Magic Touch
Receiving a daily dose of sunlight is an important ingredient in daily health. Feeling that warmth and brightness helps your body regulate sleep/wake cycles and circadian rhythm, which effect hormone production and regulation. Vitamin D is a hormone within the human body that is produced when sunlight is absorbed by the skin. Cholesterol reacts with the UV light and the body produces a usable hormone.
This is why getting some sunlight everyday is good for you. There is even a study that attributes a decrease in blood cholesterol to Vitamin D synthesis. As with anything, moderation is key and if damage from the sun is a concern, there is no issue with using sunscreen. However, it is recommended that the maximum possible amount of skin be exposed for maximal absorption when tanning — use your judgement here… or don’t.
During a recent tanning session, a number of ants began to crawl on my body. I began to focus on the different spots that were being touched and how certain areas tickled much more than others. I began to take in the different meanders each ant took, but couldn’t help thinking that the six-legged stepping could never compare to the presence of a human hand. The experimentation of a new feeling has its own charm, but the exchange human-to-human contact possesses is almost unbelievable.
Humans are a social animal. The majority of us require the warmth and brightness of other people to live full, fun lives.
What is laughter without someone to share it? How wonderful the feeling as a loved one squeezes you into their chest?
Our chemical composition responds to these moments. It signals to the brain and body — This is good, more please.
Oxytocin is one of those requested. What is oxytocin?? Another hormone. Feeling the cycle yet?
Many studies have shown the importance of oxytocin in the body and what it can do for both emotional and physical health. The repeated suggestion here is GO HUG SOMEONE.
PERKS OF HUGGING
Reduce stress levels, anxiety, fear
The reduction of stress happens for both the one under stress and the one supporting. It’s as if there were a natural feedback mechanism to insure we help one another (study)
Touch can calm existential fears, especially in those with low self-esteem (study)
Reduced stress = Elevated immune function (study)
Holding hands reduces blood pressure (study)
Touch therapy has been shown to benefit patients (study)
Oxytocin release promotes other feel-good hormones: serotonin, dopamine, and endorphins (we’ll get more into each later)
These are the best drugs.
Once touch is felt there is a feeling of community. The bonds between us build against loneliness and promote bodily productivity. And nothing says this must be limited to humans (though the limitation may be mammals — not ant-stimulated oxytocin boosts).
A study found that dog owners gazing into their dog’s eyes for longer periods of time, then playing, petting, and cuddling with them, resulted in higher levels of oxytocin in the dog’s urine. The same dogs were given an oxytocin nasal spray and placed in a room with the owner and strangers. The female dogs that received the nasal spray held their owner’s gaze longer, while the male dogs gazed at both strangers and owner. A possible conclusion is that female dogs have an innate mother-pup bonding mechanism that male dogs do not.
Why would a dog’s level of oxytocin be of concern? Well, since oxytocin is released when we support and build trust, this is another mechanism for humans to indulge. Much like any relationship, it’s a two-way street.
Also, since the relationship affects hormonal release, it should be no surprise that previous experience with owning animals results in a greater oxytocin release (article). So, it may not be as simple as going to the dog park and playing with a bunch of dogs, but that doesn’t sound like a bad idea.
- Keep in mind -
Even though a human may not experience an intense oxytocin release from someone else’s dog, this does not take into account what all the other hormones are doing, especially dopamine (more on dopamine in coming article).
As the adage goes: nothing worth doing is easy.
It seems as though a laundry list must always be completed to find some sort of optimization, but it’s just a matter of finding your individual cycle. Whether it’s the touch of the sun’s rays or a partner’s embrace, these simple processes empower us with the daily incentives to move ahead. And once the list of chores becomes a process instead, the thing worth doing is play.
Embrace the sun’s touch to regulate sleep/wake rhythm and stimulates the body’s natural Vitamin D (hormone) production.
Lie in the sun for 5-15 minutes and breathe.
Do part of a workout in the sun.
Work from home… in the sun!
Embrace the touch of an animal.
Ask a friend if you can do a daily/weekly/monthly walk with their pet.
Walk around the neighborhood and bother all the dog owners… I mean, do they really mind?
Find a cat cafe and sip an espresso alongside a calico.
Embrace the touch of a human.
Hug the people around you.
Don’t have anyone around you? Go somewhere. Surround yourself with people. Ask for a hug.
Reach out to friends/family for hugs — they too will benefit from this exchange and maybe they’ve hesitated to ask. Doesn’t a hug seem worth a 20 minute drive? Maybe this hug can also be an opportunity to spend time together.
TRY THIS - Heart Hug - hug with your left arm over their right shoulder and right arm at the (left) waist.
This hug feels distinct and it brings the hearts close together (video).
Heart Hug
Our chemicals react to interpersonal communication. The social side is dynamic and beneficial. Use it to your advantage and share in the goodness of community. Reach out to the ones that need you and enjoy the reward that follows.
If words are only as good as the actions behind them, lean into an embrace and enjoy the silence. Your body will begin a dialogue of its own, and if you listen closely, the true riches of being together present themselves.
Herbal Spotlight: Lemon Verbena
Lemon Verbena is sensitive to the many potential struggles faced. He listens to the dismay felt and begins to soften the critic’s toughness. The revision he offers is a shift from the many traps and pitfalls. An adjustment to attract what is wanted rather than resist what is not.
He is sedated and calm. A relaxer of muscles to remind a focus on the breath. Lemon Verbena is a friend that recommends slowing down and seeking a response to the spotlight. A helping hand to the highlighted gloom of imperfection.
He explores the desires and pushes forward ideal. Although his pace must be kept in mind. He is not an illusionist of trick and trap, to feed into greed and release the wild.
Lemon Verbena is the careful friend of notice in considerate love. Hints of helpful healing to restore confidence and secure whole. In his limits he is humble, but his allure is to build the boundless. To suspend disbelief and support a home for hope.
Lemon Verbena is most typically consumed as a tea. He is high in antioxidants and aids recovery when muscles are sore or strained. These antioxidants also reduce the oxidative stress throughout the body — oxidative stress is when there are more free radicals in the body than antioxidants can keep up with. If left unchecked these free radicals may lead to diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, neurodegenerative illness such as Alzheiemer’s or Parkinson’s, and many others.
Lemon Verbena does not need to be limited to tea consumption. It is a leaf like any other and can be chopped or pulverized or shredded and put into anything that complements the lemony flavor.
Add Lemon Verbena to sugar cookies, muffins, or bread (recipes).
Pulverize some fresh lemon verbena with mint and add it to water (hot or cold).
Finely chop a few leaves and season chicken or fish.
Add some chopped lemon verbena to the top of your hummus for pops of citrus.
In addition to its antioxidant properties, lemon verbena is a wonderful digestive settler.
He can help with indigestion (heartburn), which is actually a signal that the acidity of your stomach is low — check out Dr. Berg for a great breakdown of this).
If in addition to heartburn there are signs of bloating, nausea, heat in the stomach (burning), vomiting, or burping, it may be dyspepsia. Dyspepsia may be due to an ulcer or an issue with the stomach lining and Lemon Verbena may aid in the healing process by slowing the oxidative stress.
Maybe flatulance is an issue? Lemon Verbena can help calm and process all those gases. Tea can be consumed or an essential oil mixture can be made with optional additions.
* ALLERGY WARNING *
Be careful to make sure you don’t have any reactivity toward the oils you’re using. If you’re unsure use this guide to make sure. For example, a typical test spot for allergic reactions is the ditch of the inner elbow. This is tender skin that typically reacts quickly. The guide also teaches how to make sure things are edible whilst foraging. Always good to know.
NO-FART ESSENTIAL OIL RECIPE
Choose a carrier oil (optional) — Coconut, Jojoba, Argan, etc.
Due to the small amount used when applying the oils, the carrier is optional. If you intend to massage the belly a bit, a carrier is recommended. The massage may stimulate a quicker absorption and disperse the oil into all the areas that require attention.
There are many oils that aid digestion and flatulence, so choose personal favorite.
Dill Weed —- Fennel Seed —- Lemon Verbena —- Spearmint —- Ginger —- Lavender —- Chamomile —-- Vanilla
Choose a small glass container to mix the oil. An empty roller (10 mL) will make using the mixture easy and convenient.
