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Early Autumn 2020 — Rites of Passage

Girl-tree owl

Normally my words would wander among the seeds and grains at this, the Autumn Portal, and the Second Harvest.  But as I gave thought to this entry, my reflections turned to another aspect of harvest:  Part of processing the grain is sorting what we do not want — the chaff, the stalks and browning leaves from the golden ripe seeds. Part of this, and any harvest is knowing what to leave behind, to compost; and it seemed a fitting theme for where we find ourselves.

This year I clung to summer well into September as it faded away and the days turned golden. The heat broke early after three milder and damper months than is usual, and never returned with force. At the balance of day and night a threshold… and summer slipped away. Time flows, and there is no going back. Trying to snatch at it’s coattails was to no avail, and autumn unfolded: beautiful, and uncaring of my desires. Happily, I love autumn too, but I lingered in a summer I was reluctant to leave.

Things No Longer Needed

There comes a time when we must go forward, and we cannot carry everything with us.  The theme of this time, whether we have suffered inconvenience at one end of the spectrum, or personal loss at the other, seems to be one of releasing. Releasing what doesn’t serve us; releasing old ways of doing things that fostered our arriving here, where we now find ourselves; releasing old patterns where we were content to ride on what was comfortable, even as the world around us signaled that our way of life damaged it, and a change was due.

Equilibrium

Nature never does anything for only one reason. In her quest for equilibrium she serves all of herself and all of life intelligently, creating forms that work, to replace those that produce an unbalanced or pathological outcome. Even fires and viruses are part of that evolution, and reveal where we have created conditions for them to thrive though our decisions and cultural expression. Taking a bigger view can help us question our role in contributing to live markets, confined animal feeding operations, habitat loss and temperature change that are only some of the things that have brought us to this pass. Then we have an opportunity to choose what to change, and what no longer serves us, our country or our world.

Herbs for Change

My beloved Celtic mother used to say, “Peace in Your Heart”.
There is a category of herbs that say that to us too, as they promote heart’s ease, and encourage flow.  My favorites are:

Reishi Mushroom (Ganoderma lingzhi).  

reishi
Eric Steinert / CC BY-SA (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/)

It’s positive actions and properties are too numerous to list, but paramount among them are it’s ability to quiet the heart spirit, lower blood pressure, sustain the heart muscle, protect the liver, and ease the flow of blood, qi, and spirit. Try taking 25-40 drops of the tincture about 15 minutes before you plan to reflect on a bigger picture of something you are working with, or decisions you are making. Pause and sit when you take it, and allow yourself to just be, sensing your breath, body and spirit as the Reishi nourishes you. Then turn your mind to the patterns or changes you are reflecting on, and write down what comes up. Answers may not surface just then, but the space for quietude and heart flow allow your subconscious to really work for you, and you may find that you have flashes of insight and clarity about your concerns in the days to come. When I engage with Reishi in this way, I do it in the evening, not long before bed. It is food-like, and safe to take in moderation. Health food stores usually carry it in tincture form.

 

Albizia, the Happiness Tree (Albizia julibrissin). 

albiszia blossoms
Image by WikimediaImages from Pixabay

You will know her as Mimosa! With her antidepressant and anti-anxiety properties, she is an ally in times of stress, anxiety and grief. If you have been suppressing anger or grief, this herb can support you when you are ready to work with them. In traditional Chinese medicine it is said to “calm the five organs and promote happiness”. It supports oxytocin levels in the body, and it should not be used if you are pregnant.

Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis).

I’ve mentioned it before as an herb to ease stress, so I’ve just copied my previous entry: It is a member of the mint family, that comes to us from southern Europe. Its name Melissa comes from the Greek for “bee”. (Bees love it!) Calming, Mildly sedative and antidepressive — what’s not to love! It has been naturalized here for a long time, and is a favorite for its soft energy, strong presence, and delicate fragrance. Avicenna, a middle eastern herbalist who taught and practiced during the middle ages, recommended it to “make the heart merry”. It nourishes the nerves and has antiviral properties, making it a favorite in times of viral illness. Try a cup of relaxing lemon balm tea as you stop the clock to unwind; or snip fresh leaves into a salad for added flavor and an uplifting treat for your spirit.

Lavender (Lavendula angustifolia, or spp.)

lavenderLavender tea, ½ teaspoon +/- to a cup of boiling water poured over it, is a supreme source of ease on many levels. You get the full fragrance of the buds that way, and the smell is part of the medicine. It’s bitter though, and honey is fine. The bitter property tells us that it will ease digestion (It’s used in many French culinary blends for this), and in fact, it also eases liver tension. If you feel that you emotions are “stuck”, and you just can’t get anywhere with sorting things out, try letting it all go for awhile, then when you are ready, sit with a cup of strong honeyed lavender tea, and sneak up on a little reflection time. Note: Lavender essential oil does not act in the same way as the tea does. Essential oils are not herbs. (They are a highly refined fraction consisting only of the volatile oils, and are missing many of the medicinal constituents of the whole herb.) Use lavender mindfully if pregnant, and avoid if the pregnancy is delicate.

