Green oats tincture and ecodye loving as we head gathering in towards the full moon....

Hhhmm it's been a while since I typed, much has happened. Indeedy, I hardly know where to begin. It's now nigh on December full moon, and there has been a definite building feeling this cycle round...

I'll begin this post with a magical process in the garden which mayhaps epitomises this time. We were gifted a couple o bags o shit, not by life as is oft the case, but by a neighbour, to fertilise the soil. Gathered from a not too distant horse race course, this had born within it, seeds. Special ones for a nervous system in need of tonifying....

 Oats! I've been wanting to make green oats tincture for a whiles but didn't think they'd grow in the subtropics. In the bottom picture, along with dyers fingernails, you'll see the succulent milk exuding from the ready to harvest oat as I squeezed it to test for readyness. Exciting! Tinctured those babies up. Learning that you can simply harvest the tops and the rest will grow, and hence seed, again. Sustainablity.... :)

So, as with the coming of the oats, life has brought nourishment, and abundance. I feel more loved and supported than ever in my life. Had a few wee cries about it, and the beautiful paths I find myself now walking accompanied....

In a series of furthur eco dyeing adventures, the learning curve continues! I now have an Instagram account which focuses mostly on such plant ally craftings, 'opalplantways' if you'd like to see what I'm up to. That's probably where I'll be hanging out mostly....

I was doing some experiments with mordanting the leaves, rather than the fabric, I know mindbending (hinted at generously by 'Elemental Leaf')! Which resulted in a surplus of leaves that had soaked for some days in a strong brew of iron potion. When I came to do a batch of bundles with previously mordanted items, I popped a few of these leaves onto a linen collared shirt I had dyed some time before, but which turned out very pale. This is what happened, check out the rusty looking coloured patches....

I actually really dug the look of them! It was like abstraction, rather than aiming for 'perfect' leaf prints. Now, that's not to say, those aren't beautiful, they are, but there was something here I enjoyed. So, I followed that line of vibe and had a go on some damask (dahlinks) tablecloth scraps from the op shop....

It was done with Eucalyptus and Bracken leaves that had been soaking so long they were on the verge of becoming compost, and I simply harvested some Geranium leaves fresh from the bush at our front door! I was in an utter state of play, which was lovely! I also reckon I made a few discoveries about the blend I'd like to achieve of clear leaf prints and oozing dyepot magix!

                                       

            I have no idea where this will all lead! Thank the goddess! I'm just flowing with it.....

New moon, new Cauldron and pondering what's brewing in the next cycle...

The New Moon sees me hillbilly stitchin' aka hand sewing a jacket o sorts, made from the gathered together parts of other pieces of clothing. A linen shirt's sleeves n back, cotton skirt's waist band , the hem of another. I'm a running n back stitch woman, not the neatest but it keeps my fingers dancing!

 As I gaze lovingly at my new cauldron :) yep, bought it this morning from Aldi for $50. Stoked! With subsidy by my bemused fella. Exactly what she will brew up in this cycling of sister moon, is yet to be revealed, like the Hagstones I find washed upon da shore after morningk swims. Bit like the clothes I sew, evolving a lil at a time. What timing for such a blessing as this bubble bubble toil n trouble tho!

When I was at art school eeek some 20 years back, a comment was made to me that if I put as much effort into my studies as I did the gear I wore to tech, I'd be getting better results! Ha! Now I find a resurgence in such once frowned upon tangents n outlets for my creativity. Flavoured by a love of plants, recycling and a chilled pace...

I am now over 9 weeks no booze! Keepin it real there! I still take my herbal tinctures as medicine, believing they behave a different way in my body. Would not be without my wildcrafted Wild Rose tincture, so good for the heart chakra. Drop doseage, rather than glass, or jarfull tho ;).

The crafting I do, has cranked up in volume to keep me deeper connected to my veriditas path, and indeed on track. On Dark Moon I brewed up another stainless steel Cauldron, bundled a variety of leaves onto cloth formed into wearables, clothes we calls em, bound em up with string n popped em in for a' boilin'. Bracken Fern, WA fancy Eucalypts (from a florist n all) n my trusty local gum leaves that print so reliably, after a bit o' a soak for a few weeks. Go the Scribbly gum eh! Handy hint there!

