The lunar nodes are directly opposite each other in the chart. They aren’t planets but rather mathematical points on the chart that fall in two opposite zodiac signs. (For example, if your north node is in Capricorn, your south node will be in its opposite sign of Cancer, and so on.) Here’s a more in-depth look at the themes of the north node and south node and how to decode where yours fall....
We usually communicate in whatever way’s most convenient, but this is often a formula for misunderstandings, even with the best of intentions. Thankfully, you can start your communication off right, and when you do, you’ll save yourself and improve your relationships. So let’s identify the levels of communication. Most of us communicate through texting, emailing and chatting. This is the first level of communication. The amount of information you send through these mediums is mostly words, plus a few emoticons....
In addition to making rich soil, compost also cuts down on waste that ends up in landfills, reducing the amount of methane—a greenhouse gas with a much greater warming potential than carbon dioxide—released into the atmosphere. “Compost allows me to contribute in a beneficial and sustainable way to the cyclical process of healthy plant development and food production right in my garden,” Ashlie Thomas, organic farmer and founder of The Mocha Gardner tells mbg....
The painful inspiration for this piece came about a month ago. After indulging in a mere two and a half glasses of wine on a Friday evening—along with plenty of food and water, I might add—I was met with a dreaded hangover come Saturday morning. My eye sockets and cheekbones ached, my head was pounding, and, soon enough, I was experiencing the dreaded, wave-like “I’m definitely going to throw up” sensation....
I was waiting in the green room at a marketing conference, minutes before I was expected to go onstage to deliver a keynote when I suddenly felt a gush of blood go down my leg. Shocked and confused because I had just completed a menstrual cycle, I quickly cleaned it up, feeling grateful I’d chosen to wear a red dress that day. After my speaking engagement ended, I returned backstage hoping the mysterious bleeding had stopped....
Aside from gaining weight during three pregnancies (and far more than the “healthy” level for the first two) and consciously losing it afterwards, my weight has usually been “average” with a few highs and lows. Since I am fairly tall (5’8), a few extra pounds are easier to carry. Being underweight was more obvious as my long limbs looked longer than usual and along with that came comments (usually from my parents) about not eating enough....
Similar to goal setting, intention setting can help us sustain a positive outlook as we move into the future. As spiritual teacher Gary Zukav says, “every intention sets energy into motion, whether you are conscious of it or not.” Follow this simple four-step process to create crystal-clear intentions. When choosing a crystal to work with, first focus on its color and shape and not its purported properties. Your intuition will lead you in the right direction, toward a crystal that will help you manifest what you truly need in your life....
But physiologically speaking, it might be generally better to have sex in the morning because many people’s bodies have higher levels of testosterone and estrogen, two hormones that influence sexual desire1, at the start of the day. That means you may be more in the mood and potentially able to have more satisfying sex in the morning. RELATED STORY: Sex And The Mind: How To Hack Your Brain For Better Sex For men and people with penises, testosterone levels replenish overnight and thus tend to be at their highest in the morning and at their lowest at night....
Patients with anxiety and/or depression are often prescribed selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) medications, which prevent the reuptake of serotonin, making more serotonin available for your brain. When these medications were originally developed over 30 years ago, it was believed that anxiety and depression were caused by low levels of serotonin1, the “feel good hormone.” It turns out that the mechanisms aren’t quite so binary. Serotonin and its role in brain function are much more nuanced2 than originally thought (and still being worked out)....
As for what inspires feelings of envy and jealousy, neurologist Ilene Ruhoy, M.D., Ph.D., says it comes down to how our brains are wired1. “It all depends on how the amygdala connects with areas of our brain that establish our values and our motivations,” she explains. “We understand more of where sadness, anger, and fear originate in the brain2, but jealousy and envy are complex in that the interplay between biochemistry, anatomy, and our environment within which we develop can dictate to what extent we feel either jealousy or envy....
“Kapha manifests in the physical realm as thick or dense body tissues or bones, soft skin, big, dreamy eyes, and a general softness or roundness to features,” explains Milla Stanton, an ayurvedic health educator. Kaphas tend to gain weight easily and may struggle to lose it. Emotionally, those who are kapha-dominant are loyal, patient, thoughtful, nurturing, and calm. When in balance, kaphas are drawn to routines. Though they tend to be slow to pick up new habits, they are great at sticking with them for the long haul....
We investigated the benefits of fasting and the keto diet, and here’s what we learned about the benefits of pairing them and how to do so safely and effectively. Very briefly, IF is unlike other “diets” in that it’s just a pattern of eating based on time rather than food choices. The most common form of IF is time-restricted eating (TRE), which will be the focus of this article. TRE limits daily food intake to a fixed window of each day, typically ~8 hours....
That’s exactly why I created this quick eight-minute workout. Maybe you want to break up a day of work-from-home with some energizing movement—or perhaps you are going into work and need a speedy workout that fits into your schedule. Either way, this three-move routine will do the trick. It primarily focuses on the lower body, but I’ve also incorporated some arm movements and cardio bursts for full-body benefits. Each move will not only quickly get your heart rate up but also take the muscles to exhaustion....
While nonrestrictive, there are specific portions, or macros, that make up a standard Mediterranean diet. Macros, or macronutrients, are the three primary nutrients that make up a healthy diet. They are primarily broken into carbohydrates, proteins, and fats. A typical plate would contain half vegetables, one-quarter whole grains, and one-quarter protein, according to Smith. “About 10% of your protein may include healthy fats,” she adds. Dark, leafy greens, for example, contain a variety of antioxidants and carotenoids that help fight free radicals and reduce inflammation....
Further, if you’ve already been exercising regularly, expect to see some differences in energy. “If you’ve been exercising, continue to do your normal training—but don’t be surprised if things are lagging the first two weeks, as your body adjusts, particularly if you’re used to eating lots of sugar,” she says. “Taking a rest week or half-intensity week here is often a good idea. If you get partway through your Whole30 and find you have so much energy that you want to start exercising—go for it!...
Soon-to-be-dads tend to focus on the practical stuff, like car seat installation, baby-proofing the house, and the like. While settling the hardware of parenting is important, Sara Shadravan, a Los Angeles–based parenting coach and educational consultant, encourages dads to remember to tackle the bigger picture. Here are a few ways to start preparing for fatherhood, according to parenting experts and fathers themselves: Here are a few to consider: Of course, there’s no need to limit yourself to books....
The Cup suit in tarot is connected to water, Magdaleno explains, which is all about rebirth, emotion, and intuition. She notes that in the traditional Rider Waite Smith deck card, you can see the Queen sitting right on the edge of water, with one of her feet on the pebbles and one in the water, representing that she’s balanced in what she does. “She’s obviously very influenced by her emotions and intuition—but she’s grounded at the same time,” Magdaleno says....
Whatever your idea of a perfect Saturday looks like—we support it (especially if it involves sweatpants). And although that cozy Saturday afternoon looks a little different for everyone, we’re firm believers that it all starts with the menu. Below we gathered some of our all-time favorite snacks and sips, all of which are mbg-approved (i.e., minimal prep, maximum benefits). Whether you’re after a cocktail, pre-dinner bite, full-on meal, or dessert, we’ve got the answer for you....
Here, personal trainer Jason Williams, NASM-CPT, gives us the lowdown on the benefits and downsides of both so you can figure out which one is best for you. On top of that, it’s important to note your level of fitness and any injuries you might have. Crunches are probably “easier” form-wise, so that’s something to consider if your back or neck is an issue. Williams himself notes he likes to switch it up....
