tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24628311724213575202024-03-20T04:37:35.943-07:00Yerba Buena Herbal ConsultingMy name is Janet Partlow. I am a shamanic healer and herbalist. <br>
This website is a place to share with you the beauty of the plants, <br>the grace of the path of Spirit, and the wisdom of this medicine. <br>I offer it to you.Janet Partlowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14056081367450715461noreply@blogger.comBlogger35125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2462831172421357520.post-10255217528151957762017-08-23T10:59:00.002-07:002017-08-23T10:59:59.527-07:00Chicory: A Crucial Herb for Healing Leaky Gut<div class="p1">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiicqga_XTYc2BMeEEqwKIBc9FrLKaxHlupZ12XmSoEfbFA4jBa4crcb1hr3ss7NIeUd4zhHhyphenhyphenfFlJwv9Sy-1d3kQ2HQxEVbHSE6Vn5g5QH6x1So7Y3PZYcLXjmhjsyDBbagg9mhSi_FZ8/s1600/chick+1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="282" data-original-width="178" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiicqga_XTYc2BMeEEqwKIBc9FrLKaxHlupZ12XmSoEfbFA4jBa4crcb1hr3ss7NIeUd4zhHhyphenhyphenfFlJwv9Sy-1d3kQ2HQxEVbHSE6Vn5g5QH6x1So7Y3PZYcLXjmhjsyDBbagg9mhSi_FZ8/s400/chick+1.jpeg" width="251" /></a><span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Years ago, I lived in the Williamette valley of western Oregon.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>It was July then and all along the road edges bloomed the bright blue flowers of chicory.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I knew little about plants then and even less about medicinal plants, but I loved those blue flowers.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Later I learned that chicory is native to the Mediterranean, but had been brought to America by early settlers.;<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>they used it as a coffee substitute.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I also learned that the Oregon trail pioneers brought chicory with them;<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>this included my own Oregon Trail ancestors Job and Elizabeth Hayworth, who came to the Williamette valley in 1847. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Chicory is related to dandelion and you can see the toothed edges of the flower petals, just like dandelion.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>The roots are full of a water soluble plant fiber called inulin.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>The human gut breaks down the inulin into a gelatinous, viscous goo that plays a crucial role in helping the normal bacteria in the gut prosper & flourish.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>The inulin also helps clear out toxins, wastes, fat and cholesterol particles.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>The end result: colon cancer prevention, healthier cholesterol and blood sugar levels and a healthier immune system.</span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Chicory is not the only source of inulin:<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>foods such as leeks, onons, garlic, artichokes, yams, burdock and asparagas also have inulin.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>But chicory root has a very high concentration of inulin so it is very useful.</span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLZN0IlRUZ1w_nCUte1tItAZRanUb1MLPpZGredJZN_0H8LfxoNpraQF7lsPFnlV7barnZnGR8zwQ4_3tVhhqR_Wb4_lq0n6W3jBEShv9us9CywBVwEpPZYEhLJgNfqMIc86MC15Wh3QY/s1600/chick+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1099" data-original-width="1600" height="436" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLZN0IlRUZ1w_nCUte1tItAZRanUb1MLPpZGredJZN_0H8LfxoNpraQF7lsPFnlV7barnZnGR8zwQ4_3tVhhqR_Wb4_lq0n6W3jBEShv9us9CywBVwEpPZYEhLJgNfqMIc86MC15Wh3QY/s640/chick+2.jpg" width="640" /></a><span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>My favorite way to get inulin into my system is to take chicory powder - 1 TB daily mixed in juice.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>While I can get it in the foods I eat, this powder supplement ensures that I am getting enough. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> Last week I was on San Juan island; once again the roadsides were full of chicory, those beautiful blue faces turned to the sun. It reminded me again of my family history with this plant and also, its fabulous healing gifts.</span></span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-converted-space">Janet</span></span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"></span><br /></div>
<style type="text/css">
p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Helvetica; -webkit-text-stroke: #000000; min-height: 13.0px}
p.p2 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Helvetica; -webkit-text-stroke: #000000}
span.s1 {font-kerning: none}
</style>
<br />
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"> </span></div>
<br />
Janet Partlowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14056081367450715461noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2462831172421357520.post-62654290401003325132017-01-11T16:04:00.000-08:002017-01-11T16:04:01.107-08:00Influenza Epidemic & Herbal Approaches<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9XVgn-kk7vnq-PpeqJCdHvtPGcUBSswRySpHWQ67GNa_NFkPSu3ED6w7nN8HoWYBKYqK3Gjv8-lSpdQEG53qYfvTvbP5KrAjlzi8zONt-PQ09tg7UOF8SBxu-GRAV-7XWC7AnY8q3O_A/s1600/elder.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9XVgn-kk7vnq-PpeqJCdHvtPGcUBSswRySpHWQ67GNa_NFkPSu3ED6w7nN8HoWYBKYqK3Gjv8-lSpdQEG53qYfvTvbP5KrAjlzi8zONt-PQ09tg7UOF8SBxu-GRAV-7XWC7AnY8q3O_A/s320/elder.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="p1">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"> </span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">’Tis the season:</span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"> </span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">following the joyous events of the holidays, we all return to our adult lives and promptly come down with a miserable influenza bug.</span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"> </span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">Right now in Washington state influenza </span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">is circulating at epidemic levels:</span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"> </span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">one-third of school aged kids are currently sick.</span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"> </span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">You no doubt have heard a lot about how to manage this flu from a modern medicine perspective;</span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"> </span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">in this blog I will cover herbal & other approaches to keeping yourself healthy and protected.</span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: small;"> First of all, you need to have a sense of which viruses you are dealing with. Here’s a general overview:</span></span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
• Influenza viruses such as H1N1 pandemic or seasonal flu influenza A: these flu viruses can vary in symptoms, but two symptoms are almost always found: flu viruses cause (in adults) a fever of 100+ that sticks around for a few days, AND some level of significant aches and pains, whether it is muscle aches, backaches, headaches, etc. These are key diagnostic features. The virus that is currently circulating not only has fever and bad aches, but also <i>runny eyes</i> and nose, sore throat and often a hellacious cough. When this virus first emerged, the cough was so bad that people were getting tested for whooping cough. This year’s influenza is more serious than usual and there have been more fatalities than normal.<br />
• Gastroenteritis, or what we call stomach flu. These sorts of viruses cause primarily nausea, vomiting and/or diarrhea, usually in a violent brief burst that lasts 24 hours. Usually there is no fever associated with these, or if so, it is brief. Muscle aches would not be expected here. People with gastroenteritis feel icky, but it is not fatal as a rule.<br />
• Cold viruses, also called rhinoviruses. These involve a wide range of possible symptoms (sore throat, congestion, runny nose, cough, etc.) but again it is rare to have a high fever or muscle aches with the common cold. </span></span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: small;"> If in doubt, consult your primary care provider. </span></span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: small;"> Here are some herbal approaches you can try: </span></span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span class="s2"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span class="s2">Prevention of Viruses:</span><span class="s1"><br />
During peak cold/flu season of September through May I find it very helpful to take a daily dose of herbs that help build up the immune system, and keep the viruses at bay. My current favorite herbs for this include a blend of equal parts of astragalas and elderberry. You can find each of these herbs in a liquid tincture (alcohol) form, taking it that way. Herb Pharm is an excellent commercial brand. You take 1 dropper (30 drops) of both herbs daily.</span></span></div>
<div class="p3">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR2F5pWRNRAAY_qKK8exDVizx6EMckZF6FfDV9yYNvlFlr-zdgbecSrToVhGypq0ulRr0lzwwvWx_bTvosaDPpmXlHYcocL1aGQjStNpXO1DmkOYSk4zoq2akjB-lTd6UGeG14F9Di7fA/s1600/herbpharm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR2F5pWRNRAAY_qKK8exDVizx6EMckZF6FfDV9yYNvlFlr-zdgbecSrToVhGypq0ulRr0lzwwvWx_bTvosaDPpmXlHYcocL1aGQjStNpXO1DmkOYSk4zoq2akjB-lTd6UGeG14F9Di7fA/s320/herbpharm.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: small;"> The tincture approach can get expensive, so my preferred low budget method is to take powders of each herb, blend them together and take 1 tsp a day in tea, or put in capsules. Powdered astragalas and black elderberry are available at Mountain Rose herbs or Starwest Botanicals. Sometimes your local herb store carries them as well.</span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKeetpQJnN8BqOd4-l8-myk7xyNghU7X4dM_hBYhYwZPTbBKJdnNYw9utAf1NGh-60jSlF1Z6OmQ0HdLmP7PmYUfKz0VkmiTWRa8qnJ94_VcvQi99XC1DeesWZ6nttBYfUFbGX-UJzAuk/s1600/Blend.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKeetpQJnN8BqOd4-l8-myk7xyNghU7X4dM_hBYhYwZPTbBKJdnNYw9utAf1NGh-60jSlF1Z6OmQ0HdLmP7PmYUfKz0VkmiTWRa8qnJ94_VcvQi99XC1DeesWZ6nttBYfUFbGX-UJzAuk/s320/Blend.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="p3">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: small;"> Another approach is to use medicinal mushrooms. These mushrooms are very effective at stimulating the immune system in the gut, making viruses less likely to succeed. A mushroom blend I prefer is the 14 mushroom blend by Mushroom Harvest; this can be bought as a bulk powder, which you then take as tea, capsules, which is a lot cheaper. </span></span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: small;"> Many people use echinacea very successfully. It has not worked well on me, so I tend to avoid it. Find the plants that work best for you.<br />
</span></span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: small;"><u><br /></u></span></span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: small;"><u>Viral Raids:</u> </span></span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: small;"> If a virus sneaks past your herbal defense shield, here are some approaches that will help you launch an early raid and stop the virus before it can really get going. These raids have to be done within 24 HOURS OF THE FIRST SYMPTOMS in order to be effective. This requires a certain level of alertness on your part. </span></span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: small;"> The viral raid approach varies, depending on which viruses you may be dealing with. </span></span></div>
<ul>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP2PAoV6M0410tGu0k1EbRsNP1V59XJGfp6JLxHDJrWLkroDrX_JDR7AQjzvqIbHcKqDqSV4aRubi2thz678FyfvckYNedOeBFdYN_vK8KSYXG90QJMCT1BPwU2IlmAoRp_gUR8gn2vA8/s1600/OSC.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="121" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP2PAoV6M0410tGu0k1EbRsNP1V59XJGfp6JLxHDJrWLkroDrX_JDR7AQjzvqIbHcKqDqSV4aRubi2thz678FyfvckYNedOeBFdYN_vK8KSYXG90QJMCT1BPwU2IlmAoRp_gUR8gn2vA8/s200/OSC.jpg" width="200" /></a></ul>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">• Influenza virus: my favorite remedy is a homeopathic formulation called Oscillococcinium (OSC). I have used this for years and it usually works very well. OSC comes in packets of three vials, which you are supposed to take every 6 hours. My homeopathic practitioner friends tell me you do not need to use three vials. Instead, take one vial, divide it in thirds, and take 1/3 every 6 hours. This works just as well, and saves money.</span><div>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span><div class="p3">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: small;">
• Stomach flu virus: ditto Oscillococcinium. It usually works very well against stomach viruses. Even if you wake up in the middle of stomach flu, OSC will shorten the course.</span></span><br />
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div>
• Cold viruses: These viruses require a different approach. My first herbal teacher KP Khalsa taught me this approach and it works very very well. It requires three things:<br /></div>
<div>
1) Large doses of Astragalas: either tincture 12 droppers all at once, or capsules: 20 all at once, or 5 teaspoons of bulk powder, made into tea, or just chugged in water. This floods the system with a large dose of this herb, which is very effective at stimulating the immune system.</div>
<div>
<br /><div class="p4">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi59qsjFUopmN6q-pc7mLntL3cVHjnVKTOpgC2P92cXLzG5VyQn4kr6FtC65MMJL7eEgGy90en53a9vMTWHL9POXASdlGt_CyuIBuqSyC-Vv1y_a52FytMYjFbOOcLh17bx6qDlzXgut0A/s1600/Astragalas+root.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi59qsjFUopmN6q-pc7mLntL3cVHjnVKTOpgC2P92cXLzG5VyQn4kr6FtC65MMJL7eEgGy90en53a9vMTWHL9POXASdlGt_CyuIBuqSyC-Vv1y_a52FytMYjFbOOcLh17bx6qDlzXgut0A/s400/Astragalas+root.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Astragalas root</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /> 2) Vitamin C: I usually take 1000 - 2000 milligrams of this; some people take more. High doses can cause diarrhea, so you have to figure out what your level of tolerance is.</span></span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
3) Zinc lozenges: take ~15 lozenges, suck on them slowly over several hours. They coat the throat membranes, making it hard for viruses to replicate. Lots of zinc lozenge brands taste horrible; I have found Zand’s to be very effective and they taste great. </span></span></div>
<div class="p5">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: small;"> Finally, it is important to remember the things that keep our immune system well tuned up:<br />
• Get to bed by 11 pm each night and get the hours of sleep that your body needs. This is crucial.<br />
• Limit your intake of sugar: sugar is documented to suppress the immune system. This is crucial.<br />
• Wash hands, cover coughs, stay home and get the rest and relaxation from stress that your body needs. </span></span></div>
<div class="p5">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span class="s2"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span class="s2"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>When to see a medical practitioner</b></span></span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"><span style="font-size: small;">• If you have a persistent fever greater than 103°.</span></span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: small;">• If coughing is severe and you develop shortness of breath.</span></span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: small;">• If symptoms are significant are not improving after seven days.</span></span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: small;">Janet</span></span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Resources:</b></span></span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span style="font-size: small;">Mushroom Harvest: <a href="http://www.mushroomharvest.com/">www.mushroomharvest.com</a></span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span style="font-size: small;">Herb Pharm tinctures: available at most herb and supplement stores</span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span style="font-size: small;">Oscilliococcinium Homeopathic: widely available in herb and supplement stores</span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span style="font-size: small;">Mountain Rose Herbs: <a href="http://www.mountainrose.com/">www.mountainrose.com</a></span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span style="font-size: small;">Starwest Botanicals: <a href="http://www.starwest-botanicals.com/">www.starwest-botanicals.com</a></span></div>
<div class="p5">
<span class="s1"></span><br /></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"></span><br /></div>
<style type="text/css">
p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 10.0px Palatino; -webkit-text-stroke: #000000}
p.p2 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 10.0px Palatino; -webkit-text-stroke: #000000; min-height: 13.0px}
p.p3 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; line-height: 15.0px; font: 10.0px Palatino; -webkit-text-stroke: #000000}
p.p4 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; line-height: 10.0px; font: 10.0px Palatino; -webkit-text-stroke: #000000}
p.p5 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; line-height: 15.0px; font: 10.0px Palatino; -webkit-text-stroke: #000000; min-height: 13.0px}
li.li3 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; line-height: 15.0px; font: 10.0px Palatino; -webkit-text-stroke: #000000}
span.s1 {font-kerning: none}
span.s2 {text-decoration: underline ; font-kerning: none}
span.s3 {font: 12.0px Helvetica}
</style>
<br />
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"> </span></div>
</div>
Janet Partlowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14056081367450715461noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2462831172421357520.post-15862723874714120232017-01-02T12:08:00.000-08:002017-01-11T08:02:56.808-08:00 An Ancient Herbal Remedy for Modern Pain Relief<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpBxkd_n49M6o8DaMOxl-SWhflDusNOBoitq8VWfi4IVpWXCe4hdUru67ZbMBKll6WzCJKV8CE-gk4RqgclLcWbhXSevt8xID24noEhOwc47O5aE8rOUk2KkunV5gLiLm__C5nhauGPps/s1600/123102596.BmvqbaCH.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="440" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpBxkd_n49M6o8DaMOxl-SWhflDusNOBoitq8VWfi4IVpWXCe4hdUru67ZbMBKll6WzCJKV8CE-gk4RqgclLcWbhXSevt8xID24noEhOwc47O5aE8rOUk2KkunV5gLiLm__C5nhauGPps/s640/123102596.BmvqbaCH.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Boswellia serrata tree</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> <span style="-webkit-text-stroke: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> </span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke: rgb(0, 0, 0);">I was talking with my friend James the other day.</span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> </span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke: rgb(0, 0, 0);">He is in his sixties and recently retired.</span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> </span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke: rgb(0, 0, 0);">We go to exercise class together and try to keep each other motivated and on track.</span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> </span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke: rgb(0, 0, 0);">But for him, keeping motivated is a real challenge, because of pain in his joints:</span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> </span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke: rgb(0, 0, 0);">he has the usual wear and tear osteoarthritis that many people develop as they age. His shoulder, neck and feet are all affected, and this makes exercise difficult.</span></span></div>
<div class="p1" style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"> He has relied on ibuprofen as a pain reliever for years, but recent blood tests showed that his kidneys were not doing well, so his physician recommended he discontinue the drug ( this is a common issue with medications like ibuprofen). Tylenol is safer, but doesn’t seem to work for him, and he was getting a little panicked about what he could do. He knew I was a professional herbalist, so he asked me for suggestions.</span></span></div>
<div class="p2" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1" style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"> I suggested three different herbs that he could try out. Since every person is different, not every herb works for every person. I provided some capsuled samples: Willow bark, Chinese Corydalis and Boswellia serrata, also known as Indian Frankincense. I suggested he try each herb, one at a time and see what worked best. I expected Willow would be most effective, but was surprised when he reported that Boswellia was most effective. He took it at bedtime and noticed that he was sleeping much better. He finds that it is a good alternative to ibuprofen and also his doctor reports that his kidney function is much improved. </span></span></div>
