Meditation : Meeting Your Spirit Guides ~ Work Your Magic!

 

I have met many of my own spirit guides over the years...through guided journeys such as this one, yoga and other moving meditations or quite spontaneously, such as the time in  the Grand Tetons when my husband and I were circled repeatedly by a pair of low flying eagles. St. Germain and Archangel Michael seem to be present alot and the lion has been with me since birth and never leaves. He is a constant source of strength, wisdom and comfort. (And periodically the inspiration behind my hair and wardrobe!)

So I invite you to sit back, relax and take a journey to find some of your own. What you see and who you meet may surprise you!  

 

Reiki and Other Healing Services

 

"Healing is very different than curing, just as the work of healers is very different from that of medical doctors. Healing is the act of ridding your body of the conditions that create and support disease. Most of the illnesses that people suffer from today arise primarily from lifestyle - related causes, such as stress, diet and lack of exercise. changes in these areas can eliminate many illnesses. "

Susan West Kurz

 

Reiki/ Energy/Body-Work

The statement above is beautiful and succinct, but I'd make it even simpler and say that creating harmony and balance in all areas of your life allows your beauty to begin to glow and grow from within. I have been a practicing herbalist and aromatherapist for almost 30 years as well as a Usui Shiki Ryoho Reiki Master and healer who works with energy through the laying on of hands or through the powerful visualization of Distance Reiki. Give yourself the gift of an hour of bone deep relaxation and healing with me as your guide. 

85.00 a session / 1 Hour distance healing 

50.00 a session for 30 minutes of distance healing

 You will find easy and secure payment options here!

 

Kitchen Apothecary

 Most people discover the benefits of traditional herbalism and other botanical treatments when they discover that they have a serious illness or feel as if they've been given up on or fallen through the cracks of the traditional allopathic system. What's missing? More than likely a healthy dose of Vitamin L, or that which I call the "Art of putting love into your food!" Herbs and specific foods can be used to support the healing process and even help to prevent disease, while nurturing and nourishing the whole being. I will teach you how to promote healing through the preparation of exquisite yet healthy foods.  

I will take a detailed health history from you, which will contain any prescriptions that you are currently taking , your dietary habits and how you exercise. This will also include multi-generational family history, food choices past and present and your past and present health concerns. We will then discuss together a health and wellness plan that will address your diet and possibly include specific whole foods, herbs and spices, herbal supplements, teas, flower essences, or other holistic health support.  

 $85.00 First session / 1 Hour  Skype/phone consultation

$50.00 For 30 minute follow up phone or Skype sessions  

You will find easy and secure payment options here! 

Living Loving Food 

I learned to cook when my mother went back to work. Everyday when I got home from school (I was 11 at the time) my mother would call and she'd say, "take the leg of lamb out of the refrigerator" and then teach me to prepare it over the phone. She was able to be descriptive in a way that was actually better than if she'd shown me herself and because I was doing all of the work, I learned to cook very well.

She was patient, a very good teacher and she taught me not only the basics of cooking, but because she really understood food, she was able to teach me to use what I'd learned to create delicious food that was healing and full of love.  It is a joy to pass on what I learned from her to you. If you'd like personal cooking instruction from me and you're not in my area, I can easily work with you over the phone.  If you're in the Cleveland area, I will happily arrange a time to come to your home and play with you in your kitchen!

Just text me at 440-941-5186  and we'll arrange a time that I will set aside especially for you! Include your name, phone number and email.  I'll then send you a number where you'll be able to reach me for 2.00 a minute and I'll teach you to create a wonderful meal of your choosing or whatever it is you'd like to learn to cook. No request is too daunting! Every request is loads of fun!

 Please email me at [email protected] to schedule a Living Loving Food, Kitchen Apothecary or Reiki Session. 

 

Group and Corporate Health and Wellness Coaching programs are also available!

 

 

Please note: 

I am not a registered nutritionist , dietician or personal trainer. I am a Board Certified Holistic Health  practitioner. Any advice that is given is based upon my own personal observations, opinions or experiences I've had in life and the training that I've accrued.  

