May We Stay Grounded

Celebrating Mothers, Mother Earth, and the Hidden Cost of “Nice Things”

Namaste,

May is a month of fullness—the earth is blooming, nature is in full swing, and everywhere you look, there’s a sense of growth and vitality. This season is a transition: spring maturing into summer, coolness giving way to heat — Kapha slowly handing over the reins to Pitta. It’s a potent time to tune into cycles—nature’s, our own bodies’, and that quiet current of feminine energy that moves through everything.

Photo by Glen Carrie on Unsplash

And of course, May brings Mother’s Day—a day that often gets distilled into flowers, cards, and brunch. Sweet gestures, yes, but I’ve been thinking about widening the lens this year.

Because whether or not we celebrate with a human mother, there’s a mother we all share: Mother Nature.

She holds us, nourishes us, and provides everything we need, usually without asking much in return. Every part of us reflects her wisdom—earth, water, fire, air, and space. We are not separate from nature; we are nature.

A foundational Ayurvedic view: earth, water, fire, air, and space—the five elements—are not just around us but within us, shaping every cell and every breath.

So what if, this May, we took a moment to honor that relationship too? Along with thanking the mothers and caretakers in our lives (biological or chosen), maybe we also pause to thank the original nurturer. A small act of love for the earth feels especially right this time of year.

Perhaps we plant something—literally or metaphorically.

And here’s something else that’s been on my mind a lot: Think before we buy.

We live in a culture that encourages us to consume without a second thought—buy something new, toss the old, and repeat. But what if we paused? Before adding another gadget, outfit, or impulse buy to the mix, we could ask ourselves — Do I really need this? Is it built to last? Am I buying something meaningful—or just filling a momentary want?

(I’m not lecturing—I’ve been there. The pull of a fun new outfit—especially when it’s on sale and promises to “refresh your wardrobe” — is real. But do we really need another fast-fashion piece that will be worn once and then forgotten?)

Caring for Mother Earth can be as simple as choosing more thoughtfully—valuing quality over quantity, mending what we have, or just… not buying at all.

Photo by Anna Niezabitowska on Unsplash

I’ll admit something that’s probably a bit unpopular: cut flowers have always left me feeling a little conflicted. Of course, they’re beautiful—and when someone gifts them to me, I appreciate the thought. But there’s a tiny twinge of discomfort too. I’ve been a bit of an atypical girlfriend (and daughter, and friend) in that way—never the type to squeal with joy over a bouquet. Even now, when flowers show up at my door, part of me thinks, I wish it were just one simple bloom… or, better yet, a plant I could actually nurture and keep alive.

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May Is Also Mental Health Awareness Month

May isn’t just about blooming flowers and warmer days—it’s also Mental Health Awareness Month. And while this post is focused on nurturing Mother Nature and the mother figures in our lives, I can’t help but think about the importance of nurturing ourselves, too. Taking care of the planet, caring for those around us, and tending to our own minds are all connected—each one strengthens the others.

If you missed the last post on Ayurveda and the Mind, it’s a good place to start. And stay tuned—Wednesday’s post will dig even deeper into mental health from an Ayurvedic perspective.

Ayurvedic Psychiatry: What Happens When We See the Mind Differently?

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Happy Mother’s Day—however you choose to celebrate, I hope it’s meaningful to you and yours.

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Until, next time,