Envisioning Healing : The New Moon in Aries

Where I place my attention
sets the stage
for the action of my life.

- juliett jade chi -

With the magick of the Spring Equinox coursing through our veins, the first New Moon of the season is in Aries. As the first sign of the zodiac, Aries the Ram can be a force to be reckoned with. It is a sign of the individual, helping us to find the “me” after the period of Pisces “we” that we’ve been in. We can take action in order to manifest our dreams of the New Moon in Pisces.  The New Moon in Aries challenges us to create what we've been called to bring into the world. The lunar energies are focused on you and your unique powers and gifts! The Aries New Moon tells you to set your heart as a compass and go out to find your horizon.

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Any Moon in Aries is a great opportunity to recognize places of stagnation in your life. Where are you feeling knotted and blocked? What relationships have you tangled? How do you need to move in order to no longer feel restricted? As the guardian of the eyes, Aries helps us to see what is really going on in our lives. If you’re someone who struggles to put your needs first, the New Moon in Aries can be challenging. But that’s a good thing because we have needs that require our attention. I believe strongly that to recognize your needs and learning how to answer them is one of the best ways to see and have compassion for the needs of others. When our needs are met, we’re no longer operating from a deficit and can be more generous as healers towards our families, lovers, and community. 

So take up the horns of the Ram and use some of this mighty Aries energy to bust through the walls and barriers holding you back from experiencing all that is you!

Nettles (Urtica dioica)
New Moon in Aries Plant Ally

As herbalist David Hoffman says, “When in doubt, Nettles.”

The herbs of Aries move stagnation and Nettles is a fantastically energizing herb. Nettles has a strong affinity for the blood, helping to move stagnant blood through improving circulation and enriching the iron content of our blood cells. The herb also works intelligently with reducing blood sugar levels and balancing blood pressure. Nettles are a nutritive herb, too, rich in vitamins and minerals which helps with general weakness and debility.

Nettle also has a strong relationship with the kidneys, stimulating sluggish kidneys, moving stagnant water, and generally cleansing the fluids of the body. As an anti-allergen (perfect for this time of year!), Nettles strengthens the outer membranes of cells which makes them less vulnerable to inflammation and allergic reactions. Nettles can be used in cases of eczema, hayfever, asthma, acne, and food allergies.

Traditional use of the herb includes hitting arthritic joints with fresh Nettles to alleviate pain and stiffness. I have found Nettles to be good (both internally and externally) for growing pains of all sorts, emotional and physical, which further aligns with Aries guardianship of youth and the young. Nettles helps to recenter the excited and “ready-to-go” mind that the energy of Aries brings into a focused power.

Flower + Gem Essences for the New Moon in Aries: Milky Oat (Avena sativa), Beech (Fagus sylvatica), Holly (Ilex aquifolium), Impatiens (Impatiens glandulifera), Passionflower (Passiflora incarnata), Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis), Jasper, Bloodstone, Rose Quartz.

Essential Oils for Aries: Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis), Black Pepper (Piper nigrum), Ginger (Zingiber officinale), Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis), Chamomile (Anthemis nobilis).

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Healing Vision

Begin in a sacred way (read the New Moon in Aquarius post for further inspiration). You will need a handheld mirror for this rite, but you can improvise with any reflective surface that you can see yourself in.

Place the mirror before you, with the reflective part turned away from you and facing out into the world. Cover your face with your hands and contemplate the healing you desire. Observe what arises, but do not attempt to hold on to any of it. Let it pass through your mind unhindered.

With your healing desire firmly fixed in your mind’s eye, recite three times the following charm: 

Unmask the hidden
Remove the blindfold
I seek healing freedom
My path to behold

With the reflective part still turned out from you, hold the mirror to each of the four directions, then below and above you. Finally rest it at your heart. The mirror is seeing what you need to see in order to heal, for the outer world reflects our inner needs.

Take another deep breath and then turn the mirror towards you so that you see yourself in it. Soften your gaze and look at your reflection as you continue to breathe slow and deep. Observe whatever thoughts, feelings, and visions arise within you. If you so desire, perform the oracle for further insight.

