Craving Miracles: On Healing + Expectation

"May I, can I, or have I too often?
Craving miracles...
May I, can I, or have I too often now?
Craving miracles, Craving miracles..."
Thunderbolt by Bjork

In the overculture of the United States there is a big business of constructing, marketing, and administering magic pills that will cure us of our ills (if only to plague us with a long list of not-so-nice side effects).  I think that the quest for that magic pill promoted by profit-driven pharmaceutical framework takes advantage of a deeper craving held by many humyn creatures for the miraculous, the uncanny, the infusion of mundanity with mysticism.  As a herbologist and someone who works as a facilitator between humyn and plant cultures, I feel that part of my work is to facilitate the re-enchantment of the lives of those folks who have fallen out of rhythm with their own mystery.  When someone comes to me seeking a cure, miraculous or not, I begin the process of sharing with folks what I can offer by ways of the mysterious and not-so-mysterious, and hopefully we find the common ground needed for us to work together.

In my practice, I recognize that part of our healing work is an inward-gazing journey investigating lineages of bloodlines, trauma, assimilation, isolation, the hurried flight of an endangered soul, and the ways we compartmentalize our experiences to survive.  Another part of inhabiting our wellness turns the gaze outwards to the cultures we were raised in, the bioregions we were grown in, the ones we live in currently, how we relate to others, and the ways the world may seem duller than those burstingbright moments when we might have believed in it all, however fleeting or far-between those pieces may be flung on our path.  Each of us is an ongoing expression of existence, a sort of embodied oral tradition, with our stories communicated through the lines of our bodies, their shapes, colors, textures, temperatures, and temperaments.  Everyone's journey holds stories of the miraculous and it is those kinds of miracles that I try to guide the cravings for cures into the desire to make the journey of wellness, however uncertain and clouded.

On the path of the miraculous, my approach to healing is rooted in the idea of engagement, which includes the values of accountability (to self and others), sustainability (of environment, culture, practice, and relationships), and mindful cultivation of the revolution of evolution (we grow as individuals, evolve as a community).  In a framework of engagement the practice of blame (which I find to be a common infestation of the pharmaceutical miracle market) is an unnecessary and rather harmful tool that has a tendency for folks to adopt mindsets of believing that “the illness is my fault” or their bodies/minds/emotions are somehow “broken” and they need something outside of themselves to “fix” the problem.[1]  While there is always time for discussion of how previous choices or environments may have led to certain aspects of illness, I try to guide folk’s healing narratives beyond the role of victim while still keeping space for stories of victimization and especially of survival.  Through engagement of personal stories, a shift of perspectives takes place, allowing for a new narrative to emerge: the knowing of how I seek my wellbeing is my responsibility along with a  growing sense of empowerment to be nurtured, sparked, and re-inspired throughout the journey of wellness.

The green growing ones are ever present through our work. Engagement opens the heart to building relationships with the allies of your healing journey. We begin to engage with the miraculous that resides within, without, and between all things, including our green allies who can help to relieve the symptoms of dis-ease and also guide us to the core imbalance. What is more miraculous than our own powers of healing and the healing powers of plants working together towards a common goal of wholeness?

The philosophies of practice I hold and continue to evaluate and expand upon are informed by my own spiritual work which is guided by a whole lot of magickal thinking – another post for another time. For now I will finish my exploration of the miraculous by sharing with you the tender spot in my wee heart for the mystics among us who attempt to articulate the ecstatic, knowing that it will always be imperfect, and hoping that nonetheless it will induce a sense of bliss. Saint Hildegard von Bingen was prolific in her visions and a woman of many skills, including being a wonderful herbalist.  While her mysticism is steeped in a Christian worldview, albeit a rather rogue and feminist Christian perspective, I find her words to be the sort of miracles I seek in my own life.

A human being is a vessel that God has built for himself and filled with his inspiration so his works may be perfected in it. Hildegard von Bingen, letter to Elisabeth of Schönau, c. 1152

What I love about the quote above, especially after I apply a panentheist twist of that we are both God/dess and God/dess is independent of us, is that we are our own journeys of perfection.  We have what we need to be whole and to revel in that wholeness in our continuous cultivation of health and wellbeing.While not as eloquent as Hildegard’s original words, my own take on her verse would be:

A humyn being is a vessel that our Love/God/dess has built for ourselves and filled with our inspiration so that our works are perfected in it.

That is the miracle.

[1] I do, however, hold space for folks who follow religious traditions that do place responsibility for illness on the person who is unwell due to previous transgressions.  In these cases I still encourage a focus on present accountability to seeking wellness while acknowledging a person’s need to address previous actions of wrongdoing.