 Many don't realize this but the  craft of herbalism is not regulated nor licensed by any governing body in the US. There are no real legal title designations for American herbalism.To maintain personal standards and relay the degree of learning obtained, herbalists in America typically use the title their school or teacher gave them . Use your own instincts to determine the level of expertise possessed by any practitioner that you consider using to help you enhance your health and well being. I am of the opinion myself that this places the onus on us to be teachers who will help you in your quest for wellness and that if we do our job right you'll be able to understand and utilize these plants, foods and extracts yourself for your overall wellbeing.

As an Herbalist/Aromatherapist I will not ever diagnose your condition , treat you medically or interfere with any treatment that your Doctor may have prescribed. Keep in mind that every person and every body is different. Don't expect to have the same results as me (or anyone else). And while I don't think any of my behaviors are risky, they may be risky for you depending on your own personal health.  Herbs, Flower Essences and Essential Oils should always complement whatever treatments have been prescribed for you by your physician and never be used in place of such treatment without first obtaining your Doctors permission .  

 Herbs, Flower and Crystal Essences and Botanical Essential Oils can generally be used with and enhance almost any other form of therapy, however I do recommend that anyone becoming my client makes sure that they first see their primary care physician to properly diagnose and begin treatment for any physical or emotional dis/ease they may have.

 

 

 

 

 

Picture from www.botanicalposters.com

Wise Woman Traditions ~ Belladonna

 

“BELLADONNA, n. In Italian a beautiful lady; in English a deadly poison. A striking example of the essential identity of the two tongues.” Ambrose Bierce

 

This is the beautiful Belladonna , more commonly known as the Deadly Nightshade. It is one of my favorite plants and I can never bring myself to pull it out of the beds. She winds herself around everything and anything and her beautiful flowers weave the loveliest and most bewitching purple spell all over my gardens. As beautiful as this plant is , it is also quite dangerous as its main constituent is Atropine ; a pretty deadly poison. the plant produces berries which are sweet and juicy , gorgeous and incredibly toxic which is probably why you don't see it hanging around in very many gardens.

 

Most people are astonished to find out that this lovely lady is a direct relative of so many of our culinary favorites, Tomatoes, Potatoes and Peppers are all part of the nightshade family. This is also why one of the first foods that I remove from anyones diet when they come to me for food recommendations for allergies are these three plants. People can have nightshade allergies for decades and never realize it until you remove them for two weeks. Once they are out of your diet for awhile and you put them back in, if you are allergic to them you realize it quickly. As much as I love eggplant I can't eat it. The second I do, I get blisters in my mouth. It's tragic, but when you know it's familial origins it really makes sense.  

 

Belladonna has some pretty incredible healing properties. Because of it's deadly qualities , I use it energetically,  Belladonna is my go to plant whenever I'm feeling a bit nervous or stressed. She has the loveliest sedative properties so I just go into my garden and sit with her for awhile. I've also discovered that if I'm wanting to understand a situation clearly that if I simply ask her for some guidance that the beautiful Belladonna will help to open up my third eye, giving me the vision that I need to see and understand the situation more fully. Belladonna is also a powerful antispasmodic so those with chronic IBS, IBD and Crohns might easily benefit from spending a little bit of time in conversation with this ancient and very wise lady!

 

 

Once again, all parts of the Deadly Nightshade are very poisonous, so please don't ever attempt to use it internally or even applied topically as a poultice or ointment!

 

 

Now for a little Belladonna by Siouxsie and the Banshees!

 

Posted with Blogsy

Stirring the Senses ~ Spring Clean/sing!

 

Finally! I don't know about you but I'm just so grateful to see the sun again! Everywhere I look there are the signs.. Buds poking out on the trees, birds busy building their nests and flowers are popping up everywhere . Here are a few that I saw on my walk last night!

