SPRING: THE FLOW OF TRANSITION

As you lay in your cozy bed towards the end of winter, enveloped in the warmth of your blankets, you soak in the blue light of dawn as it seeps in through the edges of your windows.  You are not yet fully awake, but you begin to activate in the early morning hours by becoming more aware, turning over, wiggling your fingers and toes, in preparation for a new day.  For those who practice yoga, this point in the sleep cycle is very similar to the moments toward the end of savasana when you begin to stir before sitting up: the end of your practice and the beginning of whatever comes next. Late winter/early spring is much the same for the wheel of the year.  As the season shifts from winter, with minuscule growth in the amount of sunlight each day, your body can sense the transition. These transitions, in the moment, seem so small and insignificant, but taken over time they create new manifestations, whether it be the growing light of the season, renewal of the body and mind, or the return of the our herbal plant allies) in their fullest form in the natural world.

The Goddess Parvati is the gentle and nurturing form of the “Supreme Being” in some versions of Hindu spiritual belief.  She embodies the feminine Shakti energy and represents powerful regenerative forces. Her name translates to “daughter of the mountain.”  When her form takes on the energies of the warrior goddess, she becomes Durga.  Similarly, when her energy becomes chaotic and fierce, she transforms into Kali, the Destroyer.  In her most benign and nurturing form, Parvati, she is mother of the universe, providing life and renewal to all of her children. And this transition from winter to spring is all about renewal, rebirth, and nourishment, just like Parvati provides.  Even before you can see the changes beneath the melting snow, the soil below is full of activity.  Incubating seeds begin to metabolically prepare for “birth” when the soil is warm enough.  When the Full Worm Moon waxes in March, you guessed it, the worms have begun moving around, out of sight, aerating and fertilizing the deep unfrozen soil. A preparation for what is to come. 

Parvati’s true regenerative forces can be felt as we move further into spring.  The Full Pink and Full Flower Moons of April and May begin to color our landscapes again.  From the gray and brown of March, we shift to chartreuse and lime green tinting the early part of April, and culminate with shades of pink, purple, yellow and brilliant emerald in May. With the gradual greening of the world around us, the sun’s warmth continues to renew and encourage us to release the bonds of winter and fully embrace a feeling of outward projection in our daily lives.  The spring provides us with so many delicious and nutritious plant allies: stinging nettles, japanese knotweed, garlic mustard to name a few.  Not only do these plants have many medicinal properties, but they also can be treated as “food as medicine” and cook up into some delicious spring meals. Dandelions begin to appear as spring continues providing both flower and leaf as food and as medicine.  Eventually we see the violets and plantain: two HUGE allies to many systems in our bodies including our circulatory, excretory, and hepatic systems! 

But let’s talk about your skin. Because renewal is constant in any cycle, and your largest organ--your skin--is continually undergoing renewal as you shed cells, spring is a wonderful time to slough off winter in preparation for the seasonal shift.  And so many spring plants are known for their skin soothing properties!  And let’s be honest, we all know how great it feels to exfoliate winter away and moisturize that new spring season into place while we let our skin see the light of day for the first time in months! A simple, pure, and easy homemade way to get these results is to make your own body scrub with sugar, nourishing oils, and some powerful herbal allies. You can control the quality of your own ingredients, and add whatever it is that calls to you, but here is our favorite recipe to help you glow like a goddess! 

“Ostara’s Renewal” Green Tea Sugar Scrub

Ostara is another name for the Spring Equinox Festival celebrated in the northern hemisphere each year, and this scrub is a perfect recipe to welcome in the fresh energy! Green tea contains large quantities of antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial polyphenols. Dried green tea leaves are ground up finely and mixed with raw cane sugar (a gentle all natural exfoliant), raw honey (naturally antibacterial, moisturizing, and full of antioxidants), vitamin E (blocks free radicals from the body to reduce wrinkles and keep the skin youthful-looking), rosehip seed oil and evening primrose oil (both soothe, rejuvenate, and heal dry irritated skin).

Grapeseed, jojoba, & coconut oils (softening, nourishing, and moisturizing) are infused with violet, plantain, yarrow, calendula, rose, comfrey, and chamomile. This blend of beautiful garden-grown and wild herbs is chock full of healing, soothing, and anti-inflammatory properties.

