Comfrey 19/3/2016

We have two types of Comfrey, growing...
This morning lit, vibrant leaf belongs to Symphytum uplandica x, who has a pink to purplish flower, whilst Symphytum officinales is a white bloomer.
I just love the glow through the veins in these shots, which for me emphasise this plants ability to regenerate and encourage cell growth. The forms in the leaves, echo clusters of cells. She achievs this so potently that its said, best not to apply her to deep wounds, as if there's any infection beneath and she heals the surface, it can become trapped inside the hurt. One can add a little infused or essential lavendar oil to her salve too.

I have used her also for pain relief, particularly 'restless legs', which strike as cramps during the night. I reached for a jar of salve by my bed and rubbing it in experieneced some sweet relief. Also a dear friends sister reports, the nerve pains of MS, have been eased by her salve. These are results I had not heard of prior to experienecing them. So, mayhaps plants gifts may clarify with listening, gentle sense-ible experiements and openess....
 

Dining with Weeds 3/8/2016

Traditionally in some Gaelic speaking cultures, the base of stew in the pot on the hearthfire was added to, day by day, according to what vegetables, and if in luck, meat, was available. That this fine brew gradually grew in  flavour and taste so that it was treasured (infact handed down to newlyweds, experiential tales or correcting welcome!). I do the same with this recipe, adding a little each day, although if you too live in a subtropical climate, you have to put the lot in the fridge during between times, or you will end up with something fermented, and thats not what you want in a stew. More in a sourdough bread starter, beer or mead brewing.

So, when I'm in need of a protein hit, and some of the nourishment that comes from wild greens, I make my version, 'Amaranth Stew', dining with weeds. Several species of Amaranths grow well here, and now they have seed heads upon them. The seeds can be used like a vegetarian mince in recipes, but being an omnivore I mix them up with mince, beans or lentils in this brew. All in a tomato, garlic, onion, thyme n rosemary saucy type base.

Popping up left, right n centre in our garden is Amaranthus viridus 'Green Amaranth' who's seed spikes turn brown when ripe. Her leaves may not be as voluptuous as some species but we get multiple harvests from a single plant, she's generous indeed, and tough. Chooks love her too! 

I simply use a pair of scissors to dice her finely, excluding the tougher bits of stem.

Add her to the mix towards the end of cooking, once Ive thickened the stew some, putting in any spare veg like potatoes, carrots, mushrooms, mayhaps some chilli for added ooompf. Making sure Ive made a shitload, scuse me, to last a few days, cos once your body has some of this, gonna want more! Speaking for myself anyways...

Great with some melted cheese or an egg ontop! I forgot to take a shot of the plated up fancy version cos I simply tucked in! Ooops, but you get the gist of it eh. Hope you get to enjoy sometime!

Reconnection: A Practice to Ground and Rejuvenate 2/3/2016

I've found this practice usefull, particularly in the morning before heading into the foray o life, aka public transport, town. What I like about this is its portable and if its a rough day and you aint up to going into the world you can still connect... 

Begin with the breath. Take a few deep easy breaths. If you are able to, breathe in, 1,2,3,4 hold,1, 2, 3, 4 out 1,2,3,4  hold, and repeat that cycle a few times , till you sense you are slowing. Or in 1, 2, 3, 4 then out slow, and deep. You can say internally or out loud, rreeellaaxxx, chhiiillll, ccaaallmm ddooowwn, or any key words that work for you...or simply breathe...

Visualise a lotus, magnolia (or your favourate type of) flower at the top of your head. Acute / Sensitives often walk through life with this area in full openess, which can be overwhelming or distressing. An overloading from the input of environmental stimulation, ordinary reality interactions, yet also connection to spirits, or otherworldly energies. They can all end up somewhat jumbled together.

So, as we begin to see the petals of the flower at your crown, closing gently, a few at a time, not blocking, simply rejuvenating for a time. Finally, the green sepals fold around them, until just a green bud remains.

You can still see light emanating from it, a rose pink if you like...

Now bring your awareness down into the Earth, to the place where the centre of the front pad of your foot touches her. See the shimmering roots of light that run into this place, connect the two of you. Watch and feel as the light spreads through your toes, one by one, to your heel. A hue that feels right to you, with a luminescence.

The light moves up your ankles, into your calves, knees. Around and up your thighs. Between your legs, up through your fanny, (or willy), your bum. Up the front of your belly, and rising through your spine. In your belly there is a soft edged ball, or perhaps, a flame, or campfire, of light which you can sense the warmth from. A gentle easing spreading heat....allow that to be...