The Clarifying Beat: Eucalyptus

from botanical.com

The dancing trees of the Eucalyptus are unmistakeable in their form and scent.  As medicine the Eucalpytus tree, specifically its essential oils and leaves, has been used as a plant of healing and purification for a very significant part of our humyn history.  The tree is said to guard against all forms of illness and the leaves are useful when placed in the body of a healing poppet.  Hand a branch of Eucalyptus above one who is afflicted with illness to bring about a speedy recovery.  Wear the pods of the Eucalyptus as charms of protection.

Whenever I think of Eucalyptus I think of koala bears (more on that later), but more importantly, dancing.  The grace of a windswept dancer curling their toes against dust of earth and stars.  Extending their breath along the lines of their arms, the straightness of their spine, the sturdiness of their thighs.  Much of Eucalyptus' powers lie in its ability to center and call us back to our inner beating rhythm.  As a remedy, Eucalyptus is useful for those of us who are seeking our true rhythm beyond the drudgery of schedules that keep us distracted from our passions, our desires, and our calling(s) in life.  So many folks are seeking "the best new thing" whether it be the newest diet, a popular exercise regime, the latest spiritual practice, and with so much noise the resounding beat of our own healer remains unnoticed and, at worst, ignored.  Along comes the dancing trees of the Eucalyptus, who clears our visions, strengthens our breath, and with its fragrant sharpness helps set us on a path of authentic renewal and adventure.

As someone who spent a great deal of their childhood as a koala bear, I have a great fondness for Eucalpytus.  I spent part of my adolescence playing beneath the dancing green leaves of the Eucalyptus - its clarifying scent and the way the wind sounds moving through its branches remind me of my earlier adventures into herbal medicine and magick.

Eucalyptus has been used for tens of thousands of years in Australian Aboriginal medicine - it is a plant that has taken an interest in humyn affairs for a long while and it deserves a great deal of gratitude.  Some of the primary uses of Eucalyptus in modern Western herbalism is as an expectorant, helping to move colds, pneumonia, and bronchitis out of the chest, to clear-up and prevent viral infections, and as an astringent.  Dilating the bronchiales of the lungs, Eucalyptus moistens mucous membranes and helps regulate mucous secretions.  Excellent for other respiratory complaints such as asthma, coughs, the 'flu, and sinus infections.  Use the leaf  in a tea and, along with the essential oil in steams, diffusers, and chest rubs.

The essential oil is especially excellent to use for promoting mental clarity - it has a sharp heat that burns away the feeling of being in a stagnant swamp of mental muddledness.  Overall, the essential oil is tonifying on the nervous system.

Use topically as a warming chest rub and as a diluted oil for rheumatic pain, aching joins, stiffness, neuralgia, and bacterial skin infections.  Apply the diluted oil to blisters, burns, herpes sores, scratches, and wounds.  For those folks who have excessively oily skin (remember that some oil is good and healthy for our skin) or acne might consider using Eucalyptus is facial toners and steams.  As a diluted gargle, Eucalyptus is great for cold sores in the mouth.  Try mixing the leaves of Eucalyptus with  honey as a general syrup for respiratory ailments.  Burn the oil as an insect repellant and use in anti-flea washes for pests.  For my textile friends, Eucalpytus can be used as a dye, producing shades of green, brown, and orange.

It's Always Tea Time Somewhere!: May Day Tea Time

We've started a new project at the Apothecary based on our firm belief that It's Always Tea Time Somewhere!  We'll be featuring monthly posts on tea time recipes as well as stories for discussion to feed the mind and soul as well as the belly.  Our first guest post is by K. Heron of Bloody Showwho writes about her first experiences of activism by marching through the streets of Olympia, WA.  Her Gluten-free Vegan Blueberry Corn Muffin Recipe is a great one to have when planning a protest, a picnic, or a lazy springtime tea time.  

You, too, can join in on the It's Always Tea Time Somewhere!movement.  Write up your own tea time musings and recipes and let us know about them via Twitter (#It'sAlwaysTeaTimeSomewhere! or #IATTS!), on Facebook, and below in the comments.  We would love to start a collection of tea-timer photos on Pinterest, too, so take photos of your tea time lovelies if you so desire! 

Enjoy!

