The Astroherbalism Apothecary: Crafting Herbal Charms for Your Sun Sign

I've written about the gifts of our Sun sign and how we can connect with that energy of our birth chart through a simple tarot practice - and now it's time to explore working with our Sun sign plant allies in magickal practice.

Building upon the energy of exploring our birth chart, I wanted to explore some astroherbalism techniques to help you craft elixirs and potions that support the energy of your Sun sign. As the Sun sign is a common starting point for many folks to western astrology, I'd thought it would be a good place to start, but I'll be continuing this series exploring the Moon sign and Ascendant, too.

While you'll find a few recipes in this post, what I really want to share with you is the framework of how we would approach creating your own unique potions, elixirs or herbal charms for your Sun so that you feel inspired to use what is readily available to you. We'll start by naming the ways our Sun sign affects our energy and then look at the common ways that Sun energy might need support in our life because its been blocked or undernourished. I'll provide you with some suggestsions to help you craft your own charms, and then leave you with a Sun sign ritual to support your magickal workings.

Let's get crafting in the astroherbalism apothecary!

As an herbalist, I work with astrology as a story-telling-listening tool and a way to help folks get to know and name the healing needs of their body (and by "body" I mean physical form, emotional and mental experience, the psychic body, and so on). Within traditional western herbalism, the Sun represents our inherent energy. There is no "good" or "bad" inherent energy, just the baseline energy that we're born with and our Sun sign helps us understand the ways that our energy flows throughout our life. Some of us, for example, have energy that is quick to show up and quick to disappear, while others have energy that is slow to arrive and meandering when it does get here. We bring this inherent energetic signature with us into all of our life experiences, including our experiences of wellness, discomfort, illness, and healing. 

Throughout our life we learn how to tend to the needs of our energy and develop skills to interact with the world that not only feels good to us (if at times challenging, but in a way that is helping us to stretch and grow more into who we are) but is sustainable. 

When it comes to supporting our Sun sign there are three primary paths that I work with: recipes that energize, recipes that soothe, and recipes that nourish. Below you'll find a brief description of each path of support as well as key phrases that help you identify your Sun sign energy needs. I encourage you to read these phrases aloud and if something resonates, to consider pursuing that path of magickal healing. Once you've identified what type of path will be most useful for you at this time, you can choose a few suggested herbs and then follow the guide below to creating your custom Sun sign charm with.

image via @mickeydziwulski

Energize Your Solar Energy

Herbs and essences that help to awaken, enliven, and generally stimulate Sun sign energy that may be sluggish, recovering from stress and/or illness, and in general need of waking up. Key phrases that indicate you might be in need of an energizing charm include:

• I feel like I can't get going. 

• I feel stuck in one place. 

• What's the point?

• I don't feel inspired or creative.

• I just feel "blah" all the time.

Herbs for an Energizing Charm

For a charm that is helping to energize and wake up our Sun current, we want to work plant allies that are stimulating, inspiration-inducing, and energetically bright. From a magickal perspective, seeds and fruits are especially energizing, which is why I love incorporating plants into my Sun charms that are brightly colored and grow prolifically like Calendula (Calendula officinalis) not only in flower form, but in seed form as well. While you should check out the "Remedy Herbs" section of your astroherbology profile for your Sun sign, in general, brightly colored, especially in warm and sunny tones, plants that grow easily in a variety of conditions, as well as spicy or strong tasting plants, are great options. Here are a few energizing Sun plant allies to consider connecting with:

• Calendula (Calendula officinalis)

• Ginger (Zingiber officinalis)

• Cayenne (Capsicum annuum)

• Sunflower (Helianthus annuus)

• St. Joan’s Wort (Hypericum perforatum)

• Cinnamon (Cinnamomum spp.)

• Sacred Basil (Ocimum sanctum)

• Peppermint (Mentha piperita)

If they are already in your collection, you might consider adding any of the following stone allies to your energizing Sun charm including Citrine, Clear Quartz, Carnelian, Red Jasper, and Tiger's Eye. You can also consider choosing bright and warm color tones for any candles, fabric, bottles or other items that you incorporate into your charm.

image via @rayhennessy

Soothe Your Solar Energy

Herbs and essences that help to soften, relax, and create a sense of calm for Sun energy that is in excess leading to feelings of agitation, anxiousness, and general overwhelm. Key phrases that indicate you might be in need of a soothing charm include:

• I'm so anxious!

• I don't fit in anywhere.

• I need a hug (or other comforting experience).

• I just feel on edge all the time.

• No one gets me.

Herbs for a Soothing Charm

Focus on herbs that help to diffuse excess Sun energy, helping to ground and center us. From a magickal perspective, roots and barks of plants (always sustainably harvested), have an inherently grounding energy which is why I love solar plants like Dandelion Root (Taraxacum officinale) for soothing solar charms. While you should check out the "Remedy Herbs" section of your astroherbology profile for your Sun sign, in general herbs that are cooling, including cooling colors such as blue or purple flowers, grounding, and relaxing are excellent options. Here are a few Sun energy soothing plant allies to consider connecting with:

• Dandelion Root (Taraxacum officinale)

• Lavender (Lavandula spp.)

• Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis)

• Burdock (Arctium lappa)

• Borage (Borago officinalis)

• California Poppy (Eschscholzia californica)

• Rose (Rosa spp.)

