July/August 2025 Newsletter: “Sovereignty”

When exploring the concept of “Sovereignty” often political and legal definitions referring to dominant power or supreme authority surface. However, the concept is now being used more often as a principle of empowerment over one’s own body and life. When people speak of individual sovereignty, body sovereignty, health sovereignty, or birth sovereignty they are referring to the moral, natural right of a person to have bodily integrity, respect and supreme authority or exclusive power over one’s own body and life without interference.

For example, someone might say it’s my sovereign choice to run around naked on the beach and no one has the right to interfere with that choice. A friend of mine coming off a long flight took off his clothes and ran quickly into the ocean and was stopped coming out and promptly told he would be fined or arrested if he didn’t put clothes on immediately. In this example it’s clear “one certainly can choose to run around naked on the beach, although they may suffer the consequence of getting fined or arrested.” Similarly, during covid one certainly could decline the vaccine although they might lose their job.

Sovereignty is about choosing our own path, however I think the questions to consider when exploring sovereignty is more about why we are choosing to be or act in that specific way, and how clear are we that these choices are truly sovereign rather than programmed, selfish or even disrespectful of others (which i believe is actually the opposite of sovereignty). In this busy world of “doing,” and considering the fact that many of us have been stripped of our roots and our culture, it isn’t always easy to see our clear path. Some of our clarity comes from connecting to the wisdom and knowledge passed down from our ancestor so we need our cultural connection! Research also shares that our microbiome contains flora passed down from our ancestors as well as those around us. If we’re looking for a clear path to our sovereignty we must once again check in with our sovereign microbiome! Of course we all need quiet time, good nourishment and enough rest to be clear. It’s simple, yet many of us, including myself, do not always get these vital life ingredients. I personally don’t want to confuse sovereignty with “just doing whatever I want whenever I want to.” I believe our supreme power as sovereign beings comes with immense responsibility, deep connection to source and vital respect for all that exists. I believe sovereignty is not about what we want personally, it’s about something much deeper, something much bigger than our personal wants. It’s about connecting to ancestral wisdom, our whole being, ke akua, god, great spirit, our gut, our vital force, our spiritual integrity or whatever we know as our truth, and it’s about how we choose to live this truth alongside other sovereign beings.

A dear friend shared with me that “Ea” is the Hawaiian concept of sovereignty, which translates to independence or breath. We all have the gift and opportunity to breathe. It’s what we do with this gift that matters. It’s understanding that Ea lives in the spaces in between the systems and how to live in these spaces. Birth and death, for example are two of those spaces (although some would like to program them as well). And just to be clear, I do respect that systems have been created to help us survive, the tricky part for me is how to co-exist and respect them without allowing them to run me.

Sit quietly and contemplate choices you make in your life. Who influences your choices most? Your mind? Your fear? Your friends? Your upbringing? Social media? Spirit? Your whole being? If we are to live as a powerful sovereign being we need to be aligned deeply and profoundly with our whole being and especially the voice of the sacred divine within us. We must be still enough to listen and be able to discern which voice is which. It takes awareness, practice, patience, trust and a deep love for all humanity. Here are a few explorations to consider:

1. Upon first waking, before jumping out of bed, ask yourself what is my truth today?
2. As you are getting ready for your day, ask yourself, what is one thing my divine sacred voice or my intuition, (something other than my mind) is telling me today?
3. Throughout the day, track a few of your choices. Randomly pick different ones each day. Write them down and then consider what voices or systems influenced these choices?
4. Make a note at the end of the day of at least one thing that deeply nourished you.
5. Check in with your microbiome. Listen to your gut and it will tell you many things!

In a world that often asks us to outsource our knowing, our healing, and our power, sovereignty can feel like a radical act. For me, Ayurveda—the science of life—has been a path back to this deep inner authority. It is not just a system of medicine, but a mirror that helps me see myself clearly, and a compass that points me toward balance in a way that is entirely my own.

As an Ayurvedic doctor, people often assume I’ve mastered health. But the truth is, I am simply committed to listening—closely, daily, honestly—to my body, my mind, and the wisdom of nature that flows through both. The more I’ve attuned to Ayurveda’s principles, the more I’ve learned how to recognize imbalance as a messenger, not a mistake. I no longer rush to fix; I pause to feel. I inquire. I trust.

When my throat closes from unspoken truths, I may turn to mantra, or seek the vibration of music that opens that energy center. If my digestion falters, I reflect on not only what I ate, but what I took in—emotionally, energetically, spiritually. And sometimes, the answer is beyond the scope of Ayurveda alone: perhaps an acupuncture session, a sweat, a good cry, or a walk in the forest offers what I need. That’s part of the sovereignty too—knowing I can weave my own multidimensional approach to care, guided by the deep understanding that everything is medicine, and everything is poison. The difference lies in timing, quality, and relationship.

Ayurveda doesn’t bind me to formulas. It invites me into relationship—with the elements, with time, with my own intuition. By studying the qualities of substances and how they interact with the uniqueness of my constitution, I can make more informed, wiser choices. Not ones dictated by trends or fear, but by resonance. This is a medicine of alignment, not restriction.

And it is not a system that demands financial access or pharmaceutical loyalty to be effective. It asks for something far more powerful: my participation. My curiosity. My willingness to observe and experiment, to return again and again to the pulse of what is real in me.

This is the sovereignty Ayurveda offers. Not perfection, but presence. Not rigidity, but right relationship. It reminds me that healing isn’t something done to me—it is something awakened within me, moment by moment, choice by choice.

Healing begins with reclaiming your attention.
Your body is not a problem to fix—it’s a source of wisdom.
And now, I invite you to listen.
To your own body. To the quiet voice within.
What is it asking for today—not from fear or habit, but from truth?
Start with one choice made from clarity instead of conditioning.
Let that listening be your first act of sovereignty.

May this ancient wisdom continue to guide us home to ourselves.

With warmth and in service,

Cory

Ingredients:

•   1 medium-sized cucumber, chopped, seeds removed
•   1 cup coconut water
•   1 tbsp fresh mint leaves, plus a few for garnish
•   1 pinch sea salt
•   Squeeze of lime

Preparation:

Blend cucumber, mint, sea salt, and coconut water until smooth. Optional: strain for a silky finish. Pour into a glass, add a squeeze of lime, and garnish with mint or cucumber. Serve chilled and enjoy this refreshing, hydrating summer drink!

If you prefer a sweeter drink, you can add a teaspoon of maple syrup or agave syrup when blending the ingredients. Adjust according to taste.
Together, these ingredients work in harmony to cool and soothe Pitta, supporting a sense of calm and well-being. More than just a refreshing drink, this Cucumber Mint Cooler is a simple yet powerful way to stay balanced, hydrated, and grounded during the heat of summer—especially for those with a Pitta constitution.