☆ It’s Always Tea Time Somewhere: May Day Tea Time ☆by: K. Heron of Bloody Show

Blessed Beltaine and Happy May Day to all! On May 1, we celebrated the ancient fire holiday of Beltaine. We had a very lovely and sweet time around the fire on the actual day of Beltaine and enjoyed the Supermoon on May 5, which also happens to be Lunar Beltaine. It is hands down one of my most favorite times of the year.

from Shelton Blog: Mason County Washington's Progressive Voices

On May 1, we also remember the Haymarket Riots here in the U.S. In high school, I had an incredible social studies teacher who gave you credit for things like standing on a street corner in my small one-horse town, holding signs and advocating for the candidate of your choice. So it was a snap to get credit to skip school for a day and head to my very first protest ever, May Day. We (the marchers and critical mass bikers) met at Rainy Day Records, the coolest music store on the west side of Olympia. We gathered and marched, shutting down the streets and wending our way all over town. We handed out leaflets, danced, and had a great time.

source unknown - please let us know if this is your artwork!

It was exhilarating. It was also scary. It was just a few months after the WTO protest in Seattle and cops showed up in full riot gear. Doggedly, we boogied on down the street. At our final destination we shut down the busiest intersection in Olympia, barring hundreds of people from easy access to the freeway. Our goal? Take back the streets. Remind other people and ourselves that people are meant to come and gather, create community, and not just ride in cars as we drive to shop at big box stores that don’t care about the environment and treat their workers terribly. (Yes, I realize this is a gross oversimplification of the reality of things. But I was also 16 and idealistic and in my head at the time it really was that easy.) Basically, we had a big party. We planted a community garden in an abandoned lot (it got bulldozed later that week by the owners of the lot who just let it sit vacant and empty for another several years). We had music and dancing. There was naked mud wrestling(!) and stilt walkers and face painting. I stayed for hours and hours and still carry that celebratory spirit within me when I think about creating positive social change.

In honor of that, I bring you a recipe for Vegan Blueberry Corn Muffins! They are completely delicious warm, great with a little bit of vegan butter (or non-vegan butter if you please), and they freeze well for a brilliant on-the-go snack (great for protests and marches!).

☆ Gluten-free Vegan Blueberry Corn Muffins ☆ (Adapted from the Blueberry Corn Muffin recipe from the brilliant Gluten-Free Goddess herself)

Preheat yer oven. 350 degrees will do ya just fine. Either line a muffin tin or grease it with a bit of oil.

You will need the following:

Dry ingredients: ¾ cup cornmeal (I like to use polenta for grainier muffins, but feel free to use any kind you want) ¼ cup buckwheat flour ¾ cup brown rice flour ½ cup potato starch 2 tsp baking powder ½ tsp baking soda ½ tsp salt 1 ½ tsp xanthan gum ¾ cup brown sugar 1 tsp cinnamon

Wet ingredient: ¼ oil (canola, melted coconut oil, etc. I tend to avoid extra virgin olive oil in baking for its distinct flavor) 1 Tb honey 2 tsp vanilla ½ tsp fresh squeezed lemon juice 1 Tb Ener-G Egg Replacer whisked with ¼ cup warm water until foamy ¾ cup warm water

And finally, 1 cup fresh or frozen blueberries

Here’s how you make these tasty gems:

Mix or whisk together all of the dry ingredients in a large bowl. Make a well in the center of your batter and add the wet to that well. Mix with a wooden spoon or spatula until well-combined and sticky. Fold in the blueberries. Spoon batter into your muffin tins, pop them in the oven for 20 minutes or so. As with most gluten-free baked goods, allowing them to cool for 5 minutes or so will help them keep their integrity. Eat them hot or let them rest on a wire rack until room temperature. Grab your sweetie (or mom or best friend or favorite puppy dog companion) and enjoy your tea time!

The "G" Word : Honoring the Roma

Today is International Roma Day which celebrates Romani culture and contribution to society as well as raising awareness of the ongoing issues that the Romani people face throughout the world. As herbalists, herb folks, herbal medicine users, and people who like Nettles, we have an opportunity to make our communities more inclusive, more kind, and more just by simply adjusting our language to honor a culture that many feel inspired by.

The term “Gypsy” is a pejorative and offensive word used to describe the diverse population of people known as the Roma / Romani / Romany / Rroma, depending on local Roma dialect.  While many folks on view “Gypsy” as just another descriptive term to be used to describe a situation, a person or to sell items it is important to recognize that words are the framework that hold together institutional racism. Words and their connotations are necessary tools of oppression, so they do hurt, they do matter, and they are worth questioning and hopefully dismantling.

