The Magic and Medicine of the Rose

Perhaps no other flower has been so exalted throughout history, in mythology and for sacred purposes, as the rose. 

The rose appeals to our senses, opens our hearts, and enhances our beauty and health. As June ushers in the rose season here in the Northern Hemisphere, it is the perfect time to celebrate the magic and medicine of this sacred flower.

The Rose in History

The symbolism of the rose is highly complex and has inspired a variety of associations across cultures and times. It has represented both heavenly perfection and earthly passion, fertility as well as virginity, and life and death.

Primarily associated with the feminine, this complexity carries into the variety of important women the rose is associated with, from Cleopatra and her magical perfumes to the Queen of Heaven in Dante’s Divine Comedy to the Virgin Mary of Biblical times. 

In ancient Rome, the rose was a sign of pleasure, a companion of mirth and wine, and was also used at funerals. 

In Middle Eastern traditions, only the red rose was allowed to accompany one into the afterlife.

Roses filled the great gardens of Persia, and according to legend, the first bloom of the rose had an aroma so heady that it caused the nightingale to sing. Overcome by the rose’s perfume, the bird dropped to the earth, spilling blood that turned the first petals red.

In 15th century Europe, the secret society of Rosicrucians chose a rose on a cross as their symbol, for the rose represented the perfection of paradise to these alchemists and philosophers.

Early Christianity associated the rose with the blood of martyrs, and therefore life after death.

Some Native American tribes turned to rose for not just medicine and food, but to keep ghosts away.

And yet, of all that the rose symbolizes, love is perhaps its most enduring association.

Indeed, within the ancient Greek and Roman pantheon, the goddess of love herself, Aphrodite, holds the closest association with the rose.

Have you ever really studied Botticelli’s The Birth of Venus? In addition to sacred myrtle leaf Aphrodite holds, the rose appears floating through the heavens as she emerges from the sea.

The poetess Sappho was christened “the rose the queen of flowers” in 600BC, and has since inspired lovers throughout the ages.

The Rose as Healer

Just as the rose carries rich and complex symbolism, it also offers us one of the most chemically complex essential oils known, containing over 300 compounds, which contribute to the its many healing gifts.

And, when it comes to these healing gifts, ancient uses are almost identical to our modern ones, as we can see in part thanks to extensive medical compendiums like Pliney the Elder’s Natural History.

Though complex, rose medicine is remarkably consistent: the energetic, mental, and physical effects of rose medicine all assist us with the very things rose symbolizes most―love, beauty, and romance. 

Perhaps rose’s affinity for both the nervous system and heart center are part of what makes it such a well-known aphrodisiac: Mentally and emotionally, rose is wonderful for soothing a troubled mind and helping you relax, while physically, it nourishes the nervous system, so you can get into your body and enjoy a bit of pleasure.

Interestingly, Rose’s symbolic connections with the heart center and femininity are found in medicinal uses across cultures.

In Traditional Chinese Medicine rose is a well-recognized heart tonic and increases yin, the feminine and cooling energy of the body. 

Rose also supports skin care, which enhances beauty, and helps regulate the female reproductive system. (And for this reason, rose as herbal medicine is contraindicated during pregnancy, so do be careful!)

The wild roses of North America were used as food and medicine by many tribes, with similar but even more diverse applications than their European counterparts: Roots were made into hot compresses for reducing swelling, tea was taken for stomach upsets and reducing labor pains, and seeds were eaten to relieve sore muscles.

Today, we still use rose medicine in many of the same ways, as rose is known to soothe digestion, relieve cold and flu symptoms, relax the body and mind, and support the immune system.

On a spiritual and energetic level, rose is cooling, nurturing, and widely associated with the heart chakra. Both the essential oil and flower essence can balance our ability to give and receive love. 

In her fascinating book The Fragrant Mind, Valerie Worwood explores the subtle shifts in how different varieties of roses can act upon our energy bodies and our consciousness: She describes Rosa damasca, most commonly found as an essential oil, as a gentle type of rose with a truly feminine personality, one that is pure-hearted and opens us to unconditional love. Rosa centifolia on the other hand, which is what we most often find in botanical absolutes, is passionate, sensual, and erotic, helping us tune into our own sexuality and enjoy life’s romantic pleasures. 