<div class="p2" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1" style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"> Boswellia is a medium sized tree with spreading branches; it grows up to 45 high in its native northern India. The medicinal part is actually a resin: the wild crafters take off strips of bark. The tree then oozes out copious amounts of a clear yellow resin, much like pine sap. This resin is allowed to dry and is then collected. In India they typically powder the resin chunks, roll it up into little pills and swallow it. Here in America it is probably best to take a capsuled product.</span></span></div>
<div class="p2" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig1o6rmVX_1Mj4QMHJLun9wW5R5VIaO8AaVmdj0nGIwq5uDiQDHcamcC-BPM7Wx5HtlTNsn75Z-rA_pXFCrMfXaPzULKmWKbpB6g3TsVuRVvjDbjgRvsZXd3AeQzOdgxKH7n-eU6Zl534/s1600/boswellia.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig1o6rmVX_1Mj4QMHJLun9wW5R5VIaO8AaVmdj0nGIwq5uDiQDHcamcC-BPM7Wx5HtlTNsn75Z-rA_pXFCrMfXaPzULKmWKbpB6g3TsVuRVvjDbjgRvsZXd3AeQzOdgxKH7n-eU6Zl534/s320/boswellia.jpg" width="296" /></span></a><span class="s1"></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"> </span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;">Boswellia is also known as Frankincense; there are at least 45 different varieties of it.</span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"> </span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;">Boswellia Serrata comes from India;</span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"> </span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;">it is also the variety most commonly used in herbal healing.</span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"> </span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;">Ayurvedic medicine in India goes back at least 4000 years and there are written records of Boswellia as medicine going back 2000 years.</span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"> </span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;">So it has a long traditional use. </span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"> </span></div>
<br />
<div class="p2" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1" style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"> Modern medicine is beginning to do research on boswellia and results are promising: it seems to be effective in reducing pain and stiffness. It may be useful for a wide range of musculoskeletal issues, including arthritis, bursitis & tendonitis, low back pain and more. It may be especially useful for people who have autoimmune diseases with inflammation, such as colitis or rheumatoid arthritis. Since it is a potent anti-inflammatory it may also play a key role in preventing cancer. </span></span></div>
<div class="p2" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1" style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"> Chronic pain is a huge problem for many people and modern medicine is not fully effective in addressing it. It is worthwhile to look at ancient remedies to see if we can find safer and equally effective alternatives.</span></span></div>
<div class="p2" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1" style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;">Janet</span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;">Resources:</span></b></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;">=Starwest Botanicals sells bulk powder: <a href="http://www.starwest-botanicals.com/category/frankincense/"><span class="s2">http://www.starwest-botanicals.com/category/frankincense/</span></a></span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;">=The Capsule Connection sells a great capsule making machine here: <a href="https://www.capsuleconnection.com/"><span class="s2">https://www.capsuleconnection.com/</span></a></span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;">=Youtube has a great video on how to make your own capsules: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xo92dGCt1Rc"><span class="s2">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xo92dGCt1Rc</span></a></span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;">=Or you can buy pre-made Boswellia capsules: two brands I recommend are Now brand Boswellia Extract and Source Naturals brand. </span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"></span><br /></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"></span><br /></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"> </span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"></span><br /></div>
<style type="text/css">
p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 10.0px Palatino; -webkit-text-stroke: #000000}
p.p2 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 10.0px Palatino; -webkit-text-stroke: #000000; min-height: 13.0px}
span.s1 {font-kerning: none}
span.s2 {text-decoration: underline ; font-kerning: none}
</style>
<br />
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"> </span></div>
Janet Partlowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14056081367450715461noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2462831172421357520.post-66173000854242638512015-10-19T13:41:00.001-07:002015-10-19T13:41:35.004-07:00At Tongue Point: Goodbye to Summer<div class="p1">
It is the end of September. Glen and I are sitting on the viewpoint at Tongue Point, a rocky finger of land poking north into the Straits of Juan de Fuca, just west of Port Angeles. We have been camping at this lovely site for a few days, enjoying the last days of a fading summer.</div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLrXtl1LE11B-dr6-n4XccIWUmm15G8kIpaoR5Kkwy4sfL76i3awl2Lj5mKkTpA45WLJ3w6LZ4Sy6B6Rhe4CskSQEug9y0YsFcsPrZlNEl-n7JiG5BYyEY9uDwxTFxDHKA38popK7OVLY/s1600/sunset+tp.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLrXtl1LE11B-dr6-n4XccIWUmm15G8kIpaoR5Kkwy4sfL76i3awl2Lj5mKkTpA45WLJ3w6LZ4Sy6B6Rhe4CskSQEug9y0YsFcsPrZlNEl-n7JiG5BYyEY9uDwxTFxDHKA38popK7OVLY/s400/sunset+tp.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="p1">
Around dusk we decided to finish off our day by taking our camp-cooked bean tacos and sitting out at the outlook. This day has been a dream of a sunny day, now fading into dusk. The sunset in the west is sensational. I remark that this is a watercolorist’s dream (I dabble in watercolors). Glen shoots back, “Or a nightmare!” And I have to laugh. How is possible to catch and hold such unearthly colors?</div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
This place is that rare thing along the the Washington seacoast: an easily accessible rocky shore. This is very different than the long sandy stretches of Ocean Shores or Long Beach: here the salt water from the Pacific rides east for 60 miles in great rolling swells that crash upon the rocky shore. All night, bedded down in our warm camp beds, we hear and feel the BOOM POUND THUMP of big swells pushing in a full tide and breaking at last on the stony reaches of the point. </div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
These rocky beaches provide an excellent place for a sea garden of kelp to establish itself and flourish. We were here last spring for a brief visit and there was no sign of this garden; we have the photo to prove it. Upon our return this fall, the bull kelp is thick, floating and swaying some 20 feet from shore. </div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
During its summer life, the kelp provides a floating mat island, and many birds take advantage of it; several gulls with crops full after a day’s feeding, perch on the kelp, facing west and watch the sun sink into the hills. A lone Great Blue Heron manages to balance itself on the mats !*! and continues to fish even in the last minutes of light. The bobbing bulbs of kelp look like so many seal heads and we are fooled, over and over again. </div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
The rocks provide another feeding habitat that many rock shorebirds specialize in using. This is the country of Black oyster catchers: as we watch the sunset, they vocalize back and forth from rock to rock, a mournful piping call. </div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqIPxEHQOilCKDAyYekdRmdzGtQwk9H-KEct9OQJCH8fl4ZMrM32vS4Ia_8F0USHPuvI4C_M3B1wj6e6XeZQf6lzLCGIF0V_yXGvNU9cnDsv9CV7-3L-00P4e4uky-bshzx7-09V7dB6Q/s1600/sunrise+TP.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqIPxEHQOilCKDAyYekdRmdzGtQwk9H-KEct9OQJCH8fl4ZMrM32vS4Ia_8F0USHPuvI4C_M3B1wj6e6XeZQf6lzLCGIF0V_yXGvNU9cnDsv9CV7-3L-00P4e4uky-bshzx7-09V7dB6Q/s400/sunrise+TP.JPG" width="400" /></a> This is a season of migration and transitions: we watch Pigeon Guillemots in their white winter coats, getting ready to fly to the north Pacific for the winter. Other birds come in to stay: small bands of Scoters and other sea ducks move into the Straits for the winter. </div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
This is a place of breathtaking beauty. This is a time of saying goodbye to summer. There are so many feelings: a feeling of mourning for summer lost, of reveling in in the beauty laid out before us, of anticipation for the change of the season. My heart is full. </div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
The sun continues to sink, painting the sky and the water, too, in ever-changing colors. We watch and wait, until finally, the water turns black. </div>
<div class="p1">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
Janet</div>
<div class="p1">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="p1">
<b>Resources:</b></div>
<div class="p1">
• All photos by Glen Buschmann </div>
<br />
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
Janet Partlowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14056081367450715461noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2462831172421357520.post-69748050028659550742015-09-28T12:27:00.000-07:002015-09-28T12:28:12.348-07:00The Barrida<div class="p1">
As an energy healer, I am always keeping an eye out for good ways to clear out the energy field, cleansing and revitalizing it. There are many ways that the shamanic healers know & use: the barrida is one of my favorites. It is simple & effective and you can do with herbs right out of your own garden.<span class="s1"></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"></span><br /></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"><i> Barrida </i>is a Spanish word and refers to a broom. In this technique, we take powerfully protective and cleansing herbs, bundle them together in our hand and use this makeshift broom</span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSt7oHLloBbw6jDop9mPBtWpB6Lm31r-TjKYXNQNzC3SFbyuisTby9Id9l6eCHr8RHbQVyiT_chrkj_yLoyKV5kPSaGj616AKTC7FNLHd_kR9-3woHSHVvXhs4hpDeiZw6f7xgL79C8_8/s1600/barridaherbs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSt7oHLloBbw6jDop9mPBtWpB6Lm31r-TjKYXNQNzC3SFbyuisTby9Id9l6eCHr8RHbQVyiT_chrkj_yLoyKV5kPSaGj616AKTC7FNLHd_kR9-3woHSHVvXhs4hpDeiZw6f7xgL79C8_8/s400/barridaherbs.jpg" width="400" /></a> </td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Barrida Herbs: Rosemary, Bay, Rue & Mugwort</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1">to sweep through our energy field. We move from the top of the head down, directing the energy back into Pachamama, Mother Earth. It is similar to smudging with burning herbs such as sage, but I prefer the barrida in many ways because I love the smell of the fresh plants.</span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"></span><br /></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"> </span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"> I have favorite herbs I put into the barrida. Here are some of them:</span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"><b> Mugwort</b>: this herb grows all over the planet, in different varieties. And nearly everywhere it grows, the indigenous people used it for protection. Here in the Pacific Northwest, our local variety is called Coastal Mugwort or <i>Artemisia suksdorfii.</i> But any variety of mugwort does the job.</span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"><br /></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"><b> Rosemary</b> is one of three herbs that the curanderas of Mexico put into their barridas. Though Rosemary came from the Mediterranean coast, the Spaniards brought it with them to Latin America, and the indigenous tribes immediately embraced it. It is one plant I grow near my front door, for its protection qualities.</span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"><br /></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"><b>Rue </b>is yet another key herb in the barrida, providing powerful protection. It has a strong, almost noxious scent and thus it thought to repel harm.</span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"><br /></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"><b>Bay Laurel</b> (<i>Laurus nobilis) </i>is one of my personal favorite protection herbs. It too grows near my front door, and I rely on it for to help keep me safe.</span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"></span><br /></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"> Once you have used the barrida to sweep through your energy field, you then discard the branches. I put them on the compost pile and simply leave them in the garden, where the earth</span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1">will cleanse and recycle them.</span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"></span><br /></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"> This is a great technique. Give it a try!<br />
</span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"><br /></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1">Janet</span></div>
<div class="p1">
<b><span class="s1"></span><br /></b></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"><b>Resources:</b></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"><u>Cunningham’s Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs</u><span class="Apple-tab-span"> </span> <span class="Apple-tab-span"></span><span class="Apple-tab-span"></span>Scott Cunningham</span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"><u>A Kitchen Witch’s World of Magical Plants & Herbs</u> <span class="Apple-tab-span"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span"> </span>Rachel Patterson</span></div>
<br />
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1">You Tube on Limpia & Barridas: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_1zSFyN8I4M</span></div>
Janet Partlowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14056081367450715461noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2462831172421357520.post-69298872886047198322015-09-15T10:34:00.002-07:002015-11-18T18:38:31.980-08:00The Cookie Lady<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1BTmqf3Nbp81KHYQZqWQG7LFdvSh2z6VOnSp8NsTRaDsY_04iVtGzN-uAx-XjO26vnOj6ZJBeBkgFhEZ-apsyAphsW9iO328dYoLThyuaRccOS_H1MgIFWf3gQ0jN8mVvBAsQKsgCqW8/s1600/heart+cookies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1BTmqf3Nbp81KHYQZqWQG7LFdvSh2z6VOnSp8NsTRaDsY_04iVtGzN-uAx-XjO26vnOj6ZJBeBkgFhEZ-apsyAphsW9iO328dYoLThyuaRccOS_H1MgIFWf3gQ0jN8mVvBAsQKsgCqW8/s320/heart+cookies.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="p1">
Some years ago I got a call from a friend of mine. She had just moved into an old house in Olympia; this house was about 80 years old and throughout its long history, had been built and lived in by one family. The last member of this family had lived in this house for most of her life, but had recently died. So my friend was able to buy this wonderful old home, which sits on the Eastside hill of Olympia, overlooking Puget Sound.</div>
<div class="p4">
<span class="s1"></span><br /></div>
<div class="p3">
<span class="s1"> My friend was settling very nicely into this house and really enjoying her new space. But one day she came home and went into the small office just off the kitchen. As she walked into that room, she was very startled to smell the distinct scent of newly baked cookies. She walked around the house, trying to figure it out. The smell eventually dissipated and my friend went on with her house projects.</span></div>
<div class="p4">
<span class="s1"></span><br /></div>
<div class="p3">
<span class="s1"> However several times over the next few weeks she came home once again to the smell of fresh baked cookies. My friend is a gifted intuitive and she began to wonder if her house had some sort of ghost presence. So she gave me a call and I went to her house to do an energetic space clearing, but also to check in with the possible ghost.</span></div>
<div class="p4">
<span class="s1"></span><br /></div>
<div class="p3">
<span class="s1"> This sort of work is commonly done by shamanic healers. We travel via shamanic journey into the Spirit World and invite the ghost in for a conversation. Now this work should only be done if you have been well-trained and have excellent protection; not all ghosts are benign. However, this ghost was.</span></div>
<div class="p4">
<span class="s1"></span><br /></div>
<div class="p3">
<span class="s1"> I met the spirit of a woman who had died very suddenly while living in that house. Because of the unexpected nature of her death, she did not know she was dying, and she got lost between this world and the next world. Her spirit was still waiting in the house, waiting for her family members to come home. This woman was a very nurturing, hospitable sort of person in life; in death she was making cookies to welcome her family home. Only of course, they never came. She was very confused and sad.</span></div>
<div class="p4">
<span class="s1"></span><br /></div>
<div class="p3">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWzTKaBA-mBXo84C_uzlXVkVexwjkYhCLqQ72WT-VWSaHwvfnnR13wRr-l0tiUuqT0fpvTJKmqzTOvkjutC_WjtDSQtvKVteAqqOejuvugD7lhDihiwCXGpxudKW-20lGrm4Rh1GszQ20/s1600/swallowtail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="234" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWzTKaBA-mBXo84C_uzlXVkVexwjkYhCLqQ72WT-VWSaHwvfnnR13wRr-l0tiUuqT0fpvTJKmqzTOvkjutC_WjtDSQtvKVteAqqOejuvugD7lhDihiwCXGpxudKW-20lGrm4Rh1GszQ20/s320/swallowtail.jpg" width="320" /></a><span class="s1"> We had a long conversation. I gently explained to her that she had died. I offered her the opportunity to make a crossing into the next world, where her family would be waiting for her. She was happy to accept my help. I took her to the crossing place and explained to her what to do. I watched her cross the bridge into the next world. That world across the bridge was enveloped in clouds so I could not see it, but I could hear the cries of welcome and joy as she made her way. Her family was indeed waiting for her and they took her in with great love.</span></div>
<div class="p4">
<span class="s1"></span><br /></div>
<div class="p3">
<span class="s1"> Back here, in the old house in Olympia, we finished the energetic space clearing. The wind blew in through the open windows and doors and the sun shone in like a blessing. My friend had a strong sense of welcome from the house, as if it finally was hers. </span></div>
<div class="p4">
<br /><span class="s1"></span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span class="s1"> That was the last time my friend smelled cookies in her house.</span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span class="s1"><br /></span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span class="s1">Janet</span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span class="s1"><br /></span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span class="s1"><b>Resources</b></span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span class="s1">• <u>The Unquiet Dead</u> by Edith Fiore</span><br />
<span class="s1">• <u>Sacred Space</u> by Denise Linn</span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span class="s1">• Butterfly photo by Nancy Partlow</span></div>
Janet Partlowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14056081367450715461noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2462831172421357520.post-60012301553585166382015-01-22T08:35:00.001-08:002015-01-23T16:45:28.795-08:00Chasing Winter's Cough Virus<div class="p1">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga7A42a0j3u7JCShwY9rSGZ-GdZ4a34gdgGfVQ01KCBxZTneFftQx5FG8xuQJ7mU07aIi-HGztYqwYQGO9_KhAiBGL0p-cePyAD65OiaTU63vem4am4lU2w4m2Fl0N0AKBnaJaHShR7Lg/s1600/cough+herbs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga7A42a0j3u7JCShwY9rSGZ-GdZ4a34gdgGfVQ01KCBxZTneFftQx5FG8xuQJ7mU07aIi-HGztYqwYQGO9_KhAiBGL0p-cePyAD65OiaTU63vem4am4lU2w4m2Fl0N0AKBnaJaHShR7Lg/s1600/cough+herbs.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Herbs for Cough Chasing</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
At this time in the heart of winter a particularly nasty cold virus is racing around the planet. In my bioregion in the Pacific Northwest, waves of this virus are knocking people off their pins.<span class="s1"></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1">This particular cold seems to start with a slight sore throat and immediately moves into the lungs. Even people with strong, normally healthy lungs are complaining that they have a major cough: the phrase I’m hearing is that “ <i>it feels like I’m trying to cough up a lung</i>”. </span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"> </span><br />