When ready, look again at your reflection and say:

I love you, {your name},
I deserve all of my healing and more
I see my path
and hold the desire to explore.
Blessed be.

Keep the mirror on your altar on carry it with you to look at and recite the closing charm as needed until the next New Moon.

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Oracle

With a divinatory tool of your choosing ask the following question. You can also ponder it during meditation or through journalling.

What barrier blocks the view of my healing path?

Additional queries to consider:

• What relationships tangle me unnecessarily and hold me back from healing?

• What needs of mine do I ignore?

Tarot Cards of Aries

Every card within the tarot deck has an astrological association. The following correspondences follow the system laid out by the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn. You can add these cards to your altar as part of your New Moon in Aries magick or use them in readings to help with determining celestial influence or timing (i.e. this will come to pass at when the Moon is in Pisces).

• The Sign of Aries: The Emperor

• Mars in Aries: Two of Wands

• Sun in Aries: Three of Wands

• Venus in Aries: Four of Wands

• The Fire Signs of Aries, Leo, and Sagittarius: Ace of Wands

Find all of the New Moon Healers Project posts right over here. Be sure to share your insights and experiences in the comments below or via instagram with the tag #NewMoonHealersProject.

Need more astroherbology in your life? You can learn more about the astroherbology of Aries by reading my in-depth profile on the sign. For those of you ready to learn how to work your magick and create your herbal remedies by the cycle of Moon and star, you're invited to join The Lunar Apothecary.

Blessed New Moon, wise healers.
May your healing be healing to us all.
May our healing be healing to you.
Blessed be! Blessed be! Blessed be!

Witchcraft + Weeds: Healing + Magickal Practices for Spring

Later this month is the spring equinox which marks the turn of the year from the dark half to the bright half in the northern hemisphere.

Days will grow longer from here until Midsummer and the sight and scent of new growing things abounds. Every turn of the season invites us to shed the old and take up the new so that we may be better able to be present in the moment as well as prepare for what lies ahead. As an herbalist and witch, my seasonal celebrations revolve around weeds and witchcraft, and I’m going to share some of those traditions now with you!

The Spring Equinox marks the transition of the Sun from the last sign of the zodiac (Pisces) to the first (Aries). We leave the dreamy waters of the fish to the fiery-headed realm of the ram. The energy of the earth is stirring after winter's slumber. From the diffusive way of Pisces, energies within and around us begin to move inward and up. Take pleasure in the delirious scents of flowers in the air. Laugh loudly to clear out stagnation in your lungs. Swing your arms up to catch the wind. Light sacred fires and revel in the new promise of spring. 

Weeds

Body System Focus : Lungs, Lymphs, + Blood
or Breath Deep + Move

Within the four elements system of traditional western herbalism (I write more about TWH energetics over here), the season of spring is the transformation of water into air or cold into heat. Within our bodies the settled cold of water gives way to the energizing energy of air. It is time to move from a place of winter stillness to the awakening dance of spring. We seek out plants and ways of being that clear out the excess of phlegmatic energy of late winter so that we can strengthen the blood-building sanguine season of spring. Our weedy plant allies of early spring are typically mineral and vitamin rich, clearing to the blood and respiratory system, and toning to the lymph nodes. If you find your energy is still cold and damp from the winter, consider Aries herbs and healing ways to help you find your spring fire.

Spring weeds are abundant sources of healing nutrients that our waking winter bodies crave. Walk through a wild place or a city park and you’ll come across at least one healing weed (such as Dandelion Taraxacum officinale) that would do well to be in your spring rotation of plant allies. Enjoying foraged weeds as food and medicine is an amazing way to connect with the season and practice self-care. If you want to learn more about the healing properties of weeds, I highly recommend checking out The Wise Wisdom of Weeds: 13 Essential Plants for Human Survival by Katrina Blair.

