Plant Ally Project Thirty Day Challenge

Welcome to the Plant Ally Project : Thirty Day Challenge!

Just what is the Plant Ally Project : Thirty Day Challenge? I’m glad you asked!

This project is for those who:

Are ready to learn how to build meaningful and powerful relationships with a plant ally. Plants are powerful whether or not we’re involved in their lives. Yet, when we do choose to journey more mindfully through the world of the green kingdom as herbalists and plantfolk, learning how to connect with a plant beyond the ground up material in a tea bag can have a profound affect on who we are and how we connect with the world around us. The Plant Ally Project : Thirty Day Challenge is about growing, celebrating, and honoring our plant allies and plant selves beyond knowing what something is used for and into the realm of how do we live meaningful and useful lives.

Want to transition from a casual interest in herbal medicine to a more invested one. I After a few weeks or months, maybe even a year, of dabbling with plant medicines, you’re feeling a calling to connect with the plant world and your herbal practice in a more committed way. The Plant Ally Project : Thirty Day Challenge will help you stretch your herbal muscles, teaching you the many ways of connecting with a plant and its medicinal and magickal qualities. In the process you’ll learn more about who you are as an aspiring herbalist and what gets you really excited about your growing practice.

Are seeking to reinvigorate and find new inspiration in their herbal practice. An herbal practice is just that - practice - and sometimes practice gets monotonous and uninspiring. Hopefully, the Plant Ally Project : Thirty Day Challenge will re-inspire the ways you connect with your plant allies and your herbal practice.

During the challenge, some days will be busier than others, so I encourage you to read through the whole list before starting your journey so you can plan ahead for busier days (such as buying the supplies you’ll need for making tinctures or tea). You won’t need much to participate in the challenge: a notebook, some simple drawing supplies will get you started, and later on you’ll be asked to seek out your plant in the (urban)wild and procure a dried or fresh plant material by either ethical wildcrafting or from a reputable source.

I encourage you to have fun with your Plant Ally Project, comment below with questions and discoveries, and enjoy the process of humbling yourself to the wild and growing your fierce green heart.

Keep scrolling to find all of the details for the project as well as a quick guide computer wallpaper for you to use. Be sure to share the Plant Ally Project with your friends and post about your adventures with #PlantAllyProject. I can't wait to see what plants you meet!

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Use the following quick guide wallpaper to help you keep track of all 30 days of the Plant Ally Project.

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Day 1: Set your intention for the month.

I have found that getting clear on what it is you hope to accomplish at the beginning of a project helps see it through. What are you hoping to learn in these thirty days? How will you be challenging yourself?

Will you learn everything about your plant ally in 30 days? Nope. And that’s wonderful. What you can accomplish in 30 days, however, is significant and meaningful. You can connect with a green ally in ways that will continue to shape and form your practice for years to come. The adventure, clever one, is just beginning.

I encourage you to write your intention down in a place that you will see it often. You might put it in the front of your journal for your Plant Ally Project or tape it to your mirror. Make sure you are affirming it often for it to serve as a tool of change and success.

One final note. It might seem like a lot of work some days or a big commitment to work with one plant for 30 days. There is an art of sacrifice involved in the pursuit of knowledge, which may include sacrificing free time spent on the computer or watching tv to pursuing your herbal studies. Or rearranging your schedule to allow more time for your herbal medicine-making. I would encourage you to be mindful of the work ahead and how committed you are to it, even if it involves a bit of sacred sacrifice. What are you willing to give in order to receive?

Day 2: Choose the plant you’ll be working with or let it choose you.

You might already know what plant you want to work with for your 30 day Plant Ally Project. It may be the mint growing in a pot on your windowsill or the Yerba Mansa (Anemopsis californica) spreading out in the marshy land in the park by your house. Or you might have no idea what plant you want to work with! If you’re in the latter situation, you have a few options for choosing the plant to work with. The first is simply looking around your garden or neighborhood for local flora. Or you can flip open one of your herb books and see what plant profile you land on. It might be fun to look at the ingredients of some of your favorite tea blends and choose an herb from there. You might choose an herb that is culturally significant to you and, even if it has not been used in your family in modern recollection, was probably used by your ancestors.

My one tip is that once you choose an herb for your Plant Ally Project is to stick with it. It can feel overwhelming and exciting to know that there are hundreds of thousands of herbs for us to learn about. Right now, you are making a commitment to connect with one herb over the next 30 days, and while this does not exclude working with other herbs, it does place emphasis on one plant relationship in particular. For those of you who may feel like they’ve chosen the “wrong” herb after a few days, I strongly encourage you to follow through with your original commitment. Herbs that are difficult to decipher or might take a bit of extra study on our part can appropriately challenge our analytical and emotional skills to connect with the plant world.

Day 3. Learn the latin binomial + folk names of your plant ally.

One plant can have a multitude of names and it is important to be familiar with the Latin binomial as well as common or folk names for a plant. Latin binomials allow herbalists to identify the same plants regardless of language differences. Latin binomials can also help us learn about some of the folkloric stories associated with a plant as well as its medicinal qualities. Motherwort, which Latin binomial is Leonurus cardiaca, tells us about the plant’s association with the heart in two ways. First, Leonurus, connects to the plant’s astrological correspondence of Leo the Lion which traditional guards the heart. Cardiaca again refers to Motherwort’s affinity for heart health.

Day 4. Learn about the habitat of your plant ally.

Where is your plant native to? Where has it naturalized? Does it grow locally? What type of environment does it thrive in?

Day 5. Learn about how to harvest your plant ally.

What are the ideal harvesting conditions for your plant? What time of year? What parts of the plant are used medicinally? Should you harvest from a mature plant?

Day 6. Smell and taste your plant ally.

One of the easiest and most essential ways of connecting with a plant ally is to breath deep its scent and to taste its flavor. If you have access to a fresh plant (and it is safe to nibble on the fresh plant) use that, but you can also used a dried plant. Be aware, though, that a dried plant will often smell and taste different than when it is fresh.

