Breathing the Breath of Rose

The Journey of the Rose
A Shamanic Herbal Tale in 3 parts ~ Part II

The wild roses are in full bloom now on our land, enough for all kinds of herbal preparations. We discovered a variety of wild rose buds as we wildcrafted recently. One flower bud being dark fushcia pink, another more mauve in color. Last fall as we gathered the ripe rose hips, we noticed even more species of rose. Some large and fat, some round, some oval, some ripening quite early and others not quite ripe. The fullness of this diversity is heart warming. Even within the wild rose community, when you look closely you will see many unique and wonderful gifts.

The wild rose, her teachings, her healing properties, her uses are an example of the ancient wise woman tradition of only utilizing a few plants for healing. Once, long ago, there were plants that were known to heal everything, anything. These plants were the companions of wise women and helped guide their healing practices. I enjoy discovering these plants and their shamanic teachings as well as utilizing them in as many ways as possible.
Rose is a spiritual teacher. I mean this in the shamanic sense. She is the one who will lead you to other plants that will nourish and heal you. In order to discover the teachings of wild rose, it is best to begin outside with her, listening. Here is a shamanic exercise that will facilitate this relationship:

• Take a walk and find a wild rose plant you feel a connection with.

• Sit or stand near rose

• Observe the rose plant, noticing how it comes up out of the ground and how it twists and turns toward the light.

• Find the thorns and observe the thorns

• Observe the intricate patterns of the leaves, the buds and flowers allowing yourself to detect the aroma.

• As you detect the scent of the rose notice your breath, breathing in and out three times

• Begin to feel yourself take shape as a rose.

• Feel yourself become the rose in all its intricacy, noticing many details

• Bring awareness back to breath again, breathing in the oxygen of this rose, breathing out offering your breath, and now breathe in as rose, breathe out offering oxygen. Do this for seven cycles.

• Listen. Listening is more than hearing. What do you see, hear, smell, feel?

• Now, ask yourself, “Who am I ” Take note.

• When this feels complete, open your eyes and move and stand once again.

• Give thanks to the rose.

• While proceeding with this exercise, do your best not to interpret what you are experiencing. When you are completely done, this is a good time to write and explore fully what this means for you.

• Return to the same rose. Connect again, remembering its details and the interchange. Now take basket in hand and gather rose.

There are many concoctions that you can make with wild rose. I have two favorites, wild rose infused oil and wild rose infused honey. To make the wild rose infused oil, I used to gather just the rose petals and buds. This makes an incredibly fragrant oil. Recently though, I have been experimenting with also using the wild rose leaves in my infused oil. The fragrance is a bit deeper and the healing tremendous. Gather wild roses in your basket. Immediately cut up the petals, buds and leaves, place them in a jar and drizzle olive oil over them just below the top of the jar. Put a lid on this and shake. Label with name, date, and perhaps something you remember from your journey and put it in the dark. Six weeks later, strain it and bless your skin with this precious oil.

Wild Rose infused honey is made just this way. Instead of olive oil, drizzle raw, local honey over the roses. You won’t have to wait six weeks for the honey. In fact, you can make this and use it the next day. But do be patient to let some of it sit for six weeks to increase its potency. This sensual delicacy is extraordinary. Not only is it delicious, you can utilize this honey for deep healing of infections.

Wild rose is anti-bacterial, antiseptic, very softening for skin and quite gentle. I have received feedback recently from people using wild rose balm (a combination of wild rose infused oil, wild rose infused honey and bees wax) who have experienced tremendous healing. A woman with auto-immune disease and a terrible rash that would not go away, put wild rose balm on the affected area and overnight it had began healing. Another woman put some of this balm on an open cut that was very painful and within a few seconds, the pain had subsided. Such a powerful and yet gentle healer.

As I reflect on the many ways that wild rose offers herself to us, I am reminded again of the wise woman. She is strong and compassionate and she is also sensuous and joyous.

May it be in Beauty.

Crow's Laughter Mystery School Offerings for Summer and Fall 2008
Follow the links to our website for all the details. Call or email anytime to find out more and request an apprenticeship application.