Lastly, a blend of invigorating essential oils is added for their supporting aromatherapy benefits:

• Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) relieves fatigue

• Grapefruit (Citrus paradisi) is cooling and energizing*

• Sage (Salvia officinalis) is purifying and disinfecting

• Peppermint (Mentha piperita) is refreshing and reduces inflammation

• Ylang Ylang (Cananga odorata) is calming and improves circulation

*Use caution with grapefruit if you take statin drugs or have any heart issues.

You can of course blend any scents that work for you and your body. 

Apply to damp skin in the shower, rubbing in a circular motion with short strokes towards your heart. Rinse off with warm water before getting out of the shower.

As the wheel of the year continues to turn and gradually the flowers of May turn into the warm buzz of June, verdant and fragranced with wild rose, we look forward to the hot and humid days of high summer and the long hours of sunlight around the Summer Solstice.  During this time of bounty, renewal envelopes us allowing us to feel ready and excited for what is to come.

WINTER SOLSTICE: NEW BEGINNINGS AND THE FIRE WITHIN

“The Great Conjunction is the end of the world… or the beginning. End, begin. All the same! Big change! Sometimes good, sometimes bad!”

— Aughra, The Dark Crystal

Sometimes the line between fact and fiction is razor thin, and fantasy becomes reality in the minds of creative dreamers. Myths based on the cosmos have been conjured for as long as time and continue to spark our imaginations. Whether a fantastical story written by Jim Henson or traits we identify with based on our birthdate, we create rituals around that which we cannot fully comprehend; way up in the sky, as well as deep in the earth. Our human nature also encourages us to mark our personal journeys with times to begin anew, to rest, and to inspire. The beginning of winter is such a time. 

December 21, 2020 is a special date for several reasons. Keep an eye out for the Ursids meteor shower, but also, observe the rare conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn. This great conjunction is not the alignment of the 3 suns of Thra, as in the Dark Crystal, which happens every 999 and one trine, but is a planetary meeting that occurs in our world every 20 years, and this event will be the closest since 1623. The 2000 conjunction occurred near the sun, making it difficult to observe, but in December 2020, Jupiter and Saturn will be much more visible if you look to the west shortly after sunset.

This cosmic phenomenon will also coincide with the shortest day/longest night of the year: Winter Solstice. The word solstice derives from the Latin sol ("sun") and sistere ("to stand still"), because the Sun's declination appears stationary. The pagan celebration of Winter Solstice (i.e., Yule or Midwinter) is one of the oldest winter celebrations in the world. The annual celestial event is seen as the beginning of the sun's return, thus, rebirth is often celebrated. The ancient Romans, Celts, and Norsemen of Northern Europe all held their own festivals centered around “new beginnings” involving magickal plants, bonfires, celebratory libations, and feasts with close friends and family. 

The observed correlation between solstice celebrations and the celestial event actually dates to long before the Vikings or ancient Rome. Stonehenge is the UK's most celebrated site for solstice celebrations, pre-dating all these ancient cultures. On Winter Solstice, visitors have the rare opportunity to enter the site for a sunrise ceremony offered by local pagan groups. Likewise, Newgrange in Ireland (one the most famous prehistoric sites in the world) is constructed so that at dawn on December 21, a narrow beam of sunlight illuminates the floor of the structure’s inner chamber, filling the long passageway with a bright shaft of sunlight. Sound familiar? In the Dark Crystal, the burning light focused towards Thra during the very first Great Conjunction is responsible for creating the Great Shaft and revealing the Crystal deep within the mountain. Similarly, the energy of the Winter Solstice supports magick related to transitions, new beginnings, and personal renewal. Ahhh… the power of light and alignment!

Speaking of alignment, the sun and stars at Midwinter will be positioned in a very beneficial way for our minds and bodies. While we enter this sacred time of rest, reflection, and nourishment, the sun transitions from fiery Sagittarius (the optimistic and spontaneous archer) to earthy Capricorn (the patient and steadfast sea goat). This transition will remind us that in the darkest hours, light will always return. 

“The Sagittarius-Capricorn cusp is one of the most distinct and powerful of all cusp-crossings. It’s marked by the deeply meditative and magical winter solstice... This is when we’re at our darkest moment, but also when the universe reminds us that the light will return in a few months. That’s the perfect blend of Sagittarius and Capricorn energies—where hope and strength are in perfect balance.”