Cleavers (Galium aparine) : My backyard fills up with Cleavers come spring and I couldn’t be happier for it! The naturally sticky herb is a great mover of stuck energy and fluids. From constipation to fibroids, to kidney and gall stones, and old blood, Cleavers moves out congestion. They are mild tasting and an easy addition to tea, but work best when juiced. 

Plantain (Plantago major) : A well-known topical remedy for insect stings and rashes, Plantain can also be used internally for digestive complaints such as IBS, excess gas, and stomach ulcers. Like many spring weeds, it is clearing to the respiratory system, helping to clear out old coughs and sinus congestion. 

White Clover (Trifolium repens) : White Clover is a nutritious and sweet tasting herb that can be easily incorporated in teas. It has a clearing energy and while Red Clover is especially attuned to the lower half of the body, especially the womb, White Clover has a greater affinity for the upper half of the body. It is great for clearing out old coughs and head colds still lingering from winter. Add it to facial steams and herbal baths to help connect your body to the revitalizingenergy of spring.

Yellow Wood Sorrel (Oxalis stricta) : Also known as Sour Leaf, the leaf is pleasantly flavored and helps to soothe upset stomachs. The flowers are a beautiful edition to salads. The sour taste of the plant lets us know that it is most likely nutritive, cleansing to the liver, and a digestive tonic. Now, a whole salad of only sorrel leaves is not recommended as the high oxalic acid in its leaves can cause nutrient deficiency by preventing calcium absorption, but a few leaves in a tea or salad is perfectly fine.

Wild Mustard Flower Essence : I love walking through the forest of Wild Mustard that pops up on hillsides and empty urban plots throughout my city. It is a resolutely cheerful flower and in addition to adding the spicy leaves to a stir-fry (yum!), you can create a flower essence with its blossoms to help you shake off persistent gloom. It’s a great essence for folks who especially struggle with believing that the sun will ever return during these lingering grey days of early spring. 

Witchcraft

Spring promises new beginnings, fresh starts, and new dreams to manifest. Spring is a good time for revolutions on personal and cultural levels, and as Witch folk and magick-makers, we can tap into this flow. I think of the spring-related protest slogans I’ve seen over the years from “They tried to bury us but they forgot that we were seeds” or the classic “Sisterhood is Blooming - springtime will never be the same” by the Chicago Women's Graphics Collective. If you were to create an inspiring slogan for your personal spring season what would it be? Below I’ve written about the three paths of spring magick that I practice to connect with the energy of the season and live my magick.

3 Paths of Spring Magick

Waking Up : We wake up to the new season of spring from the restorative slumber of winter. Rituals include waking up the house and garden with pots and pans clanging, spring yipping, and joyful song; greeting the Sacred Youth of Spring who finally reemerges from their winter retreat; banishing unwanted energy; washing your body with spring herbs to awaken your soul shrine to the promise of spring; blessing your apothecary and/or sacred space for the beginning of the new season of growing; dream rituals of Pisces and new beginning rituals of Aries; creating your own herb harvest ritual for the beginning of the spring harvest season.

Waking Up Meditation : Visualize pulling off layers of colorful blankets, emerging from your winter cocoon into your spring state of being.

Making Space : We make space for the new energy of spring to enter our lives and homes by clearing out physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual clutter. Rituals include washing floors and windows; spring cleaning and rearrangement of sacred altars; donating unwanted items (especially those that you keep out of a sense of guilt or obligation); divination to help guide you to what you should be making more space for in your life; self-blessings to make space for all of you to show up in your life; blessing new bottles, jars, and other apothecary equipment for the new season.

Making Space Meditation : Lay flat on your back (or in an alternatively open position that is comfortable for you) and breathe deeply while visualizing a bright light glowing around you, protecting you from that which does not serve you and attracting that which benefits you. Resist visualizing specifics - just allow for the idea good things coming your way to be your focus.

Inviting In : We invite in those things which we hope to grow in the coming season. Rituals include magnet spells to draw towards you your goals and desires; soul-return rituals; choosing to work with a specific deity, ancestor, spirit or guide for the coming season; working with a plant ally; making an enchanted honey pot to attract abundance and love to you; hanging wind chimes and ribbons in windows and from trees to call in helpful spirits and energies; leaving offerings to land spirits.

