Rue 'Herb of Grace' 11/1/2015

The Rue (Ruta graveolens) growing in our garden has flowered for the first time this year. She was one of the first herbs planted in then sandy soils some 5 years ago. She was shifted once, then has stayed where she now blooms. I read (in rather a blinkered fashion, given her also recorded virtues) from herbalist Dorothy Hall, that fresh, she could irritate the skin and eyes, and so I kept a distance. Not now. She has called me to her beautyways with her delicate yellow green flowers that have small stars at their centres. The silver greys of her leaves vary, darkening as they grow, wreathing the blooms in a circle of delicately curvaceous Eucalypt like colours. So, today with her permission I tasted a leaf, a little bitter but to me delicously earthy, of scent especially. Amidst the shadows another beloved. Although I do realise she is a potent plant requiring small doseage, that her unusal taste may provide in and of itself.

I now remember I also knew her from a series of books called 'The Chain of Charms' by Kate Forsyth. The story of two gypsy children, Emilia and Luka, with their friends, a bear, monkey, dog and horse, who journey to save their imprisoned family from the noose, under Oliver Cromwell in England. Their task, encouraged by their Grandmother, is to gather  six magical charms from several separate branchs of their tribe. When reunited they, especially Emilia, believe their mission will be blessed and their family safe. One of the six charms is a silver sprig of Rue, the 'Herb of Grace' and well might it be for both its medicinal and magical reputation.

Rue was one of the ingredients in the 'Vinegar of the Four Thieves' a recipe brought to the fore during the times of the bubonic plague in Europe. Possibly created and used with success by the apothecary, Richard Forthave, however there is another tale....

Four thieves who had managed to ransack empty plague ridden homes and remain unharmed, were captured and brought infront of the French judges in Marseilles. The judges pondered aloud questioning how they achieved this, and the thieves replied that they washed with a particular vinegar preparation every few hours. In return for the recipe, the thieves were set free.

There are several  recipe versions for Four Thieves Vinegar, here is one:

2 quarts apple cider vinegar
2 tablespooons Rue
2 tablespooons Lavendar
2 tablespoons Rosemary
2 tablespoons Sage
2 tablespoons Wormwood
2 tablespoons Mint
2 tablespoons Garlic buds

Combine the dried herbs, except the garlic, and steep in the vinegarin the sun for two weeks. Strain and rebottle. Label. Add several cloves of garlic, and allow to steep furthur for several days, then strain. You can add 4 ounces of glycerine as a preservative.

It is said this aromatic and antibacterial vinegar can be used as a sickrooom wash, or diluted for a body wash, but that because of the strength of some of these herbs it must be diluted for the skin. Internally the dose is a teaspooon at a time in water-no more than one tablespoon an hour (3 teaspooons = 1 tablespoon) to act as a preventative during an epidemic. I haven't tried this recipe myself, hope not to need to either but looking at the ingredients it kinda makes some sense eh?

When I spoke with Rue, wondering at those flowers, she spoke of a capacity to dislodge beings/ entitys from ones aura, which I suppose is the energetic version of helping to clear physical space, perhaps also part of her ancient reputation for curing insanity. I hope to learn more from Rue with time, now we've been properly aquainted.

Gail Faith Edwards gives a recipe for a 'Happy Home Magic Bag' made from a favourate fabric. Place inside: some Rue, a morsel of bread, ash from your hearth and something from each family member. Hanging the bag in your home to bring family (all species in my book) happiness, health, harmony and prosperity.

References:

'The Chain of Charms' (series of six books) by Kate Forsyth. Pan Macmillan Australia Pty Ltd, starting in 2006.

'Opening our Wild Hearts to the Healing Herbs' by Gail Faith Edwards. Ash Tree Publishing, New York, 2000.

'Dian Dincin Buchman's Herbal Medicine: The Natural Way to Get Well and Stay Well'. Gramercy Publishing Company, New York, 1980.

'Dorothy Halls Herbal Medicine. Lothian Publishing Company Pty Ltd, Melbourne, 1988.

Wisdom is what works...10/12/2015...

I love herbs, in a dirt under the fingernails, watching em grow, drying, making stuff with em, learning their stories and names makes me go squee, kinda way. I also take pharmaceutical medications on a daily basis. Whoa, hang on, paradox and contradiction? Nope. In my world in the now the two coexhist, and no it aint an always easy or polite conversation, but there is a dialogue going down. Particularly when one can settle into a rhythm of doseage that works. This will ask for shifts, as life does, and may request humility, as life does.

