Vegan Beet "Root Chakra" Soup

Astrologically, the energy is shifting. In this New Age, we tend to be more in our heads instead of actually rooting onto the earth.

The winter season symbolizes hibernation, restoration and staying grounded. Something that is not happening right now, especially since the sun is in Aquarius – a mentally energetic sign. Aquarius symbolizes air, and during this time, we must keep our feet on the ground and connect to our root chakra.

My bloodline is Ukrainian and Polish, and I have memories of my Great Grandmother cooking batches of borscht during the winter season. As a kid, I disliked borscht, but today, it’s my favorite soup. 

The chakras and rooting back to planet earth inspired me to create this soup. We are what we eat. And planet earth provides root vegetables for a reason. They are hearty and keep us warm during the winter season, but energetically keep us grounded.

February is the month of love and purification, according to the Romans. The symbolism of the beet and root chakra red color is more than a coincidence. It is energy to ignite the invisible “wheels of life” from within.

We are earth. We eat earth. And we can become earth. And the earth has inspired my spiritual development. 

There are these fire red bushes next to my apartment. Seeing these plants remind me of the need to stay grounded in a time of chaos. Everything is shifting, and this unpredictable energy will be around for a long time. 

And that is where yoga comes into play. I got this beautiful yoga asana scarf from my favorite store in Hannover, Sonam’s Place. Sadly, her store closed late last year, but nevertheless Sonam’s spirit is still with me.   

One of my favorite yoga asanas is the tree pose. 
 
Tree pose embodies staying calm amidst chaos. A tree’s root is so deeply embedded into the earth that it remains still while the branches sway with the wind. It brings balance and equilibrium to our mind while opening the hips, and area that stores our emotions. 

This recipe is more than a soup. It is information. The food's energy communicates wisdom to our cells and mitochondria. Beetroot is a dark red vegetable that provides better stamina, improves blood flow, fights heart disease and lowers blood pressure. In the Roman era, beetroot was used as an aphrodisiac, but also used to treat fever, skin issues and constipation. In 2010, research found that drinking beetroot juice increases blood flow to the brain.
 
For the time being, I recommend to stay calm, heal your body and disconnect your mind from outside sources. 

Beet “Root Chakra” Soup
Prep Time: 7-10 minutes
Cooking Time: 20-30 minutes
Serves: 4-5
 
Ingredients:
6 cups of water + 1.5 bouillon cube (or vegetable broth)
1 shallot, diced
1 garlic clove, minced
4 small carrots, chopped
3 large celery stalks, chopped (5 small)
2 large red skin potatoes, chopped (3 cups)
3 small beets, skinned and chopped
1.5 tsp fresh dill, chopped
½ tsp salt
¼ tsp pepper
1 bay leaf
1.5 tbsp olive oil

Directions:
Prep the ingredients. Cook the onion, shallot, carrot and celery with the olive oil in a soup pot. Cook until fragrant (3-5 minutes). Add all the remaining ingredients and simmer the soup until the potatoes and beets are edible. Adjust any spices if necessary.

I prefer eating the chunky soup. If you’d like to puree the soup, use a food processor or a hand-held blender to puree until smooth. 

Yum

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