Have you ever thought about Nature’s beauty? Not just observed it, but really contemplated it?

All that abundant, awesome beauty…
Why is it there? Why such effort? For what purpose?

This crystallized for me last summer when we hiked to an immense waterfall on the Big Island of Hawaii. It is stunning enough to be alongside a great river cascading over a mountain surrounded by dense, moist, nourishing green, with views all the way to the sea. But what really struck me was what I saw as we were leaving.

Tucked far off the worn path, somewhat around the corner and a bit behind the source of the water’s fall, high, high up, far beyond reach and almost out of sight, incredibly and all alone, was a soaring white orchid lifting its blossom breathtakingly toward the sky.

The beauty of this was overwhelming. I stopped, stood, stared. I took long, deep, expansive breaths. I grounded in and opened my arms, trying to muster enough of myself, enough presence, to absorb the magnificence.

It was a long time before I harkened to the call of my family, already at the car and confused by my delay. But I wondered later as we drove off, if I hadn’t accidentally spotted this glory, would it have been seen by anyone at all? What if it had never been noticed, its beauty never appreciated?  How many other flowers, gifts of nature across the world, offer their beauty in that same way ~ to the sky, the sun, the world, to nothing, to anything, to hope, or to a bee, a wing, even a prayer?

So, why? Why such beauty, then, if it might never be regarded?

Since this is true, the same intelligence in nature that creates beauty can help the beauty in you shine bright. The right ingredients, drawn from their source ~ the pure essence of nature versus laboratory altered or synthesized ~ potently delivers the self-correcting, self-regulating, anti-aging, healing wisdom of the life force that emanates from pure consciousness.

From nature’s harvest then, I like to make my own “beauty” products and I make them from the very food we eat. Below are a few simple favorites for you to try.

The first two were handed down from Dr. Manisha Kshirsagar, an Ayurvedic Doctor practicing with her husband, Dr. Suhas, at their clinic in Aptos, California. The final one is inspired by Reenita Malhotra Hora, from her book, Inner Beauty, but adjusted for ingredients that were available at our local market.

ROSE CLEANSER
For Normal Skin

2 tablespoons Almond Oil
1 teaspoon Rose Water
1 teaspoon Bees Wax
1/4 teaspoon Fenugreek powder
2 shakes of Nutmeg

Mix ingredients together, store in an airtight container, and use within one week.

This Rose Cleanser thoroughly cleans the face, neck and eye area while soothing normal skin. Rose is an astringent so there is no need to follow with a Toner. It is also anti-inflammatory, antiseptic and has a cool, soft aroma.

SOOTHING MOISTURIZER
For All Skin Types

1/2 cup Sunflower or Almond Oil
1 tablespoon Coconut Oil
Orange, Sandalwood, or Rose Essential Oil

Warm the coconut oil and mix in the sunflower or almond oil. Stir in a few drops of either one of the essential oils.

If you have warm, red, or irritated skin, use the Sunflower Oil, add a pinch of Turmeric and, optionally, Neem.

If you have dry skin, or it is cool to the touch, use the almond oil and, optionally, stir in a teaspoon of Ghee.

You can also massage this into your scalp before showering: Give your head a good rub, then comb the oil out to the ends of your hair. Reducing the tendency for hair loss and premature greying, coconut oil massaged into the head adds body and luster to hair, while cooling the mind, and balancing your nervous system.

It is amazing, intelligent and efficient, that nature offers beauty, nourishment and medicine synergistically. But even if you wouldn’t “eat” your beauty products, you want to know that you can. Skin care should be edible, and delicious. Delicious means harmonious, and harmonious means complimentary ingredients that give a balancing action. Therefore, look for skincare you can eat. Only if it is deliciously edible is it absolutely fit for your skin.

Remembering John Keats’ famous line that “Beauty is Truth, Truth is Beauty” ~ would the poet then agree that Edible Beauty is delicious Truth?

Indeed, True Beauty can be delightfully nourishing. It gives a joyful aliveness and permission to others to shine their light, too. So let yourself be Beautiful. All the forces of nature want to support you in that. Go ahead. Reach upwards, open your heart, reveal, blossom, radiate. Do it if no one is looking. Do it in a crowd. Maybe you will turn to find someone breathing deep, expanding into pure presence, trying to absorb the magnificence ~

Contemplating the Beauty of You.

~~~

Did you know that Vanilla comes from orchids?

You can see the Vanilla Planifolia Orchid up close at the San Diego Botanic Garden in Encinitas, CA ~

Speaking of Edible Beauty, I love this non-greasy, non-allergenic Marula Body Oil from Floracopeia. It is infused with the rich, sweet and deliciously intoxicating fragrance of organic vanilla orchid pods from Madagascar.

À la Beauté!