Apprenticeship Opportunities:
Women and Plants ~ Shamanic Herbal Apprenticeship Program;
Next session begins September 12, 2008
Open Day for Potential Apprentices ~ July 11th
Herbal Wisdom Circle ~ 13 Month Apprenticeship Program
Begins September 20, 2008

Summer Programs for Girls:

Herbal Wisdom Summer Mentorship for Girls
July 7-10, 2008 ~ 10:30-2:30
Awaken the Wise Woman! Apprenticeship Weekend for Girls 10-13

July 18-20, 2008
Into the Wood ~ Immersion in Green Witchery for Teen Girls 14-19

August 18-21, 2008

Monthly Classes:

Herbal Wisdom Circle
July 12 ~ 10:30-2:30
July's Theme: Lavender: Source and Center
The Well ~ Women's Study Group
First Wednesdays ~ July 2, August 6 ~ North Seattle

Earth and Moon Celebrations:
Dark of the Moon
July 2 ~ We are combining "The Well" Study Group and Dark of the Moon this month.
Passionate Abundance Earth Celebration
August 10 ~ 12-4 pm ~ Sunday
Free Herbal Class, Ceremony and Community Potluck

Classes in the Community:
Edibles and Medicinals Plant Walk at Golden Gardens in Seattle
July 16 ~ 6:30-8:30 ~ www.learnatnorth.com to register
A Healthy Gut
7-9 pm ~ This is offered through North Seattle Community College
www.learnatnorth.com to register

Earth Mysteries Weekend ~ Immersion in Shamanic Herbalism
November 1-2, 2008

Festivals and Fairs this Summer and Fall:

Northwest Herb Fest ~ Pleasantville, Oregon ~ July 26-27

I will be selling my nourishing herbal creations.

Seattle Tilth Organic Harvest Fair

September 6 in Seattle

I will be selling my nourishing herbal creations.

American Herbal Guild Convention in Redmond, WA

October 24-26, 2008

I will be selling my nourishing herbal creations.

Love and Beauty at My Doorstep

The Journey of the Rose
A Shamanic Herbal Tale in 3 parts ~ Part I

I am looking forward to the blooming of the wild roses this year. Each day making my way down into the yard to “check on them”. We have lived here on this land for just over three years. When we moved here in December of 2004, I remember one of the first things we did was to walk down into the wetland area. My husband was on this trek to “claim” the land he had chosen to steward. I was in search of plants. Who lives here? I saw the thickets of thorny bushes, but I didn’t yet know for sure they were roses.

Around 8 years ago, I discovered a magical place on the Olympic Peninsula in Washington where there are acres and acres of wild roses. I began to travel to this place to harvest the blooms in May/June and then the wild rose hips in October. Year after year I would make this pilgrimage to commune with rose. Wildcrafting wild rose blossoms is bewitching.

It begins like any other wildcrafting task..... asking, listening, thanking, plucking the blooms, sniffing here and there, tasting. But then as I continue, I find myself entering another world. Soon I am mesmerized by this thorny priestess; I am inside the realm of love and beauty. Peace abounds in this space. Loving myself is simple. Wild Rose tells me tales of how to love, who to love and how to teach love. This sacred space that beckons me, welcomes me is difficult to leave. It is soon time for me to stop harvesting so that I may get to the ferry before the last boat. Wild rose is saying pick me, pick me, more and more. I am pulling myself away from her, telling her I will return in fall to harvest her hips. I discover that even after I leave this space between the world, I can still travel there in feelings and sensations.

As spring came ‘round, our first spring here at our farm, I discovered the wild roses...still doubt sets in about whether it could possibly be true that I had chosen to live the rest of my life surrounded by this sorcière couverture. I made plans to travel to the Peninsula to harvest once again my beautiful blossoms. I returned to the spot where the wild roses spoke so loudly to me, seeking that feeling, craving the realm, hungry for it. The wild roses did speak loudly to me then and startled me. “What are you doing here?” they yelled. “You have roses on your land to harvest? You can harvest a few petals here and then you must return to your home and begin your journey there with wild rose.” I was heart broken or might I say that my heart was broken open at that moment. I realized that up until this time, I had to go seeking for love and beauty, I had to leave home to find it. Now I am being called to a simpler and yet more difficult task, to find love and beauty at my door step.

This year, I am restless to discover what wild rose will teach me. Her subtly, fragrant green leaves have already taken me in. Within her wise teachings, there is more difficulty in peeling away layers, in finding more love for myself and there is also laughter and singing to come.

May it be in Beauty.

Come join us for...
The Journey of the Rose ~ Weekend Immersion in Shamanic Herbalism
June 13-15 ~ Amongst the blooming wild roses at our farm on Whidbey Island
Visit our website www.crowsdaughter.com for detailed information and to register and email us anytime.