<span class="s1"> People also notice the usual over the counter cough remedies aren’t helping much. The other issue is that this virus seems to linger much longer that the usual 7-10 days: many people are reporting this virus is hanging on for three to four weeks.</span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span class="s1"></span><br /></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"> This is not influenza; most people do not have a fever or achy muscles/joints which are two key symptoms of the flu. However the nasty cough is obnoxious and really interferes with sleep, energy and people’s quality of life. </span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"> So here is a great herbal remedy that I’ve been recommending; several people I know and work with have tried it and are getting great results. One friend remarked that her cough cleared 24 hours after using this remedy. </span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span class="s1"></span><br /></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"> <b>Cold/Cough Chaser tea</b></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1">• take one fresh lemon and squeeze out the juice, putting in a sauce pan</span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1">• take one thumb-size piece of fresh ginger and grate into the juice</span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1">• take 3 cloves of garlic and mince or press into the juice.</span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1">• Add two cups of water to the juice/pan.</span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1">• Add honey to taste</span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"> Bring this mix to a boil, then reduce the heat and let simmer for 20 minutes so the ginger and garlic is well extracted. Then cool the tea enough to be drinkable and drink it down. A word of warning: it doesn’t taste very good. But it works!</span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span class="s1"></span><br /></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"> If you are concerned that the virus is moving into a bacterial bronchitis or pneumonia, you could also add:</span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1">• 1/2 teaspoon oregano</span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1">• 1/2 teaspoon sage</span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1">• 1/2 teaspoon thyme</span><br />
<span class="s1">• 1/2 teaspoon rosemary</span></div>
<br />
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"> Though these will not improve the flavor, they are great antimicrobial herbs. </span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"><br /></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"> Now just a reminder: if you develop a persistent high fever, chest pain or shortness of breath, </span>seek medical attention. Herbs can only go so far. </div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"><br /></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1">Janet</span></div>
Janet Partlowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14056081367450715461noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2462831172421357520.post-87589518132086604742014-12-29T11:50:00.001-08:002015-01-02T09:41:38.829-08:00The News of Winter<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEtuOZJhdRolsTb2PhiqmjgkbK0oXawGdSQxzc6V7YGpkK_X-GPu2kF3AUNb50Hh3Aye-IDcycVJ_hZl0B5x0OcPeDSk2OT1srjshBErEPDz14PVDw_hBrWogzbaKnmVbMbLya1jf9phg/s1600/winter+art.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEtuOZJhdRolsTb2PhiqmjgkbK0oXawGdSQxzc6V7YGpkK_X-GPu2kF3AUNb50Hh3Aye-IDcycVJ_hZl0B5x0OcPeDSk2OT1srjshBErEPDz14PVDw_hBrWogzbaKnmVbMbLya1jf9phg/s1600/winter+art.jpg" height="277" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The News of Winter<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b style="font-size: x-large;">9th Century Irish Poem</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span><i><span style="font-size: large;">I have news for you<br />The stag bells, winter snows, summer has gone.<br />Wind high and cold, the sun low, short in its course.<br />The sea running high.<br />Deep red the bracken; its shape is lost.</span></i></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>The wild goose has raised its accustomed cry.</i></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">
Cold has seized the birds wings;<br />Season of ice: this is my news. </span></i><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
JanetJanet Partlowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14056081367450715461noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2462831172421357520.post-89368285866460044132014-12-28T08:16:00.000-08:002017-01-04T10:50:21.323-08:00Shamanic Egg Cleansing: a Gift from the Doñas<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh54tJb9aCHjzROG8yOnDSC3PrWCMM-Eq1sANJXleYRbULxHv4VzN9W950vaBAS5iTWaL0PhZ1ox4IxLSBDI8LZ5sQIsaHfeuEa4-Yqii0pegtJNABa49rM0YsOVUzinuTVrNqcmN4_qUM/s1600/limpia+photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="561" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh54tJb9aCHjzROG8yOnDSC3PrWCMM-Eq1sANJXleYRbULxHv4VzN9W950vaBAS5iTWaL0PhZ1ox4IxLSBDI8LZ5sQIsaHfeuEa4-Yqii0pegtJNABa49rM0YsOVUzinuTVrNqcmN4_qUM/s640/limpia+photo.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tools for a Shamanic Egg Cleansing</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="p1">
A few years ago I had a great opportunity to study with two traditional healers from northern Peru. Given the name of the “Twins”, Doña Olinda and Doña Isabel were raised in the mountains and deserts near Chiclayo, Peru; here they learned to work with the sacred lagoons of the Andes as well as the rich plant life in the desert along the sea coast. They learned traditional healing from their indigenous heritage as well as some healing tools brought to Latin America by the Spaniards. They blend all these things together in their medicine: plants and prayers, energy healing, shamanic techniques. They are curanderas and shamans. </div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"></span><br /></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"> As part of their teaching, I had the opportunity to participate in some of their healing work. This is always part of the path of the healer: we learn by getting healing treatments and finding out what works for us. We then take the best of what we have learned and use it with other people.</span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"></span><br /></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"> I didn’t know it at the time but I really needed the work of Doña Isabel and Doña Olinda. I had grown up not knowing how to take the best care of this body I had been given. The idea of self-care was like a word in Swahili: a foreign concept beyond my grasp. I knew I needed to take much better care of myself, yet felt powerless about doing so. There was low self-esteem at work: I’m not worth the trouble. There was a sense of futility: what is the point when stuff is going to happen anyway? In a weird way, it felt frivolous and self-indulgent to focus on self care when the world had so many other things at stake. I had known for many years that I needed to take better care of myself, but I was stuck. And so it went.</span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"></span><br /></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"> It was in that weekend with the Doñas that this thinking started to shift. In a shamanic journey around these questions, Spirit told me that my time on this planet is a journey of body as well as mind and spirit. It is a profound gift to have this human body and I have a responsibility to take good care of this gift I have been given. I was also reminded that people who are dying often express great regret that they did not take better care of and enjoy their body more. These ideas were very illuminating for me. </span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"></span><br /></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"> Perhaps the most transforming moment for me in that weekend came when the Twins did a shamanic egg cleansing (limpia) on me. This is one of the most important healing tools they have: they took a fresh (hen) egg, blew prayers into it and then moved the egg in circles all around my body, top to bottom. As they did so, I could feel the power of their work, pulling out old stuck energy from me. I started to cry and then could not stop. For me it felt as if the egg was clearing old grief and pain that I had carried for 50 years. Finally they finished by taking a branch of rosemary and sweeping down my energy field, in a process called a barrida.</span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"></span><br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvZvZIkcViEKKCThUHU1vAOnI3m_jowaPrPSiMaUOTEqg7Pq8AT1oSF58OpC7WH-PN_5Xp-oCn-ML5hW0P5IxakSOwnXo5UI_h_i_g98daGLWMDluimKhkdRkwN7nupQrgQamN-WE-2gk/s1600/limpia2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvZvZIkcViEKKCThUHU1vAOnI3m_jowaPrPSiMaUOTEqg7Pq8AT1oSF58OpC7WH-PN_5Xp-oCn-ML5hW0P5IxakSOwnXo5UI_h_i_g98daGLWMDluimKhkdRkwN7nupQrgQamN-WE-2gk/s1600/limpia2.jpg" width="282" /></a></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"> After they finished clearing my body, they broke the egg into a glass of clear water and did a reading. From the photo here, you can see what this might look like: a yolk sitting at the bottom of the glass, the egg white in a pattern above it and the water it sits in. My egg was nowhere near so healthy: the yolk was disintegrated and looked as if it had been in a blender. If I hadn’t been crying before, I would have started then: that egg was thrashed. But the Twins sat with me and gently explained what they were seeing: old patterns from childhood, a near-death experience, my struggles with my parents. They saw it all. They helped me see it and understand my life and my choices in a powerful new way.</span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"></span><br /></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"> And that work transformed me. It was two weeks later that I woke up from a good night’s sleep and decided it was time to learn how to do better self-care. I didn’t have a clue what that would look like, but I was no longer stuck in hopelessness. I decided it was time to lose weight and in the process learned that it really does work (for me) to focus on calories and portion size. After years of being sedentary, I started to exercise and found new pride in my increased mobility. I learned Qi Gong and found great relief from the inflammatory arthritis I’ve had for 20 years. I explored different stress management tools and found some that worked very well for me. A nutritionist helped me realize that I have Celiac issues so I stopped eating wheat.</span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"></span><br /></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"> Now two years later, my life has been transformed, in what my spouse calls the “new & improved Janet”! I am 50 pounds lighter. Sleep apnea is gone and high blood pressure has resolved. My blood sugar is now normal. I go to the gym 3 times a week for a Silver Sneakers exercise class and walk one mile without difficulty. My energy is much better and I get through a normal day without exhaustion. I can even dance a little and do some hiking: all these things were impossible 2 years ago. The horizons of my life were shrinking as I aged, but now they are expanding and I am exploring all the new things I can do.</span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"></span><br /></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"> This is the gift from Spirit, offered through the skilled and loving hands of the Doñas. This is the beauty of shamanic egg cleansing: a powerful healing tool that finds that which is broken in us and helps make us whole. </span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"></span><br /></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"> Now this is work I do on others, passing the gift and the healing forward. I offer it to you.</span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"></span><br /></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">Janet</span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"></span><br /></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">Resources</span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">• <u>Shamanic Egg Cleansing</u> by Kalyn Bastion Raphael</span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">• <u>Woman Who Glows in the Dark</u> </span>by Elena Avila</div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">• The Twin Shamans web page: <a href="http://www.twinshamans.com/about_us.html"><span class="s2">http://www.twinshamans.com/about_us.html</span></a></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">• You tube of one healer’s egg cleansing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=akbK6jd-U8I</span></div>
<br />
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"></span><br /></div>
Janet Partlowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14056081367450715461noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2462831172421357520.post-85574858426706504742014-11-06T10:33:00.000-08:002014-11-06T10:35:44.602-08:00Herbal Amulets for Psychic Protection<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"></span><br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8uzxCGn1B5ORqAS0XT6ZZj-gzB22i3K6SXMX_T6MtAYeaLxFJQGI1Czh8CWm2jfgz_vhA76d8Z-UCGBoqvdNez_nxub7qx_BW93Xp7Cd6IlSH5UXCETmz8c75wg6Mp7jTDwXNg5YmTpU/s1600/amulet+photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8uzxCGn1B5ORqAS0XT6ZZj-gzB22i3K6SXMX_T6MtAYeaLxFJQGI1Czh8CWm2jfgz_vhA76d8Z-UCGBoqvdNez_nxub7qx_BW93Xp7Cd6IlSH5UXCETmz8c75wg6Mp7jTDwXNg5YmTpU/s1600/amulet+photo.jpg" height="312" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nine sacred herbs</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"> In my work as a shamanic healer, I often explore different ways in which we can keep ourselves well-protected from foreign energies. This is what we call psychic protection. I have written about several of my favorite tools in my ebook on <u>A Shamanic Healer's Tools for Psychic Protection</u>; you can find this book on Amazon. But in the meantime, here is one tool from the book:</span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"><br /></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"> Plants have spoken to me for many years, and carry powerful medicine for me. So when I came across this idea for herbal amulets, I jumped on it.</span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"> The word amulet was new to me so I looked it up. An amulet is defined as a small object or charm worn to ward off illness, harm or evil. It can also be used to bring good fortune. In the Faery Doctoring traditions of Ireland, such charms are considered potent medicine. This amulet/charm combines sacred herbs in blends of three or six or nine to provide its effects. I learned about it from Mara Freeman’s book <u>K</u></span><span class="s2"><u>indling the Celtic Spirit</u>. </span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"> </span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"> Here are some of my favorite herbs. In the Celtic world, multiples of three are considered very powerful, so choose 3 or 6 or 9 of these. </span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1">• Lavender has a powerful calming, relaxing effect. It is a powerful protection herb as well.</span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1">• Chamomile has a long use as an herb to banish all ills, and to promote well-being.</span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1">• Comfrey is a powerful magic herb for all kinds of charm. It provides energetic safety.</span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1">• Sweet Woodruff is a powerful protection herb and helps us find strength in life’s battles.</span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1">• Thyme helps us find our courage and strength when facing difficulties. </span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1">• Rue is commonly used in Latin America and is one of their first choice herbs for protection.</span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1">• Rosemary is one of my first choices for protection. I grow it right by my front door.</span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1">• Mugwort is another top choice for protection. I use it as an incense to cleanse my energy field</span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1">• Plantain is used to bring protection to one’s home. At my place, it grows in the front entrance area.</span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"></span><br /></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"> Many of these herbs grow in the garden; if you have these it is always best to use plants from your own land. If you do not happen to have a well-stocked herb garden, you can visit a friend’s garden, a local nursery or farmer’s market. Find these plants and give them a big sniff: the ones that really attract you are the ones to choose.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh51rP0aQeCpB6GOmO8_zVzlNFWN9Zth9IDQ7YUBmGgMt8J71qVatS7EQ65xVMP3QKJD7juA2TQsfNjUuH3gvkTfq22-xb59CkEnUIyf7E8eOu_ooS-jAIu12nvRqN-tU0e7UXPATSby-A/s1600/bag+amulet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh51rP0aQeCpB6GOmO8_zVzlNFWN9Zth9IDQ7YUBmGgMt8J71qVatS7EQ65xVMP3QKJD7juA2TQsfNjUuH3gvkTfq22-xb59CkEnUIyf7E8eOu_ooS-jAIu12nvRqN-tU0e7UXPATSby-A/s1600/bag+amulet.jpg" height="289" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"> </span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"> If the herbs are fresh, pick a few flowers or leaves and let dry. I put my herbs on a window screen laid flat so the air can circulate above and below. They are ready when they crumble to the touch.</span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"> You can also buy these herbs dried: again check your local herb stores. Or an excellent online source is Mountain Rose in Eugene, Oregon.</span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"><br /></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"> Once the herbs are dried, take a pinch of each of the herbs you have chosen. Hold it to your heart and say whatever prayers you wish to call in its protection. Finish by blowing these prayers into that pinch of herbs, then placing them in the bag. Continue until all the herbs you have chosen are in the bag.</span> </div>
<br />
Cinch the bag closed. As an extra helpful step, you can wrap red thread or yarn around the bag: this comes from the Irish tradition of thread magic and adds additional protection.<br />
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"> Once your bag is complete, you can keep it in your pocket or wear it around your neck. For women, you can tuck it into your bra, over your heart. You could also hang it over the main door frame to your house, as a form of protection for the place you live. </span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"></span><br /></div>
<br />
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1">Janet</span></div>
Janet Partlowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14056081367450715461noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2462831172421357520.post-31347550386361966712014-10-29T14:01:00.000-07:002014-10-29T14:06:19.930-07:00Making Medicine: Elderberries from the Kootenai river<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJY8lvXROFjS7XFPHJoyXcLJUn7sYE5xMOQ-uheMEWzEI2qm8IRalWpJi6730hdqAY9Yu4MGW92rbW8nSEtyI3NcIa96XyZQeysmPdkl1XrNA5_Lv3DoP5VQLCK8in1IwYula5xrhQFHg/s1600/kootenai+berries.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJY8lvXROFjS7XFPHJoyXcLJUn7sYE5xMOQ-uheMEWzEI2qm8IRalWpJi6730hdqAY9Yu4MGW92rbW8nSEtyI3NcIa96XyZQeysmPdkl1XrNA5_Lv3DoP5VQLCK8in1IwYula5xrhQFHg/s1600/kootenai+berries.jpg" height="420" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Kootenai River in northern Idaho</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="p1">
Last week my spouse Glen and I were traveling in northern Idaho, visiting the donation land claim of my great-grandparents in Jewel Lake in Bonner County. While this was a very rewarding family history journey, we also made a side trip to the Kootenai Wildlife Refuge, where we were treated to a gloriously sunny day. Here you can see the Kootenai river in all its autumn glory.</div>
<div class="p3">
<span class="s1"> Though we were mostly tourists, it was still the third week in October and the herbalist in me had a keen eye out both for the changing weather, and also the opportunity to harvest medicinal plants, maybe for the last time for the season.</span></div>
<div class="p4">
<span class="s1"></span><br /></div>
<div class="p3">
<span class="s1"> When you go to the refuge, you take a five mile dike road in along the Kootenai river. As we drove this road, the sun was shining beautifully on the still waters of the river, creating gorgeous reflections of the cottonwood trees leaning from the banks. We were admiring the scenery </span>when suddenly we started to see bushes and bushes full of elderberries, gleaming bluely in the strong sunlight. Many of these shrubs were perched precariously down very steep dike banks and only Glen was courageous enough to try to reach them (I cowered in the car and hoped he didn’t end up in the river). But then we found a Blue Elderberry shrub in a nearby field and managed to collect several cups of fat, succulent elderberries. This really warmed the cockles of this herbalist’s heart.</div>
<br />
<div class="p3">