As flower essences, Damask rose and other fragrant garden varietals are known to increase feelings of confidence when it comes to sexuality. 

I find that wild rose carries rose’s typical connection to the heart center with an added dose of resilience, joy, and independence.

The flower essence of wild rose is known for supporting feelings of love and joy, particularly how they karmically manifest in our physical experiences. According to the Bach Flower Essence Repertory, wild rose can help cultivate a will to live in those who struggle with lethargy or depression.

Rose’s magical uses include cultivating love, peace, sex, and beauty, with its planetary ruler being Venus and its element being water (I love that again, we see the connections between the rose and Aphrodite, as her Roman name is Venus and she was born of the ocean...).

The prolific author of many books on Western magick, Scott Cunningham notes that magical rituals to be done with rose include spells to draw in emotionally satisfying relationships and to enhance inner and outer beauty.

The gifts of rose will affect us in slightly different ways depending on the form of our “medicine”―be it in a tea or tincture, spell, flower essence, essential oil, infused oil, or living flower. That said, here are a few of rose’s many benefits at a glance…

Benefits of Rose

• Opening and balancing your heart chakra

• Sensuality and appreciating life’s pleasures

• Awakening and empowering your erotic, sexual nature and confidence

• Enhancing your feminine nature

• Love in all its forms―passionate, romantic, familial, friendship, spiritual, unconditional

• Supporting the reproductive system―regulating menstruation, toning the uterus

• Relaxing, anti-depressant, supports insomnia

• Enhancing beauty inside and out―wonderful for mature or sensitive skin, inner confidence

• Soothes the nervous system, sedative, cultivating feelings of peace

• Releasing negative emotions

• Clears heat and inflammation, cool and moist energetics

• An emotional stabilizer, relaxes untended tension and provides mothering love

• Supports digestion and boosts the immune system

• Soothing a tender, broken, or grief-stricken heart

• Attracting love and joy into your life

How to Use Rose Magic and Medicine

If you’d like to bring the magic and medicine of rose into your own life, here are a few ideas:

• Make a rose petal infused honey, glycerete, or tea 

• Spritz some rosewater or a rose hydrosol on your skin

• Infuse a nourishing oil with rose petals for skin care

• Enjoy rose hips dried in tea or fresh in jams and jellies

• Add a few drops of rose or wild rose flower essence to water or tea

• Diffuse rose essential oil, or a rose-forward blend

• Anoint yourself with a rosy perfume or ritual oil

• Display a bouquet of organic and sustainable roses

• Grow your own roses to really deepen your relationship with rose spirit

• Place fresh roses on your altar

• Stop and smell the roses whenever you can ;)

May rosy blessings be upon you!

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References

1. Mojay, G. (2014). Proceedings from NAHA ’14: The World of Aromatherapy VII: Beyond Aromatics. Seattle, WA.  

2. Battaglia, S. (2003). The complete guide to aromatherapy (2nd ed.). Brisbane, Autralia: The International Center of Holistic Aromatherapy.

3. Worwood, V.A. (1996). The Fragrant Mind: Aromatherapy for Personality, mind, mood and emotion. Novato, CA: New World Library.

4. Mojay, G. (2000). Aromatherapy for healing the spirit: Restoring emotional and mental balance with essential oils. Rochester, VT: Healing Arts Press.

5. Cunningham, S. (2013). Magical aromatherapy: The power of scent (7th ed.). Woodbury, MN: Llewellyn Publications.

6. Keville, K. & Green, M. (2009). Aromatherapy: A complete guide to the healing art (2nd ed.). Berkley, CA: Crossing Press.

7. Pliny the Elder. The natural history. J. Bostock, M.D. (Ed.). (F.R.S. H.T. Riley, Esq., Trans). B.A. London: Taylor and Francis, Red Lion Court, Fleet Street. 1855. (Original work published 77-79 AD). Retrieved from: http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.02.0137%3Abook%3D13%3Achapter%3D2

8. Wiles, B. (2018). Mountain states medicinal plants: Identify, harvest, and use 100 wild herbs for health and wellness. Portland, OR: Timber Press.