Above feet endowed pic is Bracken fern n fancy Eucalyptus leaves laid out that dyed blacks n greens, upon Dianamum's apron. Sewed up in continuing homage to India Flint's pattern idea's. Wasn't so happy with outcome o dat piece, in terms of colours n leaf prints, back into Cauldron with you my deary! The greens however blended better on a linen shirt gifted me by a lovely and generous friendly for some medicines...:)

I had my first go at a solid colour, with a rather lush mohair jumper op shop foundling. Purely by surprise, as when I 'cooked' my clothing bundles I found a piece of felting wool in the dye bath which had turned a delightful, to mine eyes, green grey, Hence...

I feel mayhaps this upcoming lunar cycle may be a bit like the discovery of that floating piece of felting wool, and the trail it led me down. Whilst holding the intentionality of remaining booze free is priority, as is attending our new local 'Hearing Voices' group, we'll see where the craftings n curiosity lead! Indeed, what evolves within that Cauldron o mine heh heh cackle cackle....

Aries full moon buildup, the witch who cleans with intent and candles ablaze...

I was turning into a right grumble bum in this lead up to this Aries full moon. I hadn't quite reached god o war proportions, but was silently approaching it. The worst way to do so. I am nigh 6 weeks off booze and it's been a challenge at times. Twas a call I needed to make (that's another story for another time), but when I hit distress in the now, it's rather a double whammy. So, I put in a request to my beloved for a couple o days space, and he being a loving (and wise) fella, headed off to his man shed to study.

The fire was in me. Even before Miles left, I began to be the witch who tidied, sorted and smudged. Now, in my natural state, I will craft away while the dishes pile up, the floors gather fluff n dust bunnies. Not so at this time. I was a woman with a mission to create a cottage as altar vibe. My dear sister, sacred tool maker, artist n shadow worker, Vicki, called it 'reigniting the sacred', she'd know! I liked that too! I had candles burning all over the joint, oil burners going, scented strong with Lemon Myrtle. Inspired by the inspiringly spoken words of the likes of Clarissa Pinkola Estes, Starhawk and Susun Weed, blending with the kick ass earthy singing of Ruby Hunter and the Gaelic soundtrack to Roan Inish. I was waking the intentions, setting the scene, but it was an evolving thang, developing as I went with chux, sponge and detergent...

On the second day, there was light, nah just kidding, well kinda. I had been gifted by another dear sister, creative ecologist Ilka (of 'Cloud Tales') some resin from a tree in Aoteoroa, and some red ochre from her soils, which she had recieved from Sundance a potent plant woman of that same land. I decided a) I was blessed to have such rockin' sisters in my small circle, and b) the time to burn the resin was here. I heated the charcoal, popped one half of it on and BOOM, I was in sacred space offering prayers, placing requests and counting blessings. I ground a little of the ochre and ran it down from my third eye to nose tip, on my heart chakra and the words flowed out. Special....

My familiar Nomad aka Mushcat thought all this was a) wonderfull but also b) nap worthy, thus oscillating betwixt the two.

I peeled n stewed apples and I made a shitload o pate (using creatrix Diana's latest canelloni beans added recipe). I washed n delabelled herbal bottles and jars that had been loitering for months, love removing labels ;)! I love jars! Nothing pisses me off like a good jar where the manufacturer has used a type of adhesive that means you can't recycle it! Well mayhaps climate change, inane politics or ugly yet expensive public art. I'm not making light of climate change, but I was channeling my rage into cleaning jars well. Reusing them for everything from cotton reels, buttons to pens, shells gathered and sticks found.

In between, I followed the tricky n amazing pattern from the ecodye alchemist India Flint, for transforming an old men's shirt into an apron. I previously made myself one and when preciously mentionedDiana-mum visited last time, she dropped a few hints about it. Having scored a couple of fancy XXL pure cotton collared shirts at the op shop I began hillbilly stitchin' hers. Twas just recently her birthday after all, and if anyone could think of 101 great uses for an apron it would be she!

At this point, I was unsure if my fella was ever coming back form his joint, but he did return after his journey of being head down, bum up on the Samsung tablet typing away. Reunited we dined on pate and both promptly crashed!

This morningk I awoke with the urge to decant the tinctures I had awaiting. Most of which had brewed for 6 weeks, some more. Timing close to perfectimundo I felt, near enough anyways. 'Perfect is the antidote to done' as Clarissa says. I always save the spent herbs when I strain off the tinctures, leave it in the sun a day to evaporate the alcohol so my worms don't get drunk, and then respectfully add to the compost. Back to the earth from whence they came, as some day shall I!

