruses, stimulation of white blood cells to fight infection, and can decrease inflammation especially in the lymphatic system.

In Permaculture echinacea is known and also utilized for its drought tolerant pioneering qualities.  This plant has a deep taproot that helps overused and damaged land by bringing nutrients from deep in the soil and making it accessible to the microorganisms in the soil and other plants. The large flower also attracts pollinators especially bees and butterflies and can be a home to wasps that choose to not make a nest. The length of the life of this plant is dependent upon the climate of which it grows. Although, many sources state echinacea 'will live for many years' or 'will live long for an herbaceous plant'.

Until springtime rolls around I will be enjoying these flowers inside. Happy plantings!

Goals for 2016

" Excellence is never an accident. It is always the resilt of high intention, sincere effort and intelligent execution; it represents the wise choice of many alternatives. Therefore choice, not chance, determines your destiny."


YOGA:
Develop my personal yoga practice daily and integrate knowledge into the practice when teaching
Develop a clientele for private and studio classes
Establish Lunar Warrior Yoga: make a business/LLC, Trademark and create website.

PERMACULTURE:
Study plant relationships, identification, and perennial systems
Work with community garden to spread knowledge and surplus to the community
Complete a design consultation and installation
Use home garden as a place of observation and learning

HEALTH:
Transition to diet of: 75% raw food and 25% vegetable proteins: quinoa, beans/rice, etc
Study Ayurveda, medicinal herbs, nutritional healing and alternative medicines
Learn to juice, dehydrate and can food.
Stop using unneccesary toxins: alcohol, cigarettes, caffeine, sugar, etc

ASTROLOGY:
Record astrological events weekly and keep journal of the Moon phases
Chart at least 10 birth-charts by Dec 31st

LEADERSHIP:
Attend LIFE Leadership seminars
Study leadership principles and apply to life as needed
Learn from mentors, scholars and other leaders

PERSONAL:
Cultivate the self discipline to make strides toward self mastery with daily regimens
Reach out to family and restore relationships that serve me
Maintain financial spreadsheet and continue apply financial freedom principles
Save $2,500 by Dec 31st, 2016
Read each day: 10 pages of each book on reading list
Condense belongings and maintain an organized home
Travel and go on a hiking adventure