JourneySeeds

::Indigo Bunting::

I have never seen an indigo bunting at my place.  It felt like magic had visited...





I'm thinking this is the female...but, I'm not so sure.  If you know please correct me!

::colorful food::

Curried Chowder last night...before the puree happened.  It's still pretty! This recipe is from WholeFoodKitchen class...wonderful! 


Green Smoothies! A pile of Kale, spinach, hemp seeds, soymilk, nutmeg, 2 bananas, blueberries, raspberries, and a dollop of maple syrup for good measure.  Makes a big jar full...1/2 in the am and a bit more later on.



Jeweled Rice
 from a wonderful food blog My New Roots.  You'll fall in love with this blog.  The food is incredible and the photography is inspiring! 

A new book to read during this reawakening of springtime.  Just in time to sit in the comfrey that is growing so fast you can watch it!

Spring Equinox::Taproot

Spring arrives!  We made it...we made it through another winter.  A big hare appeared in the reflection box today. She came with eggs, ribbons, flowers and light...how exciting.  This little spot is on our walkway so we will see her coming and going.  A tiny periwinkle flower peeks out of her neck.  Equinox blessings on the day...


Taproot arrived today!  I've been looking for it each day in the mailbox.  It is beautiful!  This first issue's theme is Soil.  I can't wait to curl up with this new gem.  If you'd like a subscription for yourself or a friend...it would be wonderful to help this fledgling beauty along.  Living fully...Digging Deeper...yes.

A Long Life...

 

My friend Maia from julia warr on Vimeo.

 
I am so inspired by....

The Big Snow...

We made it through the big snowstorm of October!  Believe it or not, we never lost power.  We didn't loose a tree either.  I think last winter's storms did us in and we were spared this time around.  Neighbors still do not have power.  Things are busy around here lately.   A few photos for a class...Infusing Images with Soul.  I don't know my way around this camera yet. 


turkey feather on lady's mantle


circles


lines

Photo Meditations and Soulodge are taking up my thinking lately.   I have not posted much on this blog in the past months.  I do not know the direction I'm heading with this blog.  Things may change here.  It seems a new focus is required and desired.  This year of turning 50 has brought so many changes to me.  I'm remaining open to what the universe brings in.

Plant Medicine & Flower Medicine

 

 


 

 
Flower Essence making.  Spring brings so many flowers blooming at once.  The trees all are nearly past blooming on my property...apple, hawthorn, pear.  The lilacs are in the height of bloom and luckily we gathered bunches before all this rain crushed the pretty blooms.  The honeysuckle is making its appearance and the smell is divine once they have burst into bloom.  I want to be walking the woods searching for those spring blossoms that are hidden deep in the forest. One discovery I made at the end of last season was that we have Ginseng growing here.  This place is magical at this time of year.  The back woods that is thousands of acres large is waking up and the pull of its magick and medicine is whispering.

We had talked about leading a workshop in making flower medicine making this spring.  That will have to be held off though for now.  It is powerful to create remedies from the location where you live.  The energy that these plants carry for you personally are profound.  Flower essence work involves a lifetime of learning and working with the plants and flower energies.  I've been working and studying flower essences and herbal medicine for more than 30 years now.  The lessons the plants teach me grow deeper with each passing year.  If you choose to study the plants around you, I promise you...an unfolding will begin that will teach you new ways to be with who you are. 

Gifts of Love

 

 

 

 
Randy walked about today and brought in some spring for me...

 
A few good resources for plant study.  A really nice little magnifying glass for close up study.

Our good friend Martha came over today.  Martha is 85 years old and a dear soul that we love very much.  You see, I got a text message from Lori...Martha's daughter...that said...Martha is on her way over with chocolate cake and enchiladas.  Lori is lilke that...she does things like that and swoops in and out again before you know she was there.  It's hard to have folks over when you are trying to get through a health crisis,  It's not easy to put on a cheerful face for visitors.  It's easier to just stay isolated with the pain sometimes.  I think friends can begin to drop away.  I hope that things will turn around soon and I''ll be able to socialize again.  It's been a long haul and we are all weary from it.  So...today Martha the gypsy soul that she is...showed up to make sure that we were taken care of and felt loved.  Thank-you Martha and Lori...

Herbal Roots Zine...I won!

 
I won these beautiful Herbal Knowledge Cards over on Herbal Roots Zine!  Kristine hosted this wonderful giveaway on her wonderful site Herbal Roots Zine.  Thank-you so much Kristine and Pomegranate.