Continue up through your chest, front and back together, like slowly spiralling dna. This Earthlight shifts through your body, through your breasts and up your back. 

Pause here, and shift awareness to your fingers and hands. The tips of your fingers (for the hands hold much magik) exude aerial rootlets. See their light channelled through your wrists, forearm and wrap around your shoulders to your heart centre. 

Visualise a rose coloured light and warmth here, and feel it wrap around your neck up the back of your head, ears, the front of your neck, chin, lips, nose, eyes and forehead...

Here we are back with the closed bud, resting quite content with it. Reconnected to Earth....

This is a good time to reconnect with Spirit Kin. Sensing where they are, what’s happening with them, if they have any guidance for you, are picking up on something to share some insight, or can crack a funny and make you smile. Some days you need that..

Just a note. I believe in life there are both places of light and dark, this is as it is. The womb is a place of darkness, caves, the night sky which allows rest n regeneration, new moon, innards of our bodies, tree stumps, beneath the ground where seeds dwell, so don't get me wrong. Visualising light though, can be a tool to clear debris, blockages n buildup, just as candle light can create sacred space, Hecates torch be a guide for Demeter through her grief in the underworld. If it doesnt feel right for you, don't go there. 
 

Wounded Healers 1/27/2016

Some of the first tales of shamanism that drew me in, spoke to me, were those of an initiatory health crisis transformed. That transformation mayhaps being an awakening, to practices and approachs, that also shift symptoms, or our relationship with them...

A healer like the centaur Chiron, is an example of this in a very humane way. He, an immortal, was pierced by a poison arrow, leaving a hurt which never healed. Yet he was both a medicine man and teacher, also musician and wise one. To this day in modern astrology charts, the presence of the centaur planet shows where in each of our birthcharts, lies the wound which, if transformed in life, may become a blessing, or calling. Yep, we all gotta touch o' da Chironic.

Health, seems to me, rather than a static endpoint we reach and go 'woo hoo!! I is there', a process. Dis-ease can make sense, in direct relationship to circumstances, or come from beyond order / comprehension. Also, someone with a so called chronic health challenge, or dif-ability, may experience wholeness of being, within and through, living with this. That, often after struggle, our personal wounds, and how we learn (or unlearn) to manage them, can later allow us to see into places previously hidden, or guide us. If we can translate this, the experience can be a fine, though at times humbling, or straight up difficult, mentor.

 

The wounding may be not of the self, but someone loved, or yet little known to us. When we are caring for those dear to us, including those who are dying, or indeed dead, portals open (perhaps more obviously in the latter case). We carry ourselves furthur, and more deeply than if it were for self alone. Even when alongside moments of comfort given, intimacy shared, humour, such intentions in the same breath threaten to swallow, are messy, or lead to confronting challenges. Still, the grace of the calling to offer healing may resound, in myriad forms and diverse manifestations. Conciously, or otherwise, simply drawn out from ones innards. I would offer up that plant, animal and spirit allys respond in these ways aswell, as do our creative and soul lives.

Such processes happen to their own rhythms. Who's to say how long a healing journey should take? Its both rare, and consumerist, to expect for it to happen in any one session, regardless of what any advertising, or promise, may say. Infact, especially if they say so. The journey may indeed be re/inspired by a single connection, event or being, but generally a series of adjustments will follow. An integrating, or filtering through, at ones own pace. Wrought over a brief period of time, part of a lifelong voyage or yonder human folk time. A re/gathering. To decipher the message/s ones bringing back from the experiences.

When we are working with plants (or indeed other personal practices) to assist this reweaving, the path is unlikely to be straight and narrow. More likely meandering, seeking, like water, or a root system searching for it. Flowing back a lil, forth a few steps, into that crevice, round that rock to take a peek, stretching out to full extension, withdrawing or retreating, pausing for a still moment. What was that I saw, heard, felt, sensed?

Echoing the many unusual forms green folk themselves may take, plantological learnings vary. Growing seasons and harvests change. Gardens and soils shift. Wild plants appear one year, are absent the next. One form of medicine or modality comes to the fore. A preparation is honed or goes mouldy / ferments. Becomes more itself like that, or otherwise becomes optimised, and beloved by those we share it with. Good reasons to journal our voyages!

Yet, some days, simply hanging with plants is the magic...

No products made, no procuring of anything more, or less, than being, offering, presence...

Plants not only gift us breath, healing, a place where magic touchs, but connect us to, and speak as reminders of the call for stewardship of the places where we are. Voices for Earth who herself is undergoing transformation, a wounded healer...

Mrs Klaws and the Untold Story of the Flying Reindeer 19/12/2015

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.