- Stefanie Iris Weiss, astrologer and author

Many herbs fit perfectly into the fire/earth transition and some are also commonly used in Yule rituals and as decor. Two customary methods of utilizing seasonal herbs are to blend them in hot tea, or to dry and light them as incense or in the form of smudge sticks. Either technique will arouse a feeling of warmth and grounding that will support you through the cold winter months.

White Pine (Pinus strobus): The pine tree represents rebirth and inner strength and the branches and cones are widely used in Yule decorations The plant innately corresponds to the element of fire because of its quickness to burn as well as its transformative nature, though its scent is earthy. The needles of the pine tree can be made into a tea and is an excellent source of vitamin C. Drink pine tea throughout the day to give your immune system a boost. 

 Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis): Rosemary is another evergreen plant that is very purifying. In fact, it was used as an embalming herb in Egypt and was considered sacred to the ancient Greeks. Rosemary increases circulation to warm the limbs and can stimulate memory centers of the brain! Burn it in an evergreen incense blend, or drink it in a warming tea to restore your body’s inner fire.

Chamomile (Matricaria recutita): Chamomile is one of the most ancient medicinal herbs known. A traditional plant of the sun, and associated with many ancient sun deities (the flowers even look like tiny suns!). A classic herb to imbibe as a tea for curing digestive ailments, it is extremely calming and promotes a good night’s sleep due to its nervine qualities. Chamomile has also historically been used to brew beer.

Sage (Salvia officinalis): The name Salvia derives from the Latin word Salveo, meaning literally “to heal” or “to save” and its antiseptic qualities are indeed quite healing. Like chamomile, it aids in digestion and is frequently used with rosemary to season cold weather soups and meat dishes. Fitting to the season, sage is a plant of Sagittarius (ruled by Jupiter), and may be the most well-known herb for burning in ritual cleansing of spaces and bodies.

Definitely explore and have fun with these herbs to see what magick you conjure! 

During the darkest days before the solstice, our hearts and minds have been incubating, resting, and waiting for the return of the light. As the sun’s light waxes with each day forward from Midwinter, until the Vernal Equinox, we are reminded to take the time to rest, digest, and regenerate. For spring is never far off, and as the light gets stronger, our bodies will once again begin to crave movement and fruition. We honor the cycle as we continue our journey into the light.

HARVEST: THE PULSE OF AUTUMN’S BEAUTY AND BOUNTY

“Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness,
Close bosom-friend of the maturing sun;
Conspiring with him how to load and bless
With fruit the vines that round the thatch-eaves run;
To bend with apples the moss’d cottage-trees,
And fill all fruit with ripeness to the core;
To swell the gourd, and plump the hazel shells
With a sweet kernel; to set budding more,
And still more, later flowers for the bees,
Until they think warm days will never cease,
For Summer has o’er-brimm’d their clammy cells.”

— John Keats (from “To Autumn”, 1820)

As light and shadow begin to balance, eventually shifting completely to shadow, we are reminded that autumn is both a time of celebration and preparation. Following the sweetness of summer harvests chock full of berries, corn, and tomatoes, we turn to celebrate the hearty grape and grain harvests of fall. The leaves of maples, birches and mighty oaks begin to transition through an array of fiery hues from brilliant ochre to deep scarlet. The air becomes crisper, and there is a sense of accomplishment that resonates after another season of growth. The completion of the cycle is upon us. 

The autumnal equinox is often referred to as the second harvest, with the first occurring in early August. Traditionally, grapes (sacred to the Roman god Dionysus) and many types of grain (sacred to the Greek goddess Demeter) are harvested near the Equinox. Both of these commodities were historically utilized to support our ancestors during winter - notably, and perhaps most enjoyable to some - in the form of delicious and intoxicating beverages. Today we can usually get our hands on anything we want whenever we want it, but the rhythm of autumnal celebration continues in modern times. Roadside farm stands are packed full of colorful pumpkins and gourds, county fairs and festivals abound, and apple cider everything comes forth from the orchards. On a more primal level, the autumnal equinox also hearkens the balancing of the scales of sunlight. It is the beginning of Libra season, the time of equal day and equal night.