About Herbal Roots Zine:

Herbal Roots Zine is a monthly pdf file that is issued on the last Monday of the month. Each edition focuses on one herb and contains many activities to make learning about that herb a lot of fun. There are stories, crossword puzzles, mazes, crafts, recipes and much more!

If you are looking for a herbal course that is easy to understand and has the ability to teach children about herbs, look no further! Herbal Roots Zine is designed to raise the interest level of children and adults through hands-on learning and repetition. Homeschoolers and non-homeschoolers alike have found Herbal Roots Zine a valuable learning resource for a subject that does not have many opportunities available for children: herbal healing.


 
Kristine is the author and artist of this magazine...

I’m  a practicing herbalist and homeschooling mother of 4 children and 2 step-children. I have studied with Rosemary Gladstar of Sage Mountain and have spent countless hours of research and study through my own pursuit with great herbalists such as Kiva Rose, Jim McDonald, Matthew Wood, Paul Bergner, Susun Weed, Gail Faith Edwards, Kathleen Maier and more. I offer an herbal product line through my local farmer’s market and online, do consultations, teach medicine making classes to adults, offer herbal work shops for kids and run a monthly herbal study group, focusing mainly on locally found herbs, enabling the community to take control of growing and wild crafting their own medicine. Teaching others about herbs is my focus with a passion on sharing my knowledge with children as they ARE our future!

Check out her site and magazine for her wonderful work!  Download an issue...you won't be disappointed.

                                                              

Egret Essence

 
Essence of Egret...I went to the beach yesterday

There was hardly anyone at the beach...maybe 15 of us on the entire shore. It was beautiful...quiet, slow lapping waves...bright warm sun....little noise of humans.  The seagulls visited me all day long.  I stopped at The Book Barn on the way to the beach and picked up a book called, Tales of a Female Nomad: Living at Large in the World. In between seagull watching and dozing....I got to read a bunch of pages in my book as well. 

Wild Rose

Wild Rose is the study herb of the month over at herbmentor. Rosa Rugosa Flower Essence called to be made at my place this past week.

 

Kiva Rose put up a lovely Rose Petal Elixir Recipe over at herbmentor.

Ingredients

• For your elixir, it’s helpful to have on hand: A pint canning jar (or other glass jar that seals well)
• Fresh rose petals (the more aromatic the better, and either wild or domestic varieties will work, you can also use a mix of colors and types for the beauty and taste) CAREFUL to make sure the roses are not sprayed with herbicides.
• About a pint of high quality brandy (the better the brandy, the better your elixir will taste)
• Appr. 1/3 pint of raw honey (preferably local, and of a lighter wildflower type since darker honeys can muffle the rose taste a bit)
• A good stirring spoon

Step by Step Instructions

First, fill your jar all the way to the top with Rose petals, you don’t have to pack them in but push them down a bit to minimize the air space in the jar.

Don’t forget to stop and smell the Roses! Take a deep breath of the healing scent and revel in the gorgeous colors and textures of the petals.

Now, pour the honey in slowly, stirring as necessary, until the petals are well coated.

Next, fill to the top with brandy, against stirring as necessary to remove air bubbles and fill the jar evenly.

Now cover the jar with a tight fitting lid, and shake carefully to finish the mixing process.

Let macerate in a cool, dark place for four to six weeks (or as long as you can stand to wait.

When straining, reserve both liquid and the Rose petals.

The petals will be infused with honey and brandy and make a tasty treat to top a cake or fruit salad, or just to be eaten plain and with great relish.

Optional Additions

• Warming spices such as fresh Ginger, Beebalm (Monarda spp.) flowers, Orange peel, Cinnamon powder/sticks or Cardamom pods can add flavor and zing to the elixir, especially if you find Rose too cooling for your temperament. It’s easiest to add small amounts (to taste) after you add the honey and before you add the brandy.
• Hawthorn or Cherry flowers can be mixed with the Rose petals for a formula that’s extra effective in the treatment of cardiac weakness, heart palpitations, high blood pressure as well as grief and heartbreak.
• Evening Primrose flowers contribute a delicate floral taste, enhance the nervine and anti-spasmodic effects as well as making the elixir more effective for external treatment of burns and bug bites. Because Evening Primrose blooms later than Roses in most places, you may wish to simply leave you elixir to macerate until the Evening Primrose is in bloom and just add them in. Or, you can go ahead and strain it and just macerate the Evening Primrose directly in the Rose Elixir.