There was a time not so long ago when I was not feeling at my best. It felt as if I was going through the motions of living my day-to-day life without much thought. I was struggling with feelings of inadequacy, doubt, and feeling out of touch with myself. I was highly judgmental of myself and others. No matter how much I tried, I was unable to escape the funk of reliving past experiences. There was a feeling that I was trudging through life with my own personal raincloud overhead (if anyone remembers a character on Winnie the Pooh, a donkey named Eeyore? That was me.) All this to say I was not the Nancy I know and have grown to love. Something was amiss. So, thinking of ways to get back to myself, I kept thinking and picturing a warm beverage. The warmth and comfort only a warm cup of tea can provide were what my mind told me I needed. This was perfect, so I made my way to my nearest grocery store and perused the tea and coffee aisles. After picking up my preferred beverage of choice, I began my journey down the spice aisle. As I stocked up on my favorite spices, I could not help but choose one that I was unfamiliar with. Although I attempted to return the spice jar twice, something within me compelled me to bring it home with me, and so I did. Over the course of a few months, I developed a deep connection with the spice known as Cardamom, for which I am eternally grateful.
There is no spice like cardamom in my culture. It is not a spice I know at all. It is primarily used in Asian, Middle Eastern, and Indian cuisines. I began sprinkling generous amounts of this powder onto anything that I thought could benefit from the deliciously sweet and subtly spicy aroma and flavor of cardamom. This included tea, coffee, breakfast items, desserts, oatmeal, pudding, and even warm water. Something in me began to shift after a few months. I felt as though the figurative raincloud following me was dissipating. As a result, I was gentler with myself, and was able to shake off the intrusive thoughts that would sometimes enter my mind. My intuitive abilities and the gift of foresight blossomed like never before, I felt protected, wiser, kinder, and most importantly, I felt inspired. A little research revealed that Cardamom helps to strengthen certain chakras in our bodies. The funk I was experiencing was a manifestation of three major chakra imbalances. Several chakras in my body were blocked, including the Third Eye, the Heart, and the Sacral. With the help of cardamom (as well as meditation), I was able to return to the Nancy I knew was somewhere deep within.
There is no doubt in my mind that my higher self, spirit guides, and my loving ancestors guided me that fateful day down the spice aisle. They guided my hand to reach for something that would unlock my true potential. It is our inherent nature to be beautiful beings of light who are endowed with the gift of intuition and foresight, but we need to step outside our own heads to be able to utilize these resources. If we learn to trust ourselves more our collective well-being would be enhanced, and life as we know it would be a fun and joyful experience. Wishing you peace, love, and safe travels on this journey we call life.