• Motherwort (Leonurus cardiaca)

There are also a variety of stone allies you might consider working with to help soothe your Sun energy if you already have them available including Smoky Quartz, Black Tourmaline, Bloodstone, Obsidian, Amethyst, Citrine, and Flourite. You might also consider choosing cool color tones for any candles, fabric, bottles or other items that you incorporate into your charm.

image via @kiendo

Nourish Your Solar Energy

Herbs and essences that tend to the fundamental needs of our Sun energy, helping us feel energetically fed and supported in our energetic needs - a Sun sign tonic. Key phrases that indicate you might be in need of a nourishing charm include:

• I feel burnt out.

• Everything feels like too much.

• I'm exhausted.

• Who's going to take care of me?

• I could really use a break right now.

Herbs for a Nourishing Charm

Focus on herbs that feel comforting and inviting, helping us to come home to our solar self. From a magickal perspective, flowers and leaves carry nourishing energy and I'm particularly fond of plant allies like Rose (Rosa spp.) to help nourish solar energy.  While you should check out the "Guardian Herbs" section of your astroherbology profile for your Sun sign to help you explore nourishing herbs for your particular Sun energy, in general focusing on vitamin and mineral rich plants, herbs full of gentle but warm color, and herbs that you enjoy the scent, taste, and/or feel of can be good options. Here are a few Sun energy nourishing plant allies to consider connecting with:

• Rosemary (Salvia rosmarinus)

• Angelica (Angelica archangelica)

• Linden (Tilia europea)

• Sage (Salvia officinalis)

• Nettles (Urtica dioica)

• Milky Oat (Avena sativa)

• Chamomile (Matricaria recutita)

• Hawthorn Berry (Crataegus monogyna)

Stone allies that you might consider working with to help nourish your Sun energy, if you already have them in your collection, include Citrine, Rose Quartz, Rhodochrosite, Pink Tourmaline, and Magano Calcite. You might also consider choosing gentle and warm colors - such as rosy pinks, soft oranges, warm yellows - for any candles, fabric, bottles or other items that you incorporate into your charm.

image via @daiga_ellaby

Creating Your Sun Sign Charm

Decide the form that your Sun charm will take (i.e. a spell bottle, a charm bag, a solar altar, or something else entirely) and gather all of your ingredients and items needed as well as a candle and candle holder. If you are able to perform this charm on a sunny day, even better, but it's not necessary for success as often we need to recharge our solar energy because sunny days have been far and few between. Ground and center (perhaps with a tree of life meditation) and settle into sacred space through your preferred method. Lay the items for your charm out before you, along with your candle. Light the candle by saying:

By the light of the Sun
By the light of the fire
By the light of my heart's
honest desire
I work my magick
I cast my spell
To {charge, soothe, nourish} my energy
That all may be well.

Visualize the light of the candle (and the Sun if you are outside) growing and expanding, meeting with your own solar energy. Let the light fill up the places of your solar aura that need healing, helping to fortify your Sun energy. When ready, begin to craft your charm, naming aloud the purpose of each item that you are adding to it such as:

Calendula for energy and strength
St. Joan's Wort for hope and joy
Lemon Balm for clarity and community

Once the charm has been made, pass the charm through the flame six times, visualizing the light of the flame and the sun being gathered up into the charm. Then pass the charm between you and the the candle flame, reciting at least six times (or until the energy needed is raised) in a rhythmic fashion:

By light, I am {energized, soothed, nourished}
My Sun renewed
Round and about
Through and through

When you feel the energy has been raised, press the charm to your heart and exclaim: 

So mote it be!

You can now use your charm as you please, carrying it with you or setting placing it in an auspicious place in your home. The charm can be re-charged by putting it under sunlight and/or repeating the sun charm ritual as needed.

✨

While I love connecting folks with healing modalities, plant allies, and magickal practices, I've come to realize that a lot of my work is learning how to be an effective resource library and to help folks connect with their healing community. I find that astrological language can be an excellent tool for that, especially for marginalized folks who've been injured within medical systems - physically, emotionally, spiritually - feel hesitant to access the care they need. 

It was my own magickal practice that led me to re-membering, after being raised under the deep shadow of capitalism that tries to sell us the lie of the isolated individual solely responsible for earning their "wellness," that healing is a community act, that we all deserve healing resources (including accessing the work of mental health professionals) by simply existing. If you have read through this post and feel some resonance with a statement that you weren't expecting or feelings that feel hard to sit with, I invite you to seek out some of the incredible community-centered healing resources available to you (you can find a short list at the end of this post to help get you started). Part of working with paths like modern astrology is recognizing where the story of our birth chart is pointing us towards - including the types of collaborative healing spaces and skills that would benefit us the most during any and every stage of life.

That's magick, friends, clarifying our intention, naming it, asking for what we desire, and letting love open the path back home to ourselves and our community.

If you are looking to learn more about your Sun sign come this way and you can check out my astroherbology archive for an abundance of resources for your studies and practice. 

May your inner Sun shine brightly!

This post was made possible through patron support.
❤︎ Thanks, friends. ❤︎

Healing Rituals of the Tarot Court: Queens & Knights

I find the tarot to be a useful tool of self-reflection and community connection, with the Court cards being some of the most intriguing archetypes to work with. But the Court cards can also be confusing to a lot of folks (myself included in my early years of reading the cards), so I thought I’d share the ways that I’ve found these cards to speak to me and offer insights on the path of healing.

Having already explored the foundational meaning of the Court, alternative ways of naming the Court cards, and the meaning and rituals of the Pages and Knights, it is now time to turn to the Queens and Kings.

