“Those who dwell among the beauties and mysteries of the earth are never alone or weary of life.” ~Rachel Carson

I spent a lot of my time as a child mesmerized by the ways of water. Wandering a little way from our house in New Hampshire, I would find myself immersed in another world. The natural world. Walking into the woods, the mysterious shroud of the wild held me captivated for hours. A magical place teaming with life, sounds and smells. Crouching down to observe the little kingdoms of moss. If observed close enough, this moss was like a miniature forest with variations and species I’m sure were only visible to the innocence and mindfulness of a child’s vision.

“The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious.” ~Albert Einstein

There was a small brook; in retrospect it may only have existed after the spring thaws or summer downpours. I was always fascinated with the branches and dead trees that had fallen across and into the water, slowing the water enough so that leaves would get caught and pile up, creating a dam and restricting the flow. Or, the way water flowed around the moss covered rocks, creating small eddies on the backsides.

It’s still a vivid memory, the way the water changed when I removed the obstructing branch. First the leaves would get carried away, the water would turn real murky as the new flow of water stirred up the accumulated debris and sediment, clear water gradually mixing in and washing the stagnancy away. The settled muck disbursed into the water, exposing the hidden sandy bottom. Crystal clear water flowing once more.

So is life. Unhealed emotions are held within the body, some tightly. This tension creates restrictions in the energy flowing through the body. A state of dis-ease develops. The area of stress and tension also restricts the blood, oxygen, nutrients and release of toxins from the organs and glands located there. The health of the body becomes compromised. When the body is relaxed, healing on all levels is able to take place.This is similar to removing the restrictive branches from the flow of water. A period of disruption occurs before a full and clear flow of water can happen. It can appear as though things are worse than they were. Believing this can hinder or stop the healing process. Fear creates tension again. Where in reality, the hardest part is over. The first step was taken, so relax and let the new flow wash away the old. Healing is a process, not an event.

“The underlying attraction of the movement of water and sand is biological. If we look more deeply we can see it as the basis of an abstract idea linking ourselves with the limitless mechanics of the universe.” ~ Sir Geoffrey Jellicoe

It’s ironic to note that I am still playing with the flow, only now as a Reiki practitioner. These times are deeply ingrained in my memory and integral to who I am yet my parents don’t know what I am talking about.  Did I fall down a rabbit hole like Alice? Step into a parallel universe at the property line? Or is it that we create our own magic and perception of the world? We do not forget what is important to the heart and soul.

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“Those who dwell among the beauties and mysteries of the earth are never alone or weary of life.” Rachel Carson“Those who dwell among the beauties and mysteries of the earth are never alone or weary of life.” ~Rachel Carson

JUST RELEASED …. A Journey into Herbal & Natural Healing eBook. From years of teaching herbal and natural healing, I have compiled a comprehensive eBook including my herbal “recipes” from Mystic Naturals’ product line.

Explore how herbs and other natural methods can enhance health and well-being. Discover how a healthy, holistic lifestyle works to balance mind, body & spirit.

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Contents

Foreword
How to Use This Book
Herbal History
Collection, Drying & Storing Herbs
Overview
Wildcrafting Guidelines
Drying & Storage
At Risk List
To Watch List
Herbal Teas, Infusions and Decoctions
Herbal Teas
Herbal Tea Blending
Herbal Tea Recipes
Infusions (Medicinal Use) Dry Plant
Decoction (Medicinal Use) Dry Plant
Natural Ingredients for Body & Skin Care
Oils & Butters
Other Ingredients
Essential Oils & Aromatherapy
Flower Essences
Homeopathic Remedies
Basic Herbal Preparations
Infused Oils
Tinctures
Glycerites and Vinegars
Stress & Relaxation
Herbs for Stress & Relaxation
Herbal Bath Teas
Herbal Eye Pillows
Essential Oils – Aromatherapy
Stress Reduction Techniques
Sleep & Insomnia
Herbs for Sleep & Insomnia
Essential Oils for Sleep
Homeopathic Remedies
Herbal Dream Pillows
Immune System
Herbs for the Immune System
Herbs Specific for Colds & Flu
Elderberry Syrup
Essential Oils – Aromatherapy
Herbal & Natural Skin Care
Dry Skin Brushing
Bathing Tips
Herbs & Natural Ingredients for Skin Care
Facial Steams
Facial / Body Scrub
Brown Sugar Scrub
Natural Lotion – Base Recipe
Essential Oils for Skin Care
Herbal First Aid
Herbal Salves
Compress
Poultice
Liniment
Natural Insect Repellent
Essential Oils for First Aid
Herbal Aphrodisiacs
Herbs as Aphrodisiacs
Essential Oils as Aphrodisiacs
Warming Massage Oil
Massage Oil
Scientific Herbal Names
Recommended Resources
Books
Herbal Research
Herbal Associations & Organizations