Inviting In Meditation : Visualizing a goal or energy that you want to call to you, open your arms wide and then pull them towards you, embracing that which you seek. Let your hands and arms brush over your whole body so that which you are calling to you becomes grounded in your being. Repeat nine times to seal the spell. 

White Clover Window Wash

After the dark of winter, I love the early light of spring. While every sabbat is an opportunity for a big house clean, I make sure to clean the windows at the spring equinox to let in the happy, healing light of the season. Making an herbal wash to help accomplish this task imbues the act with greater magick. White Clover flowers and leaves are protective and lucky which are two energies that I happily welcome into my home.

To prepare your wash pick nine Clover blossoms and three three-leafed clover leaf clusters. Add to a heatproof container (preferably glass or ceramic) and cover with hot water. Let steep overnight (preferably on the spring equinox itself or the nearest new moon) and strain. Add this water to your window cleaning solution. Whatever of the White Clover water you don’t use, be sure to offer it back to the earth.

I clean my windows first in a widdershins (or counterclockwise) direction and then in a deosil (or clockwise) direction to banish the old and welcome in the new. Often I accompany this with song welcoming in the elements and abundance of love, peace, and joy in the coming season. It's a simple ritual, but my home always feels more magickal and ready for spring when it has been completed. 

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What are your favorite healing and magickal practices for spring? Let me know in the comments. You can also check out the rest of my seasonal apothecary series:

• Summer Wellness Apothecary

• Autumn Wellness Apothecary

• Winter Wellness Apothecary

Becoming Dreams : The New Moon in Pisces

Who can read the dampened leaves
in the tea bowl of the world
when the wind has sipped
the rain away?

- Karen Ethelsdattar -

The New Moon in Pisces is a time of rooting dreams from the realm of the in-between to our shared reality. Dreams are potent agents of change - but in order to make full use of their power we must be able to ground and root them so that they may grow. I love the energy of the New Moon in Pisces - the veils between waking and dreaming part just enough so that we're able to interact with our dreams in a new way. If you have a dream of practicing full time as a healer, now is an excellent time to pull that dream closer towards you and ground it in sacred earth so it may manifest. But you can pull any dream closer to you. Dreams which support your work as a healer such as the dream of financial stability or the perfect office space are great to focus on. Maybe the dream is the ability to connect with the pleasure of your bliss with ease every day. Or you have a dream of speaking with your plant allies in clear and understandable ways.

No dreams are too dreamy for a Pisces New Moon. And that is one of the biggest gifts of this New Moon - we are encouraged to dream big and wild and with abandon. Better yet, we are encouraged to become our dreams. It is good then, in the work of becoming waking dreams, that we have plant allies, ways to create change through ritual, and the power of divinatory introspection. Because though we are the only ones who can become our individual dreams, all of us are dreamers dreaming together.

Angelica (Angelica archangelica)
New Moon in Pisces Plant Ally

Angelica is a Guardian herb of Pisces, meaning that it promotes the healing qualities of the sign. I like Angelica when a energetically watery remedy is needed, but it needs to be warming instead of cooling. As a warming and oily herb, Angelica helps to move oils and fats through the body more effectively, including their metabolism and break-up of excess fluids. With its affinity to Pisces, the herb also works on the lymphatic system, clearing out congestion through its antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory actions. The herb is also a diaphoretic, opening the skin and improving peripheral circulation. 

Angelica calms both the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems, finding balance between the two. I have found that folks who get stuck in the world of dreams or have a hard time accessing dreams need some extra support with their nervous system. Angelica calms anxiety (including the anxious worry of whether one will be able to manifest their dreams) and helps to rebuild the protective sheaths of the nervous system as part of its ability to move oils effectively through the body. As a brain tonic, Angelica improves mental clarity, uplifts the mood, and stimulates the imagination.

Continue reading the full Angelica Plant Profile.

