The Autumnal Equinox falls on Tuesday, September 22 at 9:30 AM EST in the Northern Hemisphere. This is the moment in the cycle of the seasons when the amount of daylight and darkness will be exactly equal. It is the time of perfect balance between the polarities of day and night. I find it reassuring, that while the pandemic ravages the planet, climate catastrophe is upon us with the western USA ablaze, and our democracy is hanging by a thread, the Earth quietly spins on her axis unperturbed amidst the disaster, suffering, chaos, and upheaval.
The cosmic order and reliability of the cycles of the seasons resonates with the vibration of a wise and inspirational book entitled “Harmonic Healing”by a naturopathic and homeopathic physician who practices in Santa Fe, Dr. Linda Lancaster.
Dr. Linda, as she is called, identifies as an Energy Medicine doctor. This book describes her multidimensional approach to strengthening our life force with appropriate nutrition, health-promoting habits, and spiritual practices that she has acquired in over 40 years of clinical work. At the heart of her philosophy is her appreciation that we are spiritual energetic beings living in a physical body. She states explicitly that nothing when it comes to health is ever purely physical.
Part One of the book is entitled “Enter the Subtle: Discovering the Unseen Aspects of Health” She describes her professional journey and her influential teachers, her philosophy about healing aimed at strengthening our vital life energy and removing the obstacles to health, and how the toxicity of our environment, from chemicals, radiation, heavy metals weaken our immunity and render us vulnerable to parasites in the form of bacteria, viruses, worms, fungus, and microscopic parasites like spirochetes and flukes.
The centerpiece of her therapeutic approach is her recognition of the sacred power of food. She describes the energetic qualities of food and the power that an organically grown produce has to increase our vibration and life force vs conventionally grown foods that are sprayed with pesticides.
The Second Part of the book is a Liver Cleansing Program which aims to restore vitality and health through diet and practices which detoxify the liver. Dr. Linda describes in detail the six-week program that she prescribes to patients who consult with her in her practice. The liver is the major organ of detoxification in our body. Given the increasing toxicity of our environment, our livers are working overtime in an attempt to keep up with the relentless onslaught not only on a physical level from pollution in the form of chemicals, heavy metals and radiation, but also from the toxicity of the political and cultural environment. When the liver is congested, it adversely affects every organ system of the body. Symptoms of fatigue, poor stress tolerance, headaches and migraines, digestive malaise, joint and skin issues, poor sleep, are all common manifestations of liver congestion. From an emotional perspective, when the liver is unable to keep up with the toxic load, this can manifest as feelings of anger, depression, brain fog, stagnation, lack of enthusiasm, and poor self-esteem.
There are six weeks between the Autumnal Equinox and Election Day, exactly the length of the Liver Cleansing Program. No matter who wins the election, we are likely to be embarking upon an even more turbulent, distressing and difficult period. The optimal functioning of our livers would offer protection and support our cultivation of resilience and equanimity in the face of so much toxicity. I have invited my patients and friends to do Dr. Linda’s Liver Cleansing Program with me starting on the Autumnal Equinox and ending on Election Day. Perhaps you would like to join us?
You may share this with anyone with whom you think this would resonate. Our personal state of health and well-being can have a powerful impact on our environment.
Rosh Hashana, the Jewish New Year begins on September 18, 2020 at sundown. Pomegranates are a symbol of fertility and Rosh Hashana. May the number of your blessings in the New Year be as many as the seeds of the pomegranate.
Here is a fascinating and rich recent interview with Dr. Linda which gives you a good sense of the woman and her work.