Depending on how many oils are chosen, pour 5-10 drops of each essential oil into the container — the more variety in oils, the less of each oil is needed.
Once the oils are in the container, fill the remainder of the container with the carrier oil.
Shake it and give it a try.
Personal Favorite Combination
10 drops Dill Weed & 10 drops Fennel Seed —- finish with Jojoba Oil (remainder of 10 mL container)
This oil can be rubbed all over the belly and the friction of the massage will bring with it greater amounts of blood and encourage movement. Start at the belly button and work outwards in a clockwise circle.
After relieving that discomfort, why not send your belly some love?
If using pure essential oils without a carrier, the essential oil can be dabbed on the finger tip and then placed into the belly button. Think of the belly button as an absorption point similar to sublingual medication. The location of the belly button is where the small intestine sits. So the belly rub outward will aid the small AND large intestine.
Red dot is typical belly button location.
As if that weren’t enough, Lemon Verbena can continue his positive effect on the exterior.
He can be added to a hair tonic to promote a shine to go with a smile that brightens days. Sprat tonics are nice because the smell stays with you for the day, but it can also be a shower/rinse tonic.
Fill a spray bottle with distilled water and add 10 drops of Lemon Verbena oil for every 10 mL of distilled water.
Shake and spray onto hair.
He can be used as a compress or spray tonic on the face to calm puffy skin and tighten pores.
Fill a sachet with Lemon Verbena and wet it. Place the sachet over eyes and do breathing exercise for 20 minutes.
Finish by spraying tonic on face.
For a hot compress, brew Lemon Verbena tea and once cool enough to touch, soak towel and ring of excess tea. Place warm towel over eyes, nose, or anywhere there may be puffiness. Enjoy the warmth and do a breathing exercise.
Lemon Verbena may also help break down cellulite. He will do this both internally (eating/drinking) and externally (tonic spray, massage lotion, etc.).
Massage lotion: Fill a container with 1:1 ratio (1 drop of essential oil for each mL of carrier oil).
Massage into cellulite.
Lemon Verbena is body positive. He wants to help make any process of change smooth and simple. He wants decisions to be made in a relaxed state so that what is can be seen clearly. But his work is focused on cooperation. He may not be the instant solution, but he’ll standby in solidarity. A helping hand; ready to face any reality — together.
Mind Over Body
Motivational cliches may come from the insecurity of feeling the need to say something or a point of perceived relatability, and they are endless in variety. Some stick to those that go well with sporting events like you’ve got this or hang in there.
Others make daily human struggles into raging wars with never surrender or we will prevail. And yet others attribute the many possibilities of life as an act of god and believe that everything happens for a reason. These phrasings feel good because they’re easy to digest and may have played an important role in some specific moment of life. Results heavily depend on how the phrase is related to and what you choose to believe. Will they simply stay words, provoke an emotion, or awakening into action?
One phrase stands above all and provides either life-changing potency or unreceptive eye-rolling:
Mind Over Body.
As with emotion, the way we choose to express a thought may be elegant or messy. The reaction, too, may be elegant or messy. What’s important is that the act of choosing is the foundation. Any phrase can be taken with positivity and motivation for good results. The same phrase can be met with resistance and disgust to insure failure.
Mind Over Body has the potential to change your life, if it doesn’t already.
The relationship we create is heavily dependent on the perspective used to relate. The locus of control is how one perceives and relates to the main causes of events in life.
An internal locus of control places the power and control in your own hands.
While an external locus of control leaves it with external forces like fate or luck.
Everything happens for a reason and this is what was meant to happen place this power externally. It is out of your control. You’re along for the ride and what you see is what you get.
Mind over body places the power internally. What you think is what you make. This concept can be taken very far. So far, actually, that what you think is stronger than your genetic makeup.
A name that frequently comes up alongside Mind Over Body is Wim Hof. He ran a marathon in the Nambi Desert without food or water. He successfully climbed Mount Kilimanjaro in shorts. He ran a marathon in the polar circle — barefoot. He was even injected with a dead strain of E. coli to show that the body’s immune response is dependent on our thoughts and practices (article).
These are wild feats of possibility and require great discipline and training to accomplish. It’s accompanied with breathing exercises, meditation, and intense cold exposure.
The relatability of these ideas may seem out of reach because it is a specific kind of person who wants to endure such extremes. But, most importantly, Wim Hof has an internal locus of control. These extreme concepts can be simplified and applied to daily life by simply controlling the way we want to think.
You don’t earn the designation “Iceman” for nothing.
Our genes used to be mechanisms for survival. One gene could be all the advantage needed to procreate. But now if feels as though many consider genes the enemy standing between them and an ideal self.
Some genes may simply be another external locus of control.
Consider this: What if the words spoken and thought could change your physiology? Would you speak to yourself differently? Would you be kinder?
More and more research is suggesting that this is the case (to dive deeper into these ideas check out Dr. Dave Robson. I listened to the podcast Modern Wisdom #456 for the following examples).
Expectations that come with food are frequent points of distress and duress. The words used around food begin to change hormonal reaction and effect physiology. If your expectation of the food you’re about to eat is one of deprivation, as it may be for anyone dieting, then your body will begin to burn fat at a slower rate. The body is receiving messages based in starvation so it elevates a hunger hormone (ghrelin) and slows fat burning. It’s a survival mechanism. The body is preparing to be starved.
Gluten-sensitivity is a hotly debated topic that recently saw a large increase in number. But when people were told something contained gluten when it really didn’t, they still had the physical reaction. Similarly, individuals were given decaf coffee and told it was regular, only to experience the boost expected from caffeinated coffee. Or, conversely, they were given regular coffee (with caffeine) but told it’s decaf, and experienced a slump in energy.
It doesn’t end there. The sleep we perceive is just as potent as the sleep we receive. Individuals who slept 8 hours and woke up once or twice within those 8 hours have the power to interpret the waking as a reason to suffer from insomnia. So, the next day, the effects of insomnia are felt. Just the same, someone deprived of sleep but waking to the idea of being rested and refreshed will feel just that.
This is not to say that there aren’t baseline needs within the body to stay healthy and feeling good. But it is to say that you have control over your narrative and the story chosen becomes very real within you.
I have experienced my own example of Mind Over Body, devoid of research. I was 29 years old and having dental work done by students at a dental school. I had four wisdom teeth in a variety of states. It was recommended that I remove them all because they were not being cared for properly and may cause other consequences. Since I was on a budget, I went through the process without anesthesia and was fortunate enough to have the instructor ok the removal of all four at once (the original plan was to do this two at a time).
Since local anesthetic can only do so much, I was able to both hear and feel these teeth being removed from my jaw. As the final tooth was being extracted I heard a crunch and much less pressure release than the other three. This tooth had cracked. It was internally decaying and weak. The instructor took complete control at this point because the anesthetic clock was ticking.
As the final portion of this tooth was extracted I felt a pull on my sinus, which was later explained to me via x-ray. Part of the tooth rested on a sinus cavity and the removal of it may have irritated it or caused a bit of damage. Probably nothing serious.
I was told to immediately go to the pharmacy and fill a prescription for Hydrocodone and when I get home to take two of these pills. The doctor made it clear that there is a lot of trauma in my mouth and that the pain may be terrible, especially where the sinus was concerned. He told me, “don’t be a tough guy because it won’t be worth it.” So I listened. I got home, took two pain pills, and went to sleep.
Before falling asleep I told myself there is a lot of healing ahead and that I will be patient with the process. I accepted the four open wounds and whatever pain needed to accompany them. I should also add that my body does not enjoy opiates. My preference, from the beginning, was to avoid taking such medication because my body reacts adversely (dizziness, nausea, vomiting). But I happened to wake from the two pills I had taken without any discomfort or unsureness. I went the remainder of the evening doing the simple maintenance of changing the gauze frequently and drooling on myself.
The next day was free of any major pain, just minor discomforts. What I had hoped for and expected. After the initial pain pills there was no need for more. My wounds healed without issue and the students and instructor were surprised to see how quickly the convalescence took place.