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“There is a constant and intimate contact among the things that coexist and co-evolve in the universe – a sharing of bonds and messages that makes reality into a stupendous network of interaction and communication. It is this ‘sharing of messages’ in Nature that keeps it in balance.” ~ Ervin Laslo

As I mentioned in a previous post, I am currently taking classes in ecopsychology and organic psychology through The Institute of Global Education, Project NatureConnect. One aspect of the class, Psychological Elements of Global Citizenship, reminds us our learning from the activities will increase up to 75% by teaching it to another person. So, naturally I am sharing this activity with you. As you read through the activity and my responses, I hope that you would consider doing the activity as well and posting your outcomes as a comment. Not only will it be an enjoyable experience for you but your response will also enhance my future skills to teach this important subject. If you do the activity, please remember that it is your personal experience, do not let yourself be influenced by what I have written as my experience.

“We cannot live for ourselves alone. Our lives are connected by a thousand invisible threads, and along these sympathetic fibers our actions run as causes and return to us as results.” ~Herman Melville

This is a piece of the activity. The full activity requires the book: The Web of Life Imperative: Regenerative Ecopsychology Techniques That Help People Think in Balance With Natural Systems by Michael J. Cohen, Ed.D.

1. Think about a prior good experience you had in nature. Think about where you were, how you felt, what you sensed. Write your response.
2. What was feelingly enjoyable or rewarding about the experience?
3. What did you experience from completing this activity (not the past experience itself)?

———————————————————————————- Here are my responses:

1. Last summer a time came where I felt a strong need to sit in nature and connect with myself again. I was guided to wake early enough to watch the sunrise at a monastery we have here in Mystic, out on a sacred piece of property on the ocean. I found myself sitting on a huge, flat ledge-type rock that ends somewhere under the water. This rock lines up perfectly with the rising sun. The sun rose a majestic salmon/pink color, reflecting over the still ocean. Gulls greeting the morning with their cries. As the sun burned off the morning haze, I could feel its warmth radiating on my skin. The large rock gave me the grounding I was looking for. Relaxing in the stillness I could feel the pulse of the earth through the gentle motion of the ocean. I was at total peace. I noticed details of the life around me vividly and clearly, as though I had a new set of eyes. A white egret, unafraid of my stillness, hunted for its breakfast, standing perfectly still, waiting. Seaweeds attached to the rocks swayed with the gentle motion of the water. Water lapped and flowed against and through the rocks. I asked the Universe for these qualities I saw in nature. The patience and trust of the egret, the flexibility of the seaweeds, the lightness and warmth of the sun, the strength of the rock, and the energy and balance of the ocean. I felt a part of the rhythm of nature. I was really aware of my senses, they seemed heightened. I felt that I had given myself back to me. I watched a white feather fall from the sky, resting next to me on the rock.
2. What I found enjoyable or rewarding about the experience was the connection to all of life that I felt, the deep peace and insight I achieved, and I could feel Divine love flowing to me and through me.
3. I found this first activity very interesting. I was amazed how vivid all the details came back to me, it felt as though I was actually sitting on the rock again. I realized how deeply the experience was ingrained in my memory. As I was typing, I also noticed how the words were just flowing, almost poetically.

“Nothing is more indisputable than our senses.” ~ Jean Le Rond d’Alembert

“The laws of the universe are not indifferent, but are forever on the side of the most sensitive.” ~Henry David Thoreau

What are your responses from the activity?

New Beginnings, Growth & Balance

Spring Equinox – March 20th – the day when day and night are of equal length, light and dark; nature in perfect balance. A day to celebrate the return of longer days of sunshine and warmth.

Spring can also be so much more if we observe how nature changes with the seasons. Spring is a time of new beginnings, new growth, planting seeds, purification, and for clearing out the old. Following the rhythms of nature and developing harmony with the ways in which nature cares for itself, we can also create balance within our own lives.