I hope these herbs will be friends for you, as they are for me. May you walk in sunshine and green spaces, and your autumn be golden.  —Joan

 

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Earth Rhythms: Reweaving the Lost Connections

winter mugIt is mid January, and the world is grey today, with a magical cold softness, held in the now-damp air. Fallen leaves lie still, hiding mysteries that wait for spring, to be revealed in warmth and rain. I have reveled for a month in the pause that starts just before winter solstice, when Earth creates a container for the energy of darkness and cold here. It is a time of reflection, deep roots, and transforming in silence. I depend on it for health in the rest of the year like I depend on sleep for health each day. It is a time to indulge with abandon in the pleasures of warm throws, quiet dark, hot teas, and soft fireside conversations that reach deep. This rhythm of darkness and cold is one of earth’s rhythms on the prairie, and in these latitudes around the world. It is known by our cells, and held in our ancestral memories as a time of regeneration and community. It is a critical rhythm in the wheel of the year, when we can feed our inner wellsprings; yet it is unknown, or unengaged with, by many, many people.

We cannot wholly be disconnected from all of earth’s rhythms, or we would wither away, bereft of the unseen information streams between people, plant, and earth. But we collectively live out of harmony with some of them, and without conscious awareness of others, as if walking with someone who was a friend once, that we no longer acknowledge is there. Our cells, nervous systems and spirits miss those flows. It is clear from the awakening calling people to herbalism, shamanism and other pathways that connect us to earth, that we long to come again into harmony with the planet that is our home, and the other beings who live here. Doing that can affect our ability to heal in profound ways. This post begins a series of explorations about the rhythms of life that coordinate many of our biological and inner responses to our world, and without which we simply cannot get well. In these I will share a profile of the rhythms, herbs and practices that I find helpful in the journey.

The Rhythm of Winter

tree in fog

Even in this suburban spot on the prairie whose seasons have warmed through at least forty years of climate change, the energy of deep winter holds sway for a little longer. Without snow, without ice, but slow and cold for a little while yet, nourishing resilience in body and spirit that will feed vitality through the activity of the year.  Now, in this last two weeks before the half-way place between Sunreturn and Equinox, there is still time to nurture the seeds of of the year’s work, before the time of quiet dark fades behind.

Deep Roots

One way to connect with the rhythm of winter is to — stop! Do nothing. Turn off the phone and feel the warmth of air on your skin and sense your heart beat. The heart is the organ of the 6th sense, long suppressed now; the seat of our clarity and intuition.  Accessing this space in yourself often can help you override messages from the outer world, and clarify what you truly need and want — the realm of your heart’s longings. This simple exercise brings heart, nervous system and spirit together:

Heart Connection

Let go of your thoughts, and breathe in and out through your heart while cultivating a feeling of love for someone in your life. It can be a person, a pet, or the beings around you.
♦   See your inner Divine as a spark within.
♦   Imagine a bridge of light from that spark to your heart .
♦   Radiate love to yourself and the world for a minute, then sit in stillness.

Your own greatest wisdom emerges from silence.

Nourish Deeply

As the cold days roll on, melancholy can set in, especially if the days remain grey for long.  That’s the time for nourishment with winter roots and broths.  The energy of roots flows downward and is oh, so grounding. As they anchor the living plant, so they help to anchor us. Root energy supports inner work and the pensive inner reflections that are often part of winter. They are filled with micronutrients, antioxidants and minerals.

Vegetable broths that include a wide variety of vegetables along with mushrooms and seaweed, or bone broths made from clean, organic bones along with local greens and herbs are both nutrient dense foods that can form a base for soups in winter. Don’t you love the rich, taste of a soup on a cold day?

Here is a simple recipe that uses both
broth and roots for a warming, semi-sweet soup:

1 each small:   golden beet,  parsnip,  burdock root.
1/2 cup onion, diced
1-2 Tbsp olive oil
3 cups vegetable stock
— or —
1 cup bone broth plus 2 cups chicken stock
A sprinkling of thyme, rosemary, sage, coriander and marjoram.
Sea salt and pepper to taste. 
1-2 Tbs chia seed
dash of nutmeg

Chop and lightly saute all the roots  in 1-2 Tbs olive oil. Add the broth / stock, salt and pepper.   Simmer until roots are softer but not yet tender.  Add the chia seed and herbs.

Cook until roots are tender and the soup has some body. Whole cream makes a nice addition to this in the bowl, if dairy is an option.

May you enjoy, and may the lingering days of winter offer you
time for wonder, and for regeneration.

Fireplace

If you would like to learn more about herbal lifestyles and reweaving your connections with earth rhythms, click here to visit Joan’s events page,
and be sure to sign up for her newsletter.
She will be adding more events soon! 

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