 I was pleased for my apothecary stocks this time around, as I hadn't been on a bender or dipped into the vodka based medicines before their magic had ensued. They reached maturity, and now my shelves and what I have to offer up is growing :). People can even place an order and I can say in my best herbalist / medicine woman type manner 'oh I'll just see if I've got any!' yay!!

So all in all what could have been a shit fight of a build up to this full moon has worked out rather gloriously! I have focused my intentions upon several of my favorite tangents or aspects, and done so in a sacred manner. In a shamanic journey, I didn't even have the chance to shift to the otherworlds for long before Julian-dad was there, my bro Dylan and grandma Alice. All of whom I miss terribly. Simply seeing them was enough, but they were affirming my path, each in their very individual ways. I came back to ordinary reality feeling affirmed and like I am doing ok being what some call a crazy chick who hears voices ;)! Ha! That's yet another story for another time!

Songlines...

Beyond the atom is energy, vibration, sound…..

The song of creation, embodied in music, the voice…

Traditionally Indigenous Australians ‘sang’ up the land to keep it healthy…..

They mapped their country with ‘songlines’…..

We sing lullabys to our children to ease and soothe their souls….

Traumatised or distressed people are often ‘silenced’….

‘Finding ones voice’, ‘Speaking out’, are metaphors…..

Sound can shift emotional blocks…..

We say to ‘play’ an instrument, which the body and voice, of course, be…..

In yogic traditions each chakra has a corresponding sound……

The ‘sound of creation’, it’s said in such traditions is ‘aum’……

Doe, ray, me, far, so, la, tea, doe…..

Root, Sacral, Solar Plexis, Heart, Throat, Third Eye, Crown….

Red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, purple….

From heart chakra on up, pop tongue on roof of mouth, nnnngg, feel for vibrations within head area…..

Keep em knees soft, tai chi way…..

Move that pelvis, bellydance way….

Sing from these places and spaces…

Feel your story coming through….

Make dat song your own…..

Play with da shapes of your mouth as you make sounds, a, e, i, o, u….

Hit them high notes from your fanny….

Over the last two weeks, working continues in a massive reframe from psych patient, to medicine woman, wounded yet open. I have been both ‘seen’ and ‘heard’, blessed. My wounded little girl has been comforted and held in ways that could only happen through love and safety. My empowered woman has been affirmed, I awaken as does the Goddess, Gaia energy. There is a window opening in the static of sabotaging paranoia and abusive inner voices, seeds planted by perpetrators, surprisingly are becoming blooms of a different hue! The lineage of abuse and grief is being transformed into a new evolving story, composting the old and keeping barefoot. I can now hear my own voice, amidst the others. With time and continuing practices, I see my own voice increasing and the others quietening down, moving on into Source. Nightmares easing. My path of healing service becoming as is…

Perpetrator….

You are not welcome in my space,

You are not welcome in my body,

You are not welcome near my soul,

You are not welcome in my mind,

Perpetrator, you can not hurt me anymore.

We are the children of the Goddess, you can no longer hurt us,

She is awakening, we are awakening,

Perpetrator, you may no longer hurt the land.

Integration of this time is still in its early days, I remember and acknowledge this. I also let go of any feelings that suffering is a measure, it’s good to release, shed tears but I need not take it all on at once. One’s healing journey is not for to be compared to any others, will not occur in one, or even several sessions, but a craft to be honed with times passage, organically. Nourishment is key. Selfcare, and accepting with grateful heart the loving presences in our lives. Those who support me to be my best, and for whom I do the same. Those who give me the space I need when I have to retreat, without taking offense, and for whom I can do the same.

I have flashed back into old trauma fresh as, remembered. I acknowledge this, and go gently with these spaces. Allow myself to hold my little girl, as medicine woman in the now. Let my fella, Miles hold me. My familiarcat, Mush be with me. I see now that I can hold space for women in distress, but that to do so I must maintain my practices, centre and ground. Otherwise, I go down. Go slow. There is no rush, and if anyone says otherwise, question it. Certainly, moments of distress or intensity are opportunities to shift, to be aligned with, but pressure is not support. I know I work hard to build, to face my issues, there is nothing to prove, Great Spirit sees me, even if she sends me challenges that once drove me mad. I no longer dwell there as a resident, visitor mayhaps 😉

Dark moon, Sacred Basil flower, and heylo there, Obsidian gem, essence ponderings...

It's Dark Moon, the time in her cycle when our shadow places and issues can indeed surface. Have they ever! I'm pondering, as you do at such times, where things are at personally. I was kinda triggered into little choice but to! How and where to refocus my energies in alignment with hers, and what supports this. 