Don't forget that Spring is a great time for a cleanse. It doesn't have to be anything too harsh, just a lightening up of sorts ... A movement towards lighter, fresher foods. Wild greens like ramps, dandelions, violet leaves,chickweed, purslane and nettles are everywhere and they'll make a wonderfully cooling and tonic salad that you can dress simply with a bit of goat cheese, a sprinkle of pink Himalayan salt ,olive oil and lemon. If you want to go for something a little more potent  why don't you try juicing these same greens. Add some parsley, some swiss chard or spinach and for a touch of sweetness an apple or two. This is a cooling and refreshing juice that you can start the morning with that will rev up your system and get it feeling fun and frolicsome for the warm days ahead.

I love to add a tablespoon of pure French green clay to my juice in the morning to really draw the impurites from my system. This ancient secret, that of using edible clays as internal drawing salves is my "go to" remedy to suggest when one of my clients is suffering from from chronic constipation or indigestion. It also helps to cleanse the skin, because beautiful skin does start from within. I've suggested this to many a client who was suffering from chronic acne , eczema and rosacea. The first time that I tried it, I broke out with acne but within a week it subsided and I noticed healing beginning to happen all over my skin.   Of course if you try this yourself and notice a new rash or any burning, itching or anything that would seem like an allergic reaction you should discontinue using it immediately.  

Green teas, iced and sparkling with additions of fresh citrus fruits, berries, cucumber slices and herbs like basil, sage and mint are a wonderful aid for cleansing a system that's just a bit sluggish from the denser foods of winter. Adding a touch of raw honey during the cooling process will give you just enough sweetness and a lovely constant energy. You can use maple syrup too, a flavor which is absolutely delicious blended into tea and is very healthy on it's own , providing huge quantities of polyphenols to calm inflammation  and lots of antixidents to boost the immune system!

Spring is a very good time if you are so inclined to begin a plant based diet. I personally adhere fairly strictly to a diet of fruits, grains and greens and I eat seafood, raw milk cheese and some eggs as much of it from organic traceable sources as possible.  I can't stress enough the difference this makes to my moods, my body  and my worldview. I can't stress enough just how important it is to really  understand where your food is coming from. Corporations like Monsanto and Dow Chemical are doing their very best to keep our food supplies hostage by buying up plant patents and continuing to contaminate our foods, fields and waterways with Round-up and other dangerous herbicides. Factory farmed meat, chicken and fish are full of antibiotics and growth hormones, to say nothing of the absolute cruelty with which they are treated. If you are going to eat flesh foods, please make sure that they come from fully traceable sources. Truthfully? Our planet is depending upon it. 

Eating clean will help you feel lighter and feel better....I promise! Could one conversation change your life?  Drop me a line at [email protected] and lets find out!

If  you are a first-time visitor, please be sure to like me on Facebook and receive my exciting and innovative tutorials on cooking and natural health topics!

For more information on my 6 month 'Stirring the Sense!" Health & Lifestyle Coaching program please go to www.bethschreibmangehring.com

 

Wise Woman Traditions: Healing Ourselves Emotionally from Unhealthy Entanglements

 

 

From www.experience project.com

 

"We are all longing to go home to some place we have never been - a place half-remembered and half-envisioned we can only catch glimpses of from time to time. Community. Somewhere, there are people to whom we can speak with passion without having the words catch in our throats. Somewhere a circle of hands will open to receive us, eyes will light up as we enter, voices will celebrate with us whenever we come into our own power. Community means strength that joins our strength to do the work that needs to be done. Arms to hold us when we falter. A circle of healing. A circle of friends. Someplace where we can be free." Starhawk

 

From time to time, I've found myself in relationships that were difficult without really understanding why I had chosen to be there in the first place. I think that we're always looking for our soulmates on this planet and that sometimes in our inherent human loneliness we can settle for milk chocolate more easily than we can wait for the 70% Green and Black bar. I'm not saying that there is anything wrong with milk chocolate- NOT AT ALL...there are some people that for them a Hersheys bar with almonds is their personal nirvana, just not for me.

When I settle in my relationships for behaviors that I don't want to paticipate in and I tolerate behaviors from others that I find  energetically disruptive and would normally never put up with, I know that I'm settling for what is heartsickening for me and does not support the greening of my life.