<span class="s1"> I’d been thinking a lot about elderberries lately. There’s been a lot of hoopla about the Ebola virus; while Ebola is a serious tragedy in Africa, I believe it is far less of a risk to the world population than a possible pandemic respiratory flu virus. I have doing a great deal of study about what we as herbalists could do if a high mortality flu virus arrived; I believe we have some good tools. </span></div>
<div class="p4">
<span class="s1"></span><br /></div>
<div class="p3">
<span class="s1"> In my life before I was an herbalist, I worked in two different Public Health Departments and have had a lifelong interest in community health issues, especially infectious diseases. My great-grandfather HW Partlow was a general practice doctor and was in the middle of the pandemic flu epidemic of 1918. He used medicinal herbs extensively in his practice; he never caught the flu despite intense exposure and to me, that is a testament to his great herbal skills. So following HW’s footsteps, I have been looking at herbs that might be helpful in fighting the flu virus. This is especially important because from my experience in modern medicine, I simply do not believe that we have enough tools to manage these viruses. Herbs may well provide a lifesaving alternative.<br />
</span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span class="s1"><br /></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjl9Msa8ucAq741G2t5tWT-b9nHwhOR9EpkWJIxnCTCz1jIA3Q0gxvrX2Y3CTsA_IWxPHfQLcwzBCQVacVcl8j5Roe4ZettZ4LKZgjWC6ZA1mHjiFAW47XvbKnjEFBgWHoYj6CHWbftC8/s1600/elder.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjl9Msa8ucAq741G2t5tWT-b9nHwhOR9EpkWJIxnCTCz1jIA3Q0gxvrX2Y3CTsA_IWxPHfQLcwzBCQVacVcl8j5Roe4ZettZ4LKZgjWC6ZA1mHjiFAW47XvbKnjEFBgWHoYj6CHWbftC8/s1600/elder.jpg" height="256" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Blue elderberries steeping in honey</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="p3">
<span class="s1"> Elderberry is one of these herbs, particularly in early stages. Stephen Buhner in his excellent book </span><span class="s2">Herbal Antivirals</span><span class="s1"> talks about how elderberries stop viruses from replication. A key aspect to this is to use a syrup or tea to coat the mouth/throat in the early stages, which is where the virus gets a foothold. If you can stop replication there, you can stop the problem entirely. Should the virus succeed in entering the body, elder can also actually kill viruses, can keep viruses from maturation, can bind them up so they are unable to infect human cells and in general make it difficult for the virus to prosper. Our European ancestors knew that elderberry worked: there is a long tradition in Celtic countries of making elderberry syrup in the fall and then taking one tablespoon daily in hot water throughout fall and winter as a preventative. </span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span class="s1"><br /></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD5AEwN0KrxRvuDwFxf0SHLCm5cwaUZbe7CWBnfeS5ZErND79xTF3qgOko3vIknn8mTzky1742o79nMePCNzePCcwu5C5j9Iyu5krr6kUwvvbaoFYRQ4zTUsbYriwPwrlxI05GRABCgcI/s1600/hootch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD5AEwN0KrxRvuDwFxf0SHLCm5cwaUZbe7CWBnfeS5ZErND79xTF3qgOko3vIknn8mTzky1742o79nMePCNzePCcwu5C5j9Iyu5krr6kUwvvbaoFYRQ4zTUsbYriwPwrlxI05GRABCgcI/s1600/hootch.jpg" height="278" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tinctures of Lomatium, Cordyceps and Astragalas</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="p3">
<span class="s1"> There are other herbs as well. Today I am making large amounts of tinctures of Lomatium, Cordyceps mushroom, Astragalas, Houttynia (Yu Zing Cao), Baical Skullcap (Huang qin), Isatis and Licorice. These are all herbs that Stephen Buhner recommends, but also I have used many of them to good effect. My plan is to have quart jars of these tinctured herbs put aside, in case the big one ever arrives. I’m using tinctures because these have a very long shelf life. But also, if someone is sick, tinctures are very easily absorbed.</span></div>
<div class="p4">
<span class="s1"></span><br /></div>
<div class="p3">
<span class="s1"> We may never need these herbs. But I feel more comfortable in having them on hand, just in case. </span></div>
<div class="p4">
<span class="s1"></span><br /></div>
<div class="p3">
<span class="s1"> Here is the recipe for elderberry syrup:</span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span class="s1">=2 cups of black or blue elderberries. If fresh, dry out a few days by spreading over a screen in a dry, well-aerated area.</span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span class="s1">=Put in a double boiler pan and cover with your favorite honey to above 1 inch above the berries. (Some recipes call for cane sugar, but this seems ridiculous to me as sugar is known to reduce an immune response). Cover the pan, bring to a simmer and let the berries steep in the honey for several hours. Periodically take the lid off and mop out any liquid that has collected on the underside of the lid (this reduces the risk of mold later on). </span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span class="s1">=After about 4-6 hours, strain out the berries and save the honey. Label and date; I usually store it in the refrigerator though this may not be necessary. </span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span class="s1"><br /></span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span class="s1">Janet</span></div>
<div class="p4">
<span class="s1"></span><br /></div>
<div class="p3">
<span class="s1">Resources</span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span class="s1">• </span><span class="s2"><u>Herbal Antivirals</u></span><span class="s1"> by Stephen Buhner</span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span class="s2">• <u>Herbalist’s Guide to Preventing the Flu</u> </span><span class="s1"> by Janet Partlow (check Amazon)</span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span class="s1">• Ist Chinese Herbs: <a href="http://www.1stchineseherbs.com/"><span class="s2">http://www.1stchineseherbs.com/</span></a> A good source for many of these herbs.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="p3">
<span class="s1">• Mountain Rose: <a href="http://www.mountainroseherbs.com/"><span class="s2">www.mountainroseherbs.com/</span></a> Another great source for these herbs.</span></div>
Janet Partlowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14056081367450715461noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2462831172421357520.post-11094016752916728682014-09-08T19:21:00.000-07:002014-09-10T12:02:16.343-07:00Indian Summer<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWZRmOw568yVSt3yTupkpji_z_RQpZ8x2ZbO3I1Sn9Ah0dlRKo1_tpTrxgn-HUJkwU6cBs0TEYSCRApnrHHB2uyqcK5zMx_J1QpW-GBFahCIw3ebfqNu_S4f9E8vuMyxeuJjQVj5mat4Y/s1600/IS1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWZRmOw568yVSt3yTupkpji_z_RQpZ8x2ZbO3I1Sn9Ah0dlRKo1_tpTrxgn-HUJkwU6cBs0TEYSCRApnrHHB2uyqcK5zMx_J1QpW-GBFahCIw3ebfqNu_S4f9E8vuMyxeuJjQVj5mat4Y/s1600/IS1.jpeg" height="400" width="266" /></a></div>
It is now early September. In my part of the world (Pacific Northwest), the mornings are cool, almost to the point of frost. Thin wisps of fog filter through the trees and a heavy blanket of dew coats the browned grasses and leaves. Innumerable webs full of FAT spiders are etched in dewdrops against a gray sky. By midday, the fog will clear: intensely deep blue skies and a warm sun make it necessary to shuck the jackets, switch over to shorts and bask in the last days of the season.<br />
<br />
This is Indian summer. In this time the green grasses of July have turned golden, their seed heads desiccated and their tiny seeds dispersed to the winds. The leaves of early emerging spring willows are now bronze-colored and getting ready to drop. There was a heavy rain two weeks ago and now mushrooms are rising, fruiting from their mycelia underpinnings. Last month chanterelles were scarce and expensive in the market: $24 a pound! But two weeks after that soaking rain, the mycelia throb and hum underground and produce an astonishing surge of life, in the form of mushrooms. The price of chanterelles drops to $9 a pound.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwDnA4IP9IJNiCOwM0r8WVQk5jxMSoVTa2R32Lfp0lcdvy_vbPQWhjyxLZbezV2Z59G4dcRBkGN25s_KlH_2YZMtYeHpmtOgB061QoQjYpyXGTUVAqwqx1YF6SlHzjZL0eDTK4IeU5czA/s1600/IS2.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwDnA4IP9IJNiCOwM0r8WVQk5jxMSoVTa2R32Lfp0lcdvy_vbPQWhjyxLZbezV2Z59G4dcRBkGN25s_KlH_2YZMtYeHpmtOgB061QoQjYpyXGTUVAqwqx1YF6SlHzjZL0eDTK4IeU5czA/s1600/IS2.jpeg" height="320" width="212" /></a><br />
<br />
This is a time of pulling together our stores, to prepare for the cold times ahead. My sister Nancy gathered in her summer’s harvest of tomatoes. She had the idea to stuff them into a cornucopia and take a picture. I saw the end result and knew immediately that she had captured the essence of Indian summer: the woven basket full of the late summer fruits of the year, glowing like jewels in the slanting light of late summer.<br />
<br />
We are also canning peaches and freezing berries for jam. Some years we go to the Farmer’s Market to buy pounds and pounds of cucumbers to make bread & butter pickles. We harvest mushrooms out of our Garden Giant bed; they get sautéed and then frozen to use in the winter months ahead. Some years we buy a whole king salmon, fresh out of Puget Sound. We fillet it, ice and freeze it and feed from its beautiful red flesh for months to come.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_lyl8xYtQibq98POa9Kjot1XK04R7es-F2aKaSfZdUJTee4OG0C0_AJkVJxOYjGU1xktV3YJMqD-6h0Af0S2WGxbB6xxR4GszYmhVAaxgZYmAukA75TdZkqk0Wgrry-35BSo2WuhWbFg/s1600/is3.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_lyl8xYtQibq98POa9Kjot1XK04R7es-F2aKaSfZdUJTee4OG0C0_AJkVJxOYjGU1xktV3YJMqD-6h0Af0S2WGxbB6xxR4GszYmhVAaxgZYmAukA75TdZkqk0Wgrry-35BSo2WuhWbFg/s1600/is3.jpeg" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
From my world as a healer, this is also a time of gathering in our own personal reserves. I go to bed a little earlier and rejoice in the relief of cool sheets, even needing a warmer blanket to get through the night (I never thought I’d be cold again!) The night falls much more quickly and as I turn out the light to sleep, I feel the blessed darkness wrap me up in its own blanket of safety and care, lulling me deep into the dreamtime.<br />
<br />
In Five Element Chinese medicine, we look at how the seasons change, and how we as humans adjust to these changes. Many of us have difficulty in resetting our internal clocks to these seasonal changes; however in Chinese medicine they have come up with great ways to help us do this. <br />
They have a series of acupoints that are called the Horary Points. There are 2 points for each season; by accessing these points we can help ourselves make these seasonal adjustments. <br />
The points for Indian Summer are Stomach 36, followed by Spleen 3. You can google diagram acupoint followed by the name of the point and find a good photo and description of these points. Once you have found them, you can apply acupressure in the form of your fingers, first holding Stomach 36 on both legs, then Spleen 3 on both feet. Do this on a daily basis until you feel as if you have come back into alignment with nature’s rhythms. If your region has daylight savings time, you will need to repeat this after the clock shifts.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaqd0XhkezSxe4oG4QeMhocdg43nFdAnPAhAh0ZdQSwd-zXGQgV13wyv7LqL_dWJpBvg4238QzsVv3qaSgiYq70sRYGf6IWQcSAGQaw5iZOKbiWgbHdMCFZ2KwxO9yPFx2Rqz2mamGtZE/s1600/IS4.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaqd0XhkezSxe4oG4QeMhocdg43nFdAnPAhAh0ZdQSwd-zXGQgV13wyv7LqL_dWJpBvg4238QzsVv3qaSgiYq70sRYGf6IWQcSAGQaw5iZOKbiWgbHdMCFZ2KwxO9yPFx2Rqz2mamGtZE/s1600/IS4.jpeg" height="265" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
Soon the wheel of the year will turn again. The cold mornings will turn to killing frost; the leaves will drop and begin to mold. In my land, the rains will begin and will not cease for weeks to come. This is Fall. All too soon it will be upon us.<br />
<br />
But for me, now in this place, I am living in the beautiful days that come at the end of summer, reveling in fog and sun alike. Until the season turns again…<br />
<br />
Janet Partlow<br />
<b>Resources</b>: all photos by Nancy Partlow<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Janet Partlowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14056081367450715461noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2462831172421357520.post-47848127549158144732012-11-13T10:53:00.000-08:002012-11-13T10:53:16.793-08:00Garden giants<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD58tOSoNpqfB87K6mxg1CsxxV1lRWeADGgSt4YcDk5oFMEbRXH2yaveGzAliaQDF4ELQItPCAIWQXHo_x-nnDAshaWQXJaTrBaDhtTXPGMcQkKkze0BM4Gu9oXyWEl6v4f2wDZqAlQMI/s1600/Stropharia_rugosoannulata_9_L1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD58tOSoNpqfB87K6mxg1CsxxV1lRWeADGgSt4YcDk5oFMEbRXH2yaveGzAliaQDF4ELQItPCAIWQXHo_x-nnDAshaWQXJaTrBaDhtTXPGMcQkKkze0BM4Gu9oXyWEl6v4f2wDZqAlQMI/s320/Stropharia_rugosoannulata_9_L1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
I admit it: I am a creature of enthusiasms. My family and friends know this about me; they are never shocked when I come up with yet another wild hair idea. There is a certain amount of eye rolling and sighing that goes on and even some heel-digging resistance to getting recruited into my enthusiasms. But resistance is futile and many of them get swept away . <br /><br /> So it is with mushrooms. They have been calling to me for some years and this fall in particular, I am heeding the call. They are by nature wacko-weirdo, creepy, fascinating and downright beautiful. My friend Rain spoke recently of walking with her two year old son around their wetland property. They came across some mushrooms fruiting profusely. Hawk leaned over and stuck his face in them and said loudly: “What is THAT?” You don’t have to be two years old and seeing mushrooms for the first time to feel the same way.<br /><br /> For many years I was an armchair mushroom freak. There are a lot of good mushroom resources: I love David Arora’s book <u>All that the Rain Promises</u>. Paul Stamets’ book <u>Mycelium Running</u> is another wonderful read. But after some years of reading about mushrooms, I decided it was time to get my hands in the soil and on the mushrooms. So this spring, we planted a bed of Stropharia annulato or King Stropharia aka Wine Caps or Garden Giants.<br /><br /> We didn’t get started until early May. Ideally a stropharia bed should be in by March 1st. But I struggled to find wood chips and finally bought some alder sawdust from the local bark store.<br /> For this project we recruited our gardener friend David. As a professional gardener he knew about plants, but had never put in a mushroom bed before. I hadn’t either, but put together my best guess from all the reading I’d done.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRLjuvlFDvYq9C6GAdWS6RXqN1Dr-kXqvxdEYXexAokJhCfK00tUKS_RUrdaorwW5Hgh3pD9iRKf_Ktr-Lg0fRVEpIz0Xb6QPqNYx6Pqy3wm_NGXJ1kWlcie1K-xX5lc4OSR_wc6sDzpg/s1600/all+sawdust+spawn.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRLjuvlFDvYq9C6GAdWS6RXqN1Dr-kXqvxdEYXexAokJhCfK00tUKS_RUrdaorwW5Hgh3pD9iRKf_Ktr-Lg0fRVEpIz0Xb6QPqNYx6Pqy3wm_NGXJ1kWlcie1K-xX5lc4OSR_wc6sDzpg/s1600/all+sawdust+spawn.jpg" /></a><br /> We put the bed in at the end of my herb garden. Stropharia likes to have plant friends nearby and lots of edges, so this seemed like the best place. A place of dappled sunlight, up against the foundation of the house, and with a soaker hose laid in; all these factors seem to create a likely spot.<br /> So in a 4 foot by 3 foot space, David dug out all the soil down the subsoil; the idea here is to removed any other fungal elements that might compete with the stropharia. He put down a layer of alder sawdust, then sprinkled in the stropharia spawn, a commercial product that is full of the fungus to get started. He then repeated the process, topping off the bed with 2 inches of alder . We then soaked the bed well; this being May in western Washington, we knew the rains would keep it well watered for several weeks, which turned out to be true. By early July the dry season finally began and we switched over to using the soaker hose for an hour twice a week. Then I sat back and waited.<br /> I went out regularly to the garden and saw nothing. Nada, zip. I was discouraged. Paul Stamets says the soil needs to be at least 60 degrees for the mushrooms to pop up, so you can expect to see them in mid or late July. <br /> I checked in July. Nada. I checked in August. Nothing. I was getting depressed. Then I put them out of my mind as a failed attempt.<br /><br /> In mid September I needed to collect some mugwort. I went out to the garden and OH MY GOD there were several clumps of stropharia, tangled in with branches of mugwort. We had pulled it off! We had put out an invitation to these mushrooms and they graced us with their presence.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX6_QpSu7ReKeQjoXi90gX-r3_sbG1biebyOW1syNQ-fwYBSLjazFo15YWXKKtq_214KOq3baOlj0Lf-LIQp8Lpbm0qJXA48q6kBzQk9X5_z-t_WZaWox4VydE60AcE9vOKB4dq6lgS20/s1600/stroph2.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="252" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX6_QpSu7ReKeQjoXi90gX-r3_sbG1biebyOW1syNQ-fwYBSLjazFo15YWXKKtq_214KOq3baOlj0Lf-LIQp8Lpbm0qJXA48q6kBzQk9X5_z-t_WZaWox4VydE60AcE9vOKB4dq6lgS20/s320/stroph2.jpg" width="320" /></a><br /> And how graceful it was. Through early November in an unseasonably warm fall, Glen went out to the garden and regularly collected a half pound of mushrooms every two-three days. We learned how to cook them: sliced in a pan of butter & olive oil, sautéed 5-7 minutes until the pan is dry and the mushrooms are golden-brown with crispy edges. We put them in a sauce and poured them over roasted Delicata squash. OMG. Glen made polenta cakes and we poured the mushrooms over these. We put them in stews and soups and stroganoffs. OMG. You get the point.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHoUL1f5ECcomSMnDoPuVPtLokiLj3AdUDfs02Ch-dJ4X81is8mvT2mMjomwZcyDQw2VioxPHP-4-mW4_zAzl_Dupn1nUK07DCwVkkZrUdpS9OotAFMTStNwYdMMpwlCq__on2z-7NqYk/s1600/pamkaminski.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHoUL1f5ECcomSMnDoPuVPtLokiLj3AdUDfs02Ch-dJ4X81is8mvT2mMjomwZcyDQw2VioxPHP-4-mW4_zAzl_Dupn1nUK07DCwVkkZrUdpS9OotAFMTStNwYdMMpwlCq__on2z-7NqYk/s320/pamkaminski.jpg" width="320" /></a><br /> And to every recipe that we made, they added a rich, complex nutty flavor. They were an excellent meat substitute. And though not much is known about the medicinal qualities of Stropharia, I believe all mushrooms at the very least provide important adaptogenic support to the immune system. I think they keep our immune systems tuned up against all kinds of attacks. As an herbalist, I believe that the best way to take herbs ( and mushrooms) is as food built into our daily lives. And so it proved with our friend Stropharia.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv9DWanw7a_ufauRRuhrOoDQuJzCCXhPjGbgTH5N9ZR5UYdUuVFq4JGmtkYXYPeBCH0-U3okl9x4VCbSyd0INZvEkzYWEaUSr0YMMameiJrSbFAxU8SdT0X0Hp0h8JZlInt81h1Ssaz50/s1600/stroph1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv9DWanw7a_ufauRRuhrOoDQuJzCCXhPjGbgTH5N9ZR5UYdUuVFq4JGmtkYXYPeBCH0-U3okl9x4VCbSyd0INZvEkzYWEaUSr0YMMameiJrSbFAxU8SdT0X0Hp0h8JZlInt81h1Ssaz50/s320/stroph1.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Janet Partlow<br /><b> Resources:</b><br />photo of sawdust spawn from Field & Forest Products<br />
"Beauty shots" of Stropharia by Pam Kaminski<br />
All other photos by Janet Partlow and Glen Buschmann<br />Field & Forest: www.fieldforest.net/<br />Fungi Perfecti: www.fungi.com/<br />South Sound Mushroom Club: www.southsoundmushroomclub.com/<br />A fabulous YouTube video of stropharia growing in time lapse photography: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Oq82zrQB04<br />Janet Partlowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14056081367450715461noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2462831172421357520.post-14211838711434164712012-08-08T16:07:00.001-07:002012-08-08T16:07:39.946-07:00Clearing Cooties<span id="goog_1673347169"></span><span id="goog_1673347170"></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEAuP8C9xqNCyAhVyhxY6GSucrPDHZhEILiVcCeq9_qya6DWvFhlGLUdJGU6Popltmq-yecI0ezK5KiOI5yFxBokSnZadnVysDw_Kcwxw5Sm7oIq_2bikPeDYSx9xM8Bj8sjxIOSP2144/s1600/Col+mouth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="208" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEAuP8C9xqNCyAhVyhxY6GSucrPDHZhEILiVcCeq9_qya6DWvFhlGLUdJGU6Popltmq-yecI0ezK5KiOI5yFxBokSnZadnVysDw_Kcwxw5Sm7oIq_2bikPeDYSx9xM8Bj8sjxIOSP2144/s640/Col+mouth.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Columbia River meeting the Pacific Ocean</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
In the world of the shamanic healer, there are some basic
techniques that are part of our daily work, part of the standard “job
description” . One of these techniques is called extraction work: this
means that we find and clear foreign energy from the field of our
clients. I refer to it (somewhat frivolously) as clearing cooties. <br />
<br />
Energetic healers such as shamanic healers work with the human energy
field. This unseen field encircles the physical body. Normally it
flows like a powerful river; I think of the Columbia river as it carves
its way through dense columnar basalt in the Gorge. That river is
strong, goal-directed and potent. It not only carves up rock, it
breaches into the Pacific ocean, making that sea give way before the
power of the river. This river knows who it is and where it is going.