I'll be real honest here, from apprentice medicine woman, to certifiable loon facing the looming chasm, to acute sensitive, all aspects have their moments. The last few years have seen some major loss that tipped the scales, resulting in higher doses or changes to pharmaceutical meds. I wont kid you, it can be disheartening, but so is the alternative trauma vortex. Mmmm friendly, not.

Dr Clarissa Pinkola Estes in her audio book 'Mother Night' speaks of researching wisdom. Reading through volumes of religious, philosophical, historical texts, seeking trails that would lead to its essence. Like phosphorescence in water though, the path was elusive, and she came to a point where she felt confused and unclear. So what does a sensible woman do in such a situation? Calls out for guidance as she goes to sleep, 'please, send me a vision, a clarifying dream'. What did she get? A disembodied voice, 'Wisdom is what works'. She awoke, suitably impressed with the sense it made, and I share her sentiments.

How do I love thee? Let me count the ways. Herbs, plants and nature are a source of healing and unconditional support that can bring great pleasure....

There is something about interactions with plants, and plant based medicines, that is like remembering for me. I find them deeply comforting, and surprising in how their complexity can touch. Its definitely a case of the whole is more than the sum of its parts. It's what Hildegard of Bingen called the 'viriditas'.

Growing herbs as a way to learn from them is the reason I built our garden. I believe in the potential for direct perception, and dialogue with / from plants as teachers. That connecting to our heart space, senses, and being with nature encourage this medicine.

There's not heaps of information out there on interactions between herbs and psych meds, the best way for me to learn has been to experiment gently and cautiously on myself. That has involved small doses taken over time spent learning how a plant feels. In crisis there are definitely herbs who can offer relief, as a supplement to, and an alternative of, pharma mediciations.

These include;

*Motherwort (Leonuris cardiaca)- Her tincture, for me is a dose of 10-15 drops, both regularly, and as prn, shes good for anxiety, including first thing in the morning, otherwise known as the wake up hee bee gee bees, or cranked volume. To find your personal dose, in a time of need try 5 drops, then rest 10  -15 minutes with that, if the anxiety eases thats your base dose, if not try another 5 drops etc, without going too ballistic. I will take a dose every 20  minutes to half hour in acute situations. Also her tea. The tea is pretty potent, and can be used to gain some rest, or indeed sleep. 1 teaspoon of dried herb, for a cup of boiling water, brewed for 10 -20 minutes, and its usually goodnight from me. Possibly theres an amplification with Seroquel, or other SSRIs to be aware of.

A general note on herbal tinctures. I take these straight from a glass dropper under the toungue. This means they get into the bloodstream faster than pills / tablets, so for this reason they are great prn, or first aid.

*Stinging nettle (Urtica dioica) - In a 'herbal infusion' I have found her a great tonic for and strengthener of the nervous system. An infusion a la Susun Weed uses a relatively large amount of dried herb (a couple of handfulls for leaves / one ounce) brewed in a canning jar with a lid for at least 4 hours, preferably overnight. The next day i sip away. All the good shit that has mothers saying 'eat your greens' nettle has in kickass amounts.

Other 'nourishing' herbs to infuse include Oats (Avena sativa) who is great for soothing traumatised nervous systems that have been on high alert, scanning for danger without reprieve (as in PTSD). She also builds emotional flexability. Red clover (Trifolium pratense). A word of advice I also find the latter two do tend to get the wild thang juices flowing, you may find yourself nude in various circumstances, 'he's off sowing wild oats' didn't come from nowhere.

*Skullcap, or Scullcap (Scutellaria lateriflora). The first time I tried this tincture I just sat with the vibe a while, and heard 'restores nerve sheaths' ( before I knew what a nerve sheath was, or if it existed). Now you can do what you want with that story, but I choose to drink the tea, and also find it gently easing. I have taken the tincture in small drop dosages, twice daily for some months, particularly in crisis, in hope of restoring some of those frayed and fatigued edges. Baikal Scullcap, or Huang Qin (Scutellaria baicalensis) in Chinese medicine is a different plant, with other talents, as I understand it.

*Cronewort (Atemisia vulgaris) - Mostly I connect with her as a tea, but also as incense. She seems to have a gift for taking the wounded soul and re-envisioning its lack of lustre into gentle guidance, back upon ones medicine path. I have heard she has a reputation for bringing on prohetic dreams and active night journeying. So it seems she has a talent for shifting perspectives, as only a wise ol Crone can.

