Self-care comes in many forms. There’s the warm bath at the end of the long day that serves as relief or the daily tongue scraping that’s just plain old maintenance in the best kind of way.

And then there’s the bigger stuff. Like saying no when you always say yes and being more intentional around things like how you spend your time or money.

I’ve been exploring all of these facets of self-care. It’s wonderful to schedule yoga or a pedicure but in my opinion it’s not enough. When we dig into the root cause of WHAT IT IS that we are really looking for in these moments dedicated to self-care, there is a big invitation to consider what could be cleared away or cultivated in order to be in that space just a little bit more in everyday life.

This is the essence of Ayurveda and why it is so difficult for many of us Westerners to grasp how holistic wellness actually works. We have been trained that self-care is a new haircut or product and that it is handed out by someone else. Likewise, most of us come to Ayurveda looking for a food list or herbal tea that will solve all of our problems. The haircut and the tea will help for a little while, but if we’re not also addressing the root cause… well we’re just going to need something else in a short matter of time.

Ojas is the subtle essence of the water element. It is sustainable nourishment that derives from the deepest part in our bodies. Ojas is said to be our inner bliss. One of its roles is to provide a container for tejas (our inner light) and prana (our vital life force energy). When we have strong, ample ojas we have enough of the sacred water element to support flow, contentment, immunity and endurance. We have an internal juiciness that helps us glide from one thing to the next, living in our fullest expression. We aren’t frazzled from moment to moment, waiting for the next time “self-care” is jotted on the calendar.

So yes, there are teas and herbs and massage oils to boost ojas. And trust me, I love all of that stuff too. But there’s also taking an honest look at where your time and energy go and deciding if your life feels in alignment with your highest self. I believe making the tiniest shift toward deeper alignment is one of the greatest forms of self-care we can make.

You may already know that I studied journalism and political science in college. What I thought would have been my career didn’t work out that way. I care deeply about social activism but after a few years of working in a poverty-stricken school district I was burnt out and frankly more confused than ever about how to contribute.

Recently, with both dharma and ojas on my mind, I read Make Change by Shaun King. I devoured it in three days and something finally clicked for me. He said, “America’s charitable machine too often treats symptoms in perpetuity while allowing root causes to remain entrenched for generations.” I realized that I started out with a blazing pitta fire wanting to change the world, but my 20-something self definitely wasn’t nurturing ojas. So the fire fizzled and eventually vata fatigue took over.

I share all of this because I know you are probably feeling some similar feelings. By the way, if you are still here thank you for reading. Take what feels right for you… perhaps a bath with oats, sea salt, magnesium flakes, lavender and frankincense essential oils IS in order (wrap the oats in cheesecloth and tie it for easy clean up, dump the rest in the tub). But perhaps there’s something that’s been slightly out of alignment for you too. I encourage you to follow that nudge and know that sometimes we can do it on our own and sometimes we need more support. Either way, you have the answer within, it’s just a matter of noticing it.

For me, as I closed Make Change and opened up my laptop to check out Shaun’s links I knew right away that contributing to Grassroots Law was something that would bring me more into alignment as my highest expression. I had planned to donate a percentage of the sales from Simple Ayurveda’s Dharma Immersion to an organization, I just hadn’t decided which one.

When I saw “make it monthly” my soul knew that this was a way to commit to systemic change from the root cause. In the past I have given here and there to various organizations with a vata-sort of energy. Sometimes fueled by pitta anger combined with deep empathy. A monthly commitment toward the root cause of America’s injustice feels like deep, sustainable self-care for both myself and others.

I am so thankful for the leaders sharing their gifts. I don’t have to have it all figured out but I can put my trust in those that I feel aligned with. And I am deeply grateful for the wisdom of Ayurveda that teaches us that sustainability is the container for everything else- including our radiant light, our vitality and our ability to live our fullest expression.

From the ancient texts:

Bathing Benefits: purifying, aphrodisiac, life-promoting, destroyer of fatigue, sweat and dirt, resuscitative and a good promoter of Ojas.

- Charaka Samhita, Vol. 1 V: 94

So take that bath, and then perhaps spend a moment listening to your inner voice. I’d love to hear how you follow its guidance.

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