I love the morning time. I like to wake up around 8 am, which seems to be my natural hour, (I always avoid alarm clocks). Enjoying a tonic is my favorite way to start the day, but only after making the bed. I open the window and watch my cat rush to perch on the sill and smell the air. After a few minutes, I slide on my house shoes and begin to prepare a kettle of hot water.
The value of ritual-
Ritual brings me such joy. The philosophy of doing the same thing every day brings harmony and a calmness to my mornings, a subtle reminder of a practice which I find extremely valuable to self preservation. So, before opening my devices to begin working, I like to prep a coffee tonic. Organic, local coffee is my favorite, a small cup before rounds of tea is ideal.
It starts like this...
The Recipe
Ingredients2 cups coffee, made in a french press (note: this recipe can be changed if you do not drink coffee by substituting a Chaga tea brew as the base instead) 1/2 cup organic, sprouted plant milk (almond or cashew) made at home 1 tbsp. Jasmine Tocos sliver of organic grass-fed butter or small dollop of raw honey 1/2 tsp. Rhodiola 1/2 tsp. Lion's Mane 1/2 tsp. Pearl 1/4 tsp. cinnamon 1 stick vanilla bean |
MethodAfter brewing the coffee and letting it cool for a few minutes, I blend all ingredients in a high speed blender and pour into my favorite cup.
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I like to spend about a half hour sitting and enjoying my potion on a freshly made bed and pet my cat.
Once I am ready to begin working, I listen to NPR and prepare a simple green tea, usually genmaicha, a green tea with toasted rice. My alternative favorite tea is the Spring Dragon Gynostema, especially intoxicating when I add Pine Pollen and adaptogenic mushrooms. Gynostemma's sweet natural flavor in combination with these tonic herbs is the perfect intermediary tonic for a long and productive day.
IngredientsGynostemma tea 1/2 tsp. Sun Potion Pine Pollen 1/4 tsp. Sun Potion Reishi 1/4 tsp. Sun Potion Cordyceps sometimes, a dollop of raw honey and a quick stir |
This second potion is a part of my ritual, keeps my brain focused and my mind clear.
** This is a great tea over ice too...just prep a large batch when warm, pour into a pitcher, let cool on the counter then place in the fridge for access all day.