Playing Cards by Master PW (c. 1500)

Connecting & Collecting: The Queens & the Kings

The Queen and the King are the two elders of the Court cards, whether this elderhood is defined by actual chronological age or lived experience and skill, depends on the reading. Like the Pages and the Knights, their energies are inexplicably linked - one is not able to do much without the other. One of the ways that I distinguish between the energies of the cards is that I see the Queen cards as either peers (i.e. working with someone who shares similar levels of knowledge and experience which allows you to work together easier) or expressions of mystical individuation (i.e. the oracle who acts as a bridge between the mundane and magickal, but have to maintain a sense of self to be able to perform such a mystical duty safely; the mediator who is working with others but must maintain an air of separateness; or the artist who is focused on their individual self-expression). The Queens are interested in the sharing of information and preserving and creating the systems by which information can be exchanged.

The Kings are mentors and teachers - they are meant to represent knowledge and experience greater than your own. The energy of the Kings focuses on how they are going to create structures to protect the legacy of wisdom not only that they are leaving behind, but the wisdom of their communities. The Kings are interested in collecting information, sorting it, and storing it for future generations. If information of the Queens is free-flowing like a river, the Kings are the ones creating quiet pools and dams for information to pool, be studied, and easily accessed. Both are working with the flow of information and how it is accessed and shared.

The Hermit from The Neutral Vibes Tarot

For a different approach to understanding what I just shared about the Queens and Kings, take a moment to imagine the traditional Smith-Waite image of The Hermit. For me, the Queens are the Hermit themselves, often accessed in the wild and fierce places of our psyche, while the Kings are the lantern which protect the light of wisdom - both of them have worked hard to nourish and make sure that others will see and be warmed by the light of wisdom for generations to come.

The Rituals

These rituals were written with the solitary practitioner in mind but can be easily adapted to group needs. Add to, adjust, and leave out whatever you need from the rituals as you are called. I try to create rituals that are simple enough for most folks to show up to but can also act as a foundation for folks to build upon. I hope you always feel inspired to make them your own.

Deck names listed below

The Queens: A Ritual of Reconciliation

Oracle · Companion · Artist · Visionary · Sybil · Mediator · Organizer
Primary Element: Water
Plant Ally: Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis)

Working with the Queens is an opportunity to reconcile different aspects of your life into a woven whole. When Queen cards show up again and again in our readings they can indicate a need to acknowledge, honor, and make space for an important aspect of your identity that has been denied, hidden away or not properly recognized for its brilliance. Another way to understand Queen energy is to imagine your energy or your sense of self as a river and to notice where that energy is blocked and stagnant versus free and flowing. The reasons why Queen cards so often act like mirrors to our own state of flow is because they are interested in the exchange of energy and knowledge which can only happen when we are able to access our own energy and knowledge and allow it to flow between ourselves and others. Queen energy helps us to recognize the parts of ourselves that we worry or believe "hinder" the more acceptable parts of ourselves (whether that is acceptable by our own standards or the standards of the people and cultures around us such as it might be seen as acceptable for us to embody the energy of the constant helper but unacceptable to be the confident leader). 

In the following ritual we'll begin by identifying one aspect of ourselves that we hope to embrace, to call home, to reconcile with.

For your ritual, you'll need all four Queen cards from your tarot deck of choice. Alternatively, you can spend time drawing, collaging, or otherwise creating your own personal Queen cards to use in ritual. Depending on the aspect of yourself you're seeking to embrace, you'll need items that you can use to build an altar for that part of yourself, including images and items which celebrate that part of yourself and make that part of yourself feel at home (i.e. a flag that corresponds with the part of your gender or sexuality you are embracing).

Take a moment to contemplate one part of yourself that may have been denied but deserves reconciliation. For some of you this will be clear, but for others this might need some extra consideration, maybe even a tarot spread to help you connect with the part of yourself that feels missing. You can also ask yourself questions along the lines of:

• What is a part of myself that I hide away from others because I worry what they'll think?

• Who would I be more of if I wasn't afraid of the perceived or real consequences?

When you're ready, begin by laying out the four Queen cards face down in front of you. Holding the image of the part of yourself that you are calling home, speak the following invocation:

Queen of wisdom
Queen of might
Wrap me in your dark and light
Guard the path that on I go
That what I call
Comes safely home

Then choose one of the Queen cards - this is the Queen that has stepped forward to guard the path between you and the part of you that you are calling home. Set the card in a central place on your altar. You can set the other Queen cards either behind your guardian Queen or on other parts of your altar as you feel called. 

Now, build your altar, speaking sweet things to the part of you that you are calling home as you set up a space of honor for them, for you. You can be silly or sincere or some space between - speak in a way that feels good to the part of you that you're calling home, maybe even using a name or title either given or chosen that feels personal and special to the part of you that you're calling home. You might say things like:

• Oh my sweet young self, with all your playfulness and silliness, come on home, I have your favorite book right here.

• Hello, art kid, it's time to pick up your pencils again. I can't wait to create art with you.

• Hey, there, tenderheart. It's ok to cry here, your sensitivity is so beautiful and I've missed you.

• Beautiful one, I'm so sorry I've had to keep you hidden away - it's safe now for us to start dressing more like who we really are. 

As you build your altar and speak your sweet spell of homecoming, whenever you start to turn to the image of the Queen on your altar and speak the invocation, calling their power in to protect you and support you as you reconcile with this part of yourself that you're calling home. 