*Dandelion (Taraxacum officinalis) root tea, and leaves green from the garden. May be bitter but they prevent you ending up that way. ;-) Rage, and anger, are often difficult emotions for those with trauma, or abuse as part of their story, to experience safely. They are linked to the liver, and that’s where Dandelion works with them. If I am feeling cantankerous, like lashing out, a brew of Dandelion root tea can process a shift. Depression is also linked intimately to suppressed, or indeed o-ppressed, rage. Righteous anger can be motivating, but violence ain’t cool. We know that from experiencing its effects. Dandelion root roasted is a great coffee substitute, taste and colour wise, without the caffeine. Can also be drunk with milk and sweetener, so a great intro to herbs that still has some familiarity as a comforting cuppa. The associations of, you wanna cuppa? For those with alcohol scarring, can begin to ease the ol liver, and still go with a fag (didn't say that). Something to keep in awareness is that liver 'flushing' herbs may reduce the effects, or duration of effects of pharma meds.

*Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis) Citrus scents and flavours tend to be slanted towards lifting mood, in that crisp, cutting through mind fog / haze kinda way. Melissa has this vibe, rub a fresh leaf between your fingers and have a whiff. I love to pick leaves straight off staggering out in the morning (with thanks, part of the effect mayhaps) and brew them up as a start to the day. Two teaspoons for fresh herbs, let it brew a lil longer n it'll be a lil stronger type situation.

Some general note on 'taking' herbs:

If we are used to, or have been raised on pharma medications, or medical models, there can be fear or suspicion around plant medicines, and whether they will work in 'the same way'. They won't, they aren't manufactured drugs, but they may heal in surprising, and deep, ways. For those of us unwilling to completely trade in quality of life to high levels of sedation, or side effects, we can look to green allys for ways to approach staying well. Wholth. Herbs do seem able to rebuild damaged or fatigued systems, and support the capacity within us to heal.

I'm not knocking pharma, probably wouldnt be here typing without it, its roots are often in plants anyways. Which is why it would be a particularly nice gesture on the part of large corporate manufacturers to share with us exactly which plants they sourced their 'active ingredients' from.

Just as pharma works best taken regularly, herbs like to hang out. Taking a tincture once won't 'cure' you, although it might give some ease. Getting used to drinking herbal teas can seem 'disappointing' to coffee lovers. Give it some time.

In 'acute' phases where adjustments and changes to / I may need more pharma, Ive found it helpfull to ease back on the herbs until i get used to how medications effect my system. Just as when first getting to know a herb, I use 'simples'. That is one herb at a time, so as to sense out how they interact with my innards. As I mentioned earlier its a dialogue, or dance.

Please note this info is based on my personal experience, and Im no 'qualified' expert, seek information and resources for yourself, I am simply sharing what Im learning as I go.

Return to Opalplantways....

This brief post signals a return to Opalplantways for me. and my typing fingers. I stretched out amidst the ether to establish other blogs but none of them stuck. I did however decide to preserve the posts here. So, sometimes a step back in time is the way forward! Lets begin the journey.....

Beginnings, also endings...

 Coming up to Samhain in the northern hemisphere, it seeps through into my awareness, even in the southern. As cackling pumpkins, and silhouettes of pointy hat wearing women, with a fine way to travel, appear out of nowhere. Thoughts shift deeper to ancestors, family that have crossed over, especially my brother, Dylan. I realised i didnt have any photos of him up in hq, so pulled out all my boxes and folders with family pictures and other gathered images to create a collage pinned to my cork board. Cranked the stereo and went with the process....

Outside, Ive been watching the green, crysalis like, buds on our Tree Datura growing, and then today they began to unfurl into flower. Like the wet wings of an emerging insect the flowers took form and opened out into the distinctive trumpet shape. I was drawn into the flower, intoxicating in its lovelyness and the play of light within.

Where there are beginnings, also endings. I found a small Eastern Brown snake dead out front of our place. I was fascinated by her beautyfull colouring and the silkyness of her scales, so smooth, but her spirit was still noticeably present so I was real respectfull. Brown snakes have a nasty bite and can be aggressive. I was surprised to see her, as the local snake expert told me they tend to avoid Carpet snakes, despite their shyer nature. We have a couple of them resident, including a big mama.

I put her quietly to rest at the base of a big ol tree.

Some spring success....

Having brought in three cubic metres of soil in autumn to improve the baseline fertility of my beds by raising them, mulching them, and then just letting nature take its course. Now, when I peel back the sugarcane mulch, theres a happy little ecosystem under there in the soil, microbes working away, and worms!

I created beds in new areas based on a bit more knowledge of how the sun works in the garden. A new area that only gets morning sun is showing promise for when the summer heat kicks in. Up here its wipeout material. Not that suns much of a problem for the more reptilian amongst us, who can simply retire to a cooler spot...