Trees, plants, grasses and seeds that have laid still throughout the winter slowly emerge from their dormancy. Buds develop and grow into new leaves and flowers, plants and grasses emerge through the ground from their resting roots, and seeds sprout; all from the extended sunlight, warmth, rains, and fall’s nourishment. Birds and animals are more active, returning to their daily routines. Try to take some time on the next spring-like day to notice all the new growth that nature provides us. Smell the freshness in the air. Listen to the song birds that have returned. Nature provides us with the hope and promise of new beginnings and growth after winter.

Winter was a time of rest, a time to replenish energy for the start of the “growing” season – Spring. Now that spring is just about upon us, it is time to listen to nature and utilize this energy, this potential for new growth. Seize this energy and blossom!

Spring cleaning is actually an old ritual that was performed to remove any negativity from the previous year and to prepare the home to allow for the new to come in. Spring cleaning can be thought of on many levels, from physically cleaning your home to purifying your body, mind and spirit. We all hold onto “stuff” – useless, outdated or worn-out items we’ve collected over the years, maybe a couple extra pounds, and chances are; old emotions, hurts and pains. Spring is a great time to release ourselves from the past. Change allows us to grow. We all need to grow and develop, to explore possibilities. Living with the past keeps us in the past, missing the present – missing what we are now, what we can be.  Breaking free from the past allows us room for the present – be it closet, attic or emotional space. Once we release ourselves from the past, the present is free to enter into our lives. We are free to continue on with our journey, to experience life fully as it is meant to be. Open the windows, let the fresh air in. Try not to look upon the cleaning as a chore but as a chance to let “the new” into your life.

Spring is also a good time to cleanse our bodies after the sluggish winter. Our energy levels are high, and fresh foods and herbs are more available. A rest from the heavier, warming foods of winter will work wonders to rejuvenate and remove toxins from the body. Eating only fresh fruit and vegetable juices, herbal teas, lots of water and steamed or raw vegetables for several days will start you on your way to better health and nutrition. There are many methods of cleansing diets and two books that provide a wealth of information are “Staying Healthy with the Seasons” by Elson Haas and “The Ancient Cookfire” by Carrie L’Esperance. Several useful and abundant herbs for spring cleansing include: dandelion root and leaves, stinging nettle, chicory, parsley and peppermint. A brief overview of these spring herbs will get you started. Dandelion greens are high in vitamin A and can be used in salads or as a tea. Dandelion roots can be made into a bitter tea (don’t sweeten it, the bitterness is how it works – you’ll get use to it) as an excellent tonic for the liver and blood purifier. Dandelion roots are very high in vitamins and minerals. [Read a complete article on dandelion] Nettle is high in chlorophyll to provide energy and acts as a very good blood builder. Chicory and parsley have some of the same properties as the dandelion greens. A strong peppermint tea freshens the breath and body odors as well as relieves headaches. During a cleansing diet, the toxins you have stored in your body are released back into your blood stream to be released. It is vital to consume lots of water, with lemon is ideal, and get fresh air to flush these toxins out of your system.

Plant your “seeds”. What are your goals, dreams, aspirations? What do you want to harvest?

Start your groundwork now, the lazy days of summer will be here before you know!

I received this as an email the other day and instead of forwarding it around (which I don’t do), I thought I’d share these ideas on my blog. Some nice ideas to help live a happier, healthier and whole life.

Health:

1. Drink plenty of water.
2. Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a beggar.
3. Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less food that is manufactured in plants.
4. Live with the 3 E’s — Energy, Enthusiasm, and Empathy.
5. Make time to practice meditation, yoga, and prayer.
6. Play more games.
7. Read more books than you did in 2008.
8. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day.
9. Sleep for 7 hours.
10. Take a 10-30 minutes walk every day. And while you walk, smile.

Personality:

11. Don’t compare your life to others’. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
12. Don’t have negative thoughts or things you cannot control. Instead invest your energy in the positive present moment.
13. Don’t over do. Keep your limits.
14. Don’t take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
15. Don’t waste your precious energy on gossip.
16. Dream more while you are awake.
17. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
18. Forget issues of the past. Don’t remind your partner with his/her mistakes of the past. That will ruin your present happiness.
19. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone. Don’t hate others.
20. Make peace with your past so it won’t spoil the present.
21. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.
22. Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn. Problems are simply part of the curriculum that appear and fade away like algebra class but the lessons you learn will last a lifetime.
23. Smile and laugh more.
24. You don’t have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.

Society:

25. Call your family often.
26. Each day give something good to others.
27. Forgive everyone for everything.
28. Spend time with people over the age of 70 & under the age of 6.
29. Try to make at least three people smile each day.
30. What other people think of you is none of your business.
31. Your job won’t take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch.