Unhealthy relationships become draining and emotionally deadly to many of us who are very empathic and we tend to allow those relationships  (key word here is " allow"!) to take over our lives and feel almost apologetic when we can't tolerate them anymore. There are such things as energy vampires... I've found the current fascination with Hollywood vampires to be very unsettling because almost anyone who works with energy in any way has had to free themselves of a "vampiric" relationship or two and knows that there is definitely more fact than fiction when it comes to that sort of relationship.

People hook on to you when  they want something that you have whether it be physical or emotional and because they don't see any way to create it honestly for themselves they settle for trying to take it from you and justify their behavior in whatever way they can. In any situation like this it has everything to do with the emotional security and energy that they crave and believe that they will never have and  the insidious part is that you're getting something out of too. Often this is a person who makes you feel needed and wanted. We all want to be known and loved and a person like this will tend to make you feel as if you are the only one in the world who "gets" them. Your ego will love the attention and you'll feel so good about what you do for them, but you won't realize the trade off until it's just a bit too late. You're already hooked and that's when it becomes your responsibility .

 

Source Unknown

 

It's very sad actually because in my experience people who tend to try to derive their energy from other people have had really deep wounding in their childhoods or even other lifetimes. It's a hard cycle for them to break, that cycle of dependency , shame and  anger and what they really needed was to simply be loved listened to and understood.

Strangely enough and because inherently they know the game that they are playing, this same type of person will also get very angry when you begin to question the relationship and try to understand the things that upset you about it. They will often try to psychically and verbally bully you into not reacting and that's where it gets really complicated because of the strange emotional entanglements that you can have when a friendship appears to be very intimate, but is based almost solely upon need. You know if you're in a relationship like this because you feel almost bone dead exhaustion at the thought of it and you start to pick at it in ways that are provocative in a conscious attempt to free yourself. I've seen people who are on the drained end of a relationship like this begin to get physically very weak and  practically heartsick. These are all signs that it's time to quickly move on. Your energy will usually return when you've been able to finally disengage emotionally. 

To be fair I have seen cases where two people want the relationship to work so much that both parties are willing to do the work that it takes to grow together independently. However, that's pretty rare and more often than not  breaking the energetic bonds that you hold between you is the only way to break the spell of a relationship like this because one person is usually getting so much more out of it than the other. I like to encourage the use of ritual for endings like these because I think that as humans we are programmed for it...somehow we need it to inspire us to be bigger than we know ourselves to be.

If you find yourself in a situation  or relationship where you know that it's time for it to be over don't delay the ending. Let that person go with love and image the cutting of the energy between you.If you're angry that's fine..do whatever you need to do to separate but without sending energy that could emotionally harm the other because that's just more of the same and Karma IS really a bitch! Besides...you did once really care and that's to be honored, not diminished.

Take care of yourself and don't worry about the other person...they've got their own work to do and they NEED to do it themselves.  I tend to view this as an amputation and a cauterization, because you want to cut the cords and then staunch the bleeding as fast as possible. If you feel any adverse energies coming at you, just don't engage. (I know..easier said than done!) Ground yourself and put a shield around you and send the energies back, because they belong to that other being, not to you.

 

 

Do something that feels good....plant a flower, a tree ...anything that will grow and do it with the intention of freeing yourself from the bonds of your relationship  with the other. Acknowledge that you once cared about the relationship and probably in fact still do but that it no longer serves either if you as it is.

 Hatred won't do that...anger will still keep you bound together in ways that you don't need in your life any longer. Acknowledge the deep sadness that comes from ending a relationship that's been toxic for you and understand that you've been a willing participant. There's no geting around that one....your relationships are your responsibility and in allowing it to continue, you've allowed yourself to  play the victim..an act that does just as much psychic damage to the other person. Last but not least, as hard as it is,  under no circumstances should you be in touch with that person, because once a relationship like this is over, it's over and it takes awhile to heal from the wounding of it.  Once you've determined that it's over and done, it doesn't pay to rehash the obvious or as my mother used to say..."stop smacking yourself Beth and wondering why it hurts!" It doesn't matter if the other person involved doesn't understand~ It's important that you do. With real understanding comes freedom and compassion as well as the ability to never let history repeat itself again.