Source: https://www.elle.com (Getty)

During fall, many wild herbs are still in the prime of their growing season and can be collected for several more months until the first deep freeze. One amazing way to celebrate the fall season through wild crafting (and of course, from anything you have grown in your garden) is to create an herbal incense blend. Libra is an air sign, and that first whiff of woodsmoke on the breeze as the chilly fall evening descends evokes a cozy feeling encouraging us indoors to celebrate our harvests and prepare for what is ahead. An herbal incense blend to burn on your fire, or on a charcoal incense burner is a great way to use herbs you may have collected and dried throughout the growing season. Because Libra encourages balance, here is an easy elemental blend of readily available herbs that you can create a lovely product with :

• Mugwort (water) - for flow and intuition (anti-fungal and calming nervine).

• Goldenrod (fire) - for creativity and passion (excellent cleansing herb)

• Lavender (air) - for expansion and expression (great for reducing stress and encouraging relaxation). 

• Sweet fern (earth) - for grounding and support (used by First Nations to cleanse and renew). 

Once all the herbs are adequately dried, grind together in a mortar and pestle and store in a sealed jar in a dark place to preserve potency. Burn as you wish on your bonfire or in your fireplace throughout Libra season. As the wheel of the year turns from late September to late October, we trust and know the balance will soon tip into the darkness of winter. 

The final harvest, the harbinger of winter’s silent repose, is Samhain, which translates to “Summer’s End” in ancient Celtic dialect. It falls on our modern Halloween at the beginning of the dark and mysterious Scorpio season, Similar to Halloween, it is a time to honor death and resurrection, while paying homage to our ancestors, whose wisdom continues to pulse through our veins. The celebration of “death” of the agricultural year has a place in most cultures in one form or another. When the harvests are complete, the land goes dormant and seems to have died; however, the acute observer of the natural world knows this death is merely a time of rest and incubation. The seeds must lie beneath the soil, full of potential, in order to eventually reincarnate again. During this time, we prepare. We prepare for winter by harvesting the last fruits from our fields, and express gratitude to the earth and our ancestors. 

An excellent way to honor your ancestors and the earth at the final harvest is to craft a hanging herb bundle. You can do this earlier in the season if it suits you, and let it dry until Samhain. The bundle can adorn your door, or your fireplace, or any special sacred space in your life. At Samhain you might choose to burn the herbs on your fire as a way to release gratitude for the abundance you have received this year, and to thank your ancestral line that likely brought you to appreciate the earth and her herbal bounty in the first place. 

A few suggested and appropriate herbs to use in your Samhain bundle include the following:

• Mugwort

  • An intuitive herb to open the third eye and psychic center. Perfect for honoring those who have gone before you. 

• Tansy

  • A traditional funerary herb and long-used in old New England to pack into coffins. Tansy is quite common in old graveyards. Because of its unique phyto-chemical makeup, it acts as a natural embalming agent and repels pests. 

• Yellow Dock Seed Stalks

  • If you look closely, each small brown seed resembles an eye. This herb is used to repel negative energy and may bring you protection!

• Mullein Leaves (and dried stalk if you can find one).

  • Fuzzy and soft, the leaves of the mullein plant not only help respiratory issues, but feel like lamb’s ears. The stalk, when dry, is long and resembles a candle. So much so, a colloquial name for this plant is called Hag’s Taper. The stalks were historically dried and dipped in wax to make special herbal candles. Give it a try perhaps, or keep it au naturel and add it to your bundle.

• Queen Anne’s Lace

  • Queen Anne’s Lace (or wild carrot) blooms beautifully from late summer into fall, and once it goes to seed, it forms gorgeous seed pods that resemble the witches’ besom. This herb is also linked with feminine wisdom, perfect to pay respects to Mother Earth.

Source: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com (iStock)

As the final harvest passes and we move into the silent incubation period before Winter Solstice, when the scales tip ever so slightly in sunlight’s favor, we can take this time to rest and digest. We have done all the work for the season. We have celebrated, we have prepared, and now we can rest in the quiet of winter, awaiting Mother Earth’s rebirth, which surely will happen again. The beauty in the cycle is the pulse and the rhythm, which assures us nature will continue on her path all across the world, and throughout time.

THE POWER OF THE SUN: PLANT LORE AND HERBAL MAGICK ON THE LONGEST DAY OF THE YEAR

“And so with the sunshine and the great bursts of leaves growing on the trees, just as things grow in fast movies, I had that familiar conviction that life was beginning over again with the summer.”