I understand that I may be the exception to the rule and was spared the pain, or that my body was so ready to be rid of those teeth that the appreciation came in the form of low-pain healing. But this was four gaping wounds in my mouth and nothing more than discomfort. I try not to separate my self from my body, but I attribute this healing to my mind telling my body please do what you need to do, and saying it with complete openness. No ideas of I need or I would like, just trust in the process.
The story I chose to believe is that my body knows how to heal in this unfamiliar situation. I also chose to believe that I could do it without avoiding pain. If pain had been there I may have changed my mind and I’d be telling a different story. But my beliefs worked to my advantage. The body felt the story and believed it too.
We are an animal of story. It’s why we have dominion over all else in the world. It’s the root of our success and why we are able to continue moving forward as a species.
It’s why we watch the news, read and write books, listen to and have conversations, and share our experiences with others: to tell a story.
We feel story more than the food we choose to eat. We feel story more than the drugs we take.
Story is our strength and power. Story is where we choose a locus of control.
As we move ahead in years there is a change in reactivity. The connections between the amygdala (fear center) and frontal lobe become more developed and richer. We call this maturing.
Imagine combining this natural maturing with story. The result is wisdom.
We have mastered the art of self-deprivation and -deprecation. We seek out ways to be insufficient and distrust the attempts to love ourselves. We push and pound and punish until something breaks and what’s left is an open wound.
Let these wounds heal. Tell each one to take the time it needs.
Forgive the misunderstanding that went so deep.
Much like the teeth we’ve so aptly named, our words experience an extraction of wisdom.
But unlike the teeth that will never return, the stories we believe may begin to restore strength and power.
Consider where your locus of control may be. Think about how this begins to direct your narrative. Are you being kind? Is the thought helping or hurting?
Now you can begin to gain control. Choice can be seen everywhere. And the reframing begins to feel good. The words and ideas begin to feel good. And your body will closely follow what the mind says.
Or maybe all of the wisdom has been ripped out of my skull… who knows?
Emotion Potion
The ways of relating to the outside world take form from within. The inner monologue and multi-faceted ways of synthesizing information open a wild sphere of possibility. Toss in emotion and things begin to look very messy. But what is viewed as messy is simply something not actively controlled. It exists without perimeters and may easily venture into annoyance or overwhelm. A solid intrapersonal foundation can infuse power and control into what used to feel chaotic and random.
It’s good to begin with what every individual DOES have control over: your self.
And now what every individual DOES NOT have control over: everything else.
This helps develop greater acceptance and understanding of the different struggles throughout the world. To see that specific circumstances may differ but the root of each struggle reaches for the same harsh truth — To be alive is to interact with the world, and those interactions result in all sorts of relationships.
Including, most importantly, the internal relationship we find reflected back at us.
It’s easy to get caught in the right vs. left brain conversation and dismiss particular abilities as not relatable. Observing a level-headed friend and thinking well she’s so logical and I’m more emotional is an easy way to justify why change isn’t required. It’s acceptance of something malleable as rigid. The making of a choice into an unshakable truth.
That’s one way to live.
Another way — work on emotional intelligence.
Emotion is the first tool used to relate to others and self. Establishing control over emotion is the first step to increase self-awareness and gain agency over reactivity.
In the presence of emotional intelligence there is discipline and thoughts are clear. A balance is struck between speaking and listening. It’s a state of exchange intent on learning.
A common trap is to direct emotional skills outward and not apply the same concept inward. It’s easier to help others rather than help ourselves. There is little guilt in punching yourself. Maybe you deserve it. Might deserve even worse. But what motivation can be found in this system of personal punishment? Does it help progress or growth? Does it achieve anything you’ve set out to accomplish?
Not one bit. But it’s what happens when emotion takes control and goes unchecked. Unbalanced. Unnoticed.
Without a doubt a laundry list of techniques exist to address this issue, but the simpler the concept the better. Its applicability cannot be avoided once its efficacy is felt, though it may initially be followed with a snarky obviously or DUH. Sometimes what is directly in front of us is exactly what we are intent on avoiding. But the courage to face the unknown terror will result in reward.
Emotion Regulation Technique — Anywhere a deep breath and slow exhale is appropriate, take one — try 4-sided breath.
When feeling ANY emotional reaction take a moment and stop what you’re doing.
Isolate the emotion and put a name to it (i.e. rage, fear, sadness, etc.).
Accept the identified emotion and acknowledge that what you’re feeling is alright.
I’m feeling rage and that’s alright.
I’m feeling fear and that’s alright.
Acknowledge that the emotion you’re feeling is not a result of what’s happening, but a choice you’re making.
I’m feeling rage and it’s not because I didn’t get the job, it’s because I choose to.
I’m feeling fear and it’s not because of what my partner did, it’s because I choose to.
Now begin to focus on the desired emotion, if an emotion is necessary (sometimes a logical thought is all that’s required).
When I think about not getting the job I choose to feel acceptance.
When I think about what my partner did I choose to feel understanding.
Once emotion becomes a choice instead of an unchecked reaction, conversations open up and the true issue may be resolved.
If you’re feeling anxious all day and there is an idea floating around in your head, this step back will permit the lingering anxiety to dissipate and a thoughtful reflection to flourish. It will hush the screaming emotion that thinks it’s helping and allow a moment of clarity.
When there is a misunderstanding between your partner and yourself, emotion may cloud the compassion needed to recognize where something went wrong. Isolating the feeling and gaining control over it allows problem-solving and empathy to be part of the conversation.
Naturally, a different emotion will begin to associate because a sense of control will bloom. There is a choice being made.
Control over emotion will open new possibilities of understanding and influencing others. It will build self-confidence, self-discipline, and resilience in a world of constant testing. And these self-awarenesses will help motivation, empathy, and social skills, thrive.
Results will be felt both internally and externally.
The familiar, deprecating voice may begin to quiet. The effects someone’s judgement used to carry will pale in comparison to the empathy felt for misdirected insecurities. Or the people in your life will feel a positive change and follow this new attraction.
The force that is I will grow. And it plants the seed for another to blossom: the force that is we.
Still not into it?? Try this…
Communication Breakdown
Communication is an easily overlooked double-edged sword in day-to-day existence. It’s the foundation of both inter- and intrapersonal relationship. Daring to tell a loved one what we think may help them process an emotion or open a new possibility in perspective. Being honest with ourselves allows movement forward and progress towards desired goals. But knowing what is necessary and acting appropriately are two different things.
There are times when thinking is the required action. Times when heavy consideration, soaked in detail, helps steer the decision to be made. And other times demand action instead of the seductive, procrastinating reflections. The ambivalent dance of wasting time.
The same can be applied to interpersonal relationships with plants. Each plant is unique in its qualities and abilities. This knowledge can be met with understanding and used with purpose. It can also be ignored and laced with blame.
Lavender is a great example of mixed reviews and differing opinions.
Lavender’s popular property revolves around relaxation. This makes sense once its chemistry is considered.
When lavender is smelled and tasted it is mainly terpenes making up the experience. Terpenes are the aromatic compounds of plants. Lavender has a special terpene called linalool (also found in sweet basil, coriander, bay laurel, and others).
Linalool interacts with our individual chemistry with intention.
For example, it reduces the signal strength of acetylcholine, which communicates muscle contraction from brain to body. By blocking acetylcholine, linalool is telling the nervous system to relax.
Now imagine the average state of relaxation. It’s filled with fidgeting and movement. Thoughts of this needs to get done or I haven’t yet come to mind and the body responds. If linalool is helping block signals for muscle contraction, what good is it when muscles continue to nervously contract?
Another example is linalool elevating adenosine. Adenosine is one of the building blocks of DNA and RNA. It is also a natural pain reliever. Since feeling less pain is a great way to relax, lavender (via linalool) helps spark this process. However, adenosine is blocked when caffeine is consumed.
The stresses of the day pile up. Sitting in the same position brings out the aches and pains. Cups of coffee keep things going. But there needs to be time to relax, so let’s diffuse some lavender because it’s supposed to have a relaxing effect. The linalool signals an elevation in adenosine production, but the caffeine negates it. Final thought: Lavender doesn’t help me relax.
The deeper the dive into detail, the more available the intended interactions become. The pathways begin to connect. But pathways must be navigated with purpose.