Do the work to energetically extricate yourself because how you feel when it's finally resolved is worth the effort. When relationships that are no longer healthy are removed from your life, everything begins to snap quickly back into focus. The book above by Dion Fortune "Psychic Self Defense" is one of the best books that I've ever read for detailing how to do the work to free yourself from this sort of relationship without causing anymore harm to yourself or THE OTHER PERSON. No hexes, curses, Ill-wishes or other generally bad mojo is EVER allowed !

Wise Woman Traditions: Reiki and Other Healing Services

"Healing is very different than curing, just as the work of healers is very different from that of medical doctors. Healing is the act of ridding your body of the conditions that create and support disease. Most of the illnesses that people suffer from today arise primarily from lifestyle - related causes, such as stress, diet and lack of exercise. changes in these areas can eliminate many illnesses. "

Susan West Kurz

 

Reiki/ Energy/Body-Work

The statement above is beautiful and succinct, but I'd make it even simpler and say that creating harmony and balance in all areas of your life allows your beauty to begin to glow and grow from within. I have been a practicing herbalist and aromatherapist for almost 30 years as well as a Usui Shiki Ryoho Reiki Master and healer who works with energy through the laying on of hands.

Upon request I will perform distance Reiki if needed or if you wish you can come to my studio for a full Reiki/Energy treatment complete with relaxing aromatherapy, reflexology, ambient  aromatics and sound. Give yourself the gift of an hour of bone deep relaxation and healing with me as your guide. I use only the richest blends of organic botanical oils and hydrosols designed to allow you to enjoy the most relaxing of healing experiences. 

75.00 a session / 1 Hour "in person" or distance healing 

 

Kitchen Apothecary

 Most people discover the benefits of traditional herbalism and other botanical treatments when they discover that they have a serious illness or feel as if they've been given up on or fallen through the cracks of the traditional allopathic system. What's missing? More than likely a healthy dose of Vitamin L, or that which I call the "Art of putting love into your food!" Herbs and specific foods can be used to support the healing process and even help to prevent disease, while nurturing and nourishing the whole being. I will teach you how to promote healing through the preparation of exquisite yet healthy foods.  

I will take a detailed health history from you, which will contain any prescriptions that you are currently taking , your dietary habits and how you exercise. This will also include multi-generational family history, food choices past and present and your past and present health concerns. We will then discuss together a health and wellness plan that will address your diet and possibly include specific whole foods, herbs and spices, herbal supplements, teas, flower essences, or other holistic health support.  

 $75.00 First session / 1 Hour In person or  Skype/phone consultation

$40.00 For 30 minute follow up phone or Skype sessions  

 

Living Loving Food 

I learned to cook when my mother went back to work. Everyday when I got home from school (I was 11 at the time) my mother would call and she'd say, "take the leg of lamb out of the refrigerator" and then teach me to prepare it over the phone. She was able to be descriptive in a way that was actually better than if she'd shown me herself and because I was doing all of the work, I learned to cook very well.

She was patient, a very good teacher and she taught me not only the basics of cooking, but because she really understood food, she was able to teach me to use what I'd learned to create delicious food that was healing and full of love.  It is a joy to pass on what I learned from her to you. If you'd like personal cooking instruction from me and you're not in my area, I can easily work with you over the phone.  If you're in the Cleveland area, I will happily arrange a time to come to your home and play with you in your kitchen!

Just email me and we'll arrange a time that I will set aside especially for you! Include your name, phone number and email.  I'll then send you a number where you'll be able to reach me for 2.00 a minute and I'll teach you to create a wonderful meal of your choosing or whatever it is you'd like to learn to cook. No request is too daunting! Every request is loads of fun!

 Please email me at [email protected] to schedule an Living Loving Food, Kitchen Apothecary or Reiki Session. 

 

 

Please note: 

I am not a registered nutritionist , dietician or personal trainer. I am a Board Certified Holistic Health  practitioner. Any advice that is given is based upon my own personal observations, opinions or experiences I've had in life and the training that I've accrued.  