Life:

32. Do the right thing!
33. Get rid of anything that isn’t useful, beautiful or joyful.
34. GOD heals everything.
35. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
36. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
37. The best is yet to come.
38. When you awake alive in the morning, thank GOD for it.
39. Your Inner most is always happy. So, be happy.

Last but not the least:

40. Please Forward this to everyone you care about

Although the following except is from “Yoga: The Spirit and Practice of Moving into Stillness” by Erich Schiffmann,  we can expand this concept to much more than just the practice of yoga.

“In daily life, we tend to remain within a familiar but limited comfort zone by staying away from both our physical and mental edges. This would be fine except that as aging occurs these limits close in considerably. Our bodies tighten, our range of movement decreases, and our strength and stamina diminish. By consciously bringing the body to its vairous limits or edges and holding it there, gently nudging it toward more openness with awareness, the long, slow process of closing in begins to reverse itself. The range expands as the edges change.”

Flexibility, endurance and attention are typically used to define the physical aspects of exercise. Striving to be as flexible, maintain endurance and attention should be goals that we work towards during physical activity. Finding the edge of our limits is playing the edge. It feels good. It’s not pushing our limits but easing into them.

Playing our edge can encompass more than the physical. By challenging and exploring our thoughts, emotions and beliefs we can open ourselves up to new experiences, new ways of seeing life. The edge of our life as we know it expands.

Step out of your comfort zone, play your edge. Expand your experience of life.

“Even the most relaxed and mindful person can feel stressed by the demands of everyday life: work deadlines, family pressures, personal commitments, and unexpected crises that seem to arise inevitable at the worst possible times. One solution is to excuse yourself from as many responsibilities as possible for twenty-four hours. Call it a “mental health” day or a “time out.” Make sure you don’t waste this mini-break, however. Advance planning will help you get the most out of your brief escape from the pressures of modern life. Some suggestions:

• Seek and enjoy silence and solitude. Spend time in nature, sit in meditation, take a walk, or indulge in a sauna or hot tub soak [or bath]. Resist the telephone, computer, and TV.
• Give time to what you love most: family, spouse, a hobby, exercise, or anything that give you pleasure and feels neglected.
• Do one thing at a time, and give it your undivided attention. Multitasking makes it hard to enjoy any of the several activities you are juggling. It also tends to drain energy and increase stress.
• Avoid some decisions. Let others decide what to eat, where to go, and how to interact. This is particularly important for those of us who ordinarily make lots of decisions.
• Avoid clocks and do something that’s so absorbing that you lose track of time.
• If you can’t sit still, get rid of clutter. Extra and unwanted things take up space and absorb our energy because they take time to organize and maintain. You’ll feel lighter if you get rid of only ten things you know you are unlikely to ever use again.
• Make a list of what’s important to you, then reflect on how many of these things you are actually getting at present. If you want more of life’s rewards, zero in on ways to get them.”

From: Stillness: Daily Gifts of Solitude by Richard Mahler

I would lose myself for hours in the magic and mystery of the woods and the little stream. I was always fascinated with the branches and logs that had fallen across the water, slowing the water enough so that leaves would get caught and pile up, creating a dam and stopping the flow. It’s still a vivid memory, the way the water changed when I removed the blocking branch. First the leaves would get carried away, the water would turn real murky as the new flow of water stirred up the accumulated debris, clear water gradually mixing in and washing the stagnancy away. The settled muck disbursed into the water, exposing the hidden sandy bottom. Crystal clear water flowing once more.

So is life. Blockages within our lives, bodies and environment create stagnant energy, blocking the flow of newness and clarity. Once these blockages are removed, fresh energy flows into our lives bringing with it new experiences and abundance.

“The underlying attraction of the movement of water and sand is biological. If we look more deeply we can see it as the basis of an abstract idea linking ourselves with the limitless mechanics of the universe.” ~ Sir Geoffrey Jellicoe

There are countless methods for releasing energy blocks in our bodies, environment and life. Anything that moves energy works. Journaling, yoga, qi gong, tai chi, energy work such as massage, Reiki, chakra work, or reflexology; a fast or detoxifying diet, feng shui, clearing clutter…

Below are some posts I’ve run across on stagnant and negative energies. Take the time to read through these and let the crystal clear water flow into your life, allowing the murky waters to move on.

