This is Gurlene in the photo above, and she is my mom’s hospice aid. She bathes my mom and washes her hair with the love and confidence that can only manifest after decades of service. Or … maybe Gurlene was just born that way?
It’s rare to find someone who embodies a dosha so fully that you can point and say with absolute certainty, “YES, this is a kapha woman.”
Meaning that if we humans are comprised of all five elements, Gurlene is predominately Earth + Water. She’s large in stature, with smooth, oily skin, big round eyes, a deep voice, and moves slowly and intentionally.
She is a kapha archetype. Gurlene gives serious Earth Mother energy.
We rarely speak positively about the doshas vata, pitta & kapha. More often than not, we refer to them as disruptors with pesky qualities attributed to them.
My mom has many hospice workers flitting about. A social worker, a visiting nurse, a case worker, to name just a few. But she only wants Gurlene by her side; the woman who says the least yet holds space with a loving presence. She is my personal favorite also because she is from Haiti, and I get to practice my conversational French with her.
In this Sunday’s Ayurveda Spring Guide with Vaidya Jayagopal, I am going to remember to also highlight the joyful, positive qualities of kapha season instead of just focusing on, say, ‘congestion’ and ‘dampness.’ And in the spirit of honoring the procrastinating nature of kapha (gah!!! I did it again!), I am happy to extend the early bird discount through Thursday midnight.
A few weeks ago I walked out of the kitchen and saw Gurlene leaning over my mom’s bed. They were in a silent embrace. I returned to the kitchen for another minute to let them have their moment in private. When I walked back out, they were still embracing.
So while kapha may bring clouds, wetness, and unwanted heaviness – it’s also an anabolic energy that builds, protects, and … washes your hair with all the love of a spring shower.
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