9. Kershaw, L. (2016). Edible & Medicinal Plants of the Rockies. Edmonton, AB: Lone Pine Pub.

10. McIntyre, A. (2010). The Complete Herbal Tutor: The Ideal companion for study and practice. New York, NY: Hachette Book Group.

11. Kamininski, P. and R. Katz (1994). Flower Essence Repertory: A Comprehensive Guide to North American and English Flower Essences for Emotional and Spiritual Well-Being. Nevada City, CA: Earth Spirit, Inc. 

12. McIntyre, A. (1996). Flower Power: Flower Remedies for Healing Body and Soul through Herbalism, Homeopathy, Aromatherapy, and Flower Essences. New York, NY: Henry Holt and Co.

Ritual Beauty: A Sacred Skincare Routine

There is something about taking time to care for the precious body that you live in that nourishes your soul as well as your skin. 

We are spiritual beings, yet we came into these amazing bodies for a reason. And though experiencing various lessons and challenges is often cited as our soul’s motivation, this is not a complete picture…

We also came into these bodies so we could experience sensual pleasure. 

Only embodied can we smell the aroma of lilacs in spring, witness the explosion of color in a sunset, listen to masterful melodies, taste perfectly paired spices from around the world, and feel the touch of a beloved’s arms. 

Our skin covers and protects our entire body, providing us with a portal to experiencing the physical sensations of life. When we nourish and care for our skin, we’re showing ourselves that we matter. Our bodies matter. Our pleasure matters. 

Of course, pausing for pleasure in the midst of our overpacked schedules and often monotonous lives seems to slip off the list of priorities all too easily. At least, it does for me. 

But whenever I finally do take time once again to treat my senses and embrace the beauty of this physical life, I’m always so grateful that I did. A simple skincare ritual really can transform your life ;) 

Here’s the kicker though―what you put on your skin matters. Endocrine disruptors, reproductive and developmental toxicity, contaminants, and cancer-causing ingredients are sadly common―even in “natural” brands.

(You can check your favorite products at the Environmental Working Group’s Skin Deep database.)

This is why I began making my own skincare products years ago, and I started selling them to friends and family soon after. The following are my personal skincare rituals―one for everyday care, and one for a once-a-week treat (usually done after a bath...I like to go all out on my self care days).

I’ve linked to the products I personally use whenever possible, but feel free to use whatever you already love (just check that database first!).

Your Botanical Beauty Ritual

Opening the Ritual

Before beginning, be sure to set the scene. Light a candle, put on some music, grab a tea or glass of wine...whatever helps you remember that this is a special time for you to connect with yourself and your senses.

Step 1: Cleanse

Massage your favorite cleanser is into your skin and gently rinse with a damp cloth.

Wondering what to cleanse with? There are endless options on the market, but my favorite is a simple mix of nourishing oils and aloe vera. I use one part jojoba and one part aloe (unscented and undyed), along with a few anti-inflammatory essential oils, like German chamomile and blue tansy.

Other simple, eco-friendly face wash ideas: You can oil cleanse with pure jojoba oil, or for a more luxurious experience, cleanse with your face oil. Sometimes, I’ll use my Alchemessence skin serum as a face wash—it contain nourishing oils, aloe vera, botanical extracts in glycerin, and essential oils, making it a wonderful cleanser.

Step 2: Mask

Apply a clay mask. Mix your dry clay mask with a bit of carrier, such as honey, oil, or pure water. Apply to skin, avoiding eyes, and allow to sit for 5-10 minutes. Gently remove with a warm cloth.

One of the oldest beauty secrets, clay masks have been used since in ritual beauty for thousands of years. I love a “dry” clay mask. Dry masks tend to have less ingredients like stabilizers and preservatives, so they’re a wonderful choice for natural beauty rituals.

Clay removes impurities and excess oil from the skin, smooths and evens skin tone, and can even provide moisture, depending on which clay and carriers you use. I’ve added special botanical powders to each of my dry clay mixes to give your mask even more skin-saving benefits―bamboo extract, iris root, green tea, olive leaf, blue-green algae, and frankincense resin, to name a few. You can explore all five masks here.