 Many don't realize this but the  craft of herbalism is not regulated nor licensed by any governing body in the US. There are no real legal title designations for American herbalism.To maintain personal standards and relay the degree of learning obtained, herbalists in America typically use the title their school or teacher gave them . Use your own instincts to determine the level of expertise possessed by any practitioner that you consider using to help you enhance your health and well being. I am of the opinion myself that this places the onus on us to be teachers who will help you in your quest for wellness and that if we do our job right you'll be able to understand and utilize these plants, foods and extracts yourself for your overall wellbeing.

As an Herbalist/Aromatherapist I will not ever diagnose your condition , treat you medically or interfere with any treatment that your Doctor may have prescribed. Keep in mind that every person and every body is different. Don't expect to have the same results as me (or anyone else). And while I don't think any of my behaviors are risky, they may be risky for you depending on your own personal health.  Herbs, Flower Essences and Essential Oils should always complement whatever treatments have been prescribed for you by your physician and never be used in place of such treatment without first obtaining your Doctors permission .  

 Herbs, Flower and Crystal Essences and Botanical Essential Oils can generally be used with and enhance almost any other form of therapy, however I do recommend that anyone becoming my client makes sure that they first see their primary care physician to properly diagnose and begin treatment for any physical or emotional dis/ease they may have.

 

Wise Woman Traditions: We are all Healers!

 

 

 

“My belief is that it’s the caring of the healer that’s most important, but no one’s going to be able to test for that.”

—Stephen Buhner, Herbalist

 

“I would never choose a healer according to whether or not they had credentials. I’d find someone through word of mouth.”  Rosemary Gladstar, Herbalist

 

 

“Shamanic healers don't claim to have the answer or know the answer or be the answer; they remind us that the answer lies within ourselves.” Susan Weed, Herbalist

 

As I type this, I am sitting in Southern California in the warm sunshine looking out over my sister’s garden. This is a place that I love, a state where the healing herbs that I use everyday grow as wild as weeds. A simple walk around her garden this morning produced armfuls of rosemary, lavender and sage, pink peppercorns and thyme, nasturtiums and aloe. A glorious eucalyptus tree and brilliant pink hibiscus have produced many a tea for a winters chill and the loquat tree is top heavy with the sweet vitamin C filled fruit just waiting to ripen and be eaten fresh or turned into luscious jars of jam and chutney.  The abundance is extraordinary.

 

Fresh Jasmine and Green Tea ~ Source Unknown

 

Being out here makes me grateful for the teachers that I have been given. I have known and been fortunate to have been trained by many incredible healers; men and women who walked their talk and encouraged me to always use my instincts to learn everything that I could about the healing plants that can be found in the world around us.

 

The overwhelming lesson from them all?

 

Take responsibility and learn everything that you can to become your own healer. Use your instincts and take control of your healing journey because you are accountable and responsible for your health in a way that no one else can be. Don’t rely upon titles, rely upon your instincts to tell you what feels right.

 

I find this to be a really empowering message because I have watched over the years as friends and family members have given over all of their power to a dominant system of medicine and “big pharma” sometimes to their detriment. I’ve got plenty of Doctors in my family and I’m grateful for the expertise of that community when I need it, but always as a last resort, not the first. Prevention is key and I think that it’s important to   work to promote health in an organic and sustainable way.

My overwhelming thoughts are always this and they’re definitely not original at all; You are what you eat and your food is your best medicine; this includes the wonderful healing herbs that are growing plentifully all around us. Food DOES matter and so does movement, emotion, relationship, career, spirituality and environment. These are all of the primary food groups that create balance in your life. When one is out of balance, they all begun to topple like dominoes.

 

It’s a whole new world for alternative healing in 2013 than it was back when I was first learning so very long ago. Reiki and massage are mainstream practices that are universally accepted and the herbs that I used to have to harvest myself are readily available on the shelves of most grocery stores. I think this is a wonderful thing, because it places the responsibility directly on the shoulders of the consumer to learn to take care of themselves. Please make sure to educate yourselves. It used to be that there was an Community Herbalist in every village and  an Herbalist in every home. Every wife and grandmother knew how to make the tinctures and tonics that they needed and the recipes and formulas were passed down through the generations.

