"Just a minute," said a voice...

 

"Just a minute," said a voice...
by Mary Oliver

"Just a minute," said a voice in the weeds. 

So I stood still

in the day's exquisite early morning light.

and so I didn't crush with my great feet

any small or unusual thing just happening to pass by

where I was passing by

on my way to the blueberry fields,

and maybe it was the toad

and maybe it was the June beetle

and maybe it was the pink and tender worm

who does his work without limbs or eyes

and does it so well

or maybe it was the walking stick, still frail

and walking humbly by, looking for a tree,

or maybe, like Blake's wondrous meeting, it was

the elves, carrying one of their own

on a rose petal coffin away, away

into the deep grasses, After awhile

the quaintest voice said, "Thank you." And then there was silence

For the rest, I would keep you wondering.

Crock Pot Ginger Oil ~ Infusing fresh ginger root!

This particular recipe (which I first posted about six years ago) has made a celebratory buzz this week, including an appearance over at the Poppy Swap blog!  . So, I thought I'd give it it's own blog post for easy access and future reference.

Ginger oil is soooooooo yummy. It makes an excellent homemade gift for family, athletes, elders, cooks, and gardeners alike.

Enjoy!

CROCK POT GINGER OIL NEWSLETTER

xo

Ananda

Winter Wellness Kits

No body likes to get the flu, and yet, even when we do all the right things to take care of ourselves- eat well, get plenty of rest, use immune supportive herbals- sometimes we still get sick.  But instead of the false security and potential hazards of getting a flu shot, invest in preparedness.  Take your elderberry daily.  Get to bed and sleep 8 hrs a night, at least!  Eat plenty of warm, nourishing foods and stay away from sugar.

I developed this Winter Wellness kit to help you be totally prepared for when despite your best efforts, you or your loved one comes down with the flu, or even a cold.  It can be miserable, and once you are in the thick of it it is hard to gather yourself to go out and find or buy all the things you might need or want to have on hand.  So start off by having everything, all together, in one place, with the Winter Wellness Kit from Blue Turtle Botanicals.  It features 3 tinctures- each for a specific purpose, made from ethically and sacredly wildcrafted plants. 

Elder Elixir- a delicious blend of immune supporting and anti-viral elder berries and elder flowers.

Yarrow Boneset Compound- an effective diaphoretic blend, that both relaxes tissues, stimulates circulation, releases tension, supports a healthy fever and relieves aches and pains.

Nighttime Respiratory Calm- this formula is designed specifically to calm the cough that just won't quit and keeps you up night.  This is strong medicine, use it during the day, but make sure you can stay bundled up and resting, as it may make you sleepy! 

In addition, you get a healthy serving of Sniffles and Sneezes herbal tea, which supports healthy fever and immune response, relieves sore scratchy throats, and  aids in breaking up congestion.
Along with all the medicines I'm including an instruction card on how best to use the medicines for maximum effectiveness, and How to Handle Winter Illness, a short article about treating winter illness at home safely and successfully.  This makes it the perfect kit to gift to someone new to herbs, or have on hand for your family to use, even if you aren't available to tell them how to use it. 
Available at Poppyswap  and Etsy  right now!  Limited quantity!


Can't buy a kit right now, but still want to know more about how to combat winter illnesses at home safely and effectively?  
Subscribe to my newsletter and get a free copy of my how to "How to Handle Winter Illness at Home"

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Herbal Newsletters For You

Greetings Plant Lovers!

As many of you know I began releasing a weekly newsletter seven weeks ago. Since seven is my lucky number, ( I was born 7-7-75), I thought I'd take today to provide you with the links of the newsletters thus far. :) In order to not miss an issue, I invite you to sign up (in the right side bar) so you get yours delivered free right in your email box for your reading pleasure and herbal inspiration!

 (time sensitive newsletters not included)

In chronological order from least to most recent:

Honey Scented Summer Plants

Nourishing Herbal Milk Decoctions

Heart Healing

5 Herbal Power Tools for Fall 

The Revolutionary Act of Drinking (wild) Tea

Aromatic Herbs (and two easy recipes) 

October Apothecary (Pine Syrup!) and Enchanted Herbals

Crock Pot Ginger Oil

Roots and Seeds and You

Announcing: Plant Journeys Herbal Empower-Mentorship!