What does the plant smell like? Sweet? Pungent? Strong or soft? What does the plant taste like? Does it dry the mouth or encourage the production of saliva? Taste is a way of understanding a plant’s medicinal qualities. Astringent plants, for example, dry the mouth while bitter plants often produce saliva.

Bonus! Learn about the tastes within Ayurvedic and Traditional Chinese Medicine traditions.

Day 7. Read three different materia medica profiles on your plant ally.

You have already been reading about your plant in order to complete the last week’s tasks, but now it is time to read multiple materia medica profiles about your plant ally to understand the multiple ways of engaging its healing qualities. Check out my LibaryThing materia medica catalog for book recommendations as well as free resources such as botanical.com which is the complete materia medica of American herbalist Maud Grieve. Searching for {your plant’s name} plant profile online should also turn up resources. Remember, though when searching the mighty internets to find reputable sources. It is amazing the wide range of (mis)information there is about herbs online, so I encourage you to purchase or check-out from your library a few quality materia medicas to start your herbal studies as opposed to relying solely on search engines.

Day 8: Meet your plant ally in person.

You may have already done this, but whether or not you have, spend some time connecting with a live version of your plant ally. It can be a plant growing in a garden, in the wild or in an urban park. Spend time being still with the plant, observing its environment, and talking aloud or silently to it. You might be surprised by what the plant shares with you!

If such is not possible at the moment due to the season or accessibility, reserve this exercise for another day and spend time connecting with an image or remedy of your plant ally.

Day 9: Draw a picture of your plant ally.

One can learn a lot about a plant from drawing it because the act of drawing engages our observational skills in new ways. It doesn’t matter if you can “draw well” or not. If you can hold pen to paper you will be able to roughly sketch a plant. I encourage you to get creative and use color, adding energetic observations, and any other doodles that you find inspiring. Have fun with it!

Day 10: Study the best ways to prepare your plant ally medicinally.

How to extract plant medicines depends on the constituents of a plant and whether or not they are extracted in water, alcohol, oil, vinegar, or additional menstruums (which is a word for a solvent that is used in extracting medicinal constituents from plants). Learn what the best method of preparation is (such as an infusion versus a decoction) and whether your plant ally can be used externally, internally or both.

Day 11: Make a tea or decoction of your plant ally.

Your first medicine-making day! Depending on what you learned yesterday, create a tea infusion or decoction of your plant ally. I recommend that you do not add other herbs to the tea - simply create a one herb infusion or decoction so you can fully appreciate the taste, smell, and effect of your plant ally in your body. Pay attention to the initial taste, the aftertaste, and how the herb feels in your body. Do images, memories, or words come to mind? Spend a half hour or more in contemplation with your tea.

Day 12: Learn about your plant ally’s magickal qualities.

Some materia medicas will include a plant magickal qualities or folkloric stories, but there are also materia medicas dedicated to the magickal qualities of plants including Cunningham’s Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs by Scott Cunningham, A Compendium of Herbal Magic by Paul Beyerl, and The Complete Illustrated Encyclopedia of Magical Plants, Revised by Susan Gregg.

Whether or not you are a practitioner of magick, learning a plant’s magickal qualities and accompanying folklore can enrich not only our understanding of how our ancestors connected with the plant and the plant connected with them, but there is often insight into a plant’s medicinal qualities. Plants used in love spells, for example, are often aphrodisiacs and affect the sexual organs, libido, and/or nervous system (such as Damiana Turnera diffusa).

Day 13: Learn about the astrological correspondences of your plant ally.

You may have already discovered the astrological correspondences of your plant ally yesterday, but if not spend today learning more about them. Traditional Western Herbalism and astrology were intertwined for centuries and it has only been in recent generations that the two arts have been split apart.

A physician without a knowledge of Astrology has no right to call himself a physician.  - Hippocrates

Learning the astrological correspondences of herbs further deepens our language to be able to talk about herbs and understand their healing qualities. It also helps us to understand better traditional western herbal energetics and why certain herbs have been classified in certain ways historically (and whether or not that still makes sense today). Books discussing the magickal quality of plants often has astrological correspondences list as well, but you should also check out the historical works of Nicholas Culpeper including his still in-print Herbal. You can also check out my Introduction to Astroherbology which includes additional online and offline resources.

If no astrological information exists for your plant ally, that’s ok! You can either have fun doing a little research and assign your own astrological correspondence (check out my ongoing Astroherbology series and especially my blog on the Astrological Body for insight) or maybe get in touch with your favorite medical astrologer for some guidance.

Day 14: Learn about your plant ally’s emotional qualities.

Plant medicine affects the whole spectrum of our lived experience whether physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual, because it is a holistic medicine which recognizes that all of our parts are interconnected. Just as plants have medicinally healing qualities, they have emotionally healing qualities. Books on flower essences are great places to look when researching the emotional qualities of plants as well as materia medicas which take into account the emotional symptoms of dis-ease.

My recommendation for learning a plant’s emotional qualities is to ask the plant directly. I usually enter into a light meditative state and gently ask the plant to share with me its emotional story, sometimes while ingesting plant medicine (such as a tea), but not always. Sometimes I get words, other times images, and most often I feel the response in my body. Make sure to record your experience and don’t rush to “validate” or compare it to the writings and experiences of others. I will say, though, that very often there is overlap between one person’s emotional experience of a plants and another’s.

Bonus! Create a flower essence from your plant ally. Flower essences are easy and accessible forms of herbal medicine. You can find out how to make an essence of your own here.

Day 15: Take a break!

You’re halfway through your Plant Ally Project and it’s time to take a break! You deserve it. Sit back and relax, clever one.

Day 16: Make a tincture or glycerite of your plant ally.