Close to Home

I have been quite close to home the last seven weeks.
I have been watching from my window as the apple tree plumps and grows leaf and flower buds.
I have watched the nettle grow thick and vibrant and now begin its flowering.
I have watched the garden fill with dandelion flowers, grass, red dock, buttercup, poppies, lemon balm, roses, strawberries, mint, violet, calendula, bok choy, red clover, garlic, shallots, valerian, yarrow, St. Joan’s Wort, cronewort, tulips, english daisies, nettle...
I have witnessed the beginning of the oatstraw goddess garden with poppies leaves at her head and around her yoni.

In my trips to the garden, I sit on a chair and watch the plants, notice things I wouldn’t have before, sitting in one place.
I broke my ankle about 7 weeks ago. I then had surgery to set it, insert screws and a metal plate. I slipped down some stairs at the Center of the Universe.
In the last seven weeks, I have learned a great deal about how healing happens. I have discovered more of myself. I have gained a beginner’s understanding of presence and stillness.

And I am so thankful for this situation. This may seem rather odd to some of you. I didn’t intend to be thankful that I fell down the stairs and broke my ankle. I didn’t try to conjure gratitude from resentment and frustration, grief and anxiety. I actually have checked in a number of times to ask myself, “What am I feeling?”
Sometimes the answer is “trapped”, sometimes “utterly frustrated”, often “angry” or “sad”...but underneath all of these feelings is a foundation of gratitude.
I feel that I have been given something. I feel that this life circumstance has offered me an opportunity to “stop” and “look both ways” before continuing. Which way do I wish to journey now?

I am wondering now if one of the gifts of this ‘reorganization” is to spend a great deal of time at home. I have discovered that what I need on a daily basis is right before me. My beloved husband is here to help with daily well being chores, with songs and even with challenges to see what I can do myself. Family is here to take care of me, encourage me and provide entertainment. Friends, neighbors and colleagues are here to offer healing prayers, healthy intentions and nourishing food. Nourishing Herbal Infusions are here to bring bone building and healing minerals to my body as it reorganizes. Motherwort tincture is here to soothe my anxiety, help me relax and know that I am held in this healing time. My apprentice is here to take on more responsibility and thus deepen her studies. The Douglas Fir trees are here to be guardians of my true path, encouraging me to continue my work, offering an opportunity for me to follow more fully the teachings I have been offering.
I will go to Seattle tomorrow and they will saw off the bright green cast on my left ankle/leg and I will step onto the ground again with both feet.
I feel a gentleness for myself as I think ahead about this.
I wish to now journey on the path that leads me home.
May it be in Beauty.


Crow’s Laughter Mystery School Offering for late Spring and Summer 2008
To get details information about any of the following programs visit our website www.crowsdaughter.com, call 360-579-2319 or email julie@crowsdaughter.com

We are delighted to be offering...
The Journey of the Rose~ A Weekend Immersion in Shamanic Herbalism,
June 13-15, this weekend will offer the shamanic teachings of the plants with Rose as our teacher, the sensuous crafting of wild rose honey and other rose preparations, a plentitude of information about working with the healing plants at your doorstep, gourmet, nourishing meals all made from scratch from local, whole, organic and wild foods, ceremony to integrate the teachings and good company. Sign up by May 19th to receive the early bird price.

We have now launched our...
The Compassionate Nature of Plants ~13-Month Home Study Course,
You can participate in this from anywhere in the world. Visit the home page of our website for more info and to register. Email us to request a sample lesson.


May 2008 Offerings:
May 3 ~ Herbal Wisdom Mentorship for Girls ~ 10:30-2:30
May 3 ~ Dark of the Moon Lodge, 6:30 pm, our farm
May 7 ~ The Well ~ Study Group for Women, 7-9 pm, Shoreline
May 9 ~ New Session Begins ~ Women and Plants ~ Shamanic Herbal Apprenticeship Program
May 10 ~ Kindling Enchantment Earth Celebration at 1 pm, Free Herbal Class at 11 am and Community Potluck. This event is free and open to everyone.
May 17 ~ Herbal Wisdom Circle ~ May’s Theme: Leaves and Life Force, 10:30-2:30
May 31 ~ 10th Annual Bastyr Herb and Food Fair in Kenmore, WA, I will be selling my nourishing herbal products.