Do you hear the whispers of the green folk? Those who both oxygenate our world, and fill it with such abundance. I find, when I'm calm n heart centred, with a sense of belly humour about, that's the best timing for such soul listening. If I can carry this energy into making remedies, like the flower essences, which I seem increasingly to be crafting, it effects the process in a magic way. Usually then as I come close to a plant, it's messages are audible, but at times nigh on shouting is required, even with one who considers herself relatively open...

 Most recently personified, (scuse my anthropomorphism, how rude!) by our 'Sacred' or 'Tulsi' Basil plant, her flowers seen gloriously pictured above. Ocimum  sanctum, what a beauty name! Her flowers, as part of the mint family, rise  up on spikes. She sent up a couple of them at first, some months back, and quietly suggested I brew a flower essence from them. 'To bring the sacred in' she informed me. Then when I didn't, she sent up a few more, and finally, in an ongoing display of gratuitous generosity, she virtually screamed 'DO IT!!'. So bit slow off the mark ol me, did it, and infact I've been taking it morning and night, for some weeks now. Easing the depression I can tend towards when I forget to turn towards my dear flower essences, in her own ways of reconnection to the divine. We say plants don't move! Ha! It was obviously the right move, cos she's kept happily, right on flowering away!

Last dark moon a gemstone dialogued similarly with me, to a plant, somewhat although not altogether to my surprise! 2 shards of Black Osidian, who had been sitting upon one of my altars for some months. For this very purpose. A volcanic rock, looking almost like black glass, this is a stone potently connected with shadow work, so it kinda made sense to pop some on my outdoor altar in the garden under the bright stars of the dark moon. In Scorpio, for a double whammy!

I had never made a gem essence before, but I presumed t'would be a similar process. Appears so, this baby feels potent. The Obsidian also happens to be the foundational bed rock of the culdera around Wollumbin/ Mt Warning we dwell in, so I imagine will be fab for supporting connecting to locale. Mayhaps, its part of the reason some folk dance through this area so transitionally, and still others are drawn to come work on their shit?

When I first read Edward Bach's wee book 'The Twelve Healers and Other Remedies', (originally published in 1933) I found it rather harsh and judgemental in the signifying emotional qualities it ascribed to each flower. Then I had it reframed. Discovering that each of these, he acknowledged he had himself experienced (sometimes along with physical symptoms). Both before, and whilst, seeking the appropriate plants to create the flower essence remedy. I realised, these remedies were supportive of a 'process' based approach, not finite declarations laid down like law, but very much developed through a lived experience of challenging times. Quite exquisite really. Life's work from a one time doctor who wanted to create a 'medicine chest' for every home. That could be accesible, and affordable. Made and used, to support well being.

Although Bach is probably the name most familiar for being 'called' to this way of vibrational, or energetic medicines. Indigenous peoples such as the Nyoongah, or Bibbulmun peoples, of South Western Australia have an ancient lineage of flower essence medicine, going back through time, at least ten thousand years....

Folks connecting to plants, flowers, and gems, in different landscapes at differing times. Listening for their messages, and working towards increasing their sensitivity to them. Gotta be a good thang! Bach himself predicted that as times changed, remedies would reveal themselves to suit. On the Australian land, the bush here, offers up wonderful wildflowers with properties, just as England did for him. Look to which plants are close by, or catch your attentions, when you are in a particular process....

 
I feel these coworkers are here to assist us in the growth pains that come as we make shifts, and heal ourselves, and the land. Sometimes shit gets harder before it moves, but if we can hang in there and allow the inner portals to open, in safe space, it's a pretty cool journey. Bonus is they can be used pretty safely in combination with other modalities.

This is only my experience, so use your inner wisdom when making health choices, and be aware of knowing plants, or rocks, that may bear poisons. Identify em. Enjoy!

Some resources you can choose to checkout your intuitions with n such:

Edward Bach 'The Twelve Healers and Other Remedies' note: try and locate a pre 1970 version, as this will include instructions for making flower essences (mayhaps I'll do a post on my version o this?) A link to youtube videos by Dr Bach Healing Herbs, with discussion of 'Twelve Healers' https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLBC827CEF3DD326EE

Vasudeva and Kadambi Barnao 'Australian Flower Essences for the 21st Century'. note: Some of the info from this book is included in this report https://www.yorgum.org.au/assets/Uploads/Annual-Report-2016-2017.pdf for the Yorgum Aboriginal Corporation.