Apply this to inter- and intrapersonal communication. There is a responsibility to consider emotion and perspective and see what blockages have built up. To address the assumptions and biases thwarting signals of love and compassion. A purification of intention and an increase in awareness (relaxed state). The space held by a peaceful mind and body signals openness. It is acceptance in action.
There is much to be said for the concept mind over body, but an oversimplification works best for this example: thoughts are the beginnings of actions.
When a thought feels ready it needs to be applied. Then a step back to consider the result. And the thought grows. As does the action it motivates.
The signals others send must be received without a caffeine-like counterstep to cancel. The decision to listen must be a thought (mind) put into action (body). And the intention (mind) will motivate how ideas are communicated (body).
Constructive communication recognizes signals and maneuvers the possible pathways of learning.
It asks for typical habits to be set aside. It asks for the relaxed state to lead.
Communication is an art form that can never be perfected. The number of possibilities and corresponding outcomes is endless. But the ways we perceive outcomes is limited to individual experience.
To relax is to open and expand with the infinite. To admit what is known may simply be more of the unknown. And approach an other body with peace of mind.
As Elvis once said, When things go wrong, don’t go with them.
TISANE COLLECTOR
Let’s begin with a personal favorite tisane (pronounced ti-zan) blend: nettle, lemon balm, rose buds, and hemp leaves.
To prepare: boil hot water and pour over herbs. Steep. Drink.
Tisane is the technical term for an herbal blend that is steeped and drunk. Tea must come from the Camellia sinensis tree to earn its distinction. All other combinations of herb-meeting-water can be referred to as tisane.
There are many different ways to acquire what is needed to make an herbal mixture appropriate for tisane, but foraging locally brings with it the greatest rewards. It’s a great way to begin to learn about the local, native plants, and to see an area that may seem familiar as curious and full of new potential.
DISCLAIMER: When foraging be sure to have a plant guide or app to help avoid complications with less welcoming plants. If something is found that seems safe, err on the safe side and perform an allergy test.
After taking in a list of local, edible plants, take a walk around the block. It will quickly become clear that many of the plants regarded as intruders or weeds are actually very beneficial and easy to use.
I currently find myself back in the Midwest, where lemon balm, catnip, dandelion, and ground ivy grow without end. There also happens to be a row of sage plants along the sidewalk surrounding a neighbor’s house. And this is where that little extra reward comes in.
Upon harvesting sage one day, said neighbor came out and started a conversation. Without previously asking for permission, it seemed appropriate to make sure it was alright to harvest his work. A care-free, “You can do what you want,” brought the smiles out. He then reached out with an offer of propagations: plants to take home and care for.
Walking around and harvesting herbs is an opening into conversation. It’s the rarely sought “hello” that many would prefer to walk past. An opportunity to acknowledge the strange and unfamiliar so that next time around it’s recognizable. Then familiar. Then friendly.
Local harvesting led me to a conversation with another neighbor as she de-weeded her lawn. I mentioned how useful and delicious the dandelion flower and root are for tea and what benefits carry along. This opened into an opportunity to harvest the flowers and roots that were headed for compost or garbage, and make a tisane blend.
After cleaning and drying the dandelion roots, catnip and lemon balm were mixed in to complete the blend. A creation sourced within blocks of home and shared. But the exchange didn’t stop there.
This particular neighbor loves cycling. I was unable to bring my bicycle for this trip. So she offered to fill that space with a bicycle of her own.
Natural cycles of taking and giving.
When we source from a plant and harvest it properly, it thrives and grows happier and healthier. It finds joy in providing. And so do we. But there is an important balance to be struck here: providing also comes in the form of taking. In giving someone a destination for the goodness they wish to share.
Much like the trivial mislabeling of a tisane as an herbal tea, sharing can be labeled in so many different ways. As simple as an acknowledgment, or a relationship filled with levels of complexity. Either way, the part we tend to notice is what we choose to share. And how we share it.
Notice these personal cycles and call them what you will.
What matters most, in the end, is actions speaking louder than words.
JUST BREATHE
It’s fascinating to be at a point in life when friends begin to start their sentences with “Remember when we were growing up…?”. When your frame of reference can reach back past cellphones and personal computers. Before the internet. Before helicopter parenting and viral thinking.
A time that rides the cusp. The in-between that gets to experience either side. We entered the technology tunnel and came out looking back for what once was. But we can only move forward in this life. To mold the future ahead, together.
Alongside the ability and access that comes with these advancements, there is a discomfort in and resistance to change. This is natural. The good ol’ days are relative. It just depends on individual frames of reference. And I’m fortunate enough to have made it thus far to enjoy the difference in past and present.
This discomfort manifests in a multitude of different ways. It can be stress or anxiety or depression. It can be uncontrolled thought or emotions that result in rash decision making. Or it can be as simple as sadness. A mourning of the present through the lens of the past. Not so simple anymore.
What hasn’t changed is our ability to find balance in what can be controlled. The acceptance of the world as it is and realizing that the world does not define each and every individual experience. The active choice to exist how you feel appropriate and share this wisdom in each interaction. To live and lead through example. To learn from the many other ways life can play out and still retain focus for a personal path.
During my most idealistic days of social change and efforts for equality, my mother repeated a thought I continually struggled with: You can’t get too caught up in the world because it will consume you. Instead, create a bubble around your life and exist in this bubble.
Essentially, what my mother expressed to me was that the only thing you can control is yourself. How bittersweet it is to look back and finally see the scope of this vision. To realize the potency of this concept and how it applies in more expansive ways than revolutionary thinking. How much more productive it is to begin change on a personal level and allow that to grow outside my self. It becomes infectious. It goes viral.
It’s a step in the direction of fighting fire with water. To move into the shade when the chaotic rays of the sun bring their greatest heat. Observing the tumultuous waves of thought and, instead of going in, staying on the shore and deciding to watch and listen.
Countless techniques may be used in this process, but only one is something we already do every second of every day.
Breathing.
Having a breathing practice is the difference between an alert nervous system and one that may enter into a relaxed state. The ability to switch from sympathetic (fight or flight) to parasympathetic (rest and digest) is a major reason why many embrace meditation. And the breath is a great first step into meditation.
Box Breathing, also known as Square Breathing, is a very simple way to have a visual to easily remember the process. Visualize a square and each of its four sides. You can even draw the box with your finger if it helps. Each side will have an equal amount of time devoted to it, and for this exercise we will use 4 seconds for each side of the square. It’s natural to close your eyes during a practice like this, but it’s not required. Do what brings you the greatest comfort.
The first side is the inhale. Allow the breath to enter your diaphragm and expand the belly. Show off your Buddha belly.
The second side is holding the breath in. Continue to relax and expand the diaphragm. Appreciate the Buddha belly.
The third side is the exhale. Bring the belly in a push the air out of the diaphragm.
The fourth side is another breath hold.
Begin the box again.
There may be some variety in where you find individual comfort. Try different amounts of time and see which one works best for your needs. It’s easiest to gauge at either hold. If your breath hold is comfortable and without struggle, you’re doing great.
Use this practice throughout your day.
Woke up before your alarm? Breathe.
Waiting in the car for the kids? Breathe.
Drinking coffee and reading the news? Breathe instead. Please.
Waiting for water to boil? Breathe.
Getting into an argument? Breathe as you listen. What you hear may surprise you.
There is no bad time to breathe. And if you’d really like to feel the shift in nervous system activity, it’s recommended to do this practice for 15-20 minutes. It takes time to signal to the nervous system that everything is under control, but once it receives the message…
Add a drop of Lavender (Masculine/Air) to your third eye or heart chakra for added balance and calmness. Allow Lavender to still a wandering mind. To encourage compassion. The high vibrational frequency helps to cleanse you, your thoughts, and your environment.
As the adage goes: the most difficult thing you’ve been through is the most difficult thing you’ve been through.
Even as our experiences differ there is something very important we all reach for in times of need — Hope.
Hope is how we look forward and see movement is beautiful. It’s how to accept rapid change and find excitement in the opportunity. But hope can only be seen by those willing to reach for what is good.
The fear and unsureness felt by one generation is the innocent past of another. The days we see as future will one day be the next generation’s good ol’ days. And the square continues. Each side relies on the others for balance. For integrity. For hope.