• The Emotional Cost of Clutter & Delete obstacles and welcome a rush of new opportunities from The Healthy Living Lounge
• Releasing Negative Thoughtforms and Energy Blocks from Affirmations and Visualizations for Success

After some thought, I decided it would be better to post my herbal, nutritional and natural healing posts on a separate blog. It still needs some fine-tuning but it’s online.

 Please stop by, visit and let me know what you think.

Blessings,
~Tania 

“What is a weed? A plant whose virtues have not yet been discovered.” ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

Many of our local weeds contain valuable healing properties. As the warmer weather approaches, weeds will be filling our gardens and as time permits, these same weeds will be pulled out and discarded (hopefully at least composted). This article will highlight some of the usefulness of our most common “weed”.

One of our most invasive garden weeds is the common dandelion (Taraxacum officinale). The common name is derived from the French “dent de lion” or lion’s teeth, because of the shape of its spiked leaves. As we all have have noticed, the dandelion is one of the first flowers to bloom in the spring and also lasts the longest into the fall season. Because of this long season, dandelions are an important source of food for the bees and honey production. The physical structure of the plant is interesting. Dandelion has a long central root (tap root) with its leaves arranged to catch water and direct it downwards to the root. Medicinal plants that have a long root system have the ability to pull valuable minerals and nutrients out of the soil and into the plant itself. The bright yellow of the flowers attract bees and just under the flower head are leaf-like petals (bracts) that help deter ants and other bugs from damaging the flower or acquiring the pollen and nectar. It’s also amazing to note that as wide-spread as dandelion is, the plant is not native to North America.

The first mention of the medicinal qualities of dandelion date back to Arabian physicians of the tenth and eleventh century. The genus name, Taraxacum, is derived from the Greek taraxos (disorder) and akos (remedy) due to the plant’s recognized healing actions. The species name, officinale, means, “used in the office or the workshop.” Both the roots and leaves are used medicinally.

Dandelion is most commonly used as a diuretic (increases the flow of urine), hence its English nickname of “pissabeds”. Medicinal plants contain a balance of properties and constituents whereas pharmaceuticals provide just the required chemicals to create the desired effect (and in many cases, side-effects). Pharmaceutical diuretics deplete the body of necessary minerals and nutrients, especially potassium. The dandelion plant is very high in potassium and other minerals so the body is not being robbed of vital nutrients when dandelion is used as a diuretic.

Dandelion is a very safe, valuable and useful plant with many medicinal uses. It is considered a tonic (tones the body), reduces water weight gain, a mild laxative, helps to eliminate toxins from the blood, promotes healthy digestion and will soothe an irritated stomach, acts as an anti-rheumatic, helps support the liver and kidneys, keeps the bowels in a healthy condition, stabilizes blood sugar, reduces blood pressure, has shown anti-tumor properties and clears the skin of impurities.

The milky juice from the stems and leaves acts as a fungicide and has antibacterial properties. The juice has been shown to be effective in the treatment of warts, corns, stings and blisters.

The dandelion plant contains one of the highest levels of vitamin A of all greens and also contains high concentrations of vitamin C, iron, calcium, potassium and electrolytes.

Although dandelion is considered a “bitter”, and it is bitter, acquiring a palate for the flavor is easy. The roots take on a kind-of nutty flavor when used as a tea. It is important to note that bitters provide their healing qualities from being bitter, they get the gastric juices flowing starting at the mouth downward. To provide the most benefit, herbs considered as bitters should not be sweetened or taken in capsule form.

The young leaves can be used as salad greens or cooked as you would spinach, the roasted roots as a healthy coffee substitute or raw as a tea. Dandelion root tea is made with one ounce of root to one pint of boiling water and steeped about 15 minutes. The flowers have been used throughout history to make dandelion wine, they can be stir-fried as an interesting and colorful change of vegetable or added raw to a salad. Dandelion flower tea with a little honey can provide relief for headaches, menstrual cramps, stomach aches and mild depression.

When collecting any wild plants, there are a few pointers to keep in mind. First and foremost, make sure you have positively identified the plant. A valuable reference for identification is a good field guide such as “A Field Guide to Medicinal Plants and Herbs of Eastern and Central North America” (Peterson Field Guides) by Steven Foster and James Duke. Do not collect plants from areas where fertilizers or pesticides have been applied and do not collect close to roadsides as car exhaust creates toxins in the plants.

This article may not help with your weeding woes, but hopefully you look upon dandelion a little differently now and maybe even give it a try for its health benefits.