If you feel to get a bit more woo woo, as my partner describes it, try 'Gurudas' channelled through Kevin Ryerson 'Flower Essences and Vibrational Healing' 1983 note: it has some adaptable cool ideas on amplifying essences using copper pyramids in combo with quartz crystals.  

Candy Hillenbrand 'An Online Short Course in Bach Flower Remedies' note: some parts under construction https://www.aplaceinspace.net/bachflower/course/lesson1

Patricia Kaminski and Richard Katz 'Flower Essence Repertory' published by the Flower Essence Society, Nevada, California

Marion Leigh 'Findhorn Flower Essences: Straight to the Heart of the Matter' 1997
 
Ian White 'Australian Bush Flower Essences' series of books

I'd love to introduce 'Cloud Tales', a journey in bookform....

I have a friend dear, soul sister with whom I have walked, through both shadow and light beside, for many years. Ilka Blue Nelson, from Latorica studios. I would like, kindly for your heart, and the lands, to share with you that she has recently, self published a limited edition book, 'Cloud Tales'...

Ilka, wordsmith and creative ecologist, chose in her Masters thesis to focus on environmental storytelling. She then chose to study water diplomacy through the United Nations institute for Training and Research. However, don't let such formal qualifications vibe you that she is some dry distant academic, she lives poetry, and deeply connected life immersion, as indeed Cloud does. This story is an encouragement of such ways, what is called for in the shift we are called to make in these times. The book has been likened to 'The Little Prince', for the wee one within and without. 10% of all sales go to The Rainforest Action Group eh.

There are 12 hand painted illustrations, in this cozy in the hands sized, square format, hardcover book. Now I know, Ilka drew herself away, entered a focused sacred space to do these pictures, some of which have origins rooted back many years in sketch's, ideas and responses to feeling the environmental crisis of species extinction and water pollution. You won't find doom and gloom here though, this spell is cast in hope by both Cloud and Ilka. Now I shan't say any more, to find out more or purchase a copy pop over to www.latorica.net. You never know what you may find....

Ecodye explorations and stitching experiments....

So, heylo folks! Have been pretty quiet of late on blogging front, for all my massive following, hee hee. There are several reasons. My beloved is now a Cancer survivor and that whole journey has required much of us. Blessings on his healing recovery....

Creatively, I have been immersed in my botanical dyeing, and making along these lines. So much to share! Mostly, with the dyeing, or 'bundling' I have learned, I have been experimenting with the scribbly gums that grow locally. They give a blue /black/ purple coloration depending on fabric thickness, and mordants. I work mostly with op shop finds, cottons and linens generally. Now the word is spreading, and requests, and clothes are coming.

 These trousers were for a friend, JC, who once I offered to dye her something, appeared with two pair!

The above was a fine cotton mini skirt, (not very me) with two layers of fabric, which I cut the waistband off, and then hand stitched the two pieces together to form a longer skirt (more me). Added a new elastic, a la abundant belly, waistband and now I'm happy :). My wardrobe is an evolving thang it seems, not many synthetics left anymore.

I also needs be share this wee singlet for Miles granddaughter, Grace, just cos its so leetle! Noting as I look at that pic, I'm developing rather interesting fingernails with all this ecodye!

I made a shirt n dress for my dear Mum, and frock for my Aunt Marian (first pic) which included a florists bunch of what is increasingly hard to get heart shaped leaf Eucalyptus which isn't the one where the leaf is directly connected to the main stem. Some 'reality' tv show featured them as a wedding bouquet, and they're nigh impossible to source now, combine that and the drought! Who'd a thought rare gum leaves!

The above frock, I think because of the strong browns of the mordant appears as if some ancient ceremonial or ritual robe from times gone by. I did enjoy the look of the separate leaves round the neckline!

Oh and I mustn't forget my making chair, (scuse the very unstyled power cordage spaghetti!) which I've begun reupholstering in a very ad lib fashion, with bits n bobs from my learning curve with all these marvelous processes! Gawd I have been rather immersed!

Its been a wonderful journey of discovery! Guided by my enrolling in India Flints 'Conscious Clothing' course some months back now. She is an inspiration! Very down to earth, and encouraging of going slowly. Love a bit o humble pie in amazingly talented folks. Are we not all gifted in eachs own ways?

Well, thats probably enough said and shared for now! Ha! Have a wonderful day!

Blessings and good vibes, ChloeOpal