83 Acres of Love

My mom and I purchased 83+ acres of land back in 1998.  I was 27 years old.  I had no idea what to do with it; I just figured that one day I would build on it and be all happy and content.  Little did I know it would become an 83 acre albatross hanging around my neck.

Now many of you, I am sure, could think of ALL KINDS of things you would do with over 83 acres of land.  And, knowing that I am an herbalist and all in love with Mother Earth, I’m sure you are confused as to why I would be so negative about this awesome acreage that I call my own.  Five years ago, I decided to disconnect myself from this land, and my mom and I and tried to sell it.  I became ambivalent toward the land, what happened to it, what could be done with it, etc.  For the sake of keeping our personal issues personal, I will simply say that, in many ways, I couldn’t call this place my home.  Until I decided to take it back.  Claim it.  Own it.  I have officially dedicated myself to falling in love with it.

After much pain and indecision, I came to the conclusion that this land was mine for a reason. I am her caretaker and I have a responsibility to preserve and love this place. This 83 acres is calling me into her service.

When I purchased this land, I noticed that I had many saplings that were growing too closely together; I kept thinking that I would have them thinned out one day.  That was almost 14 years ago.  Do you know what happens to trees that grow too closely together for too long?  Besides possibly dying out, they also tend to stop growing.  Completely.  Period.  They can remain stagnant indefinitely until they die out completely.  I realized that I needed to make a very hard decision.  To cut or not to cut.   Do I leave it alone and let it die out?  Do I have timber cut in areas and hope for some evidence of growth in 3 to 5 years?  Do I clear cut and start over?  I hated the thought of cutting down one tree… much less up to a third of my timber.

Last month I made the decision to cut some timber.  Yes, it looks awful.  Yes, I cried some.  But not only was that cutting needed, but it also was a very visual reminder of the cycle of life.  Birth.  Life.  Death.  New life.  This is phase one of my re wilding and renewal project.

And, since this land seems to be a beautiful reflection of myself, this is also phase one of my personal re wilding and renewal project.  Just like my land, I am a little frayed and torn around the edges, and my limbs feel slightly bruised and bent.  But I am surrounded by love and support, and I know that being rebirthed is on the horizon.  For both of us.

The Best Mom in the World and her Baby Girl

December pictures and impressions

What a beautiful, heart nurturing month this was!

We began the month with putting up my mom’s Christmas tree.  Really, it was just an excuse to be with the younguns and play with bubbles, but maybe that was just me.

I have spent much time making herbal gifts for my friends and family.  I have had such a wonderful time, creating blends for muscle pain, ceremonial blends, blends for opening the heart, and wound care blends… even some lip balm and some Goddessy perfume balms.  <– YUM!

I promise that I will soon offer my balms and salves along with my tinctures and elixirs… I am just really wanting to find some labels that reflect the feeling and purpose of Sacred Hoop Herbals.  If you know of anyone who can make labels or a program that is easy to use, please send me the info.  *pretty please with sugar on it*

My gorgeous, magnificent, amazing and incredible niece, Alayna, turned 3 this month, and she has just started “Pre K”.  I am so proud of my little bean.

Alayna the Arteest

I took part in an Herbal Solstice Ring where a group of herbalists swapped goodies, and I had such a wonderful time sending out my herbal elixirs.  I have to say, though, that there’s nothing like being on the receiving end of the equation.  I had almost a dozen herbal friends shower me with herbal yumminess this month.  I think we need herbal swaps all the time.  LOL  Like every month.  Forever.  Thanks, gals.  Y’all rock my fuzzy socks.

Sleeping Goldenrod

My Goldenrod is sleepy and has gone to bed for the year… it’s still warm down here some days, so I see babies peeking up already…

I have considered picking them to make a “farewell til spring” tea.

I really am glad I harvested enough leaves to make tea this winter, and my herbal infused honey is dee-vine.