When you feeling settled, you can speak the following charm:

Holy, holy, holy
Holy is the way
Found myself here again
And here I'm going to stay

If you want, you can end with a tarot spread that acts like a reintroduction to your reconciling self. This can be as simple as a three card energetic check-in or more complex like an Ancient Self or Future Self spread. Keep your altar up for as long as you like, either adding or subtracting from it as your reconciled self becomes more settled and more able to shape your world in a reflection of your wholeness.

Deck names listed below

The Kings: A Ritual of Legacy

Archivist · Queen · Mentor · Shadow · Architect · Sage · Teacher
Primary Element: Fire
Plant Ally: Sage (Salvia officinalis)

Working with the Kings is an opportunity to create little legacies for our future self to benefit from. The legacies that we are creating, both personal and communal, aren't just about what we leave behind when we pass on to the next life, but those that we and others are creating that are useful for us in the present and not-so-distant future. While the magick of the Queens in our lives mean that we might be identifying and tapping into currents of energy that we desire (i.e. the ecstasy of a runner's high and the pleasure of a mental and physical challenge), the magick of the Kings in our lives help us to create the structure for that energy to thrive and flow (i.e. scheduling time for runs each week and researching the best shoe for your needs). 

The following ritual helps us to create small reminders for our future self of our present wisdom to help us reach a specific goal or for our general wellbeing. 

For your ritual, you'll need all four King cards from your tarot deck of choice. Alternatively, you can spend time drawing, collaging, or otherwise creating your own personal King cards to use in ritual. You will also need at least four pieces of paper (I like to use index cards) and your favorite writing supplies.

Begin by setting out the four King cards in the cardinal directions around you. You can follow the directional correspondences of the tradition you follow, but here's the recommendations for many western esoteric traditions:

• East: King of Swords

• South (Northern Hemisphere) / North (Southern Hemisphere): King of Wands

• West: King of Cups

• North (Northern Hemisphere) / South (Southern Hemisphere): King of Pentacles 

Call in the energy of each King by turning to the appropriate direction and speaking the corresponding invocation. If you like, you can also light a candle in each direction, trace an invoking pentagram, offer incense, water, etc. Create as much structure and ceremony to the ritual as you feel inspired to. I have used the title "King" for each of the invocations, but you should feel free to substitute the title for the one you're most connected with.

King of Swords
Come you near!
Thought and skill
Gifts you bear!
Place of rising
Space of light
Bring your magick
To this rite!

᠅

King of Wands
Come you near!
Respect and trust
Gifts you bear!
Place of action
Space of might
Bring your magick
To this rite!

᠅
King of Cups
Come you near!
Hope and healing
Gifts you bear!
Place of feeling
Space of sight
Bring your magick
To this rite!

᠅

King of Pentacles
Come you near!
Love and growth
Gifts you bear!
Place of courage
Space of life
Bring your magick
To this rite!

Once you have called in each of the four Kings, it's time to work with pen and paper. As each King represents a different area of your life to create the types of structures that work best for you, you'll be creating a series of cards that help you connect with a piece of wisdom and follow up steps for each area of your life. For general wellbeing affirmations and accompanying actions  inspired by the King of Swords in your life might be:

• Affirmation: I trust my powers of discernment.

• Actions: Practice five minutes of square breathing. Speak my decision or real experience of a situation out loud. Feel that discernment in my body.

If you are working towards a specific goal such as developing a sustainable running practice your affirmations and accompanying actions might be something like:

• Affirmation: I am strong and focused - I know I'm a runner.

• Actions: Choose an affirmation to say throughout your run. Paste a copy of it to your mirror. Practice a five minute run visualization (i.e. visualizing your run path and how good you'll feel afterwards).

I like to write affirmations on one side and actionable steps on the other, but you can create your cards however you like including illustrations, inspirational quotes, and more. Make at least one card for each King, but feel free to make as many as you like. Below I've listed a few correspondences for each of the Kings, but get inspired by your own intuition as well as the art specific to your tarot cards to help you write your affirmations.

When all affirmations are written, it is time to charge your deck. If you have a preferred method of charging up magickal items, proceed as you like. Otherwise, pick up the card(s) inspired by the King of Swords and turn to the appropriate direction. Hold them between your palms and begin to move your arms towards the East and back towards, tracing the path of a lemniscate or infinity symbol. As you do this, visualize gathering up the energy of the King and Swords and your own energy into an interwoven point in the palm of your hands where it charges up the card(s) you have created. Once the card(s) feel charged, you can speak the following:

By the Sword of Kings
and the magick I hold
So the path is laid
for wisdom to unfold 

Repeat this process with all of your cards and all of your Kings, again, replacing the title "King" and/or "Sword" if you like with ones that more deeply resonate with you. 

By the Wand of Kings
and the magick I hold
So the path is laid
for wisdom to unfold 

᠅

By the Cup of Kings
and the magick I hold
So the path is laid
for wisdom to unfold 

᠅

By the Star of Kings
and the magick I hold
So the path is laid
for wisdom to unfold 

When you've completed your circumnavigation, gather up the cards you've created. You can place them in a place of prominence where you'll remember to use them when you need extra encouragement or guidance on your path.  If you liked the King ritual and making your own set of personal affirmation and action cards, you might also like to create your own oracle of care.

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If you want to keep going with your tarot explorations, you might read my post on the Pages and Knights to complete your Court card journey or find a spread to fit your needs. Interested in a deeper dive into the correspondences of the court? Learn more about the four sacred elements from a traditional western herbalism perspective that each Court card is associated with.