 

Medieval Text ~ Source Unknown

 

Always use your instincts when choosing someone to work with. Many don't realize this but the titles Herbalist, Certified herbalist or Master herbalist are not regulated by any governing body in the US. We are allowed to educate and give you the information or lifestyle changes that you can then use to make a decision for yourself, but we are not allowed to diagnose nor are we allowed to prescribe. I actually like these constraints a lot. It means that if you are my client that I am charged with empowering and inspiring you to create and become responsible for your health. If I do my job right, in 6 months when our work together is done you don’t need me!

 

Medieval Mortar & Pestle

 

I don’t ever want to see herbalism go the way of the big pharmaceuticals, synthesized and harnessed with regulations and restrictions so that this gentle and effective system for healing becomes a pawn simply to be exploited financially and eventually compromised so that it is no longer recognizable. It is my dream to see Folk Herbalism accepted and promoted once again in a way that teaches everyone to be responsible for their health and well being by using the best quality herbals that they can grow, wild-craft or buy.

 

To maintain personal standards and relay the degree of learning obtained, herbalists in America typically use the title their schools or teachers gave them however to be an Herbalist is to realize that you will always be learning, that you will never know everything because we are dealing with a science that is constantly shifting and evolving.

 

Climate change alone has begun to change the way that many of us can grow and harvest our herbs. It requires us to be in complete touch with ourselves and the health of this planet to insure our very survival. It places the onus on real life experience and actual results.

 

Most of the pioneering herbalists who are responsible for forwarding this movement in the United States do not carry a title and are busy ensuring that this form of the Peoples Medicine always stays free and accessible to the communities that need it. Always consult your pharmacist before using any herbs to make sure that there are no contraindications with any medicines you might be taking, even something as simple as aspirin or Tylenol. They are generally the most well versed in what will be problematic chemical relationships and I have found most of them to be very open-minded and eager to be helpful so don’t be afraid to ask for their advice. Herbs are not risk free and they are powerful natural medicines. Getting this simple information allows herbal medicine to maintain its credibility and integrity in a way that licensing and regulation never will.

 

 

Source Unknown~ But Beautiful!

 

The good news is that there are many wonderful online courses that are available where you can learn the art of healing and herbalism for yourself from some really great teachers.  I would really encourage you to take one of them and learn as much as you can.  Practice, open yourself up to the world around you and enjoy yourself. Write your own book of recipes, use them, pass them down, You will be embarking on a healing journey and sharing a tradition that is totally organic and ages old and a life long exploration into being responsible for your own health and wellness that you will truly enjoy.

 

Here are some of  my favorites:

http://www.herbsandearthawareness.com/

 

http://www.susunweed.com/

 

http://www.blessedmaineherbs.com/apclas20.html

 

http://www.snh.cc/

Seasonal Celebrations: Blessed Solstice 2012!

The longest night of the year is upon us and once again my sister and I are throwing our annual Winter Solstice bash. Will it be the end of the world? Will there be more snow? Will I have enough food for all of the friends we're expecting? Enough Champagne to toast the New Year? Enough of Caron's Nuit de Noel to carry me through to the end of the year? I’m truly not sure about the whole “End of the World “ thing ,  but I’m definitely hoping that it’s the end of an era. You’d have to be tucked somewhere in the deep dark wilderness to have not been affected by the tragic news this week.  It seems that America is experiencing her own longest night and I must admit that it’s difficult to not give in to the sadness.  Jim and I knew that somehow we needed to honor the little angels whose lives were lost last week in Newtown, but I wasn’t sure how to do it. Then very unexpectedly came an invitation from my niece to join a Facebook group called "Random Acts of Kindness".

 

Random acts of kindness are certainly not a new concept, but this one had a twist.  The founder of the group, a young mother herself, probably not older than 25 asked us each to do 27 random acts of kindness in honor of each of the lives that were lost last Friday.