Goldenrod Tufts

*oh, by the way, I googled “tufts” to make sure it was a word.  I knew it was, but you know when you type something out and for some reason it just looks not-quite-right?  LOL  I will leave you with this.  Goldenrod Tufts

~Live like you mean it,

Dana

~and Alayna

Goldenrod: 2011 Herbal Ally :: In Conclusion

Goldenrod has gone to bed; her stalks are standing strong, holding her place.

At the base of her stalks, I can see Goldenrod babies peeping up, not quite ready for lights out yet.  Down here in zone 7, we don’t really know what our weather is going to do, but extremely cold weather doesn’t usually last a long time.  While I might be concerned for cultivars in this crazy weather, I have no worries about Goldenrod; she has been thriving here loooooong before I ever knew her.

I thoroughly enjoyed my time with Goldenrod this year.  I spent many mornings and afternoons sitting with her and just “being” with her.  I have received amazing impressions from her, and it is my hope that I can express her message effectively.

Here are the ways in which I experienced Goldenrod:

• Dried leaves in tea
• Infused honey
• Oxymel *honey and apple cider vinegar*
• Tincture
• Elixir
• Infused oil / salve
• Infused vinegar

…and I have found that I experience her in different areas of my body / emotions depending on how her medicine is extracted.

Fascinating.

 

Goldenrod is indicated for sinus and allergies, kidney and urinary tract issues, digestion, gas / bloating, and bladder infections.  I have also noticed a soothing of fever and inflammation with her medicine.  Topically, goldenrod salve or oil is really good for muscle pain, especially in the neck and shoulders in my experience.  I like to add cottonwood infused oil into my muscle pain salves, so I will either use goldenrod oil alone, or I will make a goldenrod/cottonwood salve *and sometimes I’ll throw in a little pine infused oil too*.

Goldenrod “clears the head” beautifully, especially when I have a sinus headache.  Also, when I feel stressed and mentally unfocused, I have found that taking goldenrod elixir really helps bring clarity and lift my spirits.  She’s great for the wintertime blahs.

I also noticed while working with her that she facilitates expansion in the lungs.  I feel this more intensely when I work with the oxymel and the infused vinegar, so maybe the apple cider vinegar has something to do with that feeling.  I also feel it with the tinctures and elixirs, just not as deeply.

Energetically, goldenrod has really helped me with communication; not necessarily with the ability to speak , but with clarity of mind and focus.  She gently supports me, giving me the confidence to express myself.

Emotionally, I feel a happy peacefulness when I work with goldenrod.  I turn to her when I feel unsettled or lethargic, or when I feel like I have been in the house too long (cabin fever).  She also lifts my spirits when winter has been hanging around a little too long and I’m not getting enough sunshine on my face.

I wonder if goldenrod is beneficial for lymphatic issues.  I really feel that she is in some way… maybe by helping to facilitate movement in other systems of the body, she indirectly affects the lymphatic system; maybe she more directly affects it somehow… not sure.  If anyone has worked with her on that level, I would love to have feedback.

Most of my work with Goldenrod this year has been as a “simple”, meaning I rarely mixed her medicine with other herbs because I wanted to experience her medicine and her specific effects on my body/emotions.  However, I did make a Rockin infused honey with her blooms this year…

… and I love to add her to my other herbal teas.  I tried her in coffee once.  Yes, only once.  LOL  Oh, and speaking of teas, I found that people with digestion issues can drink goldenrod tea between meals with great results.

Many people claim to be allergic to goldenrod pollen.  Others say they can’t use goldenrod at all; they have a reaction to her medicine.  Science has documented that goldenrod pollen is not airborne.  It needs insects for its ability to cross pollinate; therefore, unless you stick a goldenrod flower up your nose, you probably won’t have a problem with goldenrod pollen.

However, I do know several people who cannot use goldenrod or any herb in the Asteraceae family.  So, before you dive into a vat of goldenrod goodness, make sure you don’t have an allergic reaction to the Aster family.  If not, then by all means, jump right in and infuse yourself into her happy medicine.