Because our product will always be greater than the sum of its parts.
Stay wild,
Dariusz
HERBAL SPOTLIGHT: SUMMER ZEST
Brightening tea with fruits is one of the easiest ways to diversify flavors and find new synergies. Whilst waiting for a Wildmoon Alchemy package, an interesting question came about:
Why throw away or compost the peel of fruit?
The easiest way to use the rind is to simply throw it into hot water and allow the oils to infuse the water. Mandarins are perfect for this because they have a limited amount of pith (the white portion of the rind) and this limits the amount of bitter flavor extracted.
The outer skin of the peel, or rind, of many fruits is frequently used in the form of zest when cooking. It is where the highest concentration of natural oils can be found. Take the peel of a lemon or lime and pinch the skin between your fingers (the skin is the outer most layer). The oils will visibly squirt into the air and the natural aroma will fill your nose. Zesting is the act of taking the outside of the peel and grating it into fine granules. The finer the granules, the easier it is to use, so it’s recommended to get an inventively named kitchen tool called a zester for this process. Zesting DOES NOT include the white portion of the rind, or pith, because it is much more bitter than the rest. If a bit of bitterness is desired for a recipe then zest the skin further down into the pith for a mixture of skin and pith (bright and bitter).
Citrus zest can be added to anything to brighten and round out the flavor. Here are a few ways to try zest:
Put some lemon/lime zest in hummus to complement the sour juice of the fruit.
Add blueberries to oatmeal and squeeze 1/4 of a whole lemon on top. Finish with some zest to complement the sweetness of the blueberries.
Add zest to any of your favorite tea blends.
Top yogurt, granola, fruit cups, etc. with a dash of zest.
When salting the rim of your glass for a summer tequila drink, add zest for an extra pop.
There is literally no wrong way to do this. If you enjoy the natural flavors of zest, it can go on anything.
Having fish for dinner? Lemon juice and zest.
Couldn’t decide what flavor the chicken should be tonight? Finish it with some zest.
Bored of the vanilla ice cream in the freezer? That’s right. Zest it.
That 95% dark chocolate seems a bit too bitter today? Dip it in zest.
Tired of just soy sauce for sushi? Add some lemon or lime juice and zest.
The possibilities are endless, especially if you find that your tastebuds are enthusiastic about combinations with citrus. After everything in your kitchen has had zest added to it and you’d like to explore another avenue of peel/rind use, try dehydrating or baking the peels for longer-term storage and easier use. If a dehydrator is at your disposal, great. If not, follow these directions for conventional ovens.
Use a vegetable peeler to cut thin strips of the peel (Third picture above).
Place the strips on a baking sheet and set the oven at 200 degrees F (90 degrees C) for about 2 hours (drying time depends on how thick your strips are).
After two hours turn the oven off and leave the dried peels in the oven overnight.
Wake to the brewing of your morning tea or coffee and toss in some dried citrus peel for added flavor.
*This process can also be used for ginger or any root you’d like to dehydrate for similar use*
Still unsure? Take some zest and simply try it straight, without anything else. Notice how intense the flavor is and how it spreads within your mouth and nose. Essential oils made from citrus are typically extracted from the peel.
It’s a flavor powerhouse that can help open the doors of surprise and brightness. And what better way to get to know your preferred flavors than to experiment?
HERBAL SPOTLIGHT: SAGE
SAGE: Masculine - He - Air & Earth TAURUS: Earth - Venus - Fixed
CRYSTALS: Serpentine - Ocean Jasper CHAKRA: Third Eye - Crown
Sage is a man of the seven directions. An average compass with added dimensions. Looking to Father Sky and Mother Earth and The Great Spirit for guidance. He is focused on healing and saving through movement. Addressing the stillnesses of dis-ease. He is the light of Spring to follow a dark and contemplative Winter. A step into effort from the cold wait.
Sage is a redeemer of emotional strength. The brightness needed to alleviate the sorrow. The extended hand of gracious health. His leaves are a token of longevity. A payment of time for the clarity that comes with wisdom. Ask him what is wondered and take the time to listen. Find value in his lens of anti-illusion to view with solvency the solutions abound.
He is a breaker of spells both mythical and emotional. Cursing the evil eye with a baffling blindness. Decoys for the illusion. Soothing the burns of envious think. A scorched earth for greater growth and grounding.
His smoke coils with connection from the rooting steps of Earth to the swirling fantasies of Wind. A piece of home for the fluttering heart. A wealth of worth to quiet the wandering worries. Sage is the strength to clear closeted monsters. To face the dismally discordant and listen for hushed harmonies. His kindness is a first footprint on a field of fresh freedom. A whisper of wish to remind renewal; to sow the seeds of possibility and reap the wonders of willingness.
RECOMMENDED RITUALS
Place a sage leaf into your wallet for greater wealth.
Write your wish on a sage leaf and place it under your pillow for 3 nights. Dream about your wish after the 3 nights of sleep and it will come true.
Crush a handful of sage into 2 liters of water and place the mixture into the sun for 9 days. Wash yourself head-to-toe in the infused water to cleanse your entirety.
If sage is a desired plant in the garden or home, be sure to have someone else plant it. Sage loves company and teaches us to embrace the connections available.
He also does not like to be separated from his brothers and sisters, so avoid planting him in a pot. His wisdom comes from his willing and wild network.
Burn sage and smoke cleanse any person, place, or thing. Begin by making clear the intention of the smoke cleanse.
Pay close attention to the smoke:
thin/weak smoke means the energy of what is being cleansed is clean.
thick/swirling smoke means the focus of the cleanse has negative energy.
when smoke cleanse is complete, let the sage extinguish itself (sage knows when the work is completed).
throughout the process continue to focus on the intention set from the beginning of the cleanse.
To smoke cleanse a person: may use a feather or hand to wave smoke at person being cleansed.
Stand in a T with arms out and try to balance on the tips of the toes for the beginning (to insure that smoke cleanses the bottoms of the feet).
Begin moving the sage bundle in slow ellipses beginning with the feet. Carefully swirl the smoke under the feet and work up towards the heart. From the heart move in the direction of either arm and complete the cleanse at the crown of the head.
To smoke cleanse a room:
Walk throughout the room and pay attention to the smoke. Some areas may need more clearing than others.
Focus on the intention set and allow the ritual to take form based on what feels appropriate:
Example: cleanse each corner with 3 passes, repeat a prayer/mantra with each passing, or count to 3 with each stop that feels necessary.
HERBAL SPOTLIGHT: STAR ANISE
STAR ANISE: Air & Water - Masculine - He TAURUS: Earth - Venus - Fixed
CRYSTALS/STONES: Mahogany Obsidian/Tiger’s Eye CHAKRA: Third Eye/Crown
Star anise is a friend who listens with warmth. Attending to needs, his comments may be sweet or spicy. He keeps things moving and celebrates happiness in appetite. A pat on the back to forget about it and see what’s ahead. Bringer of the unlimited, both tangible and abstract.
Star anise is the caller of connection. He reaches out to surrounding spirits and asks their aid. To uplift essence and protect an expanding vibrance. Encouraging a warm comfort in the unknown. He peeks through the subliminal lens to look for what is not seen. A shell that carries more than the seed.
His soothing sweetness softens a cough. A mask for the bitter medicine reluctantly swallowed. A snap to attention for mundane mindsets. He sweetens the spoils of fortune to the willful warrior. A path of puissant paradise.
His spice points at what seems obvious and suggests another look. A tingling heat of steady change. He will help to move a dream. Or climb into air; to be everywhere. Sips of his rust enliven a build of iron. A boost of red in the cell that is self.
Familiar with the dark, he sets the moon aside. To focus on a proper use for stars. The sparkle of action in a cosmic dawn. To cast off the evil eyes lurking in the shadows. And warm the ideas of comfort and care.
He is ablaze without a forceful radiance. Ready to welcome the spent and strained. Star anise is the fixed bridge over troubled waters. Foundation for the steps of change. He rests peacefully. Beyond the banal. With willing days of passion and love.