It is like the Wei Qi energy field described by Chinese medicine
practitioners: a powerful protective surge of energy and life that
helps keeps us healthy.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkwimxsc-qcvrIa3f6jZBAHVsojOVeVE-wibvlGbCSIreV04kyaUk9vmbcjNmskNpY3ny7EDx3x8A8mOz58Rj-YKh4O5kZVAuneZMTS2jMLQKOASrRnV08VMiuLY6CDgcFiWrEoEY_WHM/s1600/crown_point_columbia_gorge_morning_2004_med.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkwimxsc-qcvrIa3f6jZBAHVsojOVeVE-wibvlGbCSIreV04kyaUk9vmbcjNmskNpY3ny7EDx3x8A8mOz58Rj-YKh4O5kZVAuneZMTS2jMLQKOASrRnV08VMiuLY6CDgcFiWrEoEY_WHM/s1600/crown_point_columbia_gorge_morning_2004_med.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Columbia carving through Basalt</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
However, this energy field
can be blocked. Think again of the Columbia river: the ancient
landslide near the Dalles that filled the riverbed with huge boulders
and nearly diverted its course. Think of all the dams that have been
built on the Columbia that block its flow. Think of the Colorado river,
whose flow has been so drained to fill the swimming pools of Los
Angeles, that it can no longer feed the estuary at the mouth of the Sea
of Cortez. These blockages happen to rivers, and they can happen to
people as well.<br />
<br />The Q’ero indigenous people of the high Andes in Peru called these dense energetic blockages <i>hucha</i>. For them, people are normally beings of shining light. But when foreign energy intrudes, we can lose our light, and lose our way in life, as well. Our light gets overwhelmed by the density of <i>hucha</i>.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnOZ0eXxsLwDBXVLHqHbhuoEfgjgGVARZiDmUjPJWFCpijs3mYbgizIA52vZJReq7YpRce8GKsVsuJvX_UvID-7zIMLLqTmLd7S04n5bVcIJdKQpRa3x5tafqpcQ8edN-HCqXkTTO65MY/s1600/light.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnOZ0eXxsLwDBXVLHqHbhuoEfgjgGVARZiDmUjPJWFCpijs3mYbgizIA52vZJReq7YpRce8GKsVsuJvX_UvID-7zIMLLqTmLd7S04n5bVcIJdKQpRa3x5tafqpcQ8edN-HCqXkTTO65MY/s320/light.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Holy Light of the Sun</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The most common way we pick up these blockages is simply through the course of ordinary life. It’s like picking up the common cold: you go to the mall on a busy holiday weekend and ten feet in front of you, someone with a nasty cold blows a big sneeze. There is a five foot sneeze cloud left behind and if you walk through it, you can easily breath in virus particles. <br />
Foreign energy blockages are like that. If you hang out in bars a lot, you can be easily exposed. If you spend a lot of time under the influence of substances, you can easily be vulnerable to <i>hucha</i>. Other common places where stuff can be picked up are hospitals, cemeteries and courthouses.<br />
<br />
It happened to me that way. I had just had major joint replacement surgery and was in the hospital for four days, recovering. While lying on my bed, weakened from surgery and blood loss, and gorked out on pain meds, I picked up some energy that was not my own. <br />
I was sluggish, very exhausted and my mood was low. I had trouble finding my usual enthusiasm for life. My healing was slow, too. It was easy to miss the energy intrusion, since all these things could have been part of the surgery recovery.<br />
As it turned out, shortly after I left the hospital I had an appointment with my teacher/healer Mary Blankenship. She saw the problem and quickly cleared it. After her work, I started to feel great, to sleep great, to have better energy. My healing from surgery took huge strides forward. Best of all, life once again was worth living.<br />
<br />
People often ask how to do this work themselves. The good news is that that Wei Qi energy field I spoke of earlier does do a good job of clearing out many minor energies before they can get a foot hold. However if something has truly become stuck in one’s energy field, it requires a shamanic healer who does extraction work to clear it out. It’s sort of like repairing your own car; you can do routine maintenance, but you wouldn’t dream of doing an engine overhaul by yourself. The same is true with this type of shamanic work.<br />
<br />
So how do shamanic healers do this extraction work? It depends, of course, on each healer. My approach is to sit and talk with the person, looking at how their life is working, or not working for them. Are things stuck? Is their mood low? Are they having trouble sleeping, with intense/scary dreams? Are they having trouble moving forward in life, bringing their vision to fruition? As we talk, I am tracking their energy field, sensing the places of blockage and planning how to clear them.<br />
After this conversation, the client gets on the massage table. I call in Great Spirit, my guides, my plant and stone medicine helpers, and together we work to clean out the “cooties” and restore the river of energy back to a more normal flow. <br />
<br />
Most people notice a big difference afterwards. They feel lighter, more buoyant and optimistic. As the healer, I see their own clear and bright spiritual light shining out from their eyes. In the next days and weeks ahead, the person begins to see that they are moving forward in their life; old stuck things are falling away and they start to move to the rhythm of their own season. <br />
<br />
This is the power of “clearing cooties”. <br />
<br />
Janet<br />
<br />
<b>Resources:</b><br />
Photos by Nancy and Janet PartlowJanet Partlowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14056081367450715461noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2462831172421357520.post-16316824388977210162012-04-23T11:33:00.004-07:002012-04-23T11:33:59.742-07:00Earth Day at our Sacred Water<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX8eFVsaIp-HubQqWpXVdtO3_3p_8p0ukPRC8CcsVuYSRV3x4Akkz6mM7EBSZTWOy_kijxPQns9YYbeUPW3iVbyPGdM7mN9kn1F_Q_5c2cJ5-9Mgudm63ikRUfGvVTkzvWJI99GZ1SRbE/s1600/art+overview.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="292" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX8eFVsaIp-HubQqWpXVdtO3_3p_8p0ukPRC8CcsVuYSRV3x4Akkz6mM7EBSZTWOy_kijxPQns9YYbeUPW3iVbyPGdM7mN9kn1F_Q_5c2cJ5-9Mgudm63ikRUfGvVTkzvWJI99GZ1SRbE/s400/art+overview.jpg" width="400" /></a>Today is Sunday, April 22nd. It is Earth Day, and our local planet has dressed up in its finest spring duds to make us maritime Washingtonians very happy. Here in the late afternoon, it is 72 degrees, all of the trees are sprouting fresh green growth, and the sun is pouring heat out of a cerulean blue sky.</div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMazG6ljua6nzFGUtjKOZ-dY2_mf7GICwbjaSiKryrphvW6fyS2t-Z6rbvB8n8m2hFsfy803f4Lyf5VpUfkD-IUQvryuOsc4h4lBnmB7yBwOhan9unm67dHRgvuOMoZwEVvveWG5r8XCo/s1600/art+creek.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMazG6ljua6nzFGUtjKOZ-dY2_mf7GICwbjaSiKryrphvW6fyS2t-Z6rbvB8n8m2hFsfy803f4Lyf5VpUfkD-IUQvryuOsc4h4lBnmB7yBwOhan9unm67dHRgvuOMoZwEVvveWG5r8XCo/s320/art+creek.jpg" width="292" /></a></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
I spent the afternoon at Bigelow springs, an obscure pocket park on the northeast Olympia hills, overlooking Budd Inlet. Here is a picture of the park, looking west towards the Black Hills. The spring emerges from the ground to the right of the picture, then trickles down in a gentle stream to the left, then is piped (sadly) to East Bay. It is Artesian water, part of the large aquifer that lies under much of Olympia and Tumwater. If you go to the Garfield stream ravine and see the water draining off the steep hillsides, if you drive through seepy drainage pools off of West Bay drive, much of this water is coming from the Artesian aquifer. Or of course, you can go the Artesian well along 4th avenue and drink the water clean from the pipe. All of this is our water.</div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
This is ancient water. Studies done by the Friends of the Well have found it to have a chemical signature that makes it about 2,000 years old. In times past, this water fell on the uplands around the Salish Sea and drained into the aquifer under our feet. This is ancient water.</div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
I went to Bigelow Springs with a group of Faery women. We wanted to honor Earth day, but also the sacred waters and Great Mother Brigid. She oversees not only all water, but also healers & herbalists & midwives (which roughly describes our group). This custom of honoring sacred springs is a very old tradition in Ireland & Scotland. All of us who came today to honor the springs have genetic roots to these homelands. Today we reached back to our ancestors, connecting with our roots, and brought this heritage forward. </div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
This spring was no doubt revered by the Squaxin Indian people whose land this is. But when early Olympia settler Daniel Bigelow took out a homestead claim in 1851, his 160 acres encompassed the springs. While he shared the water with his neighbors, it’s unlikely he welcomed the Squaxin people to come and do regular ceremonies to celebrate the water. We think it has been a long time since anyone did so. </div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh06xUSAppv4f330ybL5vQFhFnhipJBbI1oVFsPOFjPYO86z-mC3UTeQbFstPnL2EDXfFMBw9DFwCD5wlzLC455Ynm4xRH06AYBZgWDD1UiJLxX-7YqPHCyUJ28NHqFfa0mDBweJg0vN0o/s1600/spring+kids.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh06xUSAppv4f330ybL5vQFhFnhipJBbI1oVFsPOFjPYO86z-mC3UTeQbFstPnL2EDXfFMBw9DFwCD5wlzLC455Ynm4xRH06AYBZgWDD1UiJLxX-7YqPHCyUJ28NHqFfa0mDBweJg0vN0o/s320/spring+kids.jpg" width="320" /></a> We kicked off our shoes and sat on the ground next to the springs, reveling in the hot sun, and listened to the water gurgle gently past us. I borrowed Joanna’s Peruvian rattle and led a shamanic journey to the Spirit of the Springs, introducing ourselves and asking how we can honor this water. We were told to bring flowers and float them down (Jess found golden dandelions to gift to the water). We were told to gift the springs with silver ( that tradition of putting coins in a fountain comes out of the Celtic world), to give beautiful stones, to leave hazelnuts and cream and Irish whiskey (traditional Faery gifts). We were told to get our bare feet in the water; the Spirit of the Spring especially enjoys the feet of children. </div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEcPER_vIACg-pMouPUXIP93oyOkBsVwld2qIKWLUftlUuBvQAIxOxqNExwurSjwEkkPi1InwdlY-OJ16PntLpj18-oke8uOr_CTR-0PZsUlXFIfMspwpv13YLiqMShnGZuysQlx4Yqs0/s1600/P1120240(768x1024).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEcPER_vIACg-pMouPUXIP93oyOkBsVwld2qIKWLUftlUuBvQAIxOxqNExwurSjwEkkPi1InwdlY-OJ16PntLpj18-oke8uOr_CTR-0PZsUlXFIfMspwpv13YLiqMShnGZuysQlx4Yqs0/s320/P1120240(768x1024).jpg" width="211" /></a></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
We followed an Irish tradition of walking a pattern clockwise three times around the well, earth-stained bare feet on the grass, feeling the Great Mother beneath us, the water tumbling past, a male robin singing us around the circle.</div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
Here under the hot sun, Faery women of all ages: maiden, mother and crone; come and go in the great circular pattern of life. Here Julie played her Irish bodhran, the sound of the drum echoing down the hill. Here Mia passed around water from the downtown Artesian well, helping us cool off from the unaccustomed heat. Here I sang an Irish invocation song, calling in and praising Great Mother Brigid. Here the women walked up and down the springs, leaving gifts, leaving their footprints and taking home a potent sense of their Celtic roots. And along the way, we weave again an age-old and powerful connection to the water that infuses all our lives.</div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
Resources:</div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
• Olympia’s Artesian Well: <a href="http://olympiawa.gov/city-utilities/drinking-water/water-quality/Artesian%20Well%20Olympia.aspx">http://olympiawa.gov/city-utilities/drinking-water/water-quality/Artesian%20Well%20Olympia.aspx</a></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
• <u>In Search of Ireland’s Holy Wells</u> by Elizabeth Healy</div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
• photos by Nancy Partlow</div>Janet Partlowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14056081367450715461noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2462831172421357520.post-5287346232009384652012-03-28T12:56:00.007-07:002012-03-28T15:35:00.562-07:00Breaking DormancyIt is nearly the end of March. And a cold, wet, gloomy & rheumy one as well. My spirits have been as low as the weather, and from what I hear around me, many of us are also feeling the same way, at least here in the Pacific Northwest where La Nina has presented us with yet another ugly spring. These are hard times for healers and our clients alike, as we all struggle to emerge from the cold, stagnant, closed-in days of a fading winter....<br /><br />And yet...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic2O5yJ51dCkwfZn2-C6Ne0EkKF_wzCYHb8-UoFGJUPpmpId5norKHK4rawGKIS-zdlCV6tIaomyeziLnUikIUdQuno4wTnYU461sfnp35X3i8YNKD6P40FEty7dl6Qj_3L3XUvvzUOi8/s1600/voz+croc.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic2O5yJ51dCkwfZn2-C6Ne0EkKF_wzCYHb8-UoFGJUPpmpId5norKHK4rawGKIS-zdlCV6tIaomyeziLnUikIUdQuno4wTnYU461sfnp35X3i8YNKD6P40FEty7dl6Qj_3L3XUvvzUOi8/s320/voz+croc.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5725041604471473778" border="0" /></a><br />• Last week we had a rare sunny day; by afternoon the temperature had climbed into the high fifties. I went outside WITHOUT A COAT and sat on the south-facing deck. I was basking in the golden sunlight, feeling a little like a hot biscuit all slathered with melting butter, sliding down onto the wooden bench. Around me a newly emerged Yellow-faced bumblebee queen flew in circles, checking out the crocus blossoms in our yard and then methodically searching the garden soil Glen had just dug up for possible abandoned mouse holes to nest in.<br /><br />• And then there are the Bewick’s Wrens. This is a nondescript, sneaky little brown bird that lives year around in Northwest gardens; you might not even know they were around except they have a wide range of vi<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYmwKRROKIsF6MtGNtm9yFyIla9LZRd2D4227zFsUiuydl2dFlAZG1hI53tOwUEqNsV-Fo6IPKVfTbTKCr4en-RjVl-lzV2NHidm7zn9GQiBzFOsn3MZ_PpjLAvNENVRJUBVDlZwEjF3E/s1600/wren.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 207px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYmwKRROKIsF6MtGNtm9yFyIla9LZRd2D4227zFsUiuydl2dFlAZG1hI53tOwUEqNsV-Fo6IPKVfTbTKCr4en-RjVl-lzV2NHidm7zn9GQiBzFOsn3MZ_PpjLAvNENVRJUBVDlZwEjF3E/s320/wren.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5725041130717954226" border="0" /></a>vid, piercing songs.<br />I was sitting by the front window, looking gloomily out at the gray & rain, when up popped a pair of them in the mock orange bush next to the glass. They were clearly a mated pair, sitting very close to each other, gleaning bugs and also clearly picking through the moss for bedding for a nest they were building.<br />The wren was a sacred animal to the Celtic peoples of the Ireland, Scotland and Wales. Tom Cowan, a noted shamanic healer and Celtic scholar, writes this about the wren: “<span style="font-style: italic;">In the</span><span style="font-style: italic;"> depths of winter, in the cold thrall of bitter weather, the wren sings. Alone among birds, the wren’s voice slides across joyful notes while nature is otherwise somber and silent. And in her song she reminds us of the beauty of spring, the mating calls of other birds who return in warmer days, the brightness of ever earlier dawns when all the world turns green again</span>.” As I read this passage and remember the pair of wrens at my window, I realize how effective they are in lifting the gloom of winter, and reminding me that green spring is surely on its way.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNTkqYksk4Z8FnASnSHN1ahWCOX3O3PpRdz3j2MZptp2H-f8b-gHKa__kzMEH9BLOCNaT6vq2uwUXQgBT-I-UimHQP7aW6de6Hj4Ecsu0AFqyB3QM6-iqwJaVzhGyuez6SQlMKCA5bOM4/s1600/mugw2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 253px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNTkqYksk4Z8FnASnSHN1ahWCOX3O3PpRdz3j2MZptp2H-f8b-gHKa__kzMEH9BLOCNaT6vq2uwUXQgBT-I-UimHQP7aW6de6Hj4Ecsu0AFqyB3QM6-iqwJaVzhGyuez6SQlMKCA5bOM4/s320/mugw2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5725040814505282018" border="0" /></a><br /><br />• Then yesterday in a rare break from the rain I walked around to the sunny side of the house to check out my medicinal herb garden. I hadn’t looked at my plants for months, and was greatly heartened by what I saw. Both the rue and the helichrysum, native to warm southern Mediterranean lands, had survived the winter, a little beaten up to be sure, but still alive. At the base of last year’s dead fennel stalks, vigorous green shoots of new fennel are bursting through. And the mugwort, queen of my garden who is often slow to awake, has pushed through some vigorous green stalks of growth.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpCRmkrCDG_OH0ad5gDPMJ0FB40XCsAm3HG9rLNMUxrIgJmBIaJPBpglRTCCV7_WNGJvFGuVip5DwnyZcc4bMGa480s0XosjkBNkvj4uKp1_NpR415wWu6c1xOHZmll0hoSPN3JiLVuf4/s1600/mugw.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 233px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpCRmkrCDG_OH0ad5gDPMJ0FB40XCsAm3HG9rLNMUxrIgJmBIaJPBpglRTCCV7_WNGJvFGuVip5DwnyZcc4bMGa480s0XosjkBNkvj4uKp1_NpR415wWu6c1xOHZmll0hoSPN3JiLVuf4/s320/mugw.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5725040287670613970" border="0" /></a><br />All of this makes a difference. I feel warmer, the blood moving more strongly through my veins. The cranky cold aches & pains of winter are subsiding, and I feel more energy pushing through, much like the stalks of mugwort pushing out of the cold ground. My spirits are lifting, and I once again find joy in the sight of the bumblebee, coming back to life after months in the cold ground. All around me, life is finding its way. A<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcWzMV-NJZ7q9Y_BkpBeRs_GDX8RaxSAYbMu3VdMcv8q5fUWQBRQMfnRsDGIoZA92STsJyVJop9RNaesQQoVLBz2V0u-4-0uc0wJ3Oiqk3WxPj2WwuA8-UOKPkSvXSfETGl8s_5TUPaXQ/s1600/bvoz+currant.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 241px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcWzMV-NJZ7q9Y_BkpBeRs_GDX8RaxSAYbMu3VdMcv8q5fUWQBRQMfnRsDGIoZA92STsJyVJop9RNaesQQoVLBz2V0u-4-0uc0wJ3Oiqk3WxPj2WwuA8-UOKPkSvXSfETGl8s_5TUPaXQ/s320/bvoz+currant.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5725079972243280738" border="0" /></a>nd I , too, am breaking dormancy...<br /><br /><br />Janet Partlow<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Resources</span>:<br />• Wren photo by Nancy Partlow; all others by Janet Partlow<br />• Tom Cowan website www.riverdrum.com “Reviving the Wren”Janet Partlowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14056081367450715461noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2462831172421357520.post-50394737518035382472011-12-30T14:31:00.000-08:002011-12-30T14:53:04.700-08:00Gifts from the Hawthorn<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWRtVyB5qGwdXv2RFlThJA0LSXbeN6foy3jZgQNJtq2nRu5TZqF93eIvnHU4QbpHH57S3_lhJjQxRMLR8kxS41bYqUC9CUY3xryFRkVlMEywoVKzOPmM7LUltroPqOHga0_0bxpfYQVu8/s1600/gifts1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 243px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWRtVyB5qGwdXv2RFlThJA0LSXbeN6foy3jZgQNJtq2nRu5TZqF93eIvnHU4QbpHH57S3_lhJjQxRMLR8kxS41bYqUC9CUY3xryFRkVlMEywoVKzOPmM7LUltroPqOHga0_0bxpfYQVu8/s320/gifts1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5692058007334578530" border="0" /></a>It is the end of 2011. Twenty-nine days into December, and the wheel of the year is turning. Last night’s pounding wind and rain gives way today to a watery winter sun, pouring in on me as I sit at the computer, writing. The picture my sister took of hawthorn fills my screen. Her picture reminds me that in this season, hawthorn gifts us with her presence...