— F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby

Although the turning of the wheel of the year is reliable and predictable, the cycles of nature never ceases to amaze. Each season possesses its own magick and brings forth something special to our senses. However, there is something exceptionally bright and inspiring about mother nature’s glory at the time of the summer solstice. In the northern hemisphere, summer solstice (Midsummer or Litha in some cultures) occurs between June 20-22 and is the time when the sun reaches its highest position in the sky. It is the day with the longest period of sunlight. The weather is warm, the creatures are buzzing about, and many plants are in full bloom. Just as the winter solstice (opposite on the wheel of the year) begs us to turn in to rest and reflect, the summer solstice lures us outside to reawaken our senses and find fulfillment. 

Source: https://www.farmersalmanac.com/midsummer-lore-12243

Historically, the summer solstice was celebrated by many cultures with sun-worshipping festivals and fiery rituals revolving around fertility and bounty. Nature-based celebrations incorporate varied elements but often involve the use of plants. In ancient pagan cultures, healers believed that the magickal and medicinal power of many herbs peaks around the summer solstice and harvested them for year-round use at this time. Depending on availability, classic summer plants like St. John’s Wort, chamomile, calendula, lavender, fennel, mugwort, rosemary, thyme, meadowsweet, verbena, sage, mint, elder and roses were and still are abundant in many traditional Midsummer celebrations .

Summer solstice plants tend to have qualities associated with the warmth of summer, the sun, and the element of fire. They may be boldly flavored or colored (and sometimes resemble the sun!), often thrive in full sunlight, and typically possess a wide variety of healing powers with fascinating, symbolic folk history. It is difficult to choose only a few of these herbs to rely on because they are all so amazing. Appropriately so and according to lore, the ancient Anglo-Saxons selected nine key summer solstice herbs and deemed them the most sacred. And what would an ancient sacred herbal collection be without a delightful narration to go along with it? Well, the Anglo-Saxons came up with the Nine Herbs Charm, which is a poem included as part of the Lacnunga or “Remedies,” (i.e. a medical compilation). The poem details the nine medicinal herbs deemed the most powerful at that time, and even mentions the connection with the Germanic god of knowledge and wisdom, Woden (Odin). As we mentioned previously, fascinating stuff! 

Not only are the plants themselves medicinally and magickally important, but the number nine is extremely significant in many mythologies. As three is a number of perfection, nine is three times three, and represents completion. It is the last number of a cycle, with the number ten beginning a new cycle. Additionally, any number multiplied by nine will equate to a number whose digits add up to nine. When we weave all the pieces together, we can see why it was and is a powerful gesture to specifically gather nine herbs to burn on the Midsummer fire! 

“These nine have power against nine poisons. A worm came crawling, it killed nothing. For Woden took nine glory-twigs, he smote the adder that it flew apart into nine parts.”

— Excerpt from The Nine Herbs Charm

Source: https://spitalfieldslife.com/2018/05/15/the-nine-herbs-charm/

A vast rabbit hole about medicinal healing, magickal properties, and numerology related to this charm and all its translations and interpretations exists, but we’ll get right to the point. Here are the nine herbs, their Old English names, their latin binomial names, a few interesting points involving their history in herbalism, and lastly, the symbolism behind their corresponding number in the charm.

1. Mugwort (mucgwyrt, Artemisia vulgaris): Mugwort is one of the oldest and most powerful herbs (one of our faves!). A potent herb for intuition, visions, and dreams, it is also antibacterial, a digestive bitter, and a relaxant. You will see it all over the side of the road in summertime. One is the number of unity and a symbol of the sun: a perfect starting point for this midsummer custom. 

2. Plantain (wegbrade, Plantago major): Plantain was called “waybread” in ancient herbal texts for its propensity to grow where the earth was most densely packed: trails and roadways. It’s excellent for bites and stings and known for its superb drawing power. Two is the number of balance and duality and represents the waxing and waning of the moon.

3. Lamb’s Cress (lombes cærse, Cardamine hirsuta): Also known as Shepherd's Purse, or stune in Old English, and related to the verb stunan ('to combat'), it is another strong antibacterial herb and also a diuretic. Three, as noted above, is poignant in pagan beliefs. It is sacred to the goddess and represents her three phases: maiden, mother, and crone. And you’ve likely heard the phrase “third time’s a charm”... Well, now you know where it came from!