After feeling like a brown thumb last year, this spring I decided to have another go at growing from seed. I kept it simple. Roma tomatoes, large chillies, lettuces, bush basil, borage, calendula, marigolds, cosmos, bok choi, pumpkins and red poppies. This time I sat the seedlings in any kind of waterproof trays I could lay my hands on, including the hideous plastic ones that meat from supermarkets come in, which stopped them drying out so fast. When you add water, the excess drains through, forming a reservoir for the babies to draw on, which also serves as a drinking bowl for catfriend...

Ive had some luck with the seedlings and am now starting to plant them out! Ending up with way more plants than I could have afforded to buy in. I gave them a good soaking with a mix of seaweed emulsion and charlie carp fertiliser to help them settle in. Seems to be working. The climbing beans I planted straight out, and watered in the same mix, are just starting to peep shyly out from under the soil.

I used all open pollinated seeds. The goal being to gradually build up the plant population to self seed away and spread, whilst gathering some as backup. The other strategy Im experimenting with, is to simply sprinkle a few seeds around things as I plant them out. I figure if Im watering the area anyways, may aswell see if others can benifit and sprout. It happened organically in some of my pots, like around the lovely motherwort plants that get a regular drink, I have my first ever dandelion! Which threw up two seed heads I could then distribute elsewhere. Free greens!

There have also been a few surprises, unexpected flowerings occurring off their own bat. I think the garden is getting the message that I'm here to stay awhile and I appreciate its offerings. The real estate agent told me its been years since anyone gave a damn about the garden, as I could tell when I arrived. So its nice to see it begin to flourish some more. Its so luxurious to live amongst a garden where your feet are directly on the ground, especially after ten years in a third floor flat. Hopefully, the whole scene will continue to build abundance as I improve the soil and plant out more and more babies.

  

Hybrid adobe and inspiring garden plots....

Today i bused off to a hybrid adobe workshop at Mullumbimby Community Gardens, with no idea exactly what 'hybrid adobe' meant but hopefull that whilst the specifics were to 'make garden bed edges', that the techniques learned could also be applied to building. Turns out we were creating garden bed edges in the shape of a love heart in the childrens space. A preliminary concrete shape had been laid, onto which we were to work, using our hollow rectangle forms filled with the hybrid adobe mix pressed down. Pictured here is the soil for planting in in the middle, then the concrete base to the upper. With the first layer of hybrid adobe below, and the brick form filled with mix.

The mixture was 3 parts sawdust ( sieved to remove big chunks and pieces), 2 parts sand and then adding one part concrete. Mixing the sawdust and sand properly first up, adding the concrete continuing to blend, and then just enough water to activate the concrete. Taking a handfull out and forming it into a ball it should gel, without excess fluids. The moulds overlap the previous brick by about two inches, the gap formed as the mould presses down, later blended, and matched to the underlying concrete forms edge. Heres layer one...

Which dried pretty sucessfully before we all added layer 2.....

Now by the end of the day its getting close to finished!

I took a break to walk around the gardens and simply photograph some of the beauty to be had. Spring rocks, and some of the plots were truley inspiring in their abundance....

All in all, it was a fine way to spend a saturday. The little people will be able to clamber all over the garden bed edges quite happily and the same mixture can be used to make house walls. I found out through chats that there are a variety of brews that can be used for building. Like 'cob' which is simply clay and sand mixed together. Im also interested in the brews that can be used to render strawbale buildings, or the rammed earth into tyres which become the walls of 'Earthships'. Hhhhmmm more researching to be done!

Colour charts and a red nasturtium ....

Im studying Natural History Illustration by correspondance, which is great in terms of flexability but a tad dangerous for the ol procrastination and general delaying of the inevitable. I was doing ok until we hit watercolours, and therefore some colour theory.  My usual painting technique involves seeing what colours I have and making the best of them. For the course we had to buy specific colours and then ensued very specific colour mixing charts, eek! I was afeared of them somewhat, being more comfortable in black and white. So 3 months (I know) and several attempts later, theyre finally done!

Now I can move on to the assessment excercise in colour. So first up is a tonal master drawing and then a colour sketch, which basically maps out all the ingredients, with a swatch of each colour mixed. That gets sent in for comments and then I can proceed to add watercolours to master drawing. It all seemed very anal to me at first, but having completed half of the process i can see the sense to it now. Any mess ups are made on the colour sketch, not the original drawing.

So I chose a red nasturtium, Tropaeolum majus to be more formal. Its the first flower from the seedlings I pinched off someones front garden, it was so abounding in them I doubt anyone even noticed. Its symbolic of my struggle to get vegies and herbs going in seaside environs which is actually coming along this spring! Still, a very proud mother, hence the illustration.

 Spring blessings to southerners, and happy growing wherever on the planet you find yourself!