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy5b4Z6CLuq7Ar6Ly7GyyIIOJjJXLZfbjz-2vP7_7igAmDUvcu1Dzc9z7EqgsEDKfd7_Fly28RGqjIzkoQHaUxW0MJD1cMJcMOxh9ltffgbPITK2Z-1gRW9NakvFjvHF3LRm8_EROKneg/s1600/gifts2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 238px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy5b4Z6CLuq7Ar6Ly7GyyIIOJjJXLZfbjz-2vP7_7igAmDUvcu1Dzc9z7EqgsEDKfd7_Fly28RGqjIzkoQHaUxW0MJD1cMJcMOxh9ltffgbPITK2Z-1gRW9NakvFjvHF3LRm8_EROKneg/s320/gifts2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5692057565799181666" border="0" /></a><br />Last week I was down along the Deschutes estuary, birdwatching. It was a clear, cold day with an assertive north wind. I went with my friend to watch the winter ducks that form birdy clots on the shallow sandbars. But our attention was caught, and held, by big loose herds of robins, flying and calling, flying and calling. The focus of their attention was a large shrubby hawthorn, its branches laden with shining red berries. The robins were flocking in, gorging themselves on the su<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhe-ov7C-geE9Sitrt-nIgKijRwbIgM0z98P8khEApZyEd6BJHoBlFFKCFvL9x-QoAYLwS8sUeXCUmSMwLtJVoLnuGNriFSlHrlS0RXJzB4cpSOrzUhUDQI5D07cizj_pWRdL8MBV59vM/s1600/rob2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 246px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhe-ov7C-geE9Sitrt-nIgKijRwbIgM0z98P8khEApZyEd6BJHoBlFFKCFvL9x-QoAYLwS8sUeXCUmSMwLtJVoLnuGNriFSlHrlS0RXJzB4cpSOrzUhUDQI5D07cizj_pWRdL8MBV59vM/s320/rob2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5692057121486662498" border="0" /></a>gar-rich fruit, now slightly fermented after several hard freezes.<br /><br />The robins know what they're doing. These bright red berries are full of bioflavonoids, powerful healing pigments which not only give the berries their color, but also provide key anti-inflammatory, anti-viral and anti-cancer affects. The berries are a calming sedative to people who are nervous, and help calm irritable bowel. They are also anti-spasmodic, helping to soothe and calm muscle cramps.<br />The robins also love the fermented carbs as a warming source of nutrients in this season of winter, especially when their usual insect grubs are scarce on the ground. Hawthorn berries are good food for all animals, robins and humans alike. And when the robins eat them, the undigested seeds pass through their guts, and are scattered throughout the area, starting new trees.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4OAUrFptvr_lVbHrnNDAisS89ILAbgAbdnSeL8maS2BB4Ka39vGyIbO3SppjEQ7QdPvIrywPYSSqG2H5WfIQiyJf0RVSTSrz_TNOHLH0TnY18kVGKXKL6XWjf35tkwu2E7R0rYKY6A0E/s1600/haw1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4OAUrFptvr_lVbHrnNDAisS89ILAbgAbdnSeL8maS2BB4Ka39vGyIbO3SppjEQ7QdPvIrywPYSSqG2H5WfIQiyJf0RVSTSrz_TNOHLH0TnY18kVGKXKL6XWjf35tkwu2E7R0rYKY6A0E/s320/haw1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5692056532082787298" border="0" /></a><br />In Ireland, this plant is known as <span style="font-style: italic;">sceach gheal</span> (Bright Thornbush). It is sacred to the Sidhe, the powerful Faery spirits of Ireland. Traditional Irish Medicine people (also known as Faery Doctors) used hawthorn for all the same uses we have today.<br />They also knew this plant as powerful magic. Many in Ireland grew hawthorn hedges around their houses, where its two inch spikes provided a potent visual cue to its role as a protector. It was also believed to protect against lightning strikes and storms, so planting it around the house was seen as an all-around smart idea.<br /><br />I think of hawthorn as one of the Great Mothers: she warms us, body, mind and spirit. She inspires us and brings us her warm red light, to ease depression and darkness in this season of winter. She brings her gentle energy and helps us find our heart’s purpose and destiny. For me, she's like a warm fire in the woodstove, heating the entire house. All of these <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIned7U3BQq1giAQlXiZ4U1gUsGZtd75hB3scsK9KLNVQE8RzM1r8LZbaxcsW1Kx2pl9ZQGpYJZCrbPlisRKPIYA8XFX5rxGyZm_uycWluzYVi946sM3NkISOA_bBbYNm7b5Ig2U8hZ6s/s1600/irish+tree.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIned7U3BQq1giAQlXiZ4U1gUsGZtd75hB3scsK9KLNVQE8RzM1r8LZbaxcsW1Kx2pl9ZQGpYJZCrbPlisRKPIYA8XFX5rxGyZm_uycWluzYVi946sM3NkISOA_bBbYNm7b5Ig2U8hZ6s/s320/irish+tree.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5692056026074663618" border="0" /></a>things are key in this cold, wet time.<br /><br />Hawthorn is considered powerful magic in Ireland, past and present. If a single tree grows on a rise or hill, it is considered a Faery haven and as such, must not be disturbed. Rational, down to earth highway engineers in Ireland have learned this (to their sorrow) and have had to re-route major motorways. This photo is of a hawthorn tree and a re-routed motorway near Ennis, Ireland.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMkIw3IDGaYH2E1woj_c_SBwfR-dC-MsYGFaIL9q73NcGG_46rozBxnIC26JkwHgZANzIRqHcuVendf6sJz1eES1sjf7_OUlHrR0FXli0FBgIXZEoEuSzDJ9ULIGvcp-6RipxrCeKcIIg/s1600/haw2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMkIw3IDGaYH2E1woj_c_SBwfR-dC-MsYGFaIL9q73NcGG_46rozBxnIC26JkwHgZANzIRqHcuVendf6sJz1eES1sjf7_OUlHrR0FXli0FBgIXZEoEuSzDJ9ULIGvcp-6RipxrCeKcIIg/s320/haw2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5692054911482151698" border="0" /></a><br />I think about its magic & medicine when I look at this particular hawthorn bush along the Deschutes estuary. Located on a narrow land bridge between Percival creek lake and the main Capitol Lake, it is “betwixt and between”: this is a place of power in the Celtic world, a place where nothing and everything exists, a place of infinite possibility. It stands alone on a rise of land, which in Ireland would mean that it was surely a place of Faery. And although there are other hawthorns in the area, this is the only one so loaded down with scarlet berries. It casts its own strong spell of enchantment & allure; the robins cannot leave it alone. And I, driving by on my regular route, cannot seem to stop looking.<br /><br />Here is my recipe for fire/hawthorn vinegar, a fabulously sustaining herbal tonic for winter (modified from Herbal Remedies Info on the internet.)<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center; font-weight: bold;">Fire Hawthorne Vinegar<br /></div>1/2 cup fresh horseradish root grated<br />1/8 cup of Garlic chopped<br />1/2 cup of Onion chopped<br />1/2 cup of fresh ginger grated<br />1/4 cup of hawthorn berries; if fresh, mushed up, if dried, just add to vinegar to soak.<br />1 tsp Cayenne powder<br /><br />Directions<br />Place all ingredients in a quart jar and cover with Apple Cider Vinegar. Cover tightly. Steep for 8 weeks. Strain into clean jar.<br />How to Use Your Fire Vinegar<br />• Use as a rub for aching muscles and joints<br />• Make a poultice by soaking a clean washcloth in the fire vinegar to place on a congested chest.<br />• Mix with some honey to chase out a cold and cough (it's a great anti-viral).<br />• Drink it straight or diluted in some water or tomato juice. Start out with a one teaspoon or so to test your tolerance level.<br /><br />Janet Partlow<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Resources:</span><br />• Hawthorne photos by Nancy Partlow<br />• Faery tree in Ireland: see story at this link: www.irelandinpicture.net/2010/04/fairy-tree-that-delayed-motorway-ennis.html<br />• "Healing Herbs of Ireland" by Paula O’Regan<br />• "Plants of the Pacific Northwest Coast" by Pojar & MackinnonJanet Partlowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14056081367450715461noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2462831172421357520.post-21867463876721866252011-11-20T17:52:00.000-08:002011-11-20T18:13:49.281-08:00Falling into Winter<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPeikBBSQaMLLX6eiueaU5q7J4U6inRt3BWqsc-rtMnUN5QyY6WOlTKYn8QACPDWGM5bkehfgW0FpF9BspL7EL5RnW5dOfE_cVHzI0KSeZSehDZE69ycjeNpAot2nnPNhLxSrSQ2ObnDU/s1600/earth+fruit.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 238px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPeikBBSQaMLLX6eiueaU5q7J4U6inRt3BWqsc-rtMnUN5QyY6WOlTKYn8QACPDWGM5bkehfgW0FpF9BspL7EL5RnW5dOfE_cVHzI0KSeZSehDZE69ycjeNpAot2nnPNhLxSrSQ2ObnDU/s320/earth+fruit.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5677264677244289218" border="0" /></a>Some years ago, I took a training program in Plant Spirit Medicine. I learned many many things in this medicine path; one of the things that has really stuck with me over the years since is a deep appreciation for the seasons, their changing nature, and also, how the seasons express themselves in me. Honoring the season is not only part of my personal medicine practice, but also part of my work. Sometimes, it is about coaching myself and others to be in and to live fully in the season that is at hand.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibr7_Kmfk6aIrZb-6m-i6Om7t0cxQ7y6-E2lXGX2eXrChTjyvB6ktTjQmc6wWo82krFYfAh7DJRZZnHu2W0iqHHcKji_B1bczQntyNYYFkTmh7BaqWtTgxg_yDyKu4ZTEYt7IJ4KKMY5g/s1600/fall+-+winter.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 257px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibr7_Kmfk6aIrZb-6m-i6Om7t0cxQ7y6-E2lXGX2eXrChTjyvB6ktTjQmc6wWo82krFYfAh7DJRZZnHu2W0iqHHcKji_B1bczQntyNYYFkTmh7BaqWtTgxg_yDyKu4ZTEYt7IJ4KKMY5g/s320/fall+-+winter.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5677266243028040034" border="0" /></a><br /><br />In this particular year, I have noticed that we went from a wonderful Indian summer of dense blue skies and abundant mushrooms into a very short autumn and are now knocking at the door of winter. These changes have nothing whatsoever to do with the calendar but rather how Nature expresses herself: the slant of sun heading south, the deep morning frosts, the fog that fills the estuary at night, the occasional nights of icy dark skies full of brilliant stars and a cold moon, the snow we found on our doorstep the other morning.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5VQWHKjE6fBWY3uKggEgGKKvael3JVpgKMOZIPVdOc0y3Cxh4_1_R32MvkJz743GAEt1pbOx7hJalT5M2-E2GK7XK2jo_cJV0j69ldyblkhh5Wlr6d-bCfampjFVqEJdmdjxRKTqJqB0/s1600/f%253Aw3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 220px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5VQWHKjE6fBWY3uKggEgGKKvael3JVpgKMOZIPVdOc0y3Cxh4_1_R32MvkJz743GAEt1pbOx7hJalT5M2-E2GK7XK2jo_cJV0j69ldyblkhh5Wlr6d-bCfampjFVqEJdmdjxRKTqJqB0/s320/f%253Aw3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5677265765585612082" border="0" /></a><br />There's also the way I feel: in this early winter I long for the deep dark sleeps of these nights, going to bed early and sleeping like I've been drugged. There is an irresistible yearning for the warm bed, the thick fleece blankie and the hot water bottle snuggled against my back. I love looking out the kitchen window into the completely dark yard before I head to bed, and letting that silent darkness seep into me as I slide into dream time. Blessed darkness.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6B4gUjkK6rcbqMk2lekxn-KbQk7xio0B9EYKynRJ1dnmkP84xCNuKlGNJktRiYu0Pz3TpOxHSWCu_lFJ4VcZo7Zq452SWWotY3kmv11KE_2qeeGLt7A7bI_zWP8AiXN5b8dML3_79lV0/s1600/f%253Aw2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 251px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6B4gUjkK6rcbqMk2lekxn-KbQk7xio0B9EYKynRJ1dnmkP84xCNuKlGNJktRiYu0Pz3TpOxHSWCu_lFJ4VcZo7Zq452SWWotY3kmv11KE_2qeeGLt7A7bI_zWP8AiXN5b8dML3_79lV0/s320/f%253Aw2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5677265493936796306" border="0" /></a><br /><br />There's the deep hunger for hot and filling foods: bean soups and stews, potpies and mushroom stroganoff, macaroni & cheese served cheek by jowl next to piping hot baked potatoes. These comfort foods of childhood continue a long tradition of warming us up and reminding us the there is enough food and yes, we will be nurtured and cared for.<br /><br /> I learned in Plant Spirit Medicine about the critical importance in this time of taking care of our reserves. In this season, the best thing we can do is to stay home, bundle up in a warm blankie by a fire, inviting a purring kitty to share out lap, and reading an absorbing (but not too intense) book. We turn off the T<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZgC02SJ92TRUPM9irnUyP9hbxpGf1q6XPJft8zE8t48uMKCuEgM-4BJOTm4rNFBQMRiFgjJjMcb4c1duQyPF31D_4eizwXrXB4LoRAfC_T7wHALDjnlqjhZIhnL3zYd0l0-rnYFNhc00/s1600/moon.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 258px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZgC02SJ92TRUPM9irnUyP9hbxpGf1q6XPJft8zE8t48uMKCuEgM-4BJOTm4rNFBQMRiFgjJjMcb4c1duQyPF31D_4eizwXrXB4LoRAfC_T7wHALDjnlqjhZIhnL3zYd0l0-rnYFNhc00/s320/moon.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5677264923275667794" border="0" /></a>V, turn off the phone and lock the doors. We fix a hot mug of (non-caffeinated) chai, and let its heat and spicy herbs warm us to the core. To the many holiday invitations that come our way, we say no rather than yes. We spend this winter season honoring it and ourselves by going inward, conserving our resources through a dark and cold time. This is my task and my joy during this season of winter. I invite you to do the same.<br /><br />Janet<br /><br />Resources: Photos by Nancy Partlow<br />Recommended book: <span style="font-weight: bold;"> Plant Spirit Medicine</span> by Eliot CowanJanet Partlowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14056081367450715461noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2462831172421357520.post-46299820647452440732011-10-05T16:51:00.000-07:002011-10-05T17:02:44.843-07:00Plant Dyes Part 2<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf3qUUMekeNw7STSLy_-9hyqr-W00Gvi__zxRsr8lnA58YVrwfZaNLpeEdlW0uohMUj-dZZP0Ogabstan4XrnoeYQvk7nFhcaksS9YLCjAdyuxir2w9qQOV-4Sgs_6QVwAO5_w8YfkfZI/s1600/results.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 182px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf3qUUMekeNw7STSLy_-9hyqr-W00Gvi__zxRsr8lnA58YVrwfZaNLpeEdlW0uohMUj-dZZP0Ogabstan4XrnoeYQvk7nFhcaksS9YLCjAdyuxir2w9qQOV-4Sgs_6QVwAO5_w8YfkfZI/s320/results.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5660162724275401442" border="0" /></a>So I know I’ve already written about plant dyes in a previous blog, but I just COULD NOT stop myself. My herbalist buddies got together again, focusing on plants that produce yellow dyes, and it was just amazing.<br /><br />There is something powerfully miraculous about putting a couple of handfuls of what seem like ordinary leaves in a pot of hot water, only to see these rich, intense colors come seeping out into the water. After an hour of simmering, then we pull out the plants and put in some basic natural colored wool. Then the proteins in the spirals of wool pull in the plant pigments and viola! We have color.<br /><br />I wonder how, in ancient times, our ancestors stumbled across these additional gifts from the plants? I imagine a scene in Africa, with a woman sinking down by the fire at the noon meal, with a cup full of hot tea. Her child bumps into her, and she spills the steeped tea all over her leather clothes. The colors sink in and cannot be removed and she suddenly sees that she doesn’t to wear leather tan and brown color for the rest of her life...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMMhW6Be1kZbdBwT6tOfKnk-J91nWzwQq5qA4JObcqQe80tMeVjzQq0hu44CsB9kgUZRphXIPLgYJeKezShUIaYveWQKmeZaACEDzdW7AItjnf7Jp3F8u7qGkw6zOZzTetqUvlqV0t-cU/s1600/goldy.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 238px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMMhW6Be1kZbdBwT6tOfKnk-J91nWzwQq5qA4JObcqQe80tMeVjzQq0hu44CsB9kgUZRphXIPLgYJeKezShUIaYveWQKmeZaACEDzdW7AItjnf7Jp3F8u7qGkw6zOZzTetqUvlqV0t-cU/s320/goldy.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5660162234357110690" border="0" /></a><br />So back to our kitchen. The greenish yarn was made by goldenrod, which in late summer sends up spears of truly golden color shooting up into the blue sky of summer. Our herbalist friend Rain sheared off the tops of some goldenrod volunteering on her property and put them in the freezer. In the dyepot, this plany makes a pale golden color, which is “saddened” by iron water (mordant) and turns a rich green.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitanik1DtVGqlKq5AS2HvcOk6kmWMAee9XCyouDxJBKjW6E3CTbbuW7el2SWMCx_zX9woQBmiCsal8xls0xAiGrsuGzAMVvOqvGHCsxW5IKpM7QemmySoHPa2fwM5RsKZVid9yXHCSxU4/s1600/coreo.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 270px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitanik1DtVGqlKq5AS2HvcOk6kmWMAee9XCyouDxJBKjW6E3CTbbuW7el2SWMCx_zX9woQBmiCsal8xls0xAiGrsuGzAMVvOqvGHCsxW5IKpM7QemmySoHPa2fwM5RsKZVid9yXHCSxU4/s320/coreo.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5660161863896827090" border="0" /></a><br />Then there is coreopsis, which most of us know as a sunny blossom smiling in the summer garden. It turns out it holds intense amounts of plant color. For much of August, I snuck out to garden with the pruners and collected flowers, adding them to the bag in the freezer until we had a full quart zip lock. In the d<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3wrclRwWJqLbUu1kAzXI3y2vO180JXVQX9SUV062KalVFiWt6lNnThgN05qANrxKa5-QldOJV7VqnsxjD3Sg1k672Ksj-gbVoPM71A3XxLqgirvqCYp9R_5NjwHy2T9XB68ZXiQDaq8A/s1600/turmeric_root.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3wrclRwWJqLbUu1kAzXI3y2vO180JXVQX9SUV062KalVFiWt6lNnThgN05qANrxKa5-QldOJV7VqnsxjD3Sg1k672Ksj-gbVoPM71A3XxLqgirvqCYp9R_5NjwHy2T9XB68ZXiQDaq8A/s320/turmeric_root.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5660161465384693234" border="0" /></a>yepot, these flowers produced a rich caramel gold.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi39f_I3U1prmGM9S5XxlDVQYLlp9JjI0uaH5iJfo5jr_pspZ7lguvzclwFwM5nMZIG-HHxiTH-K0poBwV79AYmd363gFD5XbVg35KC4S9hzVK96MdZSamPW6OOXBiys4dNHlwx8sFkkQ0/s1600/susan.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 261px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi39f_I3U1prmGM9S5XxlDVQYLlp9JjI0uaH5iJfo5jr_pspZ7lguvzclwFwM5nMZIG-HHxiTH-K0poBwV79AYmd363gFD5XbVg35KC4S9hzVK96MdZSamPW6OOXBiys4dNHlwx8sFkkQ0/s320/susan.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5660161185713832386" border="0" /></a><br />Finally we worked with turmeric. This may well have been the first dye ever used by humans. A root food and medicinal plant beloved in India, every cook knows about its ability to stain. We tried it three ways: the medium yellow is wool only, while the deep orange is turmeric+ alum mordant. (Alum helps the colors be washfast and light fast). Finally we added a bit of iron mordant to the dyepot; here you see Susan stirring the yarn which has become a yummy, nearly edible brown.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVTT9NxqQYO0Oe-juUX89E-yruUHkQgKSkq65pCAwS19Zz7I3sYU4YKXWh1kEeQmjL9WTX97hyTUZoxipFCyZV4TgwSuKK1nhXFmbfoWtIXxjmFvfGFzg327KKRWQolWM3Qsp4VfAGVFc/s1600/yarn.