Tinctures and glycerites are great for creating high-potency herbal medicines that have a relatively long shelf life (alcohol extract tinctures can last for many years, while glycerites can last up to 2 years). There are two primary ways to create an extract; the first is the folk method and the second way is by weight-to-volume measurement. Below I have listed out a simple folk method to create an extract. Some plants require a higher percentage of alcohol to extract properly and not all plant constituents extract well in alcohol (such as vitamins and minerals). You can learn more about plant constituents and extractability here. Michael Moore has a some amazing free resources on his website including clinical manuals with extraction recommendations. Lisa Ganora is one of the leading herbal experts on plant constituents and you can check out her short guide to solubility and choosing appropriate menstruums (PDF). For further herbal medicine-making study James Green has written a great book called The Herbal Medicine-Maker's Handbook: A Home Manual which I highly recommend.

Simple Folk Extraction

For both extractions (either glycerite or alcohol) you should have a clean jar with a well-sealing lid. Add in your fresh or dried plant material into the jar. You can add the plant material in whole or chop it up to help the extract penetrate the cell walls of the plant and pull out the plant medicine. You’ll want to mix some water with either your alcohol or glycerite - a few dashes is usually sufficient. If you’re using fresh plant material with a plant that has a high-water content be sure not to add too much extra water and compromise the levels of alcohol or glycerite needed to act as a preservative. For glycerites, be sure to mix the water and glycerite together before adding it to your herbs.

Pour your alcohol or glycerite over the herbs so that there is about ¾ of an inch of the menstruum floating above or below the herb. Let your extract brew for at least three weeks - I brew most of my extracts for a minimum of one complete moon cycle, but usually three moon cycles in total. Shake your extract daily and speak to it, charge it up with song, or keep it in a sacred spot in your home. Be especially mindful of glycerites and air bubbles which can lead to spoilage. When it is ready to be decanted, use a nut mylk bag (my favorite method), a fine mesh strainer, or cheesecloth to separate the extract from the plant material. I think it is important to respect the plant body remains and to compost it or add it back into the earth in some way. Now you have an extract! Extracts of both varieties are best stored in dark bottles away from direct sunlight and in a cool location. It is especially important to keep glycerites cool - I keep mine in the refrigerator. If you are not worried about keeping a glycerite alcohol-free you can always add in some alcohol during or after the brewing process. Honey and maple-syrup can be added, too, to alcohol extracts during or after the brewing process to sweeten the tincture. As for dosage, you should research what is the recommended dosage for your plant ally in your materia medicas. In my own practice, I use drop dosages, which is traditional within western herbalism, and in general recommend a dosage of 1 - 10 drops up to three times daily for many of my extracts.

Day 17: Meditate with your plant ally.

For those of you who practice mindfulness, meditation or other contemplative practices, or those of you who have been wanting to start a meditation practice, meditating with your plant ally will hopefully sound like an exciting endeavor. For those of you who read that line and thought, “I can’t meditate!” I would like to first reassure you that this is a common response to many folks who go on to find out that they can indeed meditate. Furthermore, we fall into meditative patterns every day without even knowing it. Have you ever daydreamed? You’ve meditated. Have you ever zoned out while walking, exercising or washing the dishes? You’ve meditated. Have you have taken a break from an overwhelming situation to close your eyes and take a deep breath? You’ve meditated. The folks who may not be able to meditate or should not meditate are those experiencing certain states of psychosis and should seek out the assistance of their health care team to figure out what is best for them and their health.

Meditating with plants is a gorgeous experience and I really encourage everyone to try it out. It can be as simple as sitting with your plant ally, either next to it in a physical context whether as a living plant or plant material such as the dried herb, an extract, oil, or tea, or visualizing the plant in your mind’s eye. You can close your eyes or softly gaze at the plant. Energetically greet the plant before beginning - ask to be invited into their space. Meditating with plants (heck, meditating with anyone!) is an opportunity to open up to the plant beyond the written or spoken world and into intuitive connectivity. You can spend just a few minutes meditating with a plant or a whole afternoon. Do what is comfortable and in a way that encourages openness and vulnerability between you and the plant. Afterwards, be sure to offer the plant something in thanksgiving, whether some water, a song, some sacred incense or another heart-centered gift.

Day 18: Find a poem, quote, song, painting, that embodies the quality of your plant ally.

After your meditation experience with your plant ally, you have hopefully received additional insight about the plant and your growing relationship. Spend some time today finding a poem, song, painting, or additional media that embodies the qualities of your plant ally. For example, I think the following poem by Mary Oliver speaks to the amazing gifts of Milky Oats (Avena sativa).

Wild Geese

You do not have to be good.
You do not have to walk on your knees
For a hundred miles through the desert, repenting.
You only have to let the soft animal of your body
love what it loves.
Tell me about your despair, yours, and I will tell you mine.
Meanwhile the world goes on.
Meanwhile the sun and the clear pebbles of the rain
are moving across the landscapes,
over the prairies and the deep trees,
the mountains and the rivers.
Meanwhile the wild geese, high in the clean blue air,
are heading home again.
Whoever you are, no matter how lonely,
the world offers itself to your imagination,
calls to you like the wild geese, harsh and exciting -
over and over announcing your place
in the family of things.

Mary Oliver

You might choose to keep the a copy of whatever you find on your altar or in a place in your house where you will see it often. Herbalism is not just a science - it is an art. It is through art that we can find profound healing and when we are artfully able to speak of our plant allies we move beyond the habit of “{x} plant does {this}” to “let me tell you a story of Chamomile, the littlest brightest sun.”

Day 19: Plant personalities. Who in your life is most like your plant?

In my personal materia medicas I include a section on the plant personality which describes both the personality of the plant, but also the personality of a person best served by the plant’s medicine. Chamomile (Matricaria recutita), for example, is a plant for a colic-y child (or adult) who complains of an upset stomach when their emotional world feels unbalanced. Elder (Sambucus nigra) is known as the Elder Mother in many European countries and she has a fiercely protective, no-nonsense personality so she is often good medicine for folks who have difficulty setting up boundaries and are invested in self-deluding practices that don’t serve their health and wellbeing.