STARRY BAY RECIPE
1 Cup Epsom Salt5 Star Anise Pods5 Bay LeavesDIRECTIONS
Run Bath.Toss ingredients into water. Get in bath. Breath and relax.HERBAL SPOTLIGHT: BLACK COHOSH
BLACK COHOSH: Fire - Masculine - He TAURUS: Earth - Venus - Fixed
CRYSTALS/STONES/RESINS: Variscite - Lapis Lazuli CHAKRA: Crown - Solar Plexus
Black cohosh sits comfortably in the shadows. He stands confident as a white column of flowers. Though his strength waits buried deep in the dirt. A gnarled root mass of hidden influence. His masculinity meets the feminine in counterpoise. To collect a variety of names. And move ahead as the great balancer.
He pursues unrest and settles the score. A step into shift for the unsure. Empowering the abused to find courage. He stands in the doorway and rejects the unwelcome. His rough methods bid revision to ruse. Preparation for the gift of greatness. Seeking stasis for the fearful and frightened. Black cohosh arouses the inferno devoted to self. A reminder to be mindful.
When burned he smokes of love. A buttercup with the heart of a lion. A luminary into the bottom underneath. He unfolds the wise wound to capture creative capacity. Repelling the flies of failure to settle into a simpler faith. Swimming in the sweet scents of careful welcome and slow permission.
Hypocrites and crooks exploit the tender. To be caught in pitfalls of pity. Black cohosh ripens the roots to face the sun. A promise of fire to the drunken deceptions. Adoring surrender, to break impotence. The rattle of a doubtless purpose. He carefully protects the entrance to the compassionate crown.
Black cohosh walks the wires between contending ways. He reaps the rewards of a transforming darkness. To see the faceless fears as they die back. Fruition of a loyal love. He unties the twisted tendencies of tired and dares to delight in the disregarded change. A harvester of individual honor.
BLACK COHOSH MAGIC
Sprinkle Black Cohosh on the floor and sweep it out the doorway or make a tea to wash the floors — cleansing bad or stagnant energy.
Leave Black Cohosh in any doorway and protect yourself from intruder entry.
Place Black Cohosh into a purple sachet and carry it with you for protection from accidents and abuse.
Let him empower and protect you. Feel strength and courage to face any difficulty that comes your way.
HERBAL SPOTLIGHT: MARSHMALLOW ROOT
MARSHMALLOW ROOT: Water - Feminine - She TAURUS: Earth - Venus - Fixed
CRYSTALS/STONES/RESINS: Moonstones CHAKRA: Solar Plexus
She is a woman of the water. Ready for the waves that living will bring. Her reach is oceanic and grabs at the depths of despair. She stands firm but moves tenderly. A shoulder to cry on. A comfort when sought.
And to those that doubt or sit unsure, she waits and offers herself as cure.
Marshmallow root is devoted in times of hardship. She is a hand that strokes the hair. A presence to an existing void. Her love is visible in her heart-shaped appendages. Soft whites and pinks to welcome passersby. Allowing her syrupy sweetness deep inside is to rightly welcome mending marshes.
A lean into her uncovers fluffy ease. A comfort continued even to those expired. Steeped in peace to rejuvenate the beaten. She will stand between to place a space. With slippery tactics to cheer and assure. Lulled in the whispers of togetherness. She invites those attached to ache into the fondness of her family.
Melt between her arms to cool into consoled composure. She is here to bind the parted or divided. Gluing the gaps of engagement. A concentrated I do to imagine the self. A will of strength in cultivating control. A mire to support, but mind the slip. Even moonlit paths carry cloaks of shade and shadow.
She is quick to recover when thoughtfully harnessed. And protects the return home of the carried away. This burden of concern she knows too well. The heat that hinders the soothing stream. A lovely reminder of devotion’s deformity. And yet, the roasted outside gives way to a silky center.
The disarmed and unguarded are quick to lose their voice. Marshmallow root heals the space to speak. Damaging disorders welcome breaks to balance. Marshmallow root blankets the broken and starts the soothe. She will build a boundary for action against adversaries. A companion who mobilizes for the great comeback. A visionary for the thriving empire within. She is the elixir sought to profess the swallow.
HERBAL SPOTLIGHT: MUGWORT
Mugwort is an assumed elder. Her bitterness seems unappealing. But her knowledge is deep and gracious. She intends good for all who listen. Her art is making whole the experience of living. Time with her is potent and narrow, even if neglected and forgotten. With arms prepared to embrace, her door remains open.
~ An elder once said ~
To be a guide for eager ears,
An open door to suppose fears,
These locking legends are soon lost,
In cement walls crowned with cost.
To doom the eye in sight of short,
The creature looks with eyes abort,
All reflections of unwilling,
Bursting hearts by sour spilling.
Of the specious mouths we will,
A king’s spoils in false ills,
The bitter blood of cooling black,
To signal men in what they lack.
But worst is yet the one who sees,
Ignores the reaches and the pleas,
To be so blind in all of hope,
Yet still to find his way to cope.
To walk these worlds is to be,
An expert not on what is free,
A slave to what it seems would be,
An individuality.
The hunter takes but what he gives,
A faith in things with which he lives,
He’s counseled by those wise of age,
To take a place and grow as sage.
The warring heart thinks not just more,
But to protect and save his lore,
A love so grand in sacrifice,
To never wonder or think twice.
Now you must find where is your path,
And not fall prey to one’s own wrath,
To love it all and be intent,
In ways the world you have dreamt.
Though I am just a crone of life,
In what I see I find no strife,
The future brings what needs to be,
And in the end will set us free.
Sunny Mugwort Body Oil
Place dry herb into a glass container.
Fill container with chosen oil (olive, jojoba, avocado, etc.). Be sure to submerge all plant material.
Place cheesecloth on top of container (allows moisture to evaporate).
Place into a sunny spot for about 6 weeks. Watch the color of the oil change as the infusion takes place.
Use before bed for hearty circulation and vivid dreams.
HERBAL SPOTLIGHT: DANDELION
DANDELION: Air - Masculine - He ARIES: Fire - Mars - Cardinal
CRYSTALS/RESINS/STONES: Sunstone - Citrine - Tiger’s Eye CHAKRA: Root
His bitterness introduces the cleanse. A mover with the tenacity of a lion. Sunny blooms into scattering moons. Infinitely floating wishes that begin with a blown breath. He is a gypsy in action. He is nature’s freedom.
Dandelion is a man of contradiction. He travels without direction but roots deeply. He welcomes fertilization but produces seeds in its absence. To observe him is to study contrast.
He is a provider for pollinators. Though his stay is brief. He swiftly nurtures his young for flight. So wishful winds may free them from family, to rule self. Each one a return of the sun. Each one a piece of him.
His longevity comes from a willingness to adapt. A boldness to colonize even the most hostile places. Leave a bit of his essence and he will rise from the dead.
He is a sunflower who walks into darkness. Unwilling to waste time, he lives deeply in preparation for his end. His duality is his opportunity. An unrestrained drifter turned fixed flower. A wanderer between worlds. A healer in whole. He purifies the grey and moves to color. A devotee of trust. A believer that completeness is clarity’s illusion.
He enters dreams to leave thoughts of ageless and undying happiness. Or deep-seated weeds to mark a signal for change. A burst of joy ready for a life-giving destruction. What is faced is what is fleeting.
He submits to simply being. A fearless rider of the transforming winds. Inspiring friendship in the powerful unseen. A caller for preparation and foundation. He reaches deep and supports the primal hope. He marks a restoration to playful spirit. A vision unhindered and enlightened. A return to purity.
Each sacrifice brings with it unique freedom. Every submission a peek into the void. But the tempest is nothing more than violent renewal. A hopeful opportunity. A fair shake of habit. Dandelion is the master leaning into chaos, so sure of its order.
Order Your Flagship Tea Today:
Chamomile, Peppermint, Holy Basil, Dandelion Root, and Milk Thistle
HERBAL SPOTLIGHT: SKULLCAP
SKULLCAP: Water - Feminine - She ARIES: Fire - Mars - Cardinal
CRYSTALS/RESINS/STONES: Moonstone - Selenite CHAKRA: Crown
She teaches the reassessment of priority. A cultivator of calm. She will wash away the weight of being and leave a hush. A connection within and throughout. Her reach is vast and clear and purposeful.