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 250px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVTT9NxqQYO0Oe-juUX89E-yruUHkQgKSkq65pCAwS19Zz7I3sYU4YKXWh1kEeQmjL9WTX97hyTUZoxipFCyZV4TgwSuKK1nhXFmbfoWtIXxjmFvfGFzg327KKRWQolWM3Qsp4VfAGVFc/s320/yarn.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5660160639595166322" border="0" /></a><br />At the end of the day, the yarn is hanging outside, drying. In a few days Rain will recruit some friends to wind it all up into lovely balls of color. And soon, I have my share: I cannot stop fondling them. This is one of the best parts of working with plants: seeing up close, in my hands, their mystery, their medicine, their gifts. I share it with you all...<br /><br /><br />Janet Partlow<br />Resources: Wild Color by Jenny DeanJanet Partlowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14056081367450715461noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2462831172421357520.post-14538559165177288322011-09-13T16:00:00.000-07:002011-09-14T12:45:56.419-07:00Stories from the Stones<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvG-FY-q_JttsQe6zIl4GWMR3I9QjoN0EptP6eHgCubQlSzMjJOvQI14qyN9QEBkmEKWpH-pOq4vz2Y5U1nNnw9ESUaWlhR35yZLdDwhWFt6_AeIWNt07YHKGyCVyGE9KpDcL_d8JTzDM/s1600/stones4.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvG-FY-q_JttsQe6zIl4GWMR3I9QjoN0EptP6eHgCubQlSzMjJOvQI14qyN9QEBkmEKWpH-pOq4vz2Y5U1nNnw9ESUaWlhR35yZLdDwhWFt6_AeIWNt07YHKGyCVyGE9KpDcL_d8JTzDM/s320/stones4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5652232926770079122" border="0" /></a>Okay, I admit it. For most of my life, I thought of stones as dead rocks, and those weirdos who talked about using them for healing were complete flakes. However, the stones have since taught me differently, and I guess now I must confess<br />(a little painfully) I too am one of the flakes!<br /><br />It was about ten years ago that I was driving through the Black Hills of northwestern Thurston county, headed off to one of my earliest training workshops in Plant Spirit Medicine. Highway 12 cuts through the the Black Hills; in fact the roadbed had to be blasted out of some of the only bedrock you can find in our area (the rest was covered up by glacial till in the last Ice Age).<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbypRav1Y0rGzTJbI89Y_jMlRWpzo0w0Xa9UyMxqpOVSNRouqtxH5x_H0txeP2VOfu3ceJ-uXkjsWoYvxbdWa-eYQPDLYaPNSO62QQIOd1P5ddm1NSzQ0aVfJEnVBNhFgKKQTxtv6zi-8/s1600/bh2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 202px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbypRav1Y0rGzTJbI89Y_jMlRWpzo0w0Xa9UyMxqpOVSNRouqtxH5x_H0txeP2VOfu3ceJ-uXkjsWoYvxbdWa-eYQPDLYaPNSO62QQIOd1P5ddm1NSzQ0aVfJEnVBNhFgKKQTxtv6zi-8/s320/bh2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5652302996728435410" border="0" /></a><br /><br />So I'm driving along on a Friday, pretty tired after a long week, just anxious to get to the workshop and settle in for the weekend. As I'm driving through the cut bedrock, I look over and admire the dark basalt, the cascades of bright water flowing down, the clustered green ferns. And then, THE ROCK SPOKE TO ME.<br /><br />I just about swerved off the road, I was so freaked. And then I remembered a line from one of the Harry Potter books, where Ron tells Harry that even in the wizarding world, it's not a good thing to hear voices. I had brief paranoid thoughts of the inpatient psych ward at our local hospital.<br /><br />As it turns out, the rock was only saying hello and inviting me to come and spend some time with it. I had a strong sense (once I calmed down) that in the past, humans had connected very strongly with this stone, but it had been a long time since it had had such visits. It felt to me as if the rock was somewhat lonely and eager to reconnect.<br /><br />Since that time, I have learned that many of the indigenous tribes used stones extensively for their healing powers. Many of these people knew that the stones were alive, just like plants or mushrooms, but living in a different time frame than ours. One of these tribes were the Cherokees; they especially liked to use quartz stones. It's probably no coincidence that part of my heritage is Cherokee and my favorite healing stones are those in the quartz group.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfT5EwqaD6yF9u-ZjPZTMJfwKYO-fm1-ZHCayJQfXuL_zP1_DMP46BNGNOpISVsruEQS9hMuZi65VmkV-2Nh-0_29hjfsJmYzOLEZkXlVTs6i1eGmcWbqAUOo7zSUF2qawcWgmVoNX0GI/s1600/malachite.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 244px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfT5EwqaD6yF9u-ZjPZTMJfwKYO-fm1-ZHCayJQfXuL_zP1_DMP46BNGNOpISVsruEQS9hMuZi65VmkV-2Nh-0_29hjfsJmYzOLEZkXlVTs6i1eGmcWbqAUOo7zSUF2qawcWgmVoNX0GI/s320/malachite.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5652232182268584962" border="0" /></a><br />One final story: a couple of years ago I managed to break the fibula in my left lower leg. This was my first broken bone, and I was really shocked how much it ached, for months on end. The pain did not resolve well with the usual ibuprofen, nor even, surprisingly, with my herbal pain oils. Then once again, the stones spoke to me: my malachite stone offered to help. I happen to have a small flat one; I put it over the fracture site and taped it on with bandage tape. My pain calmed down within 5 minutes, and by the next day, was gone. After a couple of days, I took the malachite off; within hours my bone was aching again. I cleaned the stone by running it under water, then put it back on. Once again, the pain resolved. After several weeks, the bone healed, and the pain went away.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSbGLT0Tybxl8uzUcLJv8KSSmQcA6dPhd3bdM-6jWKWLUtHrjNFZRFY5Ci0Wx1_OYS7H6ZKRW_k6_Vx69oW6VSapl7pSq5-mpUxGVy5lBVkxPL5RiZa_aL860DVW9GeuiJZQ-IMT5SMSo/s1600/stones.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 210px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSbGLT0Tybxl8uzUcLJv8KSSmQcA6dPhd3bdM-6jWKWLUtHrjNFZRFY5Ci0Wx1_OYS7H6ZKRW_k6_Vx69oW6VSapl7pSq5-mpUxGVy5lBVkxPL5RiZa_aL860DVW9GeuiJZQ-IMT5SMSo/s320/stones.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5652231892086753922" border="0" /></a><br />I have many other stories like that, too many for this post. Today, in my healing office, I have a shelf full of shining stones. I work with them on a daily basis, and they are a key part of my healing practice. They are also my teachers, my mentors and my friends. Though they come from a world of long ago, they have many lessons to share in this world of today...<br /><br />Janet Partlow<br />Resources: Black Hills photo by Nancy PartlowJanet Partlowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14056081367450715461noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2462831172421357520.post-35106014305606968012011-07-17T17:32:00.000-07:002011-07-17T17:50:47.875-07:00A Gift from the Herbs: Plant Dyes<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNsmJcYzvpyjymh2UR1qf6KhnYk_spOcPAEgrWYLgLDSpNOPvfE_DeloDpyT0BjUmiSuwWWRIYh4EExe-iEmzt2fOWA7QD-P_fvNUNTEkQV3igJtoNCwH_it00uUrqZn-KO-AOIpH5NIk/s1600/sjw+dye.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 243px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNsmJcYzvpyjymh2UR1qf6KhnYk_spOcPAEgrWYLgLDSpNOPvfE_DeloDpyT0BjUmiSuwWWRIYh4EExe-iEmzt2fOWA7QD-P_fvNUNTEkQV3igJtoNCwH_it00uUrqZn-KO-AOIpH5NIk/s320/sjw+dye.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630487370541195458" border="0" /></a>It’s a gray day in July. It's supposed to be summer. Outside the skies are clotted with thick gray clouds, weeping a warm rain now and again. It’s pretty gloomy, especially since this summer has been like that: lots of gray, not much color.<br /><br />But in my friend Rain’s house, there is a riot of color: on her stove, simmering away, we have pots of color. St. John’s wort flower makes a clear ruby red, while red cabbage is giving us a eyeful of purple. And on the back burner, the bright green horsetail bubbling away produces a yellow <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCT4bW4pyAWp-A8pRpEBU4SqdA8T3TqU803CTZgruJA2a7lh7wznfOQzgz6T9cNYJT8IVZM1nou3Bc3OK87TmrY4C1b57UmrrHLxlgwplhPGfQM_gwSpJgPqlN3ecOL7Kjy6azeWsrk08/s1600/horsetail+dye.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 278px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCT4bW4pyAWp-A8pRpEBU4SqdA8T3TqU803CTZgruJA2a7lh7wznfOQzgz6T9cNYJT8IVZM1nou3Bc3OK87TmrY4C1b57UmrrHLxlgwplhPGfQM_gwSpJgPqlN3ecOL7Kjy6azeWsrk08/s320/horsetail+dye.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630486870721211634" border="0" /></a>green. So what’s this all about? A group of herbalist friends have come together to experiment with using herbs as dye plants. This is a first for all of us and we are thrilled.<br /><br />Among the four of us, we represent about 70 years of herbal experience, from a wide range of backgrounds. Rain Delvin is an Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) acupuncturist, who has a long background in western herbs as well. Susan Monaco is also a TCM acupuncturist, w<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYKDCBdpBVLG4lB-qyKaCb_2mskiUhFtLgQ_yNUn9zTk7mAzOt764ifMwgePalvUBc-1oHbvW_HI3x7LPMZS7XGzj8lRituBN7Bxn1uIcyNqBUhU71TN4cdzm-wGPzfOFjCJBxsN-BjUw/s1600/joanna+dye.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYKDCBdpBVLG4lB-qyKaCb_2mskiUhFtLgQ_yNUn9zTk7mAzOt764ifMwgePalvUBc-1oHbvW_HI3x7LPMZS7XGzj8lRituBN7Bxn1uIcyNqBUhU71TN4cdzm-wGPzfOFjCJBxsN-BjUw/s320/joanna+dye.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630486190635842850" border="0" /></a>ho puts as much emphasis on the use of Chinese herbs for healing, as she does the needles. Joanna Kaye is a Plant Spirit Medicine practitioner of over 20 years experience who is deeply connected to the energy and spirit of the plants. (Here is Joanna, stirring the red cabbage dye. (I think of the quote from MacBeth: <span style="font-style: italic;">Double, double </span><span style="font-style: italic;">boil, and trouble, fire burn and cauldron bubble...</span>) And I have already talked on this blog about my western and Ayurvedic herb background, and my work in Plant Spirit Medicine.<br /><br /> With all these years of experience we have with plants, it’s pretty surprising that none of us have ever worked with plant dyes. But maybe not so surprising: I remember from the 1960’s watching my grandma take a packet of Rit dye to color some article of clothing. Now my grandma Helen was born in 1901 and lived on a remote homestead in Idaho; though I never asked her, I’m sure she was very familiar with plant dyes from her childhood. Indeed, human beings have thousands of years experience working with plant dyes. But by the 1950’s, synthetic aniline dyes became the norm, both in manufacturing and at home. And so that’s what she used.<br /><br /> In reading about these aniline dyes, I was horrified to learn that the dust they create is in fact toxic to the workers who handle them. In addition, who even knows where they come from? The plants are right from our own backyards; for example Rain gathered the horsetail from her garden, and my spouse Glen picked the St. John<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-BUYhp-RhcGfi6XMR2uL7txXrcWRVVINUdObK85Xg_9kY265i7MrJW4GcUgF6AKTyX8QMf6C2T6EkAGtZ6TKhLFU4LQB4lbpxRJCRi8fPbvhQaAb23uGVhN2MNvlC46psgNZPjG2HtLU/s1600/sjw+steep.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 260px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-BUYhp-RhcGfi6XMR2uL7txXrcWRVVINUdObK85Xg_9kY265i7MrJW4GcUgF6AKTyX8QMf6C2T6EkAGtZ6TKhLFU4LQB4lbpxRJCRi8fPbvhQaAb23uGVhN2MNvlC46psgNZPjG2HtLU/s320/sjw+steep.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630485827066617410" border="0" /></a>’s wort flowers from an open field near our house. These dyes are available right in our own neighborhoods.<br /><br />So what is happening here? We took the plants and put them in a hot water bath, simmering for an hour to extract their pigments. It was fascinating to see how the color almost immediately came out into the water; as the hour progressed, more and more pigment came out. We then put in some natural colored wool and let it simmer for another hour. In some we added vinegar and others salt or pickling alum; these are natural substances which can change the color or pH. It was like being in our own personal chemistry lab. Joanna remarked wit<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtIQU1TPOJuzq7zr1nWSb6dJFdYfBSH8YDlajzLigxVon8YtcMDgwSpVxdP6VWsFxRuFkGsJHRuGFp9mlWOJ62kJG8QrJrVRatv79hcT3fLGdBJdQjmHkoZFpR4mtS4scoIx4bHDl1HiQ/s1600/dye+results.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 301px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtIQU1TPOJuzq7zr1nWSb6dJFdYfBSH8YDlajzLigxVon8YtcMDgwSpVxdP6VWsFxRuFkGsJHRuGFp9mlWOJ62kJG8QrJrVRatv79hcT3fLGdBJdQjmHkoZFpR4mtS4scoIx4bHDl1HiQ/s320/dye+results.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630485067691575554" border="0" /></a>h deep feeling: “ I wished I had learned chemistry in this way when I was in school.” We could all relate.<br /><br />Finally when done, we hung the dyed wool out to dry. Here on the improvised clothesline you can see them: a rust-red from St. John’s wort, next to the gray-purple of red cabbage, next to the sage green of the horsetail.<br /><br /> We sat out on Rain’s deck for awhile, admiring our handiwork. And though the thick clouds continued to weep warm rain, somehow the colors we had played with warmed our hearts and spirits. Once again, here’s to the gift of the plants!<br /><br />Janet<br /><br />Resources:<br />• <span style="font-weight: bold;">Craft of the Dyer</span> by Karen Leigh Casselman<br />• <span style="font-weight: bold;">The Handbook of Natural Plant Dyes</span> by Sasha Duerr<br />• <span style="font-weight: bold;">A Dyer’s Garden</span> by Rita Buchanan<br />• Susan Monaco: www.mind-body-healing.com/acupuncture<br />• Rain Delvin: www.healing-roots.net/Janet Partlowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14056081367450715461noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2462831172421357520.post-28144410450037004992010-03-28T16:35:00.000-07:002010-03-28T17:00:44.111-07:00Herbal Salves for the Skin<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtzy-iGTuctKQxe3XRSoL5ylq04xPc6hn3LVatOYQRxABD0Jfjr7mRrs4o4WtKhW1Xu_CE5gySC9ZqUtmtrZ7asUDLSCZlTF0AVmJvjDnkPvlSpuSGRGd-rt48jof_btnRTVRvzF_5qoo/s1600/dandy.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 265px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtzy-iGTuctKQxe3XRSoL5ylq04xPc6hn3LVatOYQRxABD0Jfjr7mRrs4o4WtKhW1Xu_CE5gySC9ZqUtmtrZ7asUDLSCZlTF0AVmJvjDnkPvlSpuSGRGd-rt48jof_btnRTVRvzF_5qoo/s320/dandy.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5453837274372289298" border="0" /></a>I haven't written in this healing blog for a few months. I think in part it's because we herbalists are like our plants: we go dormant in the winter. But as the days lengthen and the sun comes out, as we watch eagerly for the first signs of spring, as we see our beloved herbs breaking dormancy, we too come back to life and that green energy runs through us once again.<br /><br />I've been playing with vulnerary plants. Vulneraries are herbs that provide deep topical healing for skin. The word comes from the Latin <span style="font-style: italic;">vulnerarius</span> which refers to a plaster or dressing for healing wounds. This is exactly what an herbal vulnerary does.<br /><br />Typically you make an infused oil first, then blend your different plant oils together, then add beeswax to make a salve. (Check the blog on dandelion oil for infused oil instructions.) In this photo you can see the infused oil with beeswax, now cooling off and setting up. It's easy and fun to make!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPUeNiCogfYyOXTdyymHE0uVaAkNDaDKBk4TpEMo0Son3_jMjefcUvXGUptGbe_xsk8UHMCtsd5wT3I0OblXASjre0FPHx8sqEgV5CUZ-sAYpsIwdppH2EZBP61DQle5UIaK5l7MmeB3g/s1600/flanigan2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 286px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPUeNiCogfYyOXTdyymHE0uVaAkNDaDKBk4TpEMo0Son3_jMjefcUvXGUptGbe_xsk8UHMCtsd5wT3I0OblXASjre0FPHx8sqEgV5CUZ-sAYpsIwdppH2EZBP61DQle5UIaK5l7MmeB3g/s320/flanigan2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5453836647870438882" border="0" /></a><br />My first foray into vulnerary salves was one summer day in July. I went to get my Herbal Ed's (a commercial version of a wound salve) and scoured the house, unable to find one. I was still a novice herbalist, so I gathered up my courage and marched outdoors to the backyard. I sent out a mental call to the plants that could help me with this purpose and was astounded by how many answered me. As I wandered around the yard, collecting the plants that presented themselves (and there were several), the thought came to me: all the vulneraries known to the Goddess. And that's how I developed my own herbal vulnerary salve.<br /><br />I will pass on to you what I put in my salve recipe. There are some people might caution against this, saying this is proprietary information that should not be shared.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlcOKYemdXucR46J72gb1k55G-HAMA8XKsw0FYCF7a-M3Wp3_zt9yUb7TRBpXahVCs10OiSFTrzDyVfig1wgOPq6wgU7NnBYdWnHr1BVmELtezDuvlF9P3mY4i3b-59yMmAmx0bHfGL00/s1600/cotton2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 302px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlcOKYemdXucR46J72gb1k55G-HAMA8XKsw0FYCF7a-M3Wp3_zt9yUb7TRBpXahVCs10OiSFTrzDyVfig1wgOPq6wgU7NnBYdWnHr1BVmELtezDuvlF9P3mY4i3b-59yMmAmx0bHfGL00/s320/cotton2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5453838149118570082" border="0" /></a><br />Herbalism is not like that. Herbalists know down to our bones that we all live in a village and we all have responsibility for each other. We have a deep understanding that all of us are born into this world of nature, with a relationship to plants that is ours by birthright. Herbal elders taught me what they know and in return, it is my commitment to pass what we learn on to the next generation.<br /><br />So here is my recipe:<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjuMPFPDrW26Rxn-F3sWV42jz9nf7QVHN84FnpzwnG4YOVDzONof7kBdWlGq4nf5_3XBv7ovXJylXYpVPR9tx8l_cXZthyNXd97BGZdm12Xelny_NxjwE6jaSDDiAJESWEoHjmqWiYOvY/s1600/cold+salve.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 270px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjuMPFPDrW26Rxn-F3sWV42jz9nf7QVHN84FnpzwnG4YOVDzONof7kBdWlGq4nf5_3XBv7ovXJylXYpVPR9tx8l_cXZthyNXd97BGZdm12Xelny_NxjwE6jaSDDiAJESWEoHjmqWiYOvY/s320/cold+salve.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5453834714035153842" border="0" /></a><br />Make infused oil from as many of the herbs below as you wish. I recommend olive, almond or jojoba oil as the base. Many of the herbs can be found right in your own garden, but are also sold as bulk products in herb stores. Strain out the oils and use equal parts of each, putting into a double boiler, warming over low heat. For every two cups of oil, add 3-5 tablespoons of beeswax. Let the wax melt in the warm oil, then dip a metal spoon into the oil/wax solution and put in the freezer. Wait five minutes and test your sample: is it too firm or too runny, or just right? Add more oil or beeswax as needed. Pour while still warm into a clean jar with a good lid and let cool. Store in the frig for longer shelf life.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLy8etmJD9FN_fBrxUWOMClfdIWA_YWm3l017-Wez3yS5FnPdX1FX5fXeyILcPd6JSslj9DCEMC35EcftwnMWsn0ZsUPGSB_2K_5hS-pThOnAo3lYPvPxglcUkKpsLKZPE1hiruIyFlXo/s1600/SJW.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 254px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLy8etmJD9FN_fBrxUWOMClfdIWA_YWm3l017-Wez3yS5FnPdX1FX5fXeyILcPd6JSslj9DCEMC35EcftwnMWsn0ZsUPGSB_2K_5hS-pThOnAo3lYPvPxglcUkKpsLKZPE1hiruIyFlXo/s320/SJW.