 

I am honored that you walked with Goldenrod and me this year.  It’s been a beautiful journey.  Next year’s ally is going to be a tough one to select.  I think I’ll just sit back and wait to be selected.

~Deep Peace~

Dana

October/November pictures and impressions

Well, I was so busy this fall that I skipped a month of updates.

I have had a wonderful time visiting with friends all over the U.S., and I have begun a certification course in CranioSacral Therapy that will have me in Orlando, FL, eight times in the next two years.  I am really excited!

On the home front, I have decanted and sampled some fabulous tincture, oxymel, elixir and infused oil of Goldenrod!!!  She was quite magnificent this year and her medicine is divine!  I will share more (and some pics) in a later post.

This post is light on pics, but heavy on gratitude.  I was asked to create a ritual to connect with Mother Earth, and I thought I would post it here.  If you would like to use this little ceremony, let me know; I would love to join my intentions with yours as we strengthen right relationship with her.

Earth Harmony Ritual

We earth children love our Mother, and while we give back to her through feeding our animal siblings, planting trees, recycling and many other wonderful activities, we also have a deep need to connect with her on a spirit level.  This ritual has been created in the hope that you will be inspired, in your own creative way, to connect with our Mother through your senses, through ritual and through intention.

Deep Peace~
Dana

Take time to walk outside.  Visit your yard, a park, your favorite sit spot, or any place that calls to you.  Walk slowly… mindfully… with a heart of meditation, and engage your senses.  Take a few steps, stop, and look around you.  Notice what is on the ground as you walk softly on the earth.  Before you return to your home, notice a gift that has been left for you.  It may be a leaf, an acorn, a feather, a stone, pine needles, etc.  Give gratitude and, when you return home, place this gift on your altar (or in a place that is meaningful to you).  Do this exercise several times, and accumulate gifts from Mother.

When you feel you have collected enough material, sit with these items and allow Spirit to tell you what to do with them.  You can create something biodegradable with them or you may simply arrange them in a way that is meaningful to you.  Let your creativity and intuition guide you.

After creating your piece or arrangement, infuse it with intentions of your choice:  love, healing, balance, peace, nourishment, etc… you may do this one time or over a period of several days.

Finally, take your special gift and return it to Mother Earth, asking that she be nourished with your offering.  Visualize her accepting and harmonizing with your intentions.  Give gratitude.

~And so it is.

Ever in her service,
Dana

My Wolf Baby

Goldenrod harvest, 2011

Oh, the joy I felt when I came home from my trip to Florida and I saw my goldenrod in full bloom.   She was HUGE!  Almost 10 feet tall… so ripe and abundant.

 

I still have some tincture left from last year, but my honey, vinegar and infused oil is all used up, so it was time to replenish my stock.

 

I was amazed that I was able to harvest 3 times what I usually do from this stand of Goldenrod.  I can’t believe how she’s grown.

 

I love Goldenrod’s tiny, bright flowers.

 

Since I had so much plant material to work with, I used primarily blooms and small leaves and malleable stems for my tinctures and elixirs, as well as my oxymel blend and infused honey.  The rest of the leaves were dried for tea this winter.

 

For the elixir, I used raw honey and brandy with my goldenrod blooms.  Oxymel is an infusion of honey and vinegar *yum*!  I can’t wait to try that one.  You KNOW I’ve already dipped into it and it’s awesome.  LOL

When everything is ready I will taste test and compare all of my goldenrod goodness and send in a report. 

In my opinion, not much is better than herbalism… not much at all… except maybe my wolf, Shiloh.

 

~Deep Peace,
Dana

September pictures and impressions

September was such a beautiful month.  I could feel Fall in the air for several days, but for the most part, all was warm without being scorching hot.