Ready to read the tarot as a book of healing? Come this way.

I hope that this series has illuminated the sometime opaque tradition of the tarot Court and inspired your own practice of embodied healing.

This post was made possible through patron support.
❤︎ Thanks, friends. ❤︎

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Decks Shown
A Deck of Cards by PW (c. 1500)
Neutral Vibes Tarot
Tazama African Tarot
The Future Ancestor Tarot
The Shining Tribe Tarot

Gathering Together: Tarot and Tea for Pisces Season

Welcome to Pisces Season and my latest post on tarot practices and herbal allies for the twelve seasons of the zodiac (you can learn more the seasons of the zodiac over here).

The season of Aquarius with its intense idiosyncratic energy and emphasis on intellect and innovation has moved on like a sudden storm leading us to Pisces season. Within the dreamy waters of Pisces season we take a break from the (over)emphasized energy of the individual and back into the flow of the collective. "What an interesting idea!" Pisces says to Aquarius. "But how do you feel about it?" Arriving at Pisces season is a culmination of our journey through all eleven previous signs of the zodiac, symbolizing lifetimes of wisdom gained through experience. Here at the end of the zodiac, where we are furthest from earth and closest to the stars, where the emphasis is not on the intellect or physical form, but on the feeling body and consciousness itself. And yet, Pisces is also the beginning of the zodiac, representing the ocean depths, and acting as the energy which resides deepest within earth. Pisces reminds us that we can't think our way through the mystery, it's gotta be felt.

Pisces is a mutable water sign meaning that it embodies the energy of connecting, dissolving boundaries, and deep empathy (Gemini, Virgo, and Sagittarius are also mutable signs). Mutable signs arrive at the end of a terrestrial season helping us to prepare for the changes of the next season. Pisces helps to draw the energy of Aquarius season down from the head and its focus on the next best thing, back into the heart and the beauty of the now. For in the world of Pisces, the now is infinite, boundaries are meant to be dissolved, and all can find connection to all. In many ways, Pisces season brings us the most radical and most comfortable energy - radical in that the deeply empathic fish has never met a boundary that couldn't be moved and comfortable because the whole point of moving it is for us to find our ways back home to where we feel most held and whole. 

Pisces season helps us to find our sense of connection with the world, often through the tool of empathy, but it comes in all sorts of unexpected and magickal ways. The energy of Pisces helps us to expand even as we're gathering ourselves back together. What we learn through the energy of Pisces is that connection is important and there are plenty of boundaries that need dissolving, but healthy boundaries which protect and strengthen our empathy are needed. Too much Pisces energy can lead to such a strong belief of the self as other that gullibility leads us into dangerous situations or we struggle to hold on to our individuality amid the sea of collective consciousness. With good boundaries and plenty of time to rest, Pisces helps us connect with our intuitive wisdom, our capacity to transcend limitations, and our ability to love deeply.

Gathering Together
Pisces Season Tarot Spread

So much of the energy of Pisces season is about understanding, cultivating, and protecting our empathic selves. We are deeply empathic species often living within cultures (whether broad overcultures or individual family cultures) that reject empathy as weakness. One of the adaptations to surviving in empathy-denying cultures and relationships is to hide away the most precious parts of ourselves. Sometimes those parts of ourselves get lost.

Pisces asks us, "What are you calling back home to yourself?"

As the most effective dissolver of boundaries, Pisces energy can move through all things and spaces, helping us to locate what it is we're searching for. The following spread helps us to name what was lost and guides us to find it again so that we may feel more whole and holy within ourselves and in our relationships.

Card 1. That Which Was Lost

This card helps us understand the part of us that was lost along the way of growing up and growing into ourselves.

Card 2. That Which We Were Hiding From

Sometimes it's helpful to name and know that which we were hiding ourselves away from, to lessen its ability to make us hide further. 

Card 3 & 4. That Which Calls Us Home

These cards help us to reclaim our lost selves through simple practices, shifts in perspectives, affirmations of or own intuition about the matter, or whatever else you need to hear to help you call yourself home.

Card 5. A Message for Pisces Season

A general message, signs to pay attention to, and perhaps next steps to take as we move into Pisces season. This card can highlight energy which you might bring more into your life during Pisces season so that you are better able to connect with the energetic flow of the next month.

Bonus Card: That Which Guards the Feet

If you feel connected with the philosophy of astroherbology you can pull an additional card to help you understand the current energies of your feet, including physical experiences and energetic ones, what tension or wisdom you might be keeping there. I encourage you to take a somatic approach with this card - when you pull it and see the energy, follow the feelings and sensations that it evokes from your body to understand its meaning. 

image via @majavujic87

A Tea for Pisces Season

How do we nourish the energy of Pisces? Traditionally, Pisces guards the feet, all bodily fluids, and the endocrine system (click here for a full list of traditional correspondences for Pisces). The sweet boost of empathy that Pisces season can bring can result in a lot of healing and a lot of feelings, so it's important to work with plant allies that support the emotional body. Milky Oat (Avena sativa) is one of my favorite herbs for empaths because it does such a wonderful job nourishing the nervous system and helping us feel our feels without getting (too) overwhelmed. Sage (Salvia officinalis) has an affinity for the fluids of the body, helping to regulate ebb and flow, and guiding our Pisces energy towards the cultivation of wisdom instead of dazed distraction. Finally, Rose (Rosa spp.) honors the complexity of consciousness that Pisces energy has us swimming through, reminding us that life is layered, including the mysterious bits.