Step 3: Tone

Next comes toning. If you’re using a liquid toner, such as Queen of Hungary water, apply with a reusable cotton or bamboo pad. If you’re using a mist, close your eyes and spray your skin.

Toning is an essential step in any beauty routine. It balances your skin, helps purify toxins, and gives you an opportunity to add even more of a botanical boost. I alternate toning between homemade Queen of Hungary water (apple cider vinegar and rosewater infused with toning herbs), and facial mists. 

I offer several facial mists at Alchemessence. Each is made of hydrosols, botanical extracts, essential oils, and other nourishing ingredients to balance and tone your skin. They are non-drying and wonderful for even the most sensitive skin types. 

Step 4: Boost

Step four is optional but fun―add a boost of nutrients to your skin with a skin serum. Simply place a few drops of serum in the palm of your hand and massage into your skin. 

Alchemessence serums contain nourishing oils, soothing aloe vera, and potent botanical extracts like edelweiss, green tea, and açaí, along with essential oils. 

This step is a good time to add a gua sha massage, as the serum helps the gua sha tools move smoothly over your skin.

Step 5: Moisturize

Your final step is moisturizing. Place a few drops of a botanical face oil into the palm of your hand and gently massage into your skin, avoiding contact with your eyes. If you didn’t gua sha in step 4, now is the time.

I love botanical face oils because their ingredients are so pure and full of nutrients―they really are like food for your skin. Contrary to popular belief, they don’t leave you feeling greasy or breaking out either. Your skin really doesn’t need all the extra ingredients in cosmetic creams, as pure oil soaks in without clogging your pores.

My Alchemessence face oils contain around 40 ingredients, each chosen for very specific reasons. (You might like to read more about my process in this Insta post.)

Closing the Ritual

Once you’ve finished your ritual, give thanks to yourself for taking this time for you and for committing to natural beauty. Affirm that you love your skin and yourself, and you gratefully allow your inner radiance to shine forth.

Simple Daily Ritual

The daily ritual is a simplified version of the above. Cleanse, tone, and moisturize — that’s it! I actually like to keep my toning mist with me throughout the day. A couple of spritzes and my skin feels totally revitalized. 

If you’d like to put together your own ritual beauty kit, you can explore everything mentioned here and more in the Alchemessence Apothecary.

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Pause & Play: A Mini-Revolution

All of us are doing are best to survive in a broken economic system.

Side hustles can be fun and meaningful. But for a huge percentage of a generation, they're also necessary.

Self employment can be liberating. And it can easily blur the lines between what you do for yourself and your income.

Either way, our capitalist system brainwashes us to believe that time is money and social media is power.

Have you ever felt guilty for simply relaxing? Working on a creative project just because—with no attachment to monetizing? Do you feel as if you must share every cool thing in your life on social to keep building a following? Does every activity need to be for the goal of personal betterment?

Mainstream commentators often credit these patterns to narcissism —"your self-esteem comes from likes", or "you think you're special and can sell socks on Etsy while the rest of us work".

On the other hand, many spiritual teachers teach that these drives are your fault—you're not prioritizing your energy, or your have limiting beliefs that keep you stuck.

While narcissism is a legitimate epidemic in our society (more on that in another post), and we absolutely can learn to work more effectively with our energy and shift limiting beliefs (this is a huge part of the healing sessions I offer), these toxic patterns are not that simple.

The feeling that everything you do must be monetized, or for personal betterment, or to build social followings, comes down to systems of work and economy that no longer fit our evolutionary path forward.

And it comes down to survival.

Younger generations are are inheriting a dying and unjust world wherein the very rich get richer—and so do their children—and everyone else is losing wealth, home-buying opportunities, access to basic healthcare, and fundamental financial and environmental safety.

Getting out of our cultural trappings is much more complicated than the "law of attraction" teachings many are fed. Yes, we are powerful creators, but our collective creations are, in fact, co-created.

We are co-creating with the divine…and each other.

None of us is an island. The effects of our actions do impact the well-being of others—and their actions impact us.

I share this because sometimes it's good to know you aren't crazy for struggling. AND because we can collectively change these dynamics.