June 2008 Offerings:
June 4 ~ The Well ~ Study Group for Women
June 7 ~ Dark of the Moon Lodge, 6:30 pm
June 13-15 ~ The Journey of the Rose ~ Weekend Immersion in Shamanic Herbalism
June 21 ~ Summer Solstice Earth Celebration and Community Potluck
June 27-29 ~ The Fairy Congress, My class: Fairy Blessings and Plant Beings

July 2008 Offerings:
July 2 ~ The Well ~ Study Group for Women ~ New Moon
July 7-10 ~ Herbal Wisdom Summer Mentorship for Girls, 10:30-2:30
July 9 ~ American Herbalist Guild Plant Walk at UW Medicinal Garden
July 11 ~ Open Day for Women and Plants ~ Shamanic Herbal Apprenticeship Program
July 12 ~ Herbal Wisdom Circle
July 16 ~ Edibles and Medicinals Plant Walk at Golden Gardens through NSCC
July 18-20 ~ Awaken the Wise Woman for Girls 10-13
July 23 ~ Julie leaves for Glastonbury, England

August 2008 Offerings:
August 4 ~ Julie return from England
August 6 ~ The Well ~ Women’s Study Group
August 7 ~ A Healthy Gut, class at NSCC
August 9 ~ Herbal Wisdom Circle
August 10 ~ Passionate Abundance Earth Celebration and Community Potluck
August 30 ~ Dark of the Moon Lodge

September 2008 Offerings:
September 3 ~ The Well ~ Women’s Study Group, Shoreline
September 4-7 ~ Breitenbush Herbal Conference
September 12 ~ New Session Starts, Women and Plants ~ Shamanic Herbal Apprenticeship Program
September 20 ~ Herbal Wisdom Circle ~ 13 month program begins
September 21 ~ Autumn Equinox Earth Celebration and Community Potluck

"Life's Blood, Life Force"

my life blood flowed through me like a dream
subtle life force energy transformed into vital life force energy in an instance
“a slight miscalculation at joyful moment” and a slide down carpeted stairs
distorted ankle, broken ankle
my own hands guided by the mystery put my foot back in place
more hands that heal brought the life force back into my body
and with that excrutiationg pain
“Life’s Blood, Life Force”

hands and hearts that heal come from every direction
and gratitude for gratitude is offered
inside too long, I call a meeting of my closest allies
I ask for help in finding a way outside
to my yard
to my garden
and the Green

spring is becoming a ritual for me
things that I took for granted
are much hard work now
a rebirth is taking place now within me as I move
closer than ever to what is essential
in each moment
stillness is now in my awareness
resting, revitalizing and then voicing
with every breath
the present moment
May it be in Beauty

Crow’s Laughter Mystery School Offering for Spring 2008:

Permaculture Weekend on Whidbey with Marisha Auerbach
April 11-13 ~ I am excited to learn more permaculture techniques and invite you to come learn with me. Visit our website for more details and to register.

Herbal Wisdom Mentorship for Girls
March 29, 10:30-2:30
Also, May 3
http://www.crowsdaughter.com/girls-herbal-wisdom.html

Earth Celebration ~ Spring Equinox
March 30, 1-4 pm
Come join us for a seasonal ceremony and community potluck.
This event is free and open to everyone. Children are welcome.
RSVP julie@crowsdaughter.com or 360-579-2319

The Well ~ Study Group for Women
April's Theme: Nurturing Presence ~ April , 7-9 pm
North Seattle~ First Wednesdays~ April 2, May 7, June 4
Visit our website for more info and to register

Dark of the Moon Lodge
April 5 ~ 6:30 pm
This month we will have a potluck and co-created ritual.
RSVP by April 4

Women and Plants ~ Shamanic Herbal Apprenticeship Program
Next session starts May 9, 2008
Women and Plants ~ Open Day ~ April 18, 2008
We are opening our apprenticeship program for a day for 13 women to discover and beauty and mystery of devoting a year and a half to learning wise woman ways and nourishing yourself fully. Come join us. For more information and to register for this day visit: www.crowsdaughter.com/herbal-apprenticeships

Herbal Wisdom Circle
April 19 ~ 10:30-2:30April's Theme: Herbal Rhythms~Herbal Tonics
Visit our website for more info and to register

Shamanic Arts and Herbalism at East West Bookshop
April 23, 7-8:30 pm ~ Visit East West Bookshop online to
find out more and call 206-523-3726 to register.
http://www.ewbookshop.com/NASApp/store/IndexJsp

The Compassionate Nature of Plants ~ A 13 month Home Study Course
Coming very soon.