Discovering plant personalities doesn’t always feel intuitive at first, but that is why it is good to reference back to the work you did on Day 14 when you learned about the emotional qualities of your plant ally. You might discover that you are the plant personality that your plant ally best serves or a close friend or family member. Plants come into our lives most often for a reason, even if we don’t understand for many years to come, and exploring plant personalities can be one way of discovering why we are drawn to our plant ally.

Day 20: Create your own folk name for your plant ally.

As discovered on Day 3, most plants have a few, if not a multitude, of common names. Create your own folk name for your plant ally based on your experience so far with them. They may have already shared a name that they like to be called with you. Have fun with it and reference back to Day 18 if you need further inspiration.

Bonus! Create a folk name for you.

Day 21: Read a new materia medica profile on your plant ally.

Today it is time to find a new materia medica profile to read about your plant ally because tomorrow you’ll start creating your own personal materia medica.

Day 22: Write a materia medica of your plant ally - Part 1

Whether or not you continue to write your own materia medicas throughout your practice, it is important to learn how to gather information on your plant ally, synthesize that information, and add your own experience and study to it. Reference your favorite materia medicas found in books and online for creating your own, including the type of information included, as well as formatting.  I've created a materia medica for Angelica (Angelica archangelica) as an example of how I typically create my plant profiles. For part one of your materia medica complete the following information about your plant ally:

• Name (folk + latin binomial)

• Habitat, Growing Conditions, and Harvesting

• Parts used of the plant for medicine-making

• Flavor

• Plant Constituents

Optional:

• Astrological information

• Energetics

Day 23: Write a materia medica of your plant ally - Part 2

Today you’ll continue to work on your materia medic, focusing on the heart of the materia medica.

• Herbal Actions

• Main Uses

Day 24: Write a materia medica of your plant ally - Part 3

Our final day of materia medica crafting!

• Magickal Uses

• Contraindications

• Drug interactions

• Dosage

Optional:

• Plant Personality

• Recipes + Charms that feature your plant ally

Day 25: Create a plant ally charm.

You’ve completed your materia medica, meditated with your plant ally, and learned about its many uses, now its time to stretch your magickal muscles and create a plant ally charm. You might choose to create a small herb bundle to wear around your neck or keep on your altar. You might make a charmed herb candle or an herbal dream pillow including your plant ally. Engage with your plant ally magickally and follow the path of enchantment that unfolds!

Day 26: Write a plant ally song or poem.

Take time today to write down a song or poem, whether short or long, for your plant ally. It may be a song of thanks or medicine-making. You might write a poem describing the plants healing qualities. Or a short rhyming verse calling on spirit of the plant. What do you want to say to your plant ally?

Day 27: Create a Plant Ally immersive experience.

You’ve created a charm and written your poem, now it is time to immerse yourself in the world of your plant ally. If appropriate, create a bath using your plant ally or bathe with them in your shower. You could also burn the plant as an incense and sit in meditation with them or create a room and body spray with the plant’s essential oil. If you are so inspired, create a ritual of connecting with your plant ally where in addition to the immersive experience, you speak aloud your poem, create medicine, and charge up your charm. The path you choose is up to you...

Day 28: Write about your unique ways of connecting with herbal medicine.

We are very near the end of our 30 day challenge. What have you learned about yourself and the ways that you connect with plant medicine? What has your plant ally taught you? Are you super exciting about creating plant medicines? Do you want to grow a garden of herbal wonder? One day do you think you want to serve others as an herbalist in a private or community practice? Describe what it is about your experience of herbal medicine that gets you excited.

Day 29: Write your values as an herbalist or user of plant remedies.

I think it is important to know and state your values as a humyn creature living on our ocean planet, especially when entering into a mindful relationship with the powers of the plant world. Spend today creating a set of values that describes who you are as an herbalist or user of plant remedies and how these inform the ways that you move through the world. You can read my values here.

Day 30: Review your month!

Wow! Congrats! You did it! Take time to review your month and take a look at all that you have accomplished. Make sure to leave a comment below about what plant ally you worked with and your experiences, including favorite recipes, herbal wisdom insights, and recommended reading.

Winter Wellness: Healing Herbs for the Dark of the Year

Ah, winter.

I really do love the dark of the year. Perhaps it is the winter fog rolling in from the shoreline. Or the quiet that snowfall can bring. Maybe it is because this is the time of year where getting introspective can feel so right. A time when lighting candles and pouring tea takes on a special glimmer.

And sometimes winter is hard. It is cold and dark and your car has become frozen in a block of ice. There are familial obligations that can be awkward at best and sometimes treacherous. We can get caught up in the flurry of doing as the seasons transition. For me, this winter holds a certain bittersweet sadness. I lost my beloved Grandpa earlier this year and not only will we be marking the first birthday of his without him, but all of our winter holiday-making will be somehow less bright. Which is ok. We have periods of sorrow in our lives which need as much space and care as those moments of profound joy. I have written about herbs for grief, heartache, and tragedy and these are herbs that remain close allies to me and my loved ones in this time of figuring out what we do with the spaces left behind by those who have been there for so very long.

Still, though, I really do love winter and the herbs I turn to again and again during the dark year. I have written about herbs for the Winter Solstice as well as recipes but I wanted to add to my list of winter-time herbs since there are so many excellent ones to choose from. Because that's what we fill those spaces with and those long winter nights - the love of steadfast companions, the joy of our wellness, and the curiosity of creatures wanting to learn more about our extraordinary planet we call home. Because my Grandpa, a Marine who wore holiday teddy-bear sweaters with puffy paint, who was gruff and grumpy, who could read your story in a handshake, and who loved wolves (the animal), jaguars (the car), and Star Trek (the best), would be asking for his "herbal drops" whether or not I was feeling winter joys or winter blues. Thanks, Grandpa, for keeping it all in big, wild, heart-centered perspective.

The following are some of my favorite herbs for the winter. If you're looking for further resources learn how to create your own home apothecary for the winter season or learn about herbal and magickal practices for winter. And if you're still thinking, heck I would love even more inspiration and recipes for the Winter Solstice, especially if it involves recipes inspired by Krampus and blends of great merriment, then access The Winter Apothecary ebook (and all of my ebooks) by becoming a patron.