• 4 parts Milky Oat (Avena sativa)

• 1 part Sage (Salvia officinalis)

• ½ part Rose (Rosa spp.)

These proportions are only suggested guidelines, so feel free to play around with them to your liking. As you make your tea, slow down, breathe deep, and infuse the blend with your intentions for the season (or whenever you’re drinking this tea to connect with the energy of Pisces). If you’re looking for more breathwork practices to help you connect with the energy of the season, come this way.

image via @guillepozzi

Seasonal Reflections

What does the land feel like, look like, smell like this season?

What is coming to the surface from within me?

What is receding within me?

What am I feeling grateful for?

What am I grieving for or feeling challenged by?

What am I feeling inspired and where is it calling me to this season?

What am I calling to me?

What am I called to give?

♓️

Want to learn more about the magick and astroherbalism of Pisces? I’ve written a full profile on the sign for you to enjoy. You can also check out the rest of my seasons of astrology series. If you want to dive deeper into the world of tarot, plant allies, and astrology, come this way.

One of my favorite Pisces herbs is Angelica (Angelica archangelica) because not only does it empower Pisces' inherent psychic gifts, but it helps folks who struggle to connect with their intuition to open up a pathway to do so.

May your Pisces season be dreamy and sweet, calling in visions of peace and the path towards collective liberation.

This post was made possible through patron support.
❤ Thanks, friends. ❤

Seeking Horizons: Tarot and Tea for Sagittarius Season

Welcome to Sagittarius Season and my latest post on tarot practices and herbal allies for the twelve seasons of the zodiac (you can learn more here).

The season of Sagittarius guides us from the end of one season to the next (from autumn to winter in the northern hemisphere and from spring to summer in the southern hemisphere), moving as a traveler does onto the next adventure. The horizons are calling when Sagittarius season arrives and we learn about our world by journeying to places where disparate energies meet and figuring out who we are by how we meet them. Where Scorpio season can bring the intensity of sticking around to figure something out, Sagittarius brings an equally intense restlessness to explore something elsewhere. 

Sagittarius is a mutable fire sign which means that it carries the energy of adaptability, philosophizing, and curiosity (Gemini, Virgo, and Pisces are all mutable signs as well). Mutable signs like Sagittarius help us to welcome change as a regular and much-needed part of life - and Sagittarius is particularly excited about what adventure awaits with any change expected or not. The deep reflective nature of Scorpio season has given way to the need to move and change environments, views, and perspectives that Sagittarius season brings. The season of Sagittarius helps us to test out the philosophies we explored during Scorpio season and see how they hold up in unfamiliar environments and situations. Sagittarius helps us to learn where our daring lies and the core of who we are when we step out beyond our comfort zone.

With Sagittarius energy we learn about what experiences we are lacking in order to grow. It's not that Sagittarius energy is particularly good at pinpointing specifically what needs to be known in order to develop as a person, but it does carry the energy of the open-hearted explorer who is willing to give many experiences a try in an effort to learn what it is they need. The energy of Sagittarius is of optimism and hope, which is vital to cultivating change in the world and discovering creative solutions for complex needs.  Sometimes too much Sagittarian energy can lead to mistaking excess bravado for expertise leading to an insensitivity towards the needs and experiences of others. Or forgetting that they're not the only traveler on the road and the world is not simply there for them to discover themselves - but to be discovered and known, in turn, within community. Learning how to use the fiery energy of Sagittarius as a guiding lamp helps to control the more rash impulses of Sagittarian energy. For it is through the energy of Sagittarius that we experience wisdom only gained through moving beyond the known into the unknown. 

Seeking Horizons
Sagittarius Season Tarot Spread

The energy of Sagittarius can often feel like you're constantly being pushed towards the next horizon - which can be really exciting or really exhausting or a bit of both depending on what your life is like. New places, perspectives, and peoples are the siren call of Sagittarian energy and Sagittarius helps us to move beyond what we know so that we might know more. To move freely requires us to first understand what freedom means in our lives.

Sagittarius asks us, "What makes you feel free?"

Ultimately, Sagittarius teaches us about liberation - liberation from restrictive beliefs (both our own and those of others placed upon us), liberation from suffering, liberation from our own fears. It's a big task which is why the energy of Sagittarius can feel so restless and constantly in motion. But at the center of all its seeking, Sagittarius keeps an eye on both the horizon and the compass which points the direction home again to where all are free and none suffer. So with those big ideas in mind, the following tarot spread helps us to name the horizon that we're seeking and grow our capacity to experience liberation in our life.

Card 1. That Which I'm Seeking

This card helps us better understand horizons we are currently seeking in our life and what they mean to us.

Card 2. That Which Seeks Me

Just as we seek, so we are sought, and this card highlights the energies that are calling to us that we may or may not be aware of, but which seek to help us in some way on our journey.

Card 3. That Which Blocks My Vision

This card shows us something which blocks our ability to move freely to whatever horizon is calling to us.

Card 4. That Which Protects My Light

This card helps us understand what in our life protects the lamp which guards our inner light, our inner compass. Often this is something which we could affirm more about ourselves and our life and welcome in with greater intentionality.

Card 5. A Message for Sagittarius Season

A general message, signs to pay attention to, and perhaps next steps to take as we move into Sagittarius season. This card can highlight energy which you might bring more into your life during Sagittarius season so that you are better able to connect with the energetic flow of the next month.