As herbalists, especially those who practice Western herbalism, we have a particular responsibility to honor cultures that have perserved herbal knowledge through the centuries and that we now use today.  In my practice and devotional work with our plant kindred, I have watched how we become more like the plants we work with and the plants become more like us in turn.  So when there is a plant that plays particular importance within a culture or a remedy that is associated with a certain people, I pay attention to both the stories of the plants and of the people they are so closely intwined with.  There are many plants and remedies associated with Romani culture, from the mythic Queen of Hungary Water to "Gypsy" cold cures featuring Peppermint, Yarrow, and Elder, many herbalists have not only heard about these remedies, but make them as well.  What's more is that there is so much romanticizing that goes on about Romani culture and the Roma themselves, that learning historical Romani herbal remedies can be a hard thing to do, especially since Romani culture is beautifully diverse.

As a humyn creature of mixed ancestry, I am particularly invested in changing the ways we talk about, around, and over Roma peoples, like myself.  In the United States there is not a lot of real information about Romani culture and it has been my experience that most Americans aren't even aware of the Roma of an actual ethnic group, so sometimes it can be harder for folks to understand that Gypsy is a pejorative word used passively as a form of ignorance and actively as a form of violence.  For me, the foundation of changing language is wanting to more authentically describe the world and our experiences in it to better understand ourselves and each other.  So if you use the word "Gypsy," I would ask for you to let it go, put it in the compost, allow it to decompose, be transformed, and fertilize your garden of knowledge resting in that noggin of yours.  It's easy, honorable, and a whole lot of fun coming up with a new vocabulary to replaced outdated terms that no longer serve us.

Interested in learning more? I recommend the following article by Professor Ian Hancock. He is of Romani descent, teaches at the University of Texas Austin, and writes about the history of the use of the word “Gypsy” and why it is a term that is offensive and oppressive to the Roma people.

What's In A Name?

As a final note, I hope that any conversations that ensue from this post are from a place of compassion, willingness to learn, and understanding that words hold power so we should celebrate that gift and use them respectively.

Opre Roma!

I, Courage: Borage

John Gerard, a popular herbalist of the 16th and 17th century (and becoming popular again on Facebook), provides us with the translation of wonderful maxim of Borage which was said to be recited by Roman soldiers preparing for contests of strength:

Ego borago gaudia semper ago. I, Borage, always bring courage.

The blue flower of the courageous Borage was embroidered onto the clothing on knights going off to battle to protect them and strengthen their resolve and worn in buttonholes to the same effect.  Spike the tea of the one who you wish to propose to you with Borage to infuse them with the courage to finally ask.  Known also as  Cool-tankard, the flowers were used in drinks for their cooling effect before ice was a widely available and used commodity.  A tea will induce psychic powers as well as improve one's outlook in life.

Borage can be, in many ways, the "shining armor" we need to assume our warriorhood, reclaim our lives, and our sense of self.  For those who are suffering nervous exhaustion, especially "menopausal women who are overworked and totally exhausted," but any person who seems to be suffering from adrenal burnout and is emotionally spent will benefit from Borage.(1)  Borage has an uplifting and lightening affect that is a wonderful remedy for despondency and those who might say often, "I just can't take it anymore" but aren't entirely sure who "I" is or what it is they can't take.  Borage is an  herbal ally that strengthens the will and the knowing of self, reinforcing crumbling boundary walls and infusing the spirit with the brilliant hope that comes from uninhibited courage.  

When the body is overworked, the mind muddled, and the emotions frantic, the steady drumbeat of Borage can help to restore an overwhelmed nervous system and rebuilding strained adrenals.  With its cooling mucilaginous abilities, Borage is helpful for overheated conditions such as fevers and infections, as well as asthma, general colds, and hot, dry coughs.  Borage keeps the sweat pores toned which protects against chills and fevers that try and settle in a wet, stagnant environment.  For the pregnancy, Borage ripens the cervix for labor and supports breastfeeding by increasing milk flow

Borage is of course useful for depression and I am especially fond of using it for depression that situates itself during transition periods: the postpartum periods, departures (such as leaving home or college or going off to war), and general life passages that require us to look honestly at who we are and what we are doing.  The shift that Borage is particularly good at triggering in persons of a melancholic persuasion is the ability to love what we are responsible and accountable to which may mean a reassessment of priorities to be able to come to that emotional space.

Externally, Borage is good for dry skin as well as rashes, eczema, varicose veins, and can be used as an eyewash for irritated and inflamed eyes.  The flowers are delicious and can be added to salads and drinking water.

(1)  Rosari Kingston, MNIHM as cited in Wood, Matthew. The Earthwise Herbal: A Complete Guide to Old World Medicinal Plants. Berkeley, CA: North Atlantic, 2008. (2008): 146.