During a recent trip to Thailand, I stumbled upon a Shaman/Medicine Man on a very small remote island. His name was Ancho Pan or “Teacher Pan.” From the moment he invited us into his home with a warm “Welcome to Paradise! Freedom, Freedom, Freedom” I knew this meeting was a product of fate and synchronicity at its finest. I spent some time with Ancho Pan learning about nature, herbs, and essentially life. While he came from very humble means, Ancho Pan radiated a richness that filled me with love and inspiration. During a long deep talk about life over homemade flower tea, he imparted a very valuable nugget of advice that resonated deeply. He said to me, “Take care of your roots. Life is like a tree, as the roots begin to flourish and flowers begin to sprout we start getting focused on growing the flowers, and we forget about the roots. Before you know it, the roots die and with them the flowers.”

Our roots are like anchors. They keep us who we are. That’s why we use phrases like “living a life rooted in gratitude” or “rooted in faith.” Our roots are our anchors. They keep us grounded and down to earth. They allow us to feel connected to source energy and help keep us in alignment. When we are in alignment with our truth we live authentically. This all ties back into self-love. You should be a priority in your life. When you give your all to your career, family, friends, basically everyone except yourself, you become depleted. We can only give to others what we have ourselves, so in order for you to truly give your best to those around you, you have to give your all to yourself first.

What happens when we don’t water our roots? The roots die and along with the roots the flowers. This piece of universal wisdom that Ancho Pan gave me is invaluable because it is a concept that is relatable to people across the world. It is a quintessential part of the human experience. Take a moment and check in with yourself. Do your roots feel nourished and alive? Do they feel dry and lifeless? If they feel dry and lifeless, set the intention to make nourishing your “roots” a part of your daily practice. After all, there is no one in the world more worthy of your love than you, yourself.

 

Happy Girl’s Guide to Life
Joann Tavares P.D.