Bonus Card: That Which Guards the Hips

If you feel connected with the philosophy of astroherbology you can pull an additional card to help you understand the current energies of your hips, including physical experiences and energetic ones, what tension or wisdom you might be keeping there. I encourage you to take a somatic approach with this card - when you pull it and see the energy, follow the feelings and sensations that it evokes from your body to understand its meaning. 

image via @jackieboylhart

A Tea for Sagittarius Season

How do we nourish the energy of Sagittarius? Traditionally, Sagittarius guards the hips, thighs, sciatic nerve, and autonomic nervous system (click here for a full list of traditional correspondences for Sagittarius). As a season of the body in motion, the mind philosophizing, the spirit traveling, and the emotions seeking, Sagittarius needs a well-rounded, going-to-meet-a-lot-of-needs sort of tea. Fortunately, herbs like Sage (Salvia spp.) act as a panacea, being endlessly useful for any number of ailments, but also just supporting the wisdom-seaking needs of Sagittarius. Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis) helps to temper the energy of the season while supporting Sagittarius' inherent hopefulness and tending to the nervous system as well. Finally, Calendula (Calendula officinalis), brings in a spark of brightness to the blend, while also contributing much needed anti-inflammatory qualities to take care of the body in motion.

• 4 parts Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis)

• 1 part Sage (Salvia officinalis)

• ½ part Calendula (Calendula officinalis)

These proportions are only suggested guidelines, so feel free to play around with them to your liking. As you make your tea, slow down, breathe deep, and infuse the blend with your intentions for the season (or whenever you’re drinking this tea to connect with the energy of Sagittarius). If you’re looking for more breathwork practices to help you connect with the energy of the season, come this way.

image via @dmjdenise

Seasonal Reflections

What does the land feel like, look like, smell like this season?

What is coming to the surface from within me?

What is receding within me?

What am I feeling grateful for?

What am I grieving for or feeling challenged by?

What am I feeling inspired and where is it calling me to this season?

What am I calling to me?

What am I called to give?

♐️

Want to learn more about the magick and astroherbalism of Sagittarius? I’ve written a full profile on the sign for you to enjoy. You can also check out the rest of my seasons of astrology series. If you want to dive deeper into the world of tarot, plant allies, and astrology, come this way.

While I didn't mention it in the tea recipe, another herb that I love for Sagittarius season and for Sagittarian energy in general is Mullein (Verbascum thapsus) which has long been associated with traveling as the leaves provide a comforting pad to walk on. The herb is useful for alleviating musculoskeletal pain as well as being a great respiratory tonic (which is needed when exposed to new germs among new places).

May your Sagittarius season find you in the right place at the right time having just the right amount of adventure.

This post was made possible through patron support.
❤ Thanks, friends. ❤

The Plant Allies of Summer: How to Create a Summer Wellness Apothecary

Continuing my series of creating your own seasonal wellness apothecaries, we've arrived at the height of heat and light - summer. During summer it's a time of being excited (to varying degrees for varying folks) about the increase of the aforementioned light and heat as well as more time spent outdoors (sometimes alongside creatures that bite and sting). Just as with any other seasonal wellness apothecary, a little bit of planning ahead means that more time can be spent enjoying the weather with easy remedies close at hand should the need for herbal care arise.

As with my winter and spring apothecary posts, I've organized my recommendation by herbal actions such as cooling herbs for post-sun recovery. As always, I've tried to highlight herbs that are easy to access (especially in North America, where I am writing this from) and/or inexpensive to grow yourself, but hopefully you'll feel inspired and able to work with herbs local to your area. I also think it's a good idea for all herb folk (whether professionals or home herbalists) to get first aid training including wilderness first aid if you like being out and about beyond city limits.  

Ready for some summertime healing? Let's explore some of the common ailments and the plant allies we can connect to during the season of summer. 

image via @baraajalahej

Cooling Off: Supporting the body post-sun exposure 

Herbal Actions: Cooling, anti-inflammatory, alterative, emollient, and demulcent

With the risk of sounding like an afterschool commercial, the best way to stay sun safe is to stay sun smart. Stick to the shade, keep hydrated, wear sunscreen and/or cool protective layers, and respect the power of the Sun. The following plants are great friends for cooling off (and not burning out) after long summer days. 

Aloe Vera (Aloe barbadensis) : My favorite herb to use topically after a day spent in the sun. The inner gel of the plant is cooling and moist, alleviating inflammation in the body both internally and externally. While I have become wiser in my sunways as I get older, when I was younger Aloe Vera saved me from many a sunburn. I also find that in addition to alleviating the physical discomfort of sunburn Aloe Vera can also be a useful ally when dealing with the emotional stress of burnout.

Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis): I turn to Lemon Balm again and again throughout the warmer months of the year. It is gently cooling and tastes like summer to me. I like using it in my daily teas, but also as a skin wash or addition to an herbal bath after a long day in the heat. Lemon Balm also helps us deal with the stress that summer can bring, especially around expectations of being social. If you've overdone it in the heat and find yourself dealing with heat exhaustion, Lemon Balm can be a great ally to have at hand. In addition to drinking the tea (best to let it cool to room temperature if you're recovering from heat exhaustion), I like to use it as part of a cool compress at the wrists and back of the neck. If I know I'll be out in the heat, I make a jar of Lemon Balm tea at the beginning of the day so that when I get back it'll be ready for me to drink and use in compresses if need be.

