This time of the year holds a very special opportunity for us all. We know that the universe is divided into special windows in time such as the 4 different seasons, weeks, days, specific holidays and so on. Each window of time has a unique ‘gift’ for us, it is up to us to either be aligned with the universe or not. The more we are aligned with the cosmic openings, the healthier and balanced we will be.
Spring comes right after the winter, when everything is asleep, frozen and still, and preparing for a movement, growth, and flourishment that happen during the spring. According to the 5 elements in the Chinese Medicine, the spring is associated with the Wood element. the color is green, the 2 internal organs that are connected to the Wood are the Liver and Gallbladder- the Liver helps to breakdown toxins and is in charge of a smooth flow of blood and Qi (life force, energy). When the Liver is stagnant, we may feel more anger and more irritated, severe PMS, muscle aches, headaches and more. A cleanse will give a relief for the Liver and will harmonize it.
the emotion that associates with the wood element is Anger, the “cure” for anger is creativity. the sound is scream, the taste is bitter- these are all wood element characteristics. This gives us a hint and a guideline for what is available to us right now until the summer.
The spring is a great time for cleansing inside out, for renewal, for overcoming our anger issues by being proactive and creative (being creative can mean many things, what is creativity for you? How can you express and unlock your voice?)
It’s not by chance Passover is around the corner as well. Besides cleaning the house, eating Matza, drinking wine and connect to a tradition, the real meaning of Passover is to free ourselves from any bondage and connect to real freedom which is connecting to our true self, our soul, and disconnect from whatever is unnecessary for our growth, and whatever is stopping us from being the best version of ourselves. It is time of reflection, reflection on our ego in all shape or form, and literally cleansing it. Being aware of it and taking responsibility is the first step. How does my selfishness look like? How does is manifest in my life? How does it affect others? What area in my life I feel or behave like a slave? What are my attachments? How attached I am for my physical desires? Are they controlling me? Am I an emotional eater? What is my slavery? Be honest.
This time can bring us closer to personal and collective freedom.
The end result is magical and flawless. The way to get there requires a process and hard work.
Take few minutes every day to reflect on yourself. What is it that you would like to change? How does you perfected self look like? Write it down.
As we mentioned before, the cleansing is inside out. Treating our body in the same way as we treat our soul and spirit is so valuable. Your body is your temple ,your vessel.
Below is an idea of a spring cleanse, you can start now or after Passover, for 21 days. Good luck and have an amazing colorful CLEAN spring.
First thing in the morning
On an empty stomach: room temperature water with half of fresh squeezed lemon.
Breakfast
Green Juice. Use Vitamix or any other juicer. You can make a different shake using different ingredients every day: blend with water: celery, cucumber, lemon, carrots, organic apples, Kale, spinach, cucumber, ginger.
Add: Flex seed oil, Probiotics
AM snack
Sliced organic apple/celery sticks/green tea
Lunch
Baked Sweet Potato/Avocado with lemon and salt/big vegetable salad (no tomatoes)/grilled salmon/lean chicken breast/vegetable soup/quinoa with Israeli Salad, cauliflower or broccoli “rice”/baked or steamed veggies, lean protein.
PM Snack
Like lunch snack
Dinner
Lean Protein with vegetables, or anything from the lunch menu.
Okay to eat:
Fruits: Organic apples and pears, all vegetables besides nightshades (tomatoes, eggplants peppers), herbs: Basil, cilantro, chives, parsley, lemon, olive oil, avocado oil, lean proteins- fish, chicken, turkey.
Avoid:
Gluten, wheat and wheat products, soy, dairy, eggs, legumes, sugar, coffee, red meats, cold cuts, artificial colors. monosodium glutamate, condiments, potatoes.
Recipes:
Toasted sweet potato with avocado, radishes and chives.
Ingredients: 1 sweet potato with the shell, ½ cup chopped chives, ½ lemon.
Slice the sweet potato into thin slices, leave the shell on, bake in a toaster oven or a conventional oven for about 25 minutes in 350’.
Take out the sweet potato “toasts” out of the over to chill, put avocado slices, sliced radishes and chopped chives on top of the toast, Add lemon and Salt.
Cauliflower rice with cilantro and lime.
Ingredients: cauliflower rice, 1 cup of chopped cilantro, ½ tsp garlic powder, ½ lime, 2 tbsp olive oil for cooking, or avocado oil, salt.
In a medium pot, warm the oil in a medium hit, add the rice, stir for about 5 minutes. Add salt and garlic powder, stir some more till cauliflower is soft but not too soft.
Move the rice to a bowl, add the cilantro and lime.
*the same recipe can be done with broccoli rice.
*Can eat the rice with avocado.
Cooked whole artichokes with Mediterranean dip.
Ingredients: 2-3 whole artichokes, ½ lemon ,2 tbsp olive oil , salt ,1/2 cup chopped chives.
Put the artichokes in a big pot, cover with water, squeeze lemon into the pot, cook for about an hour and a half (one way to check if the artichoke is ready is to take out one leaf and see if it’s soft. If it is – ready to eat).
For the dip: squeeze half a lemon, 2 spoons of olive oil, pinch of salt and chopped chives and mix.
Eat the leaves one by one and dip in the dip, including the artichoke heart.
Grilled Salmon Green Salad.
Ingredients:
For the fish:1 Lb. Wild Salmon,1/2 lemon, 2 brunches of thyme, 1 diced garlic cloves, 1 spoon olive oil.
For the Salad: Arugula, Hearts of Palms, cucumbers, shredded carrots and cabbage (can also use brocolislaw in health food stores).
Preheat the oven for 350’, on top of the salmon: lemon, thyme, garlic, olive oil, salt. Bake for 12 minutes.
Salad: in a bog bowl add all the vegetables together. Dressing- olive oil lemon and salt. Mix all together, add the fish on top of the salad.
Leak and Okra soup:
Ingredients: I celery root, ½ Lb. Okra, 1 big leak, 1 yellow onion, pinch turmeric, kosher salt,2 carrots, 1 zucchini. 2 tbsp olive oil for cooking.
Cut into small pieces all the vegetables, in a big pot heat up the oil in a medium hit, sauté the celery root for 7 minutes. After its brownish, add the onion and stir for 5 minutes. Add the carrots, the okra, the leak, mix it all together, add the turmeric and kosher salt , add 8 cups of water to a boil, add the zucchini and cook for 1 hour (the Okra takes time to cook).
