::right now::

Right now, I am...

:: welcoming in the spring by opening all the windows and doors.

:: thinking over the recent housing mess and knowing that we won't be renters forever.

:: wearing a floral thrift store skirt and two headscarves.  Fancy!

:: considering new semi-regular blog post topics that will combine my love of radical feminist history and tea.

:: hoping that the whether will remain nice and cool for a little while longer.

:: loving the smell of orange blossoms outside our front and back door.

:: singing songs of spring! For She will bring the buds in the spring and laugh amidst the flowers...

:: laughing at the inexhaustible presence of joy in our lives if we just take part in its effervescent laughter!

:: enjoying quite hours in a quiet house.

:: smiling at my puppy who is covered in bits of flowers and leaves after time spent dutifully exploring what the winds have stirred up in our backyard adventure park.

:: deciding what recipes to invest more time in next - Chai blends?  Cacao creations?  Special oils blends for wellness?

:: feeling excited by the arrival of family later this week and going to the RV show!

:: readying myself for that same RV show and the strong urge to get on the road now.

:: brewing teas for fertility and to support all different sorts of reproductive bits.

:: considering the all important question of what color to paint my nails - and then back to the issue of neighborhood peace, city peace, state peace, country peace, and eventually, of course, world peace.  But first, the nails.

:: working on that same Materia Medica for Borage (Borago officinalis).

:: reading new herb books that I got for my birthday (and have been checking out of the library for years):  A City Herbal by Maida Silverman, Encyclopedia of Herbal Medicine by Andrew Chevallier, and The Book of Herbal Wisdom by Matthew Wood.

:: listening to my birthday mix still.  Birthday month dance party!

:: grateful for the incredible support of folks who are experiencing similar struggle as us and yet, without hesitation, offer more than we could ever ask for.

:: remembering that the promise of spring is a gift freely given and one that should be freely received.

:: feeling all sorts of good stretch and soreness by a regular yoga practice made possible by an early birthday gift.

:: wanting to say thanks for the ever-growing support of our quirky Apothecary.

:: wishing everyone a moment today to know balance as we step firmly into spring.

Spring Equinox: Herbs of Balance

The Spring Equinox is the promise of Imbolc finally come!  We are in a time with the wheel of the year turning with wind, often rain, the last chill breath of winter, but also bud, flower, and bird song.  Today also marks the time when night greets day as an equal and then retreats back to let the hours of light grow longer and longer.  As with the Autumnal Equinox, the early spring is an excellent time to strengthen the body’s natural abilities of wellness and health through gentle cleansing of our winter body into a spring one.

The early spring is a good time to turn our attention to our liver and our gallbladder.  The liver is our body’s largest internal organ and a great deal of our body’s detoxifying processes happen through the liver.  As the life warms to the surface of our greening planet, so too does our body’s energy and blood warm to our own skin’s surface.  Our liver cleanses our blood of impurities and distributes nourishment throughout our body.

Our gallbladder stores and secretes bile to help us digest nourishment from our food.  An imbalanced gallbladder can lead to flatulence, gallstones, and general indigestion, and it is important to consider our mental and emotional health, especially our stress levels, when supporting our gallbladder.

There are many herbal allies that we might find useful in supporting the liver and gallbladder.  Take time to learn what herbs best fit your constitution in order to get the most benefit from the medicine our green allies have to offer as well as build a more meaningful relationship to the plant kingdom.

DANDELION ROOT, LEAF + FLOWER Taraxacum officinale: A classic, long-used, and well-regarded remedy of the liver, Dandelion makes its triumphant spring return on hillsides and through cracks in the pavement.  A blood purifier and tonic, Dandelion disperses excess heat that can manifest as inflammation, indigestion, meanness, and anger.  Dandelion helps to increase the production and distribution of bile.  I like using the leaf especially when there is water retention present.  A remedy particularly suited for those who are experiencing sluggishness with moments of intense anger and irritation.  Read our full Dandelion Plant Profile.

BURDOCK ROOT Arctium lappa: An excellent cleansing herb that is skilled at removing excess waste products from the body, including heavy metals.  The root is bitter, sweet, and oily, and, therefore, wonderful for treating imbalances of the liver and gallbladder where indigestion and constipation are present.  A good remedy for those whose skin is dry and flaky and prone to skin problems like acne and rashes and who may also have issues with blood sugar imbalances.