 

She writes “I know that the tragedy in Newtown, CT touched many of us and are unable to give back like we would like to. But I proposethis! In remembrance of all the victims that we do our best in carrying out RANDOM acts of kindness! It could be as simple as opening the door for an elderly person, or buying lunch for the homeless...anything. Just remember more acts of kindness will only promote other people to want to do the same! This violence in this country needs to be put to an end and the only way we can put a minimum to that is being kind to one another! So, lets prepare to carry out 27 RANDOM acts of Kindness in remembrance of all the victims that lost their lives all too young!”

 

What a simple yet brilliant truth. You don’t have to have a lot of money to perform a random act of kindness, just the desire to make a difference. Random acts of kindness can be well thought out or they can be spontaneous! They are precious in that they are gifts of yourself, something that this world seems to need now more than ever. So on this Solstice eve I propose that we follow her example and think of something we can do that doesn’t necessarily cost a dime yet would make all of the difference to the receiver. Half the fun of doing this is to perform these acts towards someone who has no clue who you are or if you’re going to do something for someone you know don’t let them see you. I love the idea of writing 27 Christmas cards and putting them on anonymous car windshields like she did, who knows? The possibilities for kindness are endless! So I thank you Nicole Canales for although we have never met, I am so grateful to you for reminding me of the difference that I can make in this world. I encourage you to visit her group on Facebook simply called “Random Acts of Kindness”.  You’ll be very glad you did.

 

 To you my dear readers once again we have reached that spoke in the wheel of the year where I get to tell you just how much I appreciate you all. This funny little world that we inhabit together, this place where gorgeous scents, magical adventures and yummy foods blend to make the most sublimely passionate prose is one of my happiest places. I always wish that you could be at my Solstice Party, where I would feed you cups of luxuriously boozy and spicy eggnog and platefuls of the most glorious desserts that you’ve ever seen, some fruit, some chocolate… all splendid. Mostly I wish that I could just once wrap my arms around each of you and give back to you personally what you have given to me. As I light the fragrant Noel candles and the Yule fire this year I will be thinking of you all and making a wish for the most wonderful 2013 to come. As corny as it sounds, in the eternally sappy words of Jerry Maguire,  ”You complete me”. The comments you leave and the emails I receive let me know that from my little desk in my little corner of the world that I’ve made a difference to you and that’s not a little thing for a wordsmith like me.

And now a lullaby for all of you.....It's midnight here on the Northcoast. I'm wrapped in wind, the house smells like onions and sage and the snow is beginning to fall, but it looks like I'm still here and I'm glad that you are too. 

  

Wishing you all a Very Merry Solstice and I’ll see you all on the other side of 2012!   

With love from The Windesphere Witch (and her little cat Zoe!)

 

 

The picture of the house belongs to Beth Schreibman Gehring

Mary Chapin Carpenter video created by John Norvell

This post also appears today in Perfume Smellin Things

Bewitching words of Wisdom: We are all just Humans Being

Today even if you're not in the path of the storm , please remember those who are and help out wherever you can. Even a text can make a difference in someones life. Good luck and Godspeed to all.

Be~Witching : Incense and Peppermint

 

                         

Enjoy this lovely chart! Once again, I don't know who to attribute it to but I'm grateful for it. It's truly lovely, concise and one of the best tools that I've seen in a long time! I love incense and I love to make my own and burn it often.   Simply take a bowl and fill it 1/2 way with sand. I use a beautiful abalone shell that I got years ago because it does have a wonderful Venus vibe! Then get a pack of incense charcoal disks and lay one on top of the sand. Light it and let it burn until you're sure that it's burning (It will be ashy and glowing, not flaming!) and scatter any combination of herbs and spices around and on top of it. You can even add a couple of drops of any essential oil that you love provided that it's natural. Perfumed oils are generally derived from petroleum products and other nasties. They will generally send off a horrid black smoke when you light them and ruin not only the effectiveness of your spell, but the effectiveness of the smell! My favorite? A  combination of White sage, Lavender ,  Bay and Pine.  Write me please and let me know yours!