Borage (Borago officinalis): In my training as an herbalist I was taught to make Borage ice cubes for the summer where you freeze Borage flowers in ice cube molds and then add them to your water throughout the day. Whether or not this is the secret to staying cool (honestly, room temperature water is more helpful than iced when it comes to regulating body temperature, generally speaking), it sure looks pretty in a glass jar. Borage is a wonderfully cooling plant ally and can be a delicious treat when you're cooling off in the shade.

Yarrow (Achillea millefolium): Yarrow is a classic fever reducer in traditional western herbalism and can be equally useful in cases of heat exhaustion when lowering the body's temperature is needed. Use as a tea, in a cool compress, or in a cool foot bath.

Other cooling herbs to keep close by are Lavender (Lavandula spp.), Rose (Rosa spp.), Peppermint (Mentha piperita), and Milky Oat (Avena sativa).

Unbothered: Caring for the skin during the summer months against bugs, bumps, and more

Herbal Actions: Anti-inflammatory, alterative, and nervine tonics

Some of the first herbal remedies I made were topical herbal oils for uses on my bruises and sore muscles that I got as an athlete. While I was impressed by the results, I loved the process of creating these special blends, applying them, and taking care of myself in ways that I didn't always feel looked out for as an athlete. For me, working with plant allies to care for our body's largest organ, the skin, is an act of love.

Lavender (Lavandula spp.): Lavender is one of the few essential oils that I use on a regular basis because it is so helpful for reducing the itch and discomfort of bug bites. The essential oil can be applied in small amounts directly to the skin (for most essential oils this is not safe and not recommended). I also use compresses of the flowers for skin health and recovering from bumps, bruises, bites, and rashes. It makes a wonderful addition to herbal baths as well as a great summer hydrosol to keep in the fridge and use as needed throughout the day.

Plantain (Plantago spp.): If a bump has occurred some variety of Plantain salve is pulled out and applied. Plantain is an easy and inexpensive herbal remedy to use for bumps, bruises, sprains, and strains. Topically, Plantain is a powerful remedy, helping to draw out toxins from the body, heal damaged tissue, alleviate pain, and generally serve folks well when it comes to wound care. If Plantain is growing nearby when you or someone is bit by a bee or other insect, crush up a Plantain leaf (I was taught to chew it) and apply it to the bite for pain relief and reduction of swelling. I can personally attest to the effectiveness of Plantain on bee stings having to use it myself when I was stung by a bee between my toes. Using Plantain I was able to make the walk back home. Want to learn more about beautiful Plantain? A complete profile is available in The Plant Ally Library.

St. Joan's Wort (Hypericum perforatum): I like using a combination of St. Joan's Wort and Rose (Rosa spp.) herbal oil as a post sun skin treatment. I like to apply the herbal oil after a shower (so that the oil helps to contain the oil and keep the skin hydrated) or after spraying the skin with a hydrosol like Rose. St. Joan's Wort is wonderfully soothing to sunburns, reparative to the skin in general, and also helps to nourish the nervous system. It's great for bumps and bruises, too.

Other herbs to keep handy are Mullein (Verbascum thapsus), Calendula (Calendula officinalis), Sage (Salvia officinalis), Catnip (Nepeta cataria) as a natural mosquito repellant, and Milky Oat (Avena sativa). The latter is especially useful for calming an overstimulated nervous and sensory system due to the irritation and increased sensation of bug bites and/or injury.

Opening Up: Nourishing the heart

Herbal Actions: Cardiotonics, circulatory tonics, and nervines

Any season can be a season of opening up the heart, but there is something about the expectation of adventuring, dreaming, and socializing in the summer that can call to some extra herbal support when it comes to issues of the heart.

Rose (Rosa spp): Any season can be a season of opening up the heart, but there is something about the expectation of adventuring, dreaming, and socializing in the summer that can call to some extra herbal support when it comes to issues of the heart. Rose is my favorite heart-opening, love-supporting herb not only for its thorn magick, but for the ways it helps to soften the hard edges of our emotional experiences in all the right ways. Rose has the added benefit of being a cooling herb and I add it to my morning tea during the hot summer months. A Rose hydrosol is especially pleasing sprayed on the skin throughout the day during the summer months.

Hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna): The magick of Hawthorn is something that is hard to describe. It is a wonderful cardiotonic and I've used it in a wide range of heart health needs including helping to reduce stress that cause some heart issues in the first place. Hawthorn is an herb which helps us to love again after a period of heartbreak. We learn to live heart first with Hawthorn as an ally and to meet the uncertainty of what comes next with the steadfastness of trusting our own heart's trusty rhythm.

Other heart herbs to consider working with are Motherwort (Leonurus cardiaca), Cacao (Theobroma cacao), and Hibiscus (Hibiscus sabdariffa).

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Friends, I hope you enjoyed reading about some of my favorite plant allies of for the summer months. Be sure to check out the rest of the series on creating seasonal wellness apothecaries. Next in the series I’ll be looking at some of my most beloved plant allies for the autumn months.

If you’re looking for some more summertime inspiration, I write more about summer wellness over here. What’s my favorite summertime drink, you might be wondering? Swamp tea, of course! Or is it rainbow lattes? And, as always, there are summertime tarot spreads for Midsummer and Lughnasadh for all your divinatory needs.

May your summer be sweet and full of all the right sorts of adventures!

This post was made possible through patron support.
❤︎ Thanks, friends. ❤︎