Skullcap marches into the throes of fear and anxiety. She utilizes elevated endorphins to urge euphoria. A balancer of emotion. A tamer of chaos. Skullcap is very particular in what she needs before moving into the by-and-by. Avoiding the overly rich but indulging in shine and space. She appreciates openness by virtue of marshes and meadows and wetlands. Follow her ways with a boundless breath. Advance into harmony and order. Begin to alter the perspectives that constrict and close to open canals of mental clarity.
Skullcap floods frenzied neuronal fires with open chloride channels. An encourager of nerve system wellness and peace. Her calmness extends to the restless and overactive, pushing purposeful productivity. She helps to face and focus prosperity. Let her cool the overworking systems to balance what is thought by what is felt. Allow her to ease the tensions of unsureness with drops of reason and rest. The bits of fire in her star roll onward to flush the rabidity from the day.
As she gains ground in battle, her lances lead. Her power stops the dances of St. Vitus. She strikes with quietude the mouthy mind. Her maturity comes with summer, but her strength shows in movement from light to dark. She is committed to the autumnal transition. Her fidelity spreads between our bonds with others and those with ourselves. Linking astral and physical. Building trust for romance.
Flowers bloom on half of her because alone there is no whole. She follows a path home in oath and agreement. Her tides call to the cold moon for dreams of ease. Let her lessons encourage electric networks for loved ones. Allow overwhelm and worry to drain into the endless, accepting fields. Feel freedom in what was formerly thought to bind. She dissolves boiling obsessions into still waters.
Skullcap begins to look forward only after the rush has been reset. Release into her promise and feel the tensions of time evaporate. Let her take the muddy wanderer and rinse away the restlessness. In times of struggle there is comfort in camaraderie. She will journey into war, but not without a pledge for peace.
HERBAL SPOTLIGHT: CALENDULA
CALENDULA OFFICINALIS
CALENDULA: Fire - Masculine - He ARIES: Fire - Mars - Cardinal
CRYSTALS/RESINS/STONES: Amber - Citrine - Jasper CHAKRA: Solar Plexus
He teaches movement. A war on stagnation through circulation. The dance of a fire that consumes and moves to provide. His day begins with openness to the sun and ends with flowers in the dark of the new moon.
Calendula brings with it a dense history of healing through lesson and ritual, and is more than willing to provide secrets on true wealth and personal responsibility. His reminders of joy, abundance, and creativity help us hold greater sympathy for others, be patient with change and healing, and exercise the grace within us all.
As we spend the next few weeks in Aries, opportunities for starting new creative projects and taking action in relationships may come up, and Calendula reminds us to follow order (Sun) and our instincts. In numerology he sits at #4, which is the process of bringing ideas into reality, and resonates with the 3rd Chakra, or Solar Plexus, where our personal power in transformation resides.
The 3rd Chakra blazes in your belly as a resplendent gem. Use Aries’ fires of war as a call to every desire and spring into action. Bring forth support for those that need it, and enjoy personal cycles of need and abundance as well. Grab the opportunity to move ideas and body to boost circulation. Put an end to any feelings of stagnation leftover from the winter. Push into personal evolution. Find a flow that drives progress to ignite a new pattern of personal growth and success.
Take example from the momentum of Calendula. Notice as he pushes to the very end of being where passing comes in the form of frost. His seeds hint at a prosperous future for the coming Spring. He is an annual with a love for the cycles. Calendula broadens his family with each passing year. His altruism as a “trap crop” captures criminals with tasty, sticky resin. Make each coming day an example of your own cycle towards mastery, regardless of the traps that may present themselves throughout the journey. Seek openness and pleasure in the experiences shared with others to stoke the fires of expansion through kindled kinship.
As he faces and follows the Sun, Calendula begins to see himself in the glow. He mimics the heated hues of yellow, orange, and red. These colors of connection heal through lofty levels of carotenoids. He may neutralize with antioxidants. He may convert to vitamin A for illuminating immunity, salubrious skin, and valiant vision. All to advance a campaign to nurture and nourish the deep and the depthless. Calendula proposes we look into our Sun and move into the molten desires of our core. To follow his path is to see what gives life.
When the seeds are finally sown, the frost will come for us. Calendula offers a path home to those departed and unforgotten. He celebrates the brightness of being. He opens to and praises the provider of purpose. He accepts the circling flow of ritual. Follow him to release held hardships and shift into radiant passion. Find rhythm in your steps toward individual illuminations. Bask in the warmth of boundless opportunity. Fluency comes only with familiarity, and familiarity is set in motion by that which is first unknown.
Soak in the beauty of this herb along with:
CBD-Infused Epson Salt - French Green Clay - Hempseed Oil / Lavender - Chamomile - Tea Tree & Lavender Essential Oils - and, of course, CALENDULA
Welcome to Wildmoon Alchemy
Opening day, May 1, 2021
The shop is open!! Somehow it’s already been over two months since this little apothecary came to life. I’m still pinching myself to make sure this is real. It has been such a gift and a true honor to watch this community come to life. My heart bursts just about everyday, full of love and excitement for this thing. And we’re still just getting started!
My favorite thing has been to witness the curiosity and excitement when people step inside. The feeling you get.The plants radiate a certain energy that is tangible. They are ready to work their magic! I still feel like a kid in a candy shop every time I look at all of the herbs and oils. The possibilities for creation and wellbeing are endless!
Perhaps it’s a little daunting, trying to figure out what to do with all of these things, and that’s what we’re there for. If you have questions or need help putting together a particular blend, let us guide you. It’s certainly a unique shopping experience - from bringing in your own jars to creating custom creations, we love to see you get into it!
A big part of our mission is to promote sustainability and living in harmony with nature. This comes through in a number of ways. Even in the way the shop was designed and decorated - each piece was found, thrifted, reclaimed. There is a story behind everything.
As you explore this space and take part in it, my hope is that you feel the story and purpose in all of it. We want you to look at the sustainability and longevity of what’s in your hands. The community that is being built here. We are supporting other artists, growers, creators. Our whole purpose is to serve one another, and we are so grateful for this opportunity to support you. Thank you for coming in and making this place so special.
Looking forward, we have a big line-up of classes and sacred gatherings and I can’t wait to share them all with you. To learn at one another’s feet and to share the wisdom of the earth is an ancient practice, one that I am honored to be a part of and to foster. I’m here to be humbled and learn! Join me?
Thank you again, from my very deepest roots.
Be well, be wild, just love.
Hannah
Alchemy: the Science and Art of Transformation
I’ve been waiting to tell you something and it’s got me bursting at the seams. My heart is so full of joy and excitement for this expansion and all that it will bring.
I’m opening up an apothecary! Giving the teas space to spread their wings and join a flock of other holistic goodies. I think it’s going to be something really special. We will have bulk herbs, CBD goodies, refillable oils, soaps and detergent, some lovely body care things, art, and even plant babies. We intend to bring life to this space, so keep watch for new growth as we go along! I am absolutely over the moon to share this creation with all of you.
We’ve got some work to do before opening, which I’ll be sharing over on Instagram @wildmoon.alchemy so be sure to follow along! I’ve never replaced flooring or raised a ceiling so this could be interesting… I’m definitely grateful for some talented people offering to help with this undertaking! It is a goal of mine to really form a solid community with this space, so starting from the roots of remodeling feels like a good beginning. Throughout the process I intend to reduce, reuse, and recycle as much as possible, of course, keeping true to our eco-conscious intentions. This will be a collage of generosity and history!
So where is this space?? This is the best part. It’s right down the hall from where I’ve been practicing massage and energy healing. Right in the heart of historic Castle Rock, next door to True Appearances! Same building, expanding heart and soul collective. We are on a mission to keep history alive and create a more radiant future, living true to our nature and living with love for the earth.
I can’t wait to share these natural remedies and so much more with you. Thank you from my very deepest roots for supporting me throughout this journey! Together we grow.