Today is a chance to let nature remind you that we are not separate. 


How will you take that chance? 


~~~~~~~~~


Dearest Readers, 




For the very first time in the herstory of my own plant journeys and teaching, I'm offering you a personal, long term commitment on this path.


**I'm SO deeply grateful** and excited to be able to bring to you this service and to help facilitate your relationship with nature and your own herbal journey.


Read on for the juicy details, and I'll see you on the other side of the wall of green! 
Enrollment Closed! Please sign up for my free newsletter to stay in touch about future offerings. 


Yours,


Ananda

Moving Forward with Intention~September 11

Hello Everyone, I wrote two poems after the momentous events of September 11, 2001.
The first one I wrote within days of September 11th and the second one about a year later.
May we all move forward with peace in our hearts.
Green Blessings, Julie

It was a morning like any other,
I crouched in front of my heater,
I remember a dream I had right before I woke
Lovers were intertwined in the mud,
In the rubble along a flowing river
It was my mother's call that alerted me to the tragic plane crashes
I was in shock I was afraid and excited
It was, after all, an awakening.

It was a mourning like no other
An incredible sadness lay heavy in my body.
I sought information from the radio internet
I sought my own true nature for wisdom
I felt myself rise up out of my grief
And follow the path of my dreams

The path is filled with possibilities and road blocks.
"Pray for peace" my email message read.
"We must destroy the evil" I heard him say.
"Extend compassion empathy to everyone involved." he wrote
"God Bless America" everywhere I look.
"Love is the answer to every question." She sang.

And a voice sings out in me strong and clear.
"Follow your heart's desire.
Do only what you are called to do.
Nothing more.
Feel everything strongly and thoroughly,
Let despair envelop you until you find possibility.
Let rage propel you to act without hesitation.
Let sadness bring you a last to peace within yourself."

And I cry,
"I love myself."

This poem was published in my column, The Wise Woman's Garden, in
The Beltane Papers, Journal of Women's Mysteries, Spring 2002




In the heart of hopelessness,
I found a new world.
In its sadness,
a river flowed in peace.
And in the center of all grieving,
a flower bloomed
into a joy
beyond all knowing.


May it be in Beauty.

Healing through the Heart ~ Recognition and Activation

I stand rooted in my power.

There is so much heart work happening in the world today. If I think too long about it, or dare to watch a piece of news, I am overcome with grief, anger, disbelief, and hopelessness. The disconnection between our human bodies and the experience of love in its endless expressions is a gaping wound of humanity. We lack connection to our creator; both our sense of an invisible spiritual creator as well as our very real source of life and nourishment, mother earth.

Love employs healthy patterns, choices, and boundaries.

Many of us feel this pain in both its aspects, and many of us are re-connecting to healing ways of the heart. There is nowhere left to go, really, but inward to find our divine centers and to create a way of being in the world that reflects a deep, compassionate source of love. The barbed wires and flames and whirlpools we encounter, must be greeted with respect and an acknowledgement of its powerful ability to strengthen our heart muscle.

Love is the root of all healing.

Understanding the magnitude of our heart’s ability to accurately guide us, we can lean toward our intuition as a partner on the journey instead of running away from perceived fear warnings. As we move closer to ourselves and our process of centering, grounding, and feeling, we create a type of resilient security that allows for more authentic love to become available again. Moving towards our emotions and our Selves can be tremendously scary, and monumentally liberating. Creating daily practices of self-care which cultivate strength and safety are of immense and lasting value.

I am open to beauty.
I am an expression of Nature’s beauty.
My body is a story of beauty.


I breathe in from the trees, the ocean, the wind, the sweet inspiration of fire. I breathe out that which I no longer need, that which does not serve me. I retain in my blood the innate wisdom of my body, my knowing heart, and my ancestors. I bid farewell to invasive, inauthentic advice towards me. I listen intently to my body: Heart, I am listening, speak. Limbs, I give gratitude for your hard and loyal work, thank you. Lungs, you speak my truths and you have my permission to sing. Back, spine, organs, you are my beautiful inner dance of stretching and rhythm and change, I feed you and I am listening. Blood, you are my waters and I give to you liquids; waters, teas, soups, and minerals, I float upon you. Womb, mystery of eternity and connection: I am here. I am listening.




Healing is the act of nourishing wholeness.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Herbal Blessings!
~Ananda