Elderberries from wikipedia

Elder (Sambucus nigra) ♀♇

Folk names include: Tree of Medicine, Danewort, Fever tree, Hyldemoer

Uses: The list is long but includes alterative, anti-inflammatory, antiviral, digestive, expectorant, rejuvenative, vulnerary.

Contraindications: Excess fresh berries can have a laxative effect. While Sambucus nigra is generally safe, other varieties of Sambucus are poisonous, so properly identify before using.

Elder is a delicious winter remedy. I use the berries and flowers in my Cauldron Polish Cold Care Elixir and the flowers make an incredibly delicious glycerite. The herb has a big reputation as an amazing healer and the Elder Mother lives up to her reputation. Elder is effective in bringing relief when winter colds and the 'flu has come to visit, as the plant is powerfully antiviral. The berries and flowers are diaphoretic and diuretic which means they help us to release toxins and as an alterative they assist the body in returning to homeostasis. Elder is drying, too, without being too warming. The flowers, taken internally as an alcohol extract or glycerite, are especially useful in cases of ear infection. British herbalist, Andrew Chevallier, recommends Elder flower combined with Wood Betony (Stachys officinalis) for headaches that come about because of the cold or a chill.

If you are brave (or foolish) enough to sit under an Elder Tree on an important night of the year (namely, Midsummer and Samhain), you just might see the Good Folk march by in all of their finery. The spirit of the Elder is a gatekeeper between the realms of life and death - she is fiercely protective and very no-nonsense. Burning Elder wood is considered very unlucky but it can be worn as an amulet for protection (especially against lightening which apparently was something to be really worried about back in the days when these charms were being written down in old grimoires and herbals). The herb planted in front of the home or used in charms keeps away harmful and unkind spirits.

I think Elder is really useful as a preventative tonic - it is such an appealing flavor that it can be added to teas, made into syrups and electuaries, and made into a simple jam. I don't think I've ever used Elder as an alcohol extract because it is such a pleasure to use otherwise, but if you do prefer alcohol extracts, standard dosages apply. Remember, a dose of Elder a day keeps disgruntled yetis away.

Peppermint (Mentha spp.) ☿ ☽

Fok names include: Lammint and Brandy Mint.

Uses: Analgesic, analstetic, anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, carminative, digestive, emmenagogue, expectorant, vasodilator.

Contraindications: Avoid during acute gallstone attack.

Soothing but enlivening, I really enjoy a good cup of mint tea any time of the day. The scent, taste, and healing qualities clears the head, clearing the cobwebs from the corners of our minds. I use peppermint most often in digestive blends when the stomach is cramping (combine with Fennel (Foeniculum officinale) for a simple and sweet tasting digestive tea). Peppermint is also useful in cases of nausea, gas, and general indigestion.  Additionally, I use it quite often in cold and 'flu blends for its antiviral, clearing, and calming qualities. Combine with Elecampane to assist in clearing up unproductive and phlegm-y coughs. Deb Soule recommends preparing a hot tea of Peppermint combined with Yarrow (Achillea millefolium), Elder Flowers, and Catnip as an old-time and effective remedy for bringing down fever.

Topically, Peppermint is soothing to sore muscles as a compress and can also be used in steams to clear sinuses, ease asthma, and to ground a shocked system. It makes a great addition to all natural and mouth washing blends as well as in toothpaste powder blends. Use a cool compress for rashes and hives, to bring relief to the feverish, and to smell really nice.

Peppermint is used in all sorts of ways in magickal work from blends to induce visions to love spells and healing charms. I like Peppermint in money and abundance charms - the herb grows abundant and once it takes root it is there for good - definitely a good quality when it comes to prosperity! The plant is guarded by Mercury which makes sense given its use for both enlivening and soothing the senses as well as clearing stagnation. I also place Peppermint under the guardianship of Moon not just because of its digestive-emotive qualities, but it's cool, fresh taste is silvery and quick.

I think tea is the most pleasant way to enjoy Peppermint. Fresh mint and honey makes a delicious syrup, so you should probably do that, too. Alcohol extracts are standard dosage if you prefer such a route.

Elecampane Root (Inula helenium) ☉☿ ♅

Folk names include: Elfwort, Horse Heal, Wild Sunflower, Scabwort, Velvet Dock.

Uses: Expectorant, digestive, diaphoretic, carminative, mood enhancer.

Contraindications: Do not take if pregnant or breastfeeding. Do not use externally if there is history of allergic contact dermatitis.

The yellow flowered Elfwort is primarily used as a warming lung tonic and it is an excellent winter ally when bronchial complaints of the damp variety are around. I'll admit that I was first attracted to learning more about Elecampane because it had a common name of Elfwort and an association with Witches. It has since become a consistent ally in my Apothecary. You'll notice that the Latin binomial includes helenium which has been said to be linked to Helen of Troy, the yellow flowers supposedly represent her tears. So, we have a plant that is a lung tonic and possesses a story of tears. It is good to know then, that the lungs are energetically the seat of sorrow and grief. Sometimes, when sorrow or grief is unexpressed it can transform into weakness or health imbalances in the lungs. Elecampane's myth tells us then about it's energetic and medicinal signature - it is a plant fit for damp lung complaints, but especially where sorrow and grief is present. Breathlessness, wheezing, asthma and migraines brought on by the cold, and a wet cough are all signs that Elecampane may be useful. The herb loosens phlegm and soothes irritated respiratory passages. The herb can be used both for acute complaints and as a preventative tonic.

Traditionally, herbalists like Hildegard von Bingen have recommended Elecampane be prepared as a wine extract and, in general the plant is well prepared as a sweet cordial or digestive blend for before and after meals. As a digestive herb, Elecampane is useful in cases of sluggish, cold, and weak digestion, relieving gas and gently stimulating digestion. Additionally, Elecampane brightens the mood, especially of those who are given to a nervous disposition. The herb has historically been used topically for skin complaints such as acne as well as hip pain, including sciatica, and the bites of insects and snakes.