The Journey of the Rose ~ A Weekend Immersion in Shamanic Herbalism
June 13-15, 2008 ~ Visit our website to find out more and to register

Tantric Dance of the Divine Feminine
A Year and a Day program with Kathy Kali
Begin May 18 in Seattle www.tantricdance.org

Wise Woman Teachings and Shamanic Healing~ One to One

Nettle Stories ~ Blog Party

Signs of spring are present now, signs of the warming and changing Earth.Frogs croak loudly in the wetland and Stinging Nettle emerges once more.
We are hosting a March Blog Party called
"Nettle Stories" through the Herbwifery website. http://herbwifery.org/forum/
Below you can read our entry, "Nourishing Wholeness".
And visit the following blogs to read more "Nettle Stories"
The Poke Patch ~ http://grannysams.blogspot.com/
Blessings of an Herb Wife ~ http://herbwyfe.blogspot.com/
The Medicine Woman's Roots ~ http://bearmedicineherbals.com/
The Herb Wife's Kitchen ~ http://crabappleherbs.com/blog/2008/03/04/spring-aphrodisiac-nettles/

“Nourishing Wholeness”

A wise teacher of mine once said that the Earth does not understand the concept of hope. This intrigues me, as I know that hope has helped me through some tough times. It is my humanness that hopes for renewal, hopes for things to change for the better, hopes for peace and justice in the world. How does Earth do it? How do I transform hope into promise, trust, and inclusion...? If I were to shape shift my consciousness into being Earth; that which renews again and again without fail...What would life be like?

Well, come join me on the path called Nourishing Wholeness.

To follow this path, you need not give up anything; you need not change anything because this is the path of change itself. Come walk with me.

The sun warms the Earth now and spring appears wearing her new green cloak. There is a promise she brings, out of the darkness and deepness of winter will come life, newness and wholeness once again. Trust is a way of life on this path.
We are walking the spiral; each step is new and different. Each time we encounter our familiar surrounding they express themselves ever so differently.
Within us new cells are being created every moment. The natural world mirrors this miraculous creation. Always new; always unique;
ever-changing. Possibilities are endless for us here and we choose to enhance this journey with nourishment. We choose food and herbs that nourish our wholeness. We choose activities that nourish our wholeness. We acknowledge thoughts and feelings as the incredible rainbow palette of self-expression. We feel power and passion burning within us. We breathe in the breath of the trees, the plants and breathe out our gift of life to all around us. We are women, womb ones, holy ones.

There is a plant that nourishes our wholeness, our holiness and this ever-changing path. She is Stinging Nettle Urtica dioica. She is growing right outside my door and most likely very near you as well. Her lifeblood helps us women to nourish those new cells within us being created every moment. Take sometime this spring and summer to find Nettle growing near you. If you wish to harvest her green bounty pick her before she flowers in spring. But do go visit her when she is in bloom. And visit her again in late summer to harvest her seeds, full of vibrancy and minerals to nourish healthy change.
Here is a shamanic exercise to explore the nourishment of Nettle and ways we nourish ourselves (You can do this shamanic exercise with any plant brew.)
Prepare some Stinging Nettle Nourishing Herbal Infusion ~ one ounce of dry herb per one quart of boiling water, pour the boiling water over the dry herb, cover this and let it set overnight. You can then strain it. (Refrigerate any of it you are not going to drink right away.)
· Heat the Nettle infusion to just below boiling
· Pour this into your favorite teacup.
· With cup in hand, sit wherever you love to sit when drinking tea.
· Sip the infusion
· Savor the flavors, the temperature of the infusion and notice her many qualities.
· Begin to listen to your body’s response to the brew.
· Take note.
· Now, ask the question, “What nourishes me?”
· Listen for a response, notice thoughts and feelings that come into your consciousness.
· Ask this question at least three times.
· When you have finished your cup of infusion, rinse the cup and place it on the counter in your kitchen.
· Give thanks for Stinging Nettle
· Give thanks for the things that nourish you.
· Give thanks for the ways you nourish yourself.

May it be in Beauty.

This Spring and Summer as you venture on the spiral path of nourishing wholeness, explore ways of offering gratitude. There are many. Some speak their gratitude before meals and at night before sleep. Some offer gifts to those that bless them. Some sing and dance their gratitude. What is your way? How will you offer thanks for your blessings?