Flower + Gem Essences for the New Moon in Pisces: Rabbitbrush (Chrysothamnus nauseosus), Rock Rose (Helianthemum nummularium), Purple Monkeyflower (Mimulus lewisii), Clematis (Clematis vitalba), Southern Cross (Xanthosia rotundifolia), Amethyst.

Essential Oils for Pisces: Lamon Balm (Melissa officinalis), Geranium (Pelargonium graveolens), Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis), Birch (Betula lenta), Jasmine (Jasminum officinale) , Pine (Pinus sylvestris).

image via 贝莉儿 ng

Becoming A Dream

Begin in a sacred way (read the New Moon in Aquarius post for further inspiration). If you are able to, perform this ritual outside on the bare earth with a bowl of water. If performed indoors you may choose to have a bowl of earth in addition to a bowl of water - but these can easily be visualized if not available. If using a bowl of water and earth, make sure that there is less water than earth so that the bowl of earth does not become oversaturated.

Choose a dream or desire to focus on. It should be something which feels just out of reach.  

Hold the bowl of water in your hands (or visualize a bowl full of water in between your hands). Say:

 I call to me the dream of {speak your dream clearly and concisely}.

Take a moment to settle into the feeling of your dream. What would it feel like to make it real? By feeling this dream you are pulling it towards you. Breathe in deep and embody these feelings. Visualize the dream taking up space within the water. Put the bowl of water down and place your hands upon the earth (or hold or visualize a bowl of earth). Say:

I call to me the earth's power to root and grow my dream of {speak your dream clearly and concisely}.

Take a few centering breaths here. Let your energy sink into the earth. Feel the solidity and structure. Feel the possibility and power. Visualize the first step you need to take to manifest your dream. It is not necessary that you know how a dream will be accomplished, but only necessary that you know the next step to take. If you are having difficulty determining this, perform the oracle before this rite.

When you feel that you and the earth have opened up to receive the dream seed, pour the water onto the earth, reserving a small amount to use to anoint yourself. The dream passes through water and into earth to be made manifest. Seal the spell by anointing your belly button (your original root) with the water left in the bowl. Say:

The dream awakens and becomes me. So mote it be!

It is important to do the first step that you visualized by the Full Moon in order to help manifest your dream. If you have used a bowl of earth in this rite, be sure to give it to the earth outside within the next 24 hours. 

The World Spirit Tarot

Oracle

With a divinatory tool of your choosing ask the following question. You can also ponder it during meditation or through journalling.

What is my most desired dream of healing?

Additional queries to consider:

• What dreams do I ignore because they seem to big or unattainable?

• What dreams have I already made manifest?

Tarot Cards of Pisces

Every card within the tarot deck has an astrological association. The following correspondences follow the system laid out by the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn. You can add these cards to your altar as part of your New Moon in Pisces magick or use them in readings to help with determining celestial influence or timing (i.e. this will come to pass at when the Moon is in Pisces).

• The Sign of Pisces: The Moon

• Saturn in Pisces: Eight of Cups

• Jupiter in Pisces: Nine of Cups

• Mars in Pisces: Ten of Cups

• The Water Signs of Pisces, Cancer, and Scorpio: Ace of Cups

Find all of the New Moon Healers Project posts right over here. Be sure to share your insights and experiences in the comments below or via instagram with the tag #NewMoonHealersProject.

Need more astroherbology in your life? You can learn more about the astroherbology of Pisces by reading my in-depth profile on the sign. For those of you ready to learn how to work your magick and create your herbal remedies by the cycle of Moon and star, you're invited to join The L unar Apothecary.

Blessed New Moon, wise healers.
May your healing be healing to us all.
May our healing be healing to you.
Blessed be! Blessed be! Blessed be!

Tarot as Your Best Friend : A Simple Guide

I recently taught a mini class on self-care with the tarot.