Magickally, the herb is used in protection sachet against harmful energy - especially ill energy brought in by cold winds. As a wort of Elves, it protects against the more mischievous energy of our Hidden Kin, creating a shield against elf-shots and similar unpleasantries. You can also use the herb to enhance your psychic visions and to bring true love your way. Elecampane is said to be guarded by the Sun, Mercury, and/or Uranus depending, and each makes sense. The Sun not only because of Elecampane's yellow and bright flowers, but because it is warming and assists with overall heat and vitality in the body. Elecampane's Mercurial energy appears in it's drying abilities and usefulness for those who tend towards nervousness and are poorly affected by the cold, while Uranus speaks to Elecampane's ability to balance conditions of digestion, circulation, and the erratic nature of elf-shots. Read more about Elecampane and its healing qualities.

The root can be used in a decoction and sweetened with honey. More commonly, the alcohol extract is used (1:2 fresh or 1:6 dried) and dosage ranges. If you are using Elecampane as a tonic and preventative, I would recommend lower doses of 1 - 10 drops daily, while with chronic complaints the dosage can be increased to up to 30 - 40 drops up to 4 times daily. Personally, I recommend low drop dosages, but follow your training and body's needs.

🎄

I hope you enjoyed meeting these winter plant allies! I’ve written a lot about winter wellness, herbs of the season, and more since writing this post in 2014 so be sure to check out the following posts if you’re looking for extra inspiration:

• How to Create a Winter Wellness Apothecary

• Healing & Magickal Practices for Winter

• Winter Warmer: A Gentle Adaptogenic Tea

• Darkest Night: A Winter Solstice Spread

• A Might-Do List for Yule

Wherever the season takes you may it be full of merriment and joy!

Quickening: Herbs of Imbolc

Whenever I sit to think about a wheel of the year festival, nearly every time I'll find myself thinking, "Ah, [insert festival name] is one of my favorite festivals." Now, it is quite likely that all the festivals have been at one time or another my favorite - it is far more likely, if I'm honest, that they are simply all my favorite at once.

So, let me tell you why, right now, Imbolc is one of my favorite festivals of the year.

I begin dreaming about Imbolc around Samhain when, with my beloved community, I celebrate the new year. As part of my new year festivities I think of what I hope to learn and sink deep into with the coming year. I take these ideas with me down the inward spiral towards the Winter Solstice, shedding some, keeping others, realizing what my commitment my require and how I need to prepare myself. By the time Imbolc comes around my dreams are firmly stirring in my belly, my central core, and I am ready to make the vows of my practice for the coming year, until next Imbolc comes round. I love making vows - I do not make them often, nor lightly, but I find them freeing when I am able to speak of what I am seeking, who I wish to grow into, and how I am planning on remaining accountable - I get excited about the adventure ahead.

What about the plantfolk of Imbolc?

The word Imbolc is from the Gaelic for "in the belly" and speaks of the promise of spring, even when winter lingers. Think of the earth stretching before arising from her winter bed and her blood warming beneath her skin of soil. Astrologically, Imbolc marks the halfway point between the Winter Solstice and the Spring Equinox at 15 degrees Aquarius. In astroherbology, Aquarius guards body systems such as the lower legs, including calves and ankles, electrical impulses of the nervous system, the adrenal system, and the circulation of blood. We now have a few clues as to what plantfolk we might call upon around the time of Imbolc, including grounding nervines, nourishing adrenal tonics, and blood-strengthening herbs.

NETTLES (Urtica dioica) I came to know Nettles when living in Portland, ME (If you've never been, you should go. I'll wait here, no worries.). It was through Deb Soule of Avena Botanicals, both in her writings and meeting her in person, that I learned about these stinging jewels as a nourishing daily tonic. Nettles restore vitality, help us adapt to stress, lend their gentle cleansing quality to promote healthy hair and skin, and are useful for easing symptoms of seasonal allergies. I've found Nettles to be very strengthening to the adrenals, especially when burnout has already occurred or someone is on the verge of burnout. Kiva Rose specifically recommends Nettle Seeds as an adrenal tonic. Nettle leaf is particularly accessible with its mild taste, and who doesn't love a cup of beautifully green goodness? Nettles are drying, fiery, and help to build and cleanse the blood which is why, along with their adrenal tonic qualities, I find them to be a great herb for the Imbolc season. Sometimes Nettles are used in traditional sauna settings, where they are bundled into switches either alone or with other medicinal plants such as Birch, and hit on the body to invigorate the skin, bring blood to the surface, and transfer the greening vigor of the plant to the body of the person being whacked. And, yup, for those of you following along you'll see that I also recommend Nettles as a Spring Equinox herb - it's just that good. Magickally, Nettles add energy to ritual and spellwork, act as a protective barrier, can be used to bless ritual tools like the athame, and the herb is guarded by the planet Mars.

MACA (Lepidium Meyenii) I realize that Maca has appeared more than once as a recommended herb on our little blog and, guess what, we're talking about the tuber again for the season of Imbolc. Maca is excellent for the adrenals, helps the blood breathe, wakes up our metabolism, assists in mental clarity, and is one of my favorite adaptogens. The tuber is very nutritious containing an array of vitamins and minerals. Think about how you're feeding your body after the sojourn of winter - Imbolc calls us to cleanse, wake up mindfully, and give our bodies simple but strengthening food.  Some folks don't like the taste of Maca, but sometimes what has happened is that a Maca concoction, whether a hot chocolate with Maca in it or a raw chocolate bar containing Maca has been allowed to sit too long and the Maca has gone bitter and very drying. Maca concoctions should be consumed soon after they are prepared before the taste of the herb goes off.