This article first appeared in my column, From 'The Wise Woman's Garden' column in The Beltane Papers, Journal of Women's Mysteries, Issue 35 ~ Spring ~ 10,005,
Year of the Goddess
There is was titled "Shamanic Herbalism ~ Part III ~ Nourishing Wholeness"

Crow's Laughter Mystery School Offerings for March 2008

The Compassionate Nature of Plants ~ A 13 month Home Study Course
Begin on the New Moon, March 7, 2008

Women and Plants ~ Open Day
March 14, 2008
We are opening our apprenticeship program for a day for 13 women to discover and beauty and mystery of devoting a year and a half to learning wise woman ways and nourishing yourself fully. Come join us. For more information and to register for this day visit: www.crowsdaughter.com/herbal-apprenticeships

The Well ~ Study Group for Women
March's Theme: Discovering and Enhancing Nourishment ~ March 5, 7-9 pm
North Seattle~ First Wednesdays~March 5, April 2, May 7, June 4

Dark of the Moon Lodge
March 8 ~ 6:30 pm
Include a nourishing supper and co-created ritual

The Nourishing Herbs
University of Washington, Women's Center
March 12 ~ 7-9 pm
http://depts.washington.edu/womenctr/

Women of Wisdom~Community Connections: Sustainable Lifeways
Join us at BodySong Healing and Arts Center
Herbalism of Place with Julie Charette Nunn
Dancing with Nature with EagleSong
Living the Good Life with Marilene Richardson
Visit www.womenofwisdom.org to register

Herbal Wisdom Circle
March 22 ~ 10:30-2:30
March's Theme: "Nettle Stories

Herbal Wisdom Mentorship for Girls
March 29, 10:30-2:30
Also, May 3
http://www.crowsdaughter.com/girls-herbal-wisdom.html

Earth Celebration ~ Spring Equinox
March 30, 1-4 pm
Come join us for a seasonal ceremony and community potluck.
This event is free and open to everyone.
RSVP julie@crowsdaughter.com

Visit our website www.crowsdaughter.com for more information, to register and to explore writings to inspire your journey.

Awakening from our Dreams

Greetings, Lovers of the Green,
Bright sun and shadowed moon
Bring me deeper into my physical presence in the world
The season of awakening from our dreams is upon us
We have dreamed the dreams of our desires
We have birthed ourselves into a new world
And now we are ready to open our eyes
I see...
A pair of bald eagle dance together in the air above our farm
Their cries are soothing and wild.
From out of the soil comes Chickweed, subtle, sweet and potently present
Poppy leaves return at the top of the Goddess garden
Wild turkish tulips wave their new bright green leaves
Catkins dangle from hazel, alder
Apples plump to reveal a bud of leaves
Pussy willow reminding me of my childhood life outside
I know that somewhere nearby cottonwood drips with resin

What is it we wish to see in the world this year?
Let us begin it.
Be it.
Embody it.
The world cries a wild and soothing call for us
To mate with our deepest yearnings.
Let us open our eyes wide
To life’s potent, subtle and sweet possibilities.
May it be in Beauty.


A shamanic exercise to initiate awakening from our dreams:

• Go outside where you live where there is a natural setting, trees, plants and some open space.
• Close your eyes and notice your breath. Breathe in and out 3 times.
• Now imagine you are just awakening from sleep, eyes closed and you have just dreamed a dream of all that you desire.
• Open your eyes and what do you see.
• Do this several times. Each time taking note of what you see when you open your eyes.
• Give thanks for what you witnessed.
• Now speak outloud an intention for all that you desire.
• Take time in the next weeks until Spring Equinox to speak this intention to others.

Green Blessings,
Julie Charette Nunn, Crow's Daughter

I had tasted Hawthorne

There is a tree that
grows wild in Seattle.
Her name is Hawthorne.
She is an initiate
of the sexual mysteries
and offers her teachings to those
that dare enter this realm.

I was a budding herbalist, back about 13 years ago. I had tasted Hawthorne flower infusion and decided to go in search of the blossoms in my neighborhood park. It was a cloudy, late April day. I walked to the tree I had discovered a few months back. I gently pulled flower and leaf from the tree, feeling so vulnerable and so peaceful in this task.
I returned home and laid these flowers on a dish cloth to dry.
That night I dreamed of having sex with the Hawthorne tree.
This dream had an other worldly flavor and awaken me to a undiscovered and deeper part of myself. I wrote the following poem in response:

I dreamed last night
I lay on the ground
Next to you
My heart beat rapidly
My body smelled of sex
I writhed on the ground
In ecstatic connection
To you
It must have been dawn
The dawn of an age, perhaps
And I was your captive
As well as set free
To embody my dreams
Of (w)holiness.

May it be in beauty.