I shared one of my favorite techniques for accessing a powerful and personal sacred space at any time and any where through the tarot. The class started off my early spring teaching season (I’m teaching again in person - yay! - be sure to reserve your spot) but it also got me thinking on other easy self-care tarot techniques that I could share with all of you, my amazing far-flung internet family. Because, apparently, I’m just writing about self-care these days (even my tarotscopes are checking in with me about it). Actually, a lot of folks are writing and teaching and sharing about self-care these days and I love it. It is so much easier to take back the streets and topple empires when you’ve had some lunch ahead of time. I thought about how else tarot can be used as a tool of self care and, thus, the following spread was born.

The Best Friend Tarot Spread is the you-affirming, pep-talk, I-love-all-of-you, empowering, weirdness-adoring and sovereignty-recognizing sort of hug-in-a-spread we all need right now.

It’s also really easy to cast because, bless, I don’t always have the energy after a long day to pull out my cards and tell myself an in-depth story. Which brings me to another element of my self-care tarot magick - ease. Let’s make it easy for ourselves for no other reason than we deserve things to be easy sometimes.

The easy part of the spread comes from the fact that it uses a mad-libs or fill-in-the-blank style interpretation guide which allows the cards to deliver their message as your esoterically-inclined best friend. So let's begin!

Make yourself some tea, coffee, hot cocoa, iced lemonade or delicious drink of choice. Put on something comfortable and find a cozy spot to cast cards. Center yourself and shuffle your deck in the usual way. 

For the Best Friend Tarot Spread you’ll be casting three cards. Instead of the cards answering a particular question, they will be filling in the blank of the following sentence (aka best friend style pep talk):

You have the incredible gift of {card 1}.
Remember to {card 2},
so that you can {card 3}.

Now, you can choose the cards at random or you can turn the deck face-up and choose whichever three cards jump out at you (If choosing face up scares you a bit, you should go for it. Get your vulnerable on and sink into your power). I also suggest only using the Major Arcana for the spread if you’re experiencing some big life feels and need deep support. For those of you on my Magick Mail list, you’ll receive a keyword guide for the Major Arcana next month that you can use to help you complete the sentences.

If you have a friend that needs some cheering up, offering to do this spread for them can be a tender way of showing support. 

That’s it. Sweet, simple, and you-affirming. If you're looking for more tarot inspiration, head this way. Be sure to share the pep talks you received in the comments below and remember to be gentle with your heart - just like your best friend would.

My Favorite Tea for Easy Evenings + Self-Care

January was rough.

It’s been a time of tense muscles, street noise, and fight-back racket against the inhumane and unjust demagogues who’ve taken over the White House. I’ve been finding myself run ragged not just from work but from the constant little siren that’s been going off in my head saying “This is not normal. This is not ok. You and your loved ones are in danger.” I know that a lot of folks in my community are feeling the same and, of course, those feelings are valid. But as my wise friend Maria says, “The world is on fire but you still need to eat lunch.” 

(Do yourself a favor and click on that link for a “go the f*ck to sleep” style poem on why you need to eat lunch even when things are rough. I’ll wait, don’t worry.)

Last week, I wrote about the necessity of self-care not just as an invitation to all of you to love on yourself, but a reminder to myself. Since then, I’ve been taking better stock of what it is I need to be doing to take care of myself so that I might continue to fight the good fight and care for my community for the long haul (because, praise Goddess, Witches will always outlive their oppressors if we protect our magick).

When I'm feeling out of sorts, my self-care reassessment includes the following:

Acknowledge you're probably running on some false narratives.

Case in point - if I take 30 minutes to stretch and meditate I will let down the entire radical movement attempting to overthrow the patriarchy. Guess what? That’s just not true.

image via vee o

Ask yourself if there is another option.

We need to release those false narratives but then we need to fill that space with a new story. If I take 30 minutes to stretch and meditate I will be revitalized and better able to do the work that I want to do (which in the long run means the patriarchy is still coming down).

Slow down.

General life advice, right? It is not just about slowing down physically, but mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. An example of switching over to slow would be moving from scrolling through your social media feed nonstop to sitting down and reading a book. Or instead of searching for the "right" crystal that'll make your fear go away, simply sitting and connecting with the crystal core of heart of the earth.

Drink water and eat good food.