Love,
Wildmoon Alchemy
Peace and Ease > Stress
Peace and ease. Not usually the two words you actually think of during the holiday rush? I mean, we see the word “peace” all over in decorations, but how often do we actually feel that during the holiday season? I’ve been doing some research into the origins of this time and the rhythms of the year in general. The original Celtic people knew that the weeks of November and December were meant for stopping, slowing down, letting go of all the busyness. They had just finished gathering the harvest and preparing all the food they would need for the winter. When the days became noticeably shorter, they would stop all other activities, cozy up to their fires, enjoy the long evenings with their families and lean into the quiet.
However, modern American tradition has created an environment that is anything but. We become busier than ever with holiday parties with friends, at schools (usually), at our places of worship. The malls become packed and suddenly, we are rushing out to do all. the. things. Grocery stores are a nightmare, delivery folks are working around the clock and parents are scrambling to find everything on the kids’ wishlists. On top of the manufactured stress, its also a season for colds and flu, not to mention the newest virus that’s been floating around. Heard of it yet?
That’s exactly why the Peace and Ease blend was created. It is an adaptogenic power house with ingredients known to lower stress, soothe the digestive system, strengthen the immune system and help ease anxiety and depression (hello, seasonal affective disorder?) And I don’t know about you, but after this year, I need all of those benefits!
Peace and Ease includes holy basil, also called Tulsi. It has been found to relieve fever, reduce blood sugar levels and help fight mouth ulcers. It also has anti-inflammatory properties, protects against radiation, and it has an affinity for the heart; protecting it from stress. Holy basil has been known to help the body fight respiratory infections, especially colds, coughs,pleurisy, asthma symptoms and even bronchitis.
Another incredible adaptogenic herb is ashwagandha, which is also known to lower stress, cortisol and blood pressure levels. It is known to reduce anxiety and tension, while improving concentration and fight fatigue. Sign me up for that! Its another herb that is anti-inflammatory and it encourages sleep and healing.
Lemongrass is known as a digestive remedy and it relaxes the stomach and gut muscles, while relieving gas build up. When dealing with heavy congestion, it has been known to reduce fever symptoms.
Reishi is a popular mushroom that contains triterpenes, which help manage stress. It has calming benefits, boosts mood and reduces fatigue. This powerhouse is also anti-inflammatory, antiviral, antibacterial and antifungal.
Milk thistle helps protect the liver when your body is working through detoxing all the stress and possible alcohol you may have this holiday season. The liver is known to house the emotion of anger, so that is it is so common to experience frustration or outbursts of anger. Milk thistle calms the liver and helps us work through those emotions.
Orange peel, the thing we usually toss in the trash, has a ton of benefits. Not only do they smell amazing, but they are rich in fiber, Vitamins C and B6, folate and calcium. They help to remove phlegm, which is more common in the cold months, fight infections, colds and the flu and help to maintain blood pressure.
We are surrounded by a nature filled with so much goodness for our bodies. We want your holiday season to be as peaceful and enjoyable as possible, so along with a morning (and nightly) cup of Peace and Ease, here are some ideas for how to have the healthiest, best end to the year:
Wake with the sun. Even though its getting colder, your whole body will benefit from going outdoors and seeing the sun within 30 minutes of waking. Scientists have actually found that dopamine is released more when we see the colors and light as close to the sunrise as possible. Not getting enough natural light or experiencing too much artificial light during the darker hours also negatively affects blood sugar levels.
Pay attention to what you put in your body first thing. It is so easy to pour that first cup of coffee and creamer and grab a donut, but our bodies live off of those first nutrients for the first few hours of the day. Having a healthy, nutrient dense tea, celery juice or even just room temp or warm water with lemon and ginger can cause a dramatic change to our days.
Have a spiritual practice. No matter how your beliefs vary, a spiritual practice is valuable to every part of your life. Whether that looks like meditating, praying, doing yoga, pulling cards, journaling or a mix of all, don’t skip this part of your day. Getting quiet and listening into what Spirit has to say can set your whole day on the right track.
Move yo body! I know, winter is the time for calm and rest though! It is, but keeping your muscles loose and strong actually helps the immune system! Already feeling stiff or sore? Go see Hannah for body work. Sometimes we just need to loosen up our stiffness and clear our stuck energy before we can start stretching at home.
Do what you love. What brings you joy? Do it as often as you possibly can. I love to read, whether its fiction or non. I actually just love learning about new things in general. Another one is dancing, which also benefits the moving point! I don’t do it very well, but I love turning on music in my bedroom or the kitchen and just letting loose to my favorite Spotify playlists. Hiking is another hobby, but I will make up excuses about why I can’t go; it will take too long, I don’t want to take the kids but don’t want to leave them at home either. But I know that if I want to feel my best, I have to carve out time to enjoy the things I love.
Evaluate which traditions, activities and commitments are the most important and consider ditching the rest. It can be scary to walk away from the things you’ve always done or what society tells us we need to do, but you may just find that there is tremendous freedom on the other side.
Drink more water than ever. When it starts to get cooler, we often forget to keep drinking that water, but since we are in a very dry, Vata time of year, its extremely important that we keep our water intake at the same level we would in Summer. Especially living in a dry climate like Colorado.
Shut it down and sleep! Yes, the best part! Enjoy the earlier sunsets by getting to bed a bit sooner. Try as hard as you can to shut down the television and your phone at least one hour before you need to actually fall asleep. Read a book, take a bath, play a board game with the kids, just sit and talk with your partner. Whatever it is, eliminate that blue light and turn the lights in your home down to just some accent lighting. This lets your body know its time to relax and get ready for sleep. Just like seeing the sun first thing in the morning, if you can, try to watch the sunset. The colors turning from a light blue to the dark blue and orange of the sunset actually notifies your brain its almost time to settle down for sleep.
What are your favorite ways to destress? Take out a notebook and pen and spend some time brainstorming your favorites, then try incorporating a few into your daily routines. Our collective humanity needs each of us to raise our energy to a more positive, healthy state and that can only be done when each individual does their part.
Together in wellness,
Danielle
Twice Baked Spaghetti Squash
Happy fall, y’all!
I absolutely love this season, as I’m sure you can guess. The changing colors, crisp air, hot tea and cozy sweaters. And let’s not forget the magic of a warm massage table to melt away the stress. Mm!
Despite the continued chaos and confusion of this year, there is still so much to be grateful for. I am especially grateful for each of you and all the love and support you have given me! Some exciting growth is coming that I can’t wait to share with you. Keep checking in to see what changes are happening and please share your support for small business. We are here for YOU!!
And with that, let’s get into some tasty eats, yeah?! Tis the season of squash. I dunno about you, but we have a lot of it. Zucchini and spaghetti squash the size of a newborn baby. No joke. Lots of potential here!
I decided to combine the two and make a delicious mess, as is my usual cooking style. More veggies, more better, right? Use whatever combination you’ve got in your fridge and give this dish a try! Just don’t skimp on the garlic. I also added (organic, free-range) ground chicken as I’ve been working with a personal trainer and he says I need more protein. It’s a process… Feel free to leave this out for the total plant-eaters out there, or sub for whatever protein you’d like! Beans, tofu, turkey, pork or beef would all be delicious.
INGREDIENTS
Spaghetti squash, halved lengthwise
1-2 cups of zucchini, chopped
5-7 mushrooms
1/2 red onion
2 green onions
3 cloves of garlic
3 tbs ghee
Spices: salt and pepper, rosemary, thyme, basil, oregano, cumin, fennel seeds, and yellow mustard powder
PREPARATION
Preheat oven to 400*F and get to chopping the spaghetti squash in half. Scoop out the seeds and place squash face down on baking sheet. Bake for 40 minutes.
While the squash bakes, prepare the other veggies. Chop ‘em up good!
Start cooking up the ground chicken in 1tbs of ghee. Once lightly browned, add in the remaining ghee, all the veggies (except the kale), and spice it up.
Once squash has baked, remove from oven and flip them over. Scrape down some of the insides, and start layering in the veggies. Place kale at the bottom and top with everything else. This will help keep some crunch to the leafy greens, keeping their nutrient content higher. Put the squash back in the oven and bake for another 20 minutes or until squash is fork tender and shreds into “noodles” easily.
Serve it up with whatever dip suits your fancy - I added a spoonful of vegan mayo and some sauerkraut. Cream cheese, bitchin’ sauce, or just an extra drizzle of olive oil would all be delicious! Enjoy.
Together in wellness,