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5453834327649329938" border="0" /></a><br />Herbs in Janet's Nine-Vulnerary Topical Healing Salve<br />=St. John's Wort: If I could only choose one herb, this would be the one. It is profoundly effective in healing wounds, soothing the itchies and offering pain relief for burns or other topical nerve pain. A good quality oil is a deep ruby red; look for this in oils you make or buy.<br />=Cottonwood: This would be my second choice. It is an excellent antibacterial, and its resins keep the salve from going rancid over time. It is also excellent for reducing pain.<br />=Comfrey: Another topic choice, it is a premier wound healer. It pulls wound edges together, and dramatically speeds up wound closure.<br />=Calendula: this is an excellent antifungal and antibacterial herb. Used early on scraped skin, it can help prevent an infection from getting established. More advanced infections may need a doctor's attention.<br />=Chickweed: this weed is often despised by gardeners, but herbalists know that it is full of nutritious, healing green medicine that soothes and moisturizes.<br />=Chamomile; there are two kinds of chamomile: German and Roman. I like both f<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUuVeXiQnj4AP8bXDYlDM5zoC3KGfWxrmed1lf3hiUFXsb0X5fnWdCHtAmoxehnM7uvTDX4CtjDj6yOmFj5z2_P8GgMHijMymoY_B2_LDZaGGcsAX87a_ka5bEreqwRR_GT5gO_tOSnF4/s1600/Mullein.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 256px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUuVeXiQnj4AP8bXDYlDM5zoC3KGfWxrmed1lf3hiUFXsb0X5fnWdCHtAmoxehnM7uvTDX4CtjDj6yOmFj5z2_P8GgMHijMymoY_B2_LDZaGGcsAX87a_ka5bEreqwRR_GT5gO_tOSnF4/s320/Mullein.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5453833510943256834" border="0" /></a>or their anti-inflammatory, pain relief qualities. Both are easily grown in the garden.<br />=Mullein: in the world of herbalists, there is a very old concept called the Doctrine of Signatures. Basically it means that often plants look like the things they do. So for example, mullein looks like a beautiful warm fuzzy healing green blanket. That's exactly what it does on skin.<br />=Helichrysum italicum: I've used this plant for years for its wonderful ability to relieve pain. It is also said to be very effective in reducing scars, but I haven't tried this yet.<br />=Plantain: another yard weed, this homely plant is a master at soothing inflamed, irritated tissues. It has long historical use as an on the spot remedy for nettle stings.<br /><br />As always, this herbal preparation is not meant to replace medical care. Be sure to get any persistent skin issues diagnosed. Once diagnosed, herbs can then be used to supplement any treatment.<br /><br />Janet<br />Resources:<br />•<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Complete Illustrated Holistic Herbal</span> by David Hoffman<br />• Many thanks to Glen my gardener, who helps me grow and harvest the herbs!Janet Partlowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14056081367450715461noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2462831172421357520.post-64854015024746534132009-12-02T19:10:00.000-08:002009-12-05T06:12:04.683-08:00Phlox gifts to me a seed<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE1wcZmG-NMdGtrcLtivo3PsPOjS_uiACKxqjELXKJlVPXG5mCDRA6j2-CSMQscLSn8ooy1_3gLdtt_uxN6ytbvBPVRoi-ihdNnMVFR2N_AehCme8HOdUBuruIixuCtKwuZUqCf_INjLk/s1600-h/Flox.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 247px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE1wcZmG-NMdGtrcLtivo3PsPOjS_uiACKxqjELXKJlVPXG5mCDRA6j2-CSMQscLSn8ooy1_3gLdtt_uxN6ytbvBPVRoi-ihdNnMVFR2N_AehCme8HOdUBuruIixuCtKwuZUqCf_INjLk/s320/Flox.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5410843840536042786" border="0" /></a>Over the many years I have been an herbalist (about fourteen, as far as I can figure) people have asked me how it was I found this path. There are many answers: there were many seeds, many influences that came to me, and over the years, began to sprout, set root and prosper. Here is the story of one of those key seeds.<br /><br />Around 1990, I developed a passion to learn about butterflies. I did some research, found some good local books, all written by our amazing local lepidopterist Bob Pyle. With a little more digging, I found out he was teaching one of his only workshops that year, at Chinook Learning Center on Whidbey Island. This workshop was many months away; I promptly signed up, and held my soul in patience (mostly impatience) waiting for the weekend to come.<br /><br />So finally one sunny Friday morning in June, full of excitement and enthusiasm, I drove up to Chinook. The workshop began at noon; I settled in a comfortable chair and listened, enthralled, as Bob began to speak his magic about butterflies.<br /><br /> Unfortunately, in the middle of his introductory workshop, I developed the ominous signs of one of my frequent, debilitating migraines. These were monthly events; despite explorations into all kinds of medications, I had learned that the only sure cure was to go and hide out in dark room, stick my head under a pillow and wait 18 hours for the pain to pass.<br /><br /> I was heartsick. Here I had this rare opportunity to sit with one of the foremost naturalists of our time, and I would be too incapacitated to enjoy it. Depressed and morose, I retreated outside to the garden at Chinook to consider my options.<br /><br />Chinook was and is a remarkable piece of land, a place of mystery, beauty and magic. The gardens had been planted with a fine mix of herbs and other plants to attract pollinators. I wandered around briefly and finally flung myself on the edge of a bench. Flowers were planted quite close to where I was sitting, including a tall shrub of pink Flox. I glanced at it briefly and retreated back into my bad mood, and back into the pain of the migraine, which was rapidly progressing.<br /><br /> As I sat there, a remarkable thing occurred. I heard the pink Phlox speak to me: "<span style="font-style: italic;">Smell me</span>". This was long before my days as a woo-woo healer, and this event was both spooky and unprecedented. I did my best to ignore the flower, and put the experience down to a weird auditory hallucination triggered by the migraine. But the Phlox did not give up; it actually leaned closer to me and said again: "<span style="font-style: italic;">Smell me</span>". Rattled, sure I was losing my mind, I leaned over and stuck my nose in the flower, taking a deep breath of its beautiful pink carnation-like smell.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWLCUJlQgXbdIt4eyoUAUGVz9Hgf3DRXA4JX5G6GB8QCmLAOdynhCSptr5IdQi7TPXgD-6VSHNVj_vMrj3XXfd9aioo-zSYAuRLrD77ErlkChJTPfU8unUS7HgJSkV_QmxH4SnYN4078c/s1600-h/satyr_comma.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 225px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWLCUJlQgXbdIt4eyoUAUGVz9Hgf3DRXA4JX5G6GB8QCmLAOdynhCSptr5IdQi7TPXgD-6VSHNVj_vMrj3XXfd9aioo-zSYAuRLrD77ErlkChJTPfU8unUS7HgJSkV_QmxH4SnYN4078c/s320/satyr_comma.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5410846640371668466" border="0" /></a><br />With that, the Phlox backed off and I returned to ordinary reality, not sure what had just happened. And as I sat on the bench over the next hour, I started to notice: my migraine was clearing. I couldn't believe it - that never happened with my migraines. As that Friday afternoon wore on, my migraine went away. I returned to the workshop; I tramped in the woods with Bob and his students, I saw many beautiful butterflies, and even had a hands on experience with a Satyr Anglewing. It was a wonderful workshop, and it started me down a long and rewarding relationship with butterflies.<br /><br />But I never forgot about the gift from the Phlox. It taught me that there was much more to the world of healing that ever I learned in my physician assistant training. And so it was, a few years later, the seed it gave me sprouted, and I started down the path of the herbalist.<br /><br />Janet<br />Resources: Satyr Anglewing butterfly photo from StockphotoJanet Partlowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14056081367450715461noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2462831172421357520.post-53277437612688320792009-09-16T08:10:00.000-07:002009-09-16T08:20:36.208-07:00On Being Broken<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj104VHzV4FCNZlwXzWkqcFTrJrVsxFVN-EIxRNuQr7_6-OnX7QMuH9yk2NpV9BKDLRvQR6irEr0Bz8B7eGMD5Ta26aHIM7tw20eDlYywYmm6VlhGHsCmdDBCIyLvN23mwhWH7q7NEdfLo/s1600-h/broken1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 271px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj104VHzV4FCNZlwXzWkqcFTrJrVsxFVN-EIxRNuQr7_6-OnX7QMuH9yk2NpV9BKDLRvQR6irEr0Bz8B7eGMD5Ta26aHIM7tw20eDlYywYmm6VlhGHsCmdDBCIyLvN23mwhWH7q7NEdfLo/s320/broken1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382083766118327362" border="0" /></a>I mentioned in a previous blog a recent hip replacement surgery. As part of my healing , I visit the physical therapists regularly. I have seen several different people. It has been very illuminating.<br /><br /> One person I saw did my initial assessment. She was very skilled, very knowledgeable and no doubt arrived at an accurate assessment of my physical issues and limitations, related as much to fifteen years of damage from rheumatoid arthritis, as from the replaced hip.<br /><br /> And all she could see in me was how broken I was, and that's all she wanted to talk about. Not me, not my spirit, not who I am and who I came here to be - only how broken I was. I left her presence feeling bad about myself, struggling with self-worth, and it took several days and conversations with loving and supportive friends before I could pull myself out of that abyss.<br /><br /> Then on a later occasion I saw Dennis. He was bursting with energy and enthusiasm. He, too, put me through my paces. There were things I was not able to do, but he brushed these aside and had me try all kinds of things I'd never done before. He could see in me, I think, my commitment to try anything, to grow, to get stronger. And I was able to do many new things! I was so surprised at how much more I could do. His attitude, his energy and support helped me to feel great about myself and about my progress. I did not feel at all broken in his presence. I left his office feeling hopeful, positive and full of renewed enthusiasm about the road ahead.<br /><br /> This is, I believe, the mark of a great healer.<br /><br /> We all have our broken places. And we live in a culture where we are all supposed to look good, have perfect families, dress perfectly, no inconvenient limps or disabilities to mar the presentation. And yet, we all have broken places.<br /><br /> Maybe it's emotional: struggles with recurrent depression, anxiety attacks, panic, recurrent trauma. Maybe it's physical: like the arthritis I have, like recurrent back issues, like chronic pain, like a run-in with cancer. Or maybe we are stuck in life issues: struggles with forming relationships, finding our right livelihood, dealing with profound family of origin issues. We are all broken. It is the nature of being human.<br /><br /> There's a great story Rachel Remen tells in her book <span style="font-weight: bold;">Kitchen Table Wisdom</span>. She is a therapist who works with people with chronic health issues. A young man comes to her with two stories: there is the before story where he is 17, a bright and promising high school student who is a gifted athlete, with a full scholarship to the college of his choice, a wonderful girlfriend and a great circle of friends. Then there is the after story: he developed an aggressive bone cancer in his right leg and lost that leg above the knee. The surgery saved his life, but also ended the life he knew. He lost his scholarship, his girlfriend and the life he had. When he comes to see Rachel, he is deeply angry and bitter.<br /><br /> She asks him to do a drawing of himself. He grabs a black crayon and draws a big black vase, and then puts in an ugly gaping open scar of a wound. He goes over the crack with the black crayon, over and over again, ripping the paper in his deep need to express this. This is how he sees himself: profoundly, permanently broken.<br /><br /> A few years pass and he continues to work with Rachel. Slowly he finds his way and as part of his healing, starts to work with other young adults who have had sudden, shocking losses like his. Near the end of his time with Rachel, she pulls out the old drawing he had made, and shows it to him. He looked at it for some time and said, "You know, it's really not finished." He takes a golden-yellow crayon and fills the black vase with golden light and shows how it is spilling out from the crack in the vase, filling up the paper. She watches, puzzled. And then he explains: he puts his finger on the crack and says softly, "This is where the light comes through".<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihKNChCd8K8FA1o3DQfYuZLVE8TR1hQZazcNe4mUQP25XPuinGV1Ia6U_rt1ZVkCr-HoO5R1bWWC3EQpTOXSidC6nwEt4GB6mwGKS0242dCJShYeCRItZPynu4jz8FZiDobgRIxzeJCkc/s1600-h/SJW1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 319px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihKNChCd8K8FA1o3DQfYuZLVE8TR1hQZazcNe4mUQP25XPuinGV1Ia6U_rt1ZVkCr-HoO5R1bWWC3EQpTOXSidC6nwEt4GB6mwGKS0242dCJShYeCRItZPynu4jz8FZiDobgRIxzeJCkc/s320/SJW1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382084182819892866" border="0" /></a><br /><br /> When I first read this story, I broke down and cried and cried. It speaks so clearly of my own struggle to believe I was something bigger than simply a broken body, that I still had something to offer the world. Then and now, it gives me great hope.<br /><br /> This I believe: we are all broken and we have our large cracks. And yet, these broken places often are a place and an opportunity where the brilliant bright white light of our spirit shows through, lighting the path before us and enlightening the world.<br /><br />Janet<br />Resources:<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Kitchen Table Wisdom</span> by Rachel Naomi Remen "The Container"Janet Partlowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14056081367450715461noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2462831172421357520.post-67128616704973176342009-09-13T16:33:00.000-07:002009-09-13T16:43:51.459-07:00The Healing Power of Plants<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhmTMFgayZzeIT517xqITPgaJcMoAen1888gJeLofrh4CvIg7sZgBmgP2PULS_e3FFBrcS6mxlwylX9BRCREflco3IsktekKdc2eKlgcgST3m0p2Z-2gF7Ia5u4FBn4DkgH1L9PKNl_po/s1600-h/Mullein1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 237px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhmTMFgayZzeIT517xqITPgaJcMoAen1888gJeLofrh4CvIg7sZgBmgP2PULS_e3FFBrcS6mxlwylX9BRCREflco3IsktekKdc2eKlgcgST3m0p2Z-2gF7Ia5u4FBn4DkgH1L9PKNl_po/s320/Mullein1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381101785421188130" border="0" /></a>A few weeks ago I had hip replacement surgery. The surgery itself went well. Afterwards, there were the usual ups and downs of healing.<br /><br /> One problem that I developed was an allergic reaction to the adhesive tape used in bandaging the surgical site. I developed a large blister maybe 2 inches in diameter. My first response was to work out of the world of western medicine, my first training. I tried to keep it clean and covered, a neat trick when I didn't want to use adhesive tape again. The blister was near the surgical opening in my skin; I knew if the blister got infected, I would be a risk of infecting the surgical site as well, and this could be a big risk. So I was quite concerned.<br /><br /> After a few days it was clear that the blister was infected: it was red, swollen, stingingly painful and had a yellow discharge. I went to bed that night pretty stressed. And that night, in my dreams, the plants came to me and spoke: they reminded me that I am an herbalist, that I am a Plant Spirit Medicine practitioner, and that our gardens were full of plants that would love to help me. All I needed to do was ask.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvNNPt8XqTd6ny-RI7-ZIho9Y5xgYyT6LTaR_rG4LNbCbKmcVGGSmlhrGTTodU92nCNXVWhUXLfnfSMSzlJHzMgh9wBebffwDGjLh85nDMpOrAOL6l-OfrhknJSyHUeGD0BFprlB6a25c/s1600-h/PSM1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 237px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvNNPt8XqTd6ny-RI7-ZIho9Y5xgYyT6LTaR_rG4LNbCbKmcVGGSmlhrGTTodU92nCNXVWhUXLfnfSMSzlJHzMgh9wBebffwDGjLh85nDMpOrAOL6l-OfrhknJSyHUeGD0BFprlB6a25c/s320/PSM1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381100578446711058" border="0" /></a><br /> So when I woke the next morning, I sent my gardener spouse out to the garden with instructions on the plants to collect ( I was not yet fully mobile). Glen brought me Calendula flowers, and some Mullein leaves, some Oregano leaves, some Roman Chamomile, and some Plantain. These plants are vulneraries (meaning they heal skin) but they are also very effective at killing bacteria.<br /><br /> I put them in a little pot on the stove with water and simmered them for ten minutes, letting the plant medicine seep out into the hot water. I let this tea cool so I could tolerate it on my skin, then dipped a clean cloth in the tea, and dribbled it on the blister. I held the tea-infused cloth against the blister as well, continuing this process for half an hour.<br /><br /> As I sat there working with the herbal infusion, I spoke to the plants. I spoke of my love and care of them. I spoke of their beauty in our gardens. I spoke about how the bees love these plants, and how the bees, too, find deep healing in them. I spoke of the profound healing relationship we had and how we had worked together before and would do so again.<br /><br /> As we worked together, the angry red color around the blister cleared. The stinging pain eased, and the discharge washed away, along with other debris. I felt a subtle humming sensation throughout me, as if the plants were singing a deep healing to me. I had a powerful sense of connection with my European ancestors, mostly from the Isles of Ireland, Scotland, England and Wales; they too knew these plants, grew them in their herbal gardens and used them for healing.<br /><br /> By that night the blister had sealed itself in a clean crust. The redness, discharge and discomfort were gone. By the next morning, the blister looked like a routine scab; it continued to heal very well and now, several days later, is only a faint red mark on my skin.<br /><br /> This experience made me remember a Mayan healer/shaman I had read about, who lived in Belize. His name was Don Elijio; each morning he went out into the jungle behind his house, collecting plants to use in his healing practice. Before he collected the plants he would pray to them, asking permission to work with them and giving gratitude and thanks. As he collected the plants, he would say a prayer about how he collected them for the people, and he had great faith that they would provide everything that was needed.<br /><br /> This story of Don Elijio has stayed with me. I am an herbalist/healer and I too have great faith.<br /><br /><br />Janet<br /><br />Resources:<br />• <span style="font-weight: bold;">Sastun</span> by Rosita Arvigo: the story of Don Elijio<br />• <span style="font-weight: bold;">Spiritual Bathing</span> by Rosita Arvigo<br />• <span style="font-weight: bold;">Healing Herbs in Ireland</span> by Paula O'ReganJanet Partlowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14056081367450715461noreply@blogger.com0