4. Nettle (stiðe, Urtica dioica): As referenced in our spring column, Nettle is one of our favorite herbs. It is abundant in our region and great for relieving pain and inflammation. Its energetics are cool and dry, which makes it a great restorative spring tonic, but its fiery sting is surely reminiscent of the summertime. Four is a very meaningful number in many mythologies and represents the seasons, the elements, the cardinal directions, the moon phases, and the tarot suits.

5. Betony (attorlothe, Stachys officinalis): The Romans listed 47 different medicinal uses for Betony and believed that even wild beasts used it as medicine and would seek it out when wounded. In pagan beliefs, five is most prominently represented by the pentacle, a talisman that is directly used in magickal evocations and symbolizes interconnected life and eternity. It is also the number of humankind (five senses, five digits, five appendages, etc.).

6. Chamomile (mægðe, Anthemis nobilis): Externally, Chamomile can help heal wounds, and internally, when made into a tea, is wonderfully calming. It’s often taken to soothe upset stomachs and menstrual cramps, and helps with insomnia. Its flowers also resemble the sun! Six is three times two, thus having similar attributes to the number three, but intensified.

7. Crab Apple (wergulu, Pyrus malus): It is believed all apples evolved from the Crab Apple, the original wild apple. With ties to Christian beliefs involving the serpent in the garden of Eden, the Charm also mentions it just before the slaying of the adder. Seven is considered a spiritual number and corresponds to the psychic centers, called chakras. Also, more commonly, the seven days of the week (as well as the length of one moon phase). 

The eighth and ninth herbs of the charm, Thyme (fille, Thymus vulgaris) and Fennel (finule, Foeniculum vulgare) are mentioned together. Both are considered digestive herbs, and magickally, both are associated with protection, strength, courage, and the will to live. In some translations, Thyme is replaced with Chervil (Anthriscus cerefolium) but in either case, they both have a direct correlation to the god Woden and his power. Appropriately, eight is a number of power. It represents the sun and the eight sabbats (seasonal pagan holidays), and of course, the number nine completes the cycle.

And thus, we have come back to where we started: cycles of the natural world. They are ever present. Every moment is a beginning and an ending, a transition, a journey, and an arrival. Take the time to revel on the path of summer with the sun at its zenith. The harvests will come in time, but for now, allow yourself to be amazed with the present splendor.

EMERGING FROM WINTER’S REST: CLEANSING THE MIND, BODY & SOUL

There are many times in the year when one might plan to get a fresh start, set new intentions, or call in new energy. The new year is traditionally one of those times, but from the perspective of nature, that doesn’t really make much sense. When one (Western/Gregorian) year ends and the next begins, at least in New England, it’s still the dead of winter. In fact, the new year is celebrated only a week and a half after the winter solstice, which is the longest night of the year. At this time, most flora and fauna are hibernating in the cold. Everything has turned inward to rest until the light returns to initiate rebirth. To manifest a physical or mental emergence at this time is difficult, as we are fighting against nature.

The spring/vernal equinox marks the time of the year when the warmth and the light return. Creatures wake up, the browns turn to greens, and plant life begins to emerge from the ground in search of the sun. This is the time when our biological and emotional systems also want to emerge from winter’s rest. This seasonal shift is the kickstart we need to re-energize and start anew. It is the perfect time to clean house — inside and out!

Waking Up

In very early spring, before the full regalia of renewal is revealed, seeds begin to metabolically activate deep beneath the ground, hidden from casual observation. Plants like hellebore and crocus are some of the first bloomers that break through the last crust of winter’s snow cover and dot the shifting landscape with color. During this time our human bodies awaken as well. The stagnancy of winter no longer resonates, and we crave movement. As our exposure to solar light increases, we feel invigorated; we get out and exercise, spend time in nature, and re-connect to our social circles after the inevitable winter hibernation here in the northern hemisphere. It is a pretty obvious correlation: more light equals more energy.  