GINGER (Zingiber officinalis) Imbolc is a fire festival, so we must have a fiery and warming herb (compared to our fiery but cooling herb, Nettles) such as Ginger as part of our festivities. Another sturdy root, Ginger warms where their is cold, from tense muscles to general chilliness. If you have chronic cold feet and hands, consider a hot foot and hand soak with fresh Ginger. Divine! Ginger moves the blood, stimulates digestion, and can be used as a fresh compress on cold muscles and on the chest in cases of stagnation, helping to break up mucus. Where sluggishness dwells, think of using Ginger, whether it is sluggishness in a specific organ or a general energetic slowness. Matthew Wood shares a piece of wisdom from Margi Flint about Ginger connecting birthing folks to their children and encourages those present at the labor to share in drinking Ginger tea to promote a sense of connection with the labor. At Imbolc we connect to the land in labor and a piece of Ginger on your Imbolc altar can symbolize the child of spring about to be born.

LEMON VERBENA (Aloysia citriodora) Flower Essence

I recommend Lemon Verbena to many folks who either have their Sun or Moon in Aquarius, however, it can be useful for many folks at Imbolc since it is an essence that brings out the best of our exuberance, vitality, and encourages us to live life with bucketloads of laughter. As an Aquarian plant, Lemon Verbena helps us to break through outmoded forms of thinking that have led to conflict, stagnation, and resistance in our lives. Medicinally, Lemon Verbena is antispasmodic and is especially useful for cramping stomachs brought on by emotional tension. It is cooling and calming, soothing both to the nerves and helpful in the dispersal of fevers.

MANZANITA (Arctostaphylos spp.) Flower Essence

A sturdy plant, Manzanita is an excellent essence of integration, specifically the the integration of spirit with matter. The dark half of the year can be very inward-focused and sometimes we travel so far inward we seem to flow beyond the material into the galactic. Imbolc calls us back out after the journey inward. Manzanita helps us to anchor back to the physicality of the present, the changing season, and the importance of giving our spirit a rooted compass so we don't lose our sense of self. Our friend Manzanita helps to restore faith in our body - so many of us struggle with disordered ways of understanding our body that can lead to self-loathing and low self-esteem. The plant is particular powerful when supporting those working through and recovering from eating disorders. Manzanita reminds us that we are not broken and while our bodies can feel challenging, we can reside in them on our terms, with beauty and purpose and compassion.

Evergreens such as Pine and Cedar are also welcome during the Imbolc season, helping us to release the last remnants of bronchial complaints, rebalance our nervous system, and bring warmth to our bones. Also, consider Flower Essences such as Snowdrop and Daffodil which both appear around Imbolc, harkening the early approach of spring.

I wish everyone a bright and blessed Imbolc! May your light be bright, may your community be strong, + may the promise of awakening earth enliven your spirit!

The Quick + Clever : Lemongrass

A home surrounded by Lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratum) is protected from snakes. Lemongrass clears the aura of harmful energy and changes bad luck to good, opening the way up to success and good opportunities. Add Lemongrass to blends to promote psychic vision and for the success of divination as the herb will also add clarity to the messages being received and given.

Lemongrass folks need to find their luck again. They may stumble over their words, feeling inadequate when it comes to articulate their feelings, ideas, and ambitions. Sometimes they resort to being dishonest, even when they are just little white lies, in an attempt to break through what can feel like a communication barrier. Lemongrass folks both struggle to communicate and to receive messages - sometimes they can be sharp going after the messenger and end up not paying attention to the actual message. Dampness and inflammation (the Damp/Stagnation tissue state) is a common complaint often materializing as sluggishness and a feeling of swelling. When Lemongrass folks are able to dry out and claim the beneficial qualities of their blocked Mercurial energies, their communication becomes unblocked, their become more flexible in mind and body, and are able to become messengers themselves.

Most folks are familiar with Lemongrass as a culinary ingredient that is found in many southeast Asian dishes like Tom Kha (yum!). While I'll be discussing Lemongrass from a primarily Traditional Western Herbalism (TWH) perspective, I encourage you to explore the ancient and diverse cultures of southeast Asian herbal traditions that have long used Lemongrass as a standard herb in their Apothecary traditions including, but certainly not limited to, the Jamu healing traditions of Indonesia, Ramuan of Malaysian, and as well as Thai herbal healing traditions.

Lemongrass makes a wonderful tea and eases indigestion with its sweet lemony taste and delightful fragrance. The herb also has constituents that protect against blood platelet aggregation, protecting against clots. In TWH Lemongrass is typically classified as a cool and dry herb, so it would be helpful in addressing Hot and Damp tissue states. I have seen, however, Lemongrass categorized as hot and dry in Malaysian practice. For me, Lemongrass has less of a refrigerant quality as it is gently calming but has a taste that contains a fiery edge within it (like a combination of mild ginger and lemon). Depending on what herbs it is combined with you can pull out Lemongrass' cooling or heating qualities. As a drying herb, soundly in the element of Air and under the guardianship of Mercury, there is a quality of cleverness and dry wit to Lemongrass that underlies its initial sweet taste and scent. Lemongrass is both one thing and then the other, which lends it to being a useful herb when transitions and initiations are occurring in your life and you are taking up new identities, especially when these identity shifts are accompanied by the change of physical appearance.

There are some very early studies that Lemongrass may induce apoptosis in some types of cancer which essentially means that the cancer cells destroy themselves. Some folks have begun to use the herb as a cancer preventative and I find that it is a great addition to your rotation of daily teas to keep your cells happy and healthy. The herb is used as well for common household complaints such as colds, the 'flu, fevers, insomnia, and diarrhea (remember it is drying and an astringent). The flavor of Lemongrass helps "the medicine go down" so to speak, as its sweet flavor can alleviate some of the stronger tastes of other necessary medicinal herbs (another Mercurial quality of delivering what can feel like difficult and challenging, but very necessary, messages).

The essential oil is used as a disinfectant, containing antiviral, antibacterial, and antifungal properties. Add a few drops to your countertop cleaners for a good scent and swift action against bacteria!