I went to Treasure Island, FL, for a FABulous CranioSacral workshop with David Tomlinson, and we enjoyed the company of wild dolphins while working in the ocean.  *happy sigh*

When I came home, I was excited to see my Goldenrod in full bloom!  I spent the entire weekend with her, creating some wonderful brews, oxymel, elixirs and oil blends.  I was able to harvest from her 3 times and she still had plenty of lush blooms for the insects.  I will post more on my goldenrod experiences later.

I also returned to my mimosa trees and decided to do a little experiment.

Back in July, my mom and I collected mimosa blooms and made a tincture.  I wrote a blog post on Mimosa:  Mimosa, “Silk Tree”, Albizia julibrissin.

In this experiment, I decided to tincture some leaves and bark/new stems, and then compare the two tinctures.  I will report my findings.

While visiting my herbs, I found that several had gone to seed, so I collected them and plan to expand my herb beds next spring.  I think I will move my hyssop as well; she has been in the same spot for 3 years and isn’t growing much at all.  So I will be shifting some plants around… more sun, less sun, etc.  I am still trying to find a spot that makes my skullcap happy.  *le sigh*  She is very finicky in all this heat.

Currently I am right in the middle of enjoying October’s crisp, cool days, but the memory of September’s peaceful moments at the ocean still makes me smile.

~Dana

Goldenrod Friends

I am surrounded by lovely Goldenrod friends. 

It thrills me to be tagged on Facebook when someone writes about Goldenrod; I am so happy that they know me well enough to be assured that I am interested… hungry even… for Goldenrod experiences.

My Goldenrod is just beginning to bud.

I have seen a few explosions of gorgeous color in my general area, but I am waiting patiently on my personal allies to make their sweet, spicy flowers.

Thanks to Tropical Storm Lee, the weather up here in North MS was 51 degrees this morning with a high in the low 70s.  We had a few days of consistent rain, and my sinuses acted accordingly. 

So I’ve been enjoying nips of Goldenrod tincture today and reading up on everyone’s lovely experiences with her medicine.

My friend, Green Man Sean Donahue, wrote a lovely blog post:

Goldenrod: September’s Golden Twilight

…and I have been hearing the exciting buzz about her all week!  Herbal Roots Zine‘s current issue is on Goldenrod… you KNOW you want a copy.  *<– that link is for the current month’s issue… if you are reading this after September, 2011, then order your Goldenrod issue from her “Back Issues” link on that site.*

Do you know of any wonderful Goldenrod links?   If so, please share them in the comments section of this page!

Surrounding you with golden sparkles~

Dana

August pictures and impressions

The beautiful theme for August is friendship.

Some very precious herbalist friends hooked me up with 3!!!! different kinds of bee balm (Monarda sp) and I was in my kitchen for hours, playing in the presents.  I made tinctures, infused honey, and clipped some tops to dry for winter teas.  I was just humming with excitement.

Dotted (spotted) Horsemint :: Monarda punctata

My gorgeous Goldenrod is almost twice my height (I am not exaggerating)

My little rabbit (and my other wild buddies) ate all of my cantaloupe and watermelon plants… oh, and they ate my pepper plants and some of my basil, too.  Honestly, I was happy to give them some good nibbles.  *shrug*

I spent the day with my sister in love and my precious niece, Gracie, and she painted my fingernails.  *happy*

Gracie and me

All in all, I had a pretty nice, HOT month.    Oooh, and I found a FABULOUS and talented new friend, Spirit Wolf.  Here is his jewelry store:  Tree of Life Spiritual Necklaces.  I have two of his necklaces, and I will be ordering more.  He rocks my fuzzy socks.

Much love,

Dana

Goldenrod Update

Goldenrod Notes: 8/10/11

 

Goldenrod represents “abundant harvest” to me.  She begins blooming right at the start of the first harvest and provides food for so many insects…  She teaches me how to share with bugs and bees and spiders… she shows me that there is enough of her medicine for all of us.