A similar “awakening” occurs on a cellular level. As our metabolism speeds up with increased solar energy and movement, our bodies begin to shift internally.  We intrinsically crave lighter foods and beverages that cleanse the system, and make us feel more energized. For example, we tend to be less interested in heavy soups and stews, and more interested in fresh seasonal salads.  In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and energy work, the spring season is associated with the element of wood. Wood draws water up through its roots and, in its young form, is pliable and mutable. Spring enables us to bend around obstacles as we increase our internal and external levels of energy and begin to expand outward again after many months of working through internal matters, resting, and digesting. 

Speaking of digesting, what better time to detoxify and give the old metabolism a little extra boost? In TCM, the two body meridians associated with spring are the liver and gallbladder. These organs work to cleanse and detoxify the digestive system and the entire body. Bitter and sour herbs are very beneficial during this time to move stagnation out of the digestive system. There are many useful herbal concoctions and remedies used by our ancestors that we can explore. Our plant allies can aid our awakening and ready our bodies for the upcoming seasonal shift.

Spring Tonic

Tonics are an easy way to incorporate beneficial herbs into your daily routine to maintain your overall health naturally. The herbal blend in our Spring Rejuvenation Tonic is appropriately balanced to support your mind, body, and soul during this time of rebirth (and it tastes great, too). We prefer a hot water infusion, but also like to make a large batch in advance and store it in the refrigerator for a cool refreshing morning beverage. We recommend drinking this daily!

Our Spring Rejuvenation Tonic contains four herbs that are chock full of antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals that are highly cleansing, purifying, and stimulating. Nettle and Dandelion are thought to be invasive weeds, and are sometimes pulled or otherwise destroyed, but we like to refer to them as “opportunistic” and are happy to be able to find them locally abundant. Tulsi and Mint are in the same hearty family (Lamiaceae) and are typically planted and grown in a garden. Now, let’s break down this magickal and healthy concoction in more detail.

• Nettle (Urtica dioica): In herbalism, Nettle is the mother of all early spring herbs and has been traditionally used for thousands of years. High in vitamin A, C, and iron, this nutritive plant is a diuretic and antioxidant. It has a lovely green, earthy flavor that is symbolic of its health benefits and the general vibe of the spring season.

• Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale): Another classic “food as medicine” spring herb, the root is more commonly used for the liver, but the leaves are a potent diuretic great for internal cleansing and purifying. Like Nettle, Dandelion leaves are highly nutritive with many similar vitamins and minerals. These two herbs balance each other out very well for daily use, and are both highly abundant for wild harvesting in our region.

• Spearmint (Mentha spicata): There are many varieties of mint, but Spearmint (or common mint/garden mint) is beautifully fragrant with a delightful taste, so we love to add this to our herbal blends to add brightness and flavor. It is a rejuvenating and stimulating herb commonly used for digestion. Mint has been cultivated and traded since ancient Greek times, where it was likely used in ancient funerary rites to mask the smell of the dead. It is also regarded as a sacred plant of Hades. 

• Tulsi (Ocimum tenuiflorum): Tulsi (also known as Holy Basil or Elixir of Life) is a sacred plant from India used in traditional Ayurvedic medicine for more than 5,000 years and is infused with restorative power. There are three different varietals (krishna, rama, and vana), and we like to use a blend of all three for perfectly balanced health benefits and an amazing flavor. Tulsi is primarily considered an adaptogen, which helps the body adapt to environmental stressors and restore balance — a classic ally for getting your body and mind through the seasonal shift.

Wheel of the Year

So. Spring is on its way. With time you will feel yourself waking up from your long and restful slumber. We hope that this tasty herbal tonic gives you a much-needed boost for the upcoming season! Spring is truly a wonderful time to meditate on the concept of emergence. What has shifted during the quiet of winter? What can be released in order to cultivate new growth in the mind, body, and spirit? A few good questions to ponder while expanding into the season.

The wheel of the year keeps turning, and as the new seeds of life burst through the soil and emerge into the glory of the sun, expansion occurs all around us. Soon, the birds and pollinators will be flitting and buzzing around the fragrant blooms burgeoning forth on the trees and from the earth below. The sweet hay-scent of mown grass sprinkled with violets and plantain (two additional plant allies we recommend exploring in late spring) wafts around as the earth continues to warm and awaken. 

As above, so below. As within, so without. In light and shadow. Seek the balance and trust that mother earth will always have your back.

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Please join us on March 18th at Hive & Forge in Salem to celebrate the season of renewal with restorative yoga, meditation, and a spring herbal tonic!