Topically, Lemongrass has many uses from reducing inflammation, treating boils, cuts, wounds, as well as helping swollen gums. The herb is used in prenatal massage blend oils as part of the Ramuan or Malaysian tradition of herbal healing as well as being used in postpartum baths to promote healing by reducing swelling and promoting blood circulation. I have made a gorgeous smelling herbal oil by infusing coconut oil with fresh Lemongrass and then adding drops of Lemongrass essential oil (check out my Herbal Oil Tutorial). I use it for conditions of inflamed tissue such as lower back strain, tendonitis, and assisting in repairing connective tissue tears. Lemongrass is also an insect repellant, so you can take care of your aching muscles after a long day outside without having to continuously swat away those biting bugs!

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Connecting With Our Plant Allies

One of the most common emails I get (besides “Who are you and where do you come up with the names behind your products?! Zombie bait, what?!”) are ones that ask me about my path of becoming an herbologist and how to start working with herbs. I wrote about 10 ways to start your herbal studies, but I wanted to focus more in-depth on a subject central to the craft of the herbologist – cultivating our relationship with the plant medicine.

As I suggested in the previous post about herbal studies, I recommend starting with one herb. You do not have to work exclusively with only one herb, but choose to work with one herb consistently for an entire year. You should, though, spend at least some time working only with that herb in order to understand its full complexity. You may choose to work with an herb that you already feel a resonance with or something that you spot growing down the street from you. You may dream of an herb, study a plant that has a long history of significant use within your culture or choose an herb that may have a beneficial impact on a particular health imbalance. The importance of working with one herb regularly for an extended length of time is manifold:

• Many herbs are best able to impart their healing qualities over the long term when used consistently in small doses.
• Just as it takes time to build meaningful relationships with humyns, so too does it take time to build honest relationships with plants.
• If you are able to grow or find the herb in the wild, observing its physical journey through the year provides us with many lessons about its medicinal uses and magickal gifts.
• Finally, commitment is an excellent skill to be practiced by the herbologist.

In my own practice, both personal and professional, I work with a handful of herbs at a time, and while I enjoy a complex tea blend or a raw cacao concoction with multiple herbs dancing in wild harmony, when I am learning about a plant or dealing with a chronic health imbalance, I generally stick to one or two herbs. We are in the midst of an herb revival within North America, as well as many other parts of the western world, and that means that there is an abundance of information and access to a wide array of plant medicine. I tend to think that we will learn more about ourselves and the plant medicine we are interacting with if we treat our practice with the rhythm of a slow, regular tea time conversation as opposed to a social media aggregate of endless stream of herbs shuffling through our lives at a rapid pace.[1]

It is pleasurable and useful to recognize the affects of individual plant medicines on our mind, body, and spirit. Working with one or two herbs at a time allows for greater clarity and distinction between the subtleties of difference between herbs with similar healing qualities. Moving steadily in our relationship with plant medicines, we begin to build our knowledge of the energetic signatures of herbs along with their physical qualities. These energetic signatures combined with their physical qualities is one reason why one herb will be so successful for Person A, but seem to have little affect for Person B in a similar situation. Valerian (Valeriana officinalis), Skullcap (Scutellaria lateriflora), and Tulsi (Ocimum sanctum) are all remedies for migraines, for example, but each have unique energy signatures that affect our physical, emotional, and mental systems differently.

As you begin working with a chosen plant medicine (whether you chose them or they chose you), I offer the following considerations for your journey together, based on the idea of recognition, engagement, and kinship.

Recognition

• Recognize your needs.
  • What our your needs, wants, and desires in your relationship with the plant medicine?
  • Are you seeking a cure or kinship?
  • Recognize the plant’s needs.
    • What are the needs, wants, and desires of the plant both within and apart from the relationship you are seeking from it?
      • If you are growing the herb, what are its growing needs? How is it sustainably harvested and/or wildcrafted?
      • Create a supportive environment for the plant to express itself to you.
      • Be able to identify the physical and energetic characteristics of the plant as it grows, how it tastes, smells, and feels.

Engagement

• We must be accountable to our interdependence with the plant world and how we engage plant medicine is a reflection of our understanding of our interdependence.
• Maintain a willingness to experience the world from the plant’s perspective. In turn we are better able to empathize with those we serve as herbologists and healers.
• Engage with your plant ally every day, every night, whether greeting them in your garden, meditating with them, using them as internal or external medicine, and/or some other practice.
  • Learn about the historical, mythological, and modern uses of the plant medicine.
  • Sing sacred songs, draw, write poetry, dance, and engage in pleasurable experiences with your plant.
  • How do you and the plant make medicine?
    • When you harvest the herb, when do you do it, where do you do it, and how do you do it? When you purchase it, how do you do it, and from whom?
    • Try creating different types of medicines – from teas to tinctures – with the plant.

Kinship

• As you work with a plant ally, you become accountable to one another.
  • How do you remain honest with yourself and your plant ally on your healing journey?
  • How do you create sustainable structures of healing whether through the principles of permaculture, mindful wildcrafting, social justice organizing or similar practices of interconnectedness?
  • How do you honor the medicine of your plant ally?
    • Perhaps as a herbologist, storyteller, medicine-maker, teacher, ritual-facilitator, rabble-rouser, or heart-opener?

Each of us will engage our herbal practice with different insights, experiences, and personal skills that shape every aspect of our lives and relationships. As an herbologist, with my experiences as a Pagan, queer, feminist, multi-racial, tea-loving womyn living in the United States with the myriad of privileges I have and lack access to, my relationships with my plant allies is rooted in these experiences - a foundation of legacy and futuredreaming. The process of working with plant medicines is about learning the ways that I may help facilitate healing between plant and people and creature, but also is about my own personal journey and how I relate to the world within and around me.

I hope that your own journey with the plants of our ocean planet is sweet, challenging, ecstatic, luminous, and balancing, and that you grow in your own wild and greening healing energy.

Be well, clever friends!

[1] Can we take a moment to imagine the Twitter account or Tumblr of some of our favorite plant medicines? Hawthorn will always be posting the latest heart-warming video about puppies, while Cacao keeps posting an endless stream of abstract party photos involving a lot of nudity, and Elder’s stream would be sorta spooky, badass, and intriguing.