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NETTLES Urtica dioica: Ah!  Everyone should be taking Nettles – ok, I know, not everyone, but gosh darn it they are pretty good medicine.  Young spring Nettles are exceptionally potent medicine for waking our bodies up from their winter respite by jogging our muscles, filling us with vitamins and minerals, and generally returning life to our aching joints.  It helps the liver build blood proteins which helps transport nutrients throughout the body and also support a healthy immune system.  A person whom Nettles may be a good remedy might be experiencing hair loss, brittle nails, dull skin, anemia, and, in general, seems to be in a state of stagnation.

Try using these plant allies as teas, tinctures, essences, in baths, hang them about your home and carry them with you to imbue your senses with balance, your spirit with the grace of changing.

Birthday Dance!

It's my birthday today and there is going to be plenty of dancing!  To aid you in your grooving I've put together a short pre-dance dance party mix that you can download here.  If you like what you hear support the artists by buying their music!

Birthday Dance Playlist

If The Kids Are United - The Duke Spirit Tine Bealtaine - Omnia  Dog Days Are Over (An Optimo (Espacio) Remix) - Florence + The Machine Selfmachine - I Blame Coco I Feel It In My Bones - Tiësto (Feat. Tegan & Sara) In Spirit Golden - I Blame Coco Stars 4-Ever - Robyn Tea Party - Kerli 

Use the coupon code "BIRTHDAYWORT" to receive 20% off your purchases today in both our Etsy and PoppySwap shop!

Courage, Parents, Courage!

The process of bringing a new baby into the world is a process of unfolding, expansion, and great change.  Many parents experience a broad range of emotions from elation to fear, joy, uncertainty, and sadness that are all part of the very normal and quite extraordinary journey of parenthood.  Blue Skies Postpartum Courage Blend can help lend courage to the heart and strength to the mind.

For those parents in particular who are experiencing a bit of the postpartum blues, Blue Skies may help to alleviate mild issues of baby blues, anxiety, exhaustion, and the feeling of being overwhelmed with all the changes birth and baby bring.  Blue Skies pairs well with any of our Flower + Gem Essences, so please peruse those listings to see which Essence may best suit your needs.

For serious cases of Postpartum Depression, always consult with your health practitioner and find support with friends, family, and community.  Sadness is a normal human experience, but it shouldn’t have to be faced alone, so always seek help and assistance if you are feeling depressed or overwhelmed.

LEMON BALM Melissa officinalis: Uplifts the spirits through alleviating melancholy and helping new parents adjust to the changes in their lives.

BORAGE Borago officinalis: Instills courage (what parent doesn't need a bit of that?), increases milk flow if breastfeeding, relieves depression, reduces inflammation, and contains calcium and essential fatty acids.

ROSEMARY Rosmarinus officinalis: Tones the liver, has antidepressant properties and also assists with breastfeeding.

OATS Avena sativa: Nourishing to body, mind, and spirit.

SKULLCAP Scutellaria lateriflora: Soothing, anxiety relieving, and particularly strengthening to the nervous system with extended use.

Our Blue Skies Postpartum Courage Tea Blend can be purchased in our PoppySwap or Etsy Shop.

::right now::

Right now, I am...

:: amazed at the glow of desert colors.

:: thinking about what the next month will look like with so many unexpected changes happening in our household.

:: wearing pants with flowers on them.  Everyone should have a pair.

:: considering moving the family to the woods in Vermont, but knowing we could end up anywhere.

:: hoping that I can have as much strength of love that my Grandparents have - they just celebrated 65 years together!

:: loving the unabashed kindness of a puppy kiss.

:: laughing at the notion of anything more stable than change.  It is the month of the Storm Moon and the winds have moved in!

:: enjoying every precious moment I have in this wee Apothecary of ours.

:: smiling at small mint seedlings chattering in the windowsill and appreciating the incredible one who grew them.

:: deciding on what tea I will be serving at tonight's Clever Hedgehog School of Herbology class.

:: feeling a bit stretched, a bit sore, and beautifully alive.

:: readying myself for a big spring leap and all the excitement that brings!

:: brewing Slipper Elm Ulmus rubra for a new salve.  Remember those vending machines where you could get little containers of florescent goo?  The oil sorta has a texture like that - cool!

:: considering

:: working on my Materia Medica for Borage Borago Officinalis.  Can we all take a moment to appreciate the gift of courage that Borage brings?

:: watching the wind push trees, birds, and dust.

:: listening to that same wind rattle walls and windows.

:: grateful for my beloved, sturdy bike and my beloved, sturdy Dandelion companions.

:: remembering the way forward.

:: feeling a need to clean for spring.  The itch started last night and this Virgo Full Moon has pushed the urge into full swing.

:: wanting to spend more time with one of my incredible housemates who is leaving tomorrow on a new adventure!

:: wishing everyone a fulfilling week!