Let’s continue to fight to protect our sacred water and keep hydrated. Let’s continue to fight to protect our right to healthy food by eating food which makes us feel good. Rather than a “don’t eat that” restriction, imagine how much clearer your investment in protecting water and food would feel like if you had a better relationship with both in your daily life.

Self-care and healing and attention
to the body and the spiritual dimension
- all of this is now a part of
radical social justice struggles.
- Angela Davis -

My rejection of false narratives, reaffirmation of more kind ones, slowing down, and commitment to drink water and eat good food all led me to thinking, “Wait, why haven’t I been drinking that tea I love so much?”

That tea which I love so much is Bliss Blend. While I’ll drink it day or night, it is one of my favorite teas for bringing in a feeling of ease in the evenings. Bliss Blend was one of the very first teas I sold in my shop (and by shop I mean on the cold autumn streets of Portland, ME during the last of the farmer’s market season as well as online) and I’ve been using it in my personal and professional practice ever since. Since I often work in the evenings, I like a tea that is relaxing but won’t make me overly drowsy. While Bliss Blend is useful as a pre-bedtime tea, it’s not meant to be a super-sleepy sort of brew. I originally created it on the fly when a friend came over and started to have an anxiety attack, so if your stress manifests as anxiety, Bliss Blend might be a great brew for you.

Bliss Blend features three herbs (two of which are on my indispensable herbs list) and a mellow flavor. We'll take a quick look at each herb individually and then I’ll share with you my Bliss Blend recipe. I've also made suggestions for how to replace an herb with another if you don't have the following three on hand.

image via natalie collins

Lavender (Lavandula officinalis) is a fantastic nervine. Actually, all three herbs in my Bliss Blend are nervines of different varieties. Lavender has a lovely softening energy (it might be a good herbal mascot for the radical softness movement actually) and acts like a gentle massage to the nervous system. It’s really useful for headaches brought on by nervous tension and has the added bonus of protecting the body from infection (which we’re more prone to be impacted by if we’re stressed out). If you’re looking for a Lavender alternative I would recommend a cooling nervine.

Skullcap (Scutellaria lateriflora) is another nervine but of the definitively relaxing variety (one of its common names is Blisswort so you know it’s good stuff!). Skullcap helps relieve feelings of being overwhelmed and quiet the nonstop anxious chatter that can go on in our heads. The herb actually produces more endorphins in the body because its a rich source of scutellarin. Skullcap is one of my favorite herbs to help relieve muscular tension (hello, tight shoulders!) and, as the name, implies, helps with those tension headaches. If you’re looking for a Skullcap alternative I would recommend a relaxing nervine.

My final herb is Sacred Basil (Ocimum sanctum or tenuiflorum) and its another nervine, but of a more warming and stimulating variety. I run cold, so when I have two cooling herbs like Lavender and Skullcap in a blend, I like to warm it up a bit with a herb like Sacred Basil so that I do not overly cool my system. Now, don’t get concerned seeing that I have an herb labeled as stimulating as part of my brew. First of all, Sacred Basil is mildly stimulating, and second, it’s an adaptogenic herb which has the amazing ability to energize or relax body systems as needed. If you’re looking for a Sacred Basil replacement seek a warming and gently stimulating nervine.

image via john-mark kuznietsov

Bliss Blend

• 2 parts Lavender (Lavandula officinalis)
• 2 parts Sacred Basil (Ocimum sanctum or tenuiflorum)
• 1 part Skullcap (Scutellaria lateriflora)

Brew 1 teaspoon of herb per 8 ounces of water and steep for 5 - 15 minutes. For a medicinal strength brew, use 1 tablespoon per 8 ounces of water and steep for 30 minutes to overnight. I like adding in just a touch of honey, but it is equally delicious without any sweetness added. Now, if drinking herbs are not your cup of tea (ha! funny!) you can always make Bliss Blend into a healing foot bath.

So now you know what I’m drinking tonight. If you haven’t already, check out my post on why self-care is a necessary and revolutionary act. Then unplug, make yourself some tea, untangle some tension, and practice softness and ease.