Her taste represents sunshine and clarity to me.  I love how she is so warming and astringent, making my throat clear and my nose tingle.  When she began this past winter’s lessons, I felt her really work in my lungs.  I felt my lungs expand so much that the intercostal muscles between my ribs were affected.  I also felt a lightening in my spirit.  I usually get pretty sad right before Spring (and our Spring comes a lot earlier than most people’s), and I either hit a tanning bed for a few weeks (I know…bad bad), or I run out to the back yard, pull my shirt off and freeze my bits every time the sun comes out.  This year I supplemented my mad behavior with taking Goldenrod tincture and daily doses of infused vinegar, and found myself much more comfortable.

Very impressive.

Amazing how she shows up right when I need her… Last week the cooling fan on my central air unit died.  I was without air conditioning for two days and had to sleep with a fan blowing on me all night.  The third night I slept with a portable air conditioner blowing in my room.  By the fourth morning I had laryngitis and felt miserable.  I started using elderberry, elder flower and mullein tinctures, as well as sage tea and other herbs to combat this problem and, after a week of the scratchy blahs, I was feeling a little sad and concerned that nothing was helping.

*In walks Goldenrod*

I thought, “I need something to clear my sinuses and support my lungs while I am dealing with this,” and immediately thought of Goldenrod.   I took some of my goldenrod tincture and within minutes felt my head begin to clear and my breathing deepen.  I felt lighter and more peaceful than I had in over a week, and this feeling continued as I kept working with her.  So far I still have a scratchy sounding voice, but clear lungs, clear sinuses and very minimal irritation in my throat.

This summer I have made tincture, oil and vinegar out of her dried leaves and I was sooooooo not impressed.  Okay, I probably would have liked it just fine if I had not made the same infusions and tinctures with the flowering tops last year.  LOL  Working with the leaves before the blooms arrive is “nice”.  Okay?  Nice as in “pleasant”, “gentle”, “unremarkable”, “subtle”.  I still feel the same qualities in the plant’s effects on the systems of my body, but there is something outrageously vivid, vivacious and spectacular about her essence when you wait for the blooms.   Kinda like me.

 

Notice how her little tops are straightening up compared to earlier pics.  I tried to get a good shot of her buds that are beginning to form.  *Enchanting*

~Dana

July pictures and impressions

Yes, it’s still hotter than hell down here.  Thanks for asking.

You know, I never realized how intense our summers are until I began to document my interaction with my plants and the earth.  I am quite ashamed to say that I don’t spend much time outdoors right now; mostly mornings before work and evenings right before the sun goes down.

And the mosquitoes are so bad that I spend most of my outside time in front of a HUGE patio fan.  No really, it’s HUGE.  I think it came out of a chicken house or a factory.  LOL

My cats are also experiencing the “lazy” part of “lazy days of summer”.

Pudge and Willoughby lie around like beached whales and Sister pretty much stays in the cool back bedroom.  *picture of Willoughby the Whale on the left.*

I am seriously considering purchasing some kind of soaker contraption to keep my herbs from dying.   My Skullcap seems to be coming back (YAY), so maybe she wants to hang out with me again… I will have to move her to a more shady spot.

I have been taking Mimosa tincture to help me with the loss of my brother, and it seems to be helping me a lot.  I will post more about that after I have had more experience with her medicine.  So far, though, my impression of this medicine is a combination of “ohmygawd, I just dropped perfume into my mouth,” and “oooh, this feels pretty good.”

On a cool note, I have been to a gorgeous pool party, *fell in love with a rottweiler named Cujo…*

I went to Sweetbriars and my friends and I planted John’s memorial tree right in front of the property.  Much gratitude goes out to Frances, Sue, Gary and Clay for being so present with me and helping me celebrate my brother’s life…

….My fabulous nephew, Dustin White (John’s son), just graduated basic training and is officially my favorite soldier…

….and spent some quality time with my other handsome nephew, Brutus.

All in all, July has been a pretty gorgeous month.

Stay cool and remember to drink your nourishing herbal infusions!

~Dana