You have more power to change yourself—and the world around you—than you probably realize.

One small thing you can do today is SAY NO to the capitalist, colonial, patriarchal BS that tells you to monetize every minute of your life. To only express your creative energy if it will be compensated or rewarded with likes.

Do something just for fun. And don't post about it on Instagram.

Though this seems small, it's an act of rebellion. It loosens the cultural shackles that keep us running like hamsters on a wheel. It teaches you a new way of being, just for a moment. And over time, it will shift your energy…and therefore the energy around you. These little acts of self care support the revolution we need.

Conspiracy Overwhelm

Conspiracy overwhelm? Fear taking hold?

Come back to love.

There are terrible truths we must face, but constantly trying to know what's real or not can fuel crazy-making.

The key is to listen to your heart.

Where do you feel hope? Empowered to make a difference? Where can you trust that you will continue to be guided by divine wisdom?

What information makes you feel as if your personal power is being taken away? What makes you feel overwhelmed with fear? Hopeless?

One of the most tragic effects of conspiracy theories is to hijack all the attention and energy of light workers who would otherwise be loving, powerful, and effective in their actions.

To be clear, just because something is labeled a "conspiracy theory" does not mean it isn't valid or important to look at. This languaging is charged and can be used to gaslight those with real concerns.

But if you notice yourself obsessing about how horrible and terrifying something is, perhaps shifting your life mission even, take a step back.

Ask your body which sources of information bring terror and overwhelm, and what information is delivered in a way that allows you to maintain a strong connection to your true self.

Reconnect with your power and your truth. Remind yourself that there are infinite beings of light supporting all of us through our darkest times.

Projection: Healing a Toxic Phenomenon with Shamanism

At some point in our lives, all of us are the mercy of the projections of others. And we know from countless studies that this can affect our ability to bring our full self and gifts into the world in very real ways.

I became acutely aware of this phenomenon during my decade as a university lecturer. Many of the teachers I worked with would form these opinions about who students were and what they were capable of, and this alone had far too great an impact on these students' lives.

I made it a practice very early on in my career to see every student as a whole, individual person. I reminded myself that each one of them had important relationships, responsibilities, and gifts outside of my classroom, and remembered that I was only seeing a part of who they were. (This is something I continue to consciously do with my shamanic clients and students.)

The results of this practice were palpable. Students who had struggled with other teachers blossomed in my classes. Students who I might have written off at the beginning of a semester made surprising progress…And my teacher reviews were always stellar 😉

This approach was hard won for me though. One of my earliest, and still one of my favorite jobs ever, was teaching swimming lessons. I've always been a natural teacher, and I was incredibly good at helping kids make breakthroughs in their swimming abilities.

But there was one class. A super beginner class that was usually made up of 4 or 5 year olds. And I really messed up.

I had only 3 students in this class―two siblings, both about 4 years old and the cutest things ever. And an older girl, about 6 I think, with absolutely zero body awareness.

This girl seemed hopeless. She sank like a rock and thrashed in the water as if her only goal was to splash as many people as possible with her eyes closed.

So, as I taught this two-week session, the siblings made beautiful progress. It was so fun to help them bob and float, to learn basic kicks and arm motions. I loved it.

And the older girl made no progress. I had to fail her at the end of the session.

Parents have the opportunity to submit reviews after each session of swimming lessons, and I usually looked forward to getting mine because they were always so complimentary―happy words, happy ego 😛

The mother of the siblings gave me five-star feedback. The mother of the older girl raked me over the coals. She said I gave preferential treatment to the other children and ignored her daughter and then had the nerve to fail her at the end.

Wow. It stung. But she was right. And I knew it.

The next session, I taught the same class and the same girl was placed with me. My first response was terror―oh god, this mother hates me, and now I have her daughter again?

But I sucked it up and was determined to do better. I consciously efforted to give every student the exact help they needed, no matter what my first impressions were. I stopped viewing the girl as a lost cause and started seeing actual progress in her skills. At the end of the session, she still couldn't pass, but she had made significant improvements.

When it came time for parent feedback, her mother wrote that when she saw that I was her daughter's teacher again, she almost requested a move. But she was so glad she let her stay in my class. She saw the care I gave and improvement her daughter made, and she understood the decision to have her daughter repeat again.

I was young when this happened, as most swimming teachers are, and it was a formative experience for me. A tough lesson, but I've seen what's possible for people when we stop seeing them through our biased filters and open ourselves up to see their true selves.

The Dangers of Becoming Victim to the Projections of Others

Perhaps because I've been aware of the effects of projection from such a young age, I've been extremely sensitive to it in my own life.

Projection is a common, normal phenomenon, and in many cases, it doesn't make that much of a difference. In some cases however, we need to challenge ourselves to remember who we really are in the face of other people's views about us.

One of the more difficult examples of this in my own life happened during my three-year shamanic practitioner training.

I was fortunate enough to be in a relatively small group for this training―only about 25 people. For three years, I spent a huge portion of my time and energy with this community. As we shared our personal struggles and practiced hundreds of healings on each other, we really did get to know everyone in that circle quite intimately.

And this intimacy is what made projection from that group so especially dangerous and uncomfortable.

These were people who believed they knew me inside and out because of what we'd been through together. Yet, no matter how much of what they knew of me was true, there was so much more that they didn't see or know.

Part of their projections occurred because their views of me weren't keeping up with my own inner growth and transformation. Part of this was because our teacher held very strong opinions about who I was and what my issues were―and honestly, a lot of these were reflections of her own triggers. (Note: if you're a healer or teacher, do your work! again and again and again!)

By the end of my three years with this group, I could not wait to escape what felt like a cultish mentality about who I was. The group-think was powerful, and a weaker or less experienced person would absolutely have started to believe the projections put upon them.

Fortunately, my past experiences, as well as the intense personal growth and reflection I engaged in, helped me remember my truth. When I finally graduated, it felt like a toxic weight had been lifted, and I spent the next several months fully reconnecting with my soul's truth.

I don't share this example to shame anyone, and in fact I still absolutely love the magical humans from my training. I have so much respect for who they are and miss seeing them as often as I used to. I share this to show that none of us are immune to projecting upon others, and when it comes to spiritual or healing circles, I feel this can be especially damaging.

I've been reflecting on the role projection has played in my life a lot recently, as I've just experienced another challenging situation because of it. This one was at work. Have you ever had to work for someone who viewed everything you did through a critical lens?

As a recovering perfectionist, I've always had an excellent performance record when it comes to my employment, which currently involves editorial and marketing writing for spiritual content. 

But about a year ago, a new manager was hired at our company. And let's be clear―this is a very gifted, heart-centered person who has positively impacted our team in many ways. Yet this person also decided, almost from the moment he met me, that I just wasn't good at my job. 

It's been a surreal experience. Nothing in my process or the results I get has changed. Yet no matter what I do, how effective my writing is, or how much I try to show enthusiasm―the projection of me as "not good enough" has remained stronger than any actions on my part.

As a side note, I feel that part of this is because I have a deeply feminine way of working, and this manager thrives on masculine concepts like hunger, fire, and achievement. My process is quiet and deep. I dive into content, connect with the spirit of the book or course I'm working on, and emerge with words channeled from the divine. I wonder how many other women suffer because our way of working doesn't look like the masculine ideals our culture celebrates….

Anyway, all of this endless projection has made an already challenging year that much more difficult. It's been exhausting to keep looking at the actual results and numbers for my projects to keep reminding myself that I am good at what I do. And honestly, it just sucks when projection has the potential to hurt your livelihood.

I'm grateful, however, to work at a company where by and large my colleagues are capable of having difficult conversations without getting defensive or reactive. Recently, I was able to communicate what I felt was happening and how it was impacting me, and I'm hopeful that things will shift, though that's yet to be seen.

Shamanic Perspectives on Healing the Projections in Your Own Life

My inner strength and all the deep work I've done through shamanic practices have given me a clear and evolving understanding of my true self. I'm grateful that I don't easily fall victim to other people's projections.

I'm also extremely grateful that those closest to me―my family, my partner, and my closest friends―see me for who I truly am.

Given how difficult it's been to have projections placed upon me by my shamanic circle and colleagues, I can imagine how exponentially challenging it might be to remember who you really are when these projections do come from loved ones.

Think back upon your life. Many projections we receive are subtle―only your intuitive hits alert you their presence.

Many however, especially those we received when younger, will have obvious verbal clues, often in the form of parents or teachers telling us what we are and aren't good at.

Can you see what projections were placed on you in the past? If you feel called to, try journaling and witness what arises.

From a shamanic perspective, the verbal projections we receive when we're younger can become curses. Yes, it's a loaded word that probably conjures images of wizards and fairy princesses. But it also offers us an extremely accurate description of what happens when we receive and then internalize a limiting belief about ourselves.

In my practice, I'll often tend to this phenomena with either extractions or curse-unraveling. These are very energetic processes, ones that clears the imprints of projection from your field and energy body. When I'm able to work in person with someone, I'll also use specific essential oils from the Jade Purity Taoist tradition to anoint relevant meridian points―it's fascinating how our body's energetic blueprints actually shift to accommodate the beliefs of others, and how we can undo these shifts through energy medicine and shamanic practice.

Shadow Work: Is It a Projection or a Blindspot?

As detrimental as projections are, we also need to realize that sometimes a viewpoint isn't a projection so much as an arrow to one of our own blindspots.

Whenever you become aware how someone else's views about you are influencing you, it's important to ask yourself, are you experiencing a projection of something that's not true, or a reflection of something you just don't want to see in yourself?

Sometimes the answer will be obvious, but more often this will not be an easy process. It forces you to look at your own shadow, to really question what you believe and know about yourself. And I’m not going to lie―this can be a painful. 

If you can dive deep, however, you will emerge with greater self-knowledge, strength, and resilience.

I've found shamanic practice to be especially effective at helping us see the difference between projections and blindspots. The helping spirits can reflect back to us who we truly are. They provide guidance to help us see where we are in alignment with our truth and where we've fallen off balance. And so much more.

Owning Our Own Projections of Others

As you investigate the places where projections have impacted your life, as I hope you're inspired to do, remember to check your own projections of others, as well.

It's all too easy to think you know someone better than they know themselves―to convince yourself that what you see is their blindspots, that your intuition is spot on. 

Maybe this is true, and maybe it isn't. What would you see if you dropped that belief?

This line of questioning is especially important for those who consider themselves to be highly intuitive or empathic, as well as anyone who works in a healing profession. Always question your reactions and assumptions about others. With practice, you’ll begin to more easily discern between what is true intuition and what is a limiting projection. 

If you have a meditation or journey practice, these are wonderful question to bring to your own spirit guides. Ask them to show you where you're holding false beliefs and projections about others, and then ask that they help you heal and release those projections. See if there are clues or patterns you can notice about where you start projecting versus intuiting. 

As you explore these questions, you may like to focus on people you feel a strong charge around. If you have strong emotional reactions or triggers around someone, it’s worth seeing what might be lying beneath the surface. This is such a gift to yourself and others.

A Final Blessing

I honor all who endeavor to both free themselves from the projections of others and who are willing to do the deep work of owning their own projections. 

May we all remember our true selves with greater clarity and joy every day.

You might also like:

• Is Possession Real? (Spoiler...yes)

• Are Your Thoughts Your Own? Claiming Mental Sovereignty

• The Venusian Mysteries: Awakening the Sacred Feminine

• Daily Ritual to Unplug & Get Grounded

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Aphrodisiacs - essential oils, flower essences, and crystals

Aphrodisiacs, named for one of my patron goddesses, the great Aphrodite, enhance sexual desire and pleasure. Some work by helping us relax, while others rev us up. The following are just a few of the many aphrodisiacs you might like to incorporate into your Valentine’s Day ritual.

Crystals

Place some crystals in your bath water to absorb their essences. Place the rest around the ledges of your bath and on your bath tray. You can also add crystal essences directly to your bath water.

• Rose Quartz — to open your heart and enhance feelings of love

• Garnet — for passion and physical connection

• Carnelian — for a healthy sacral chakra and creative expression

• Moonstone — for tuning into your natural cycles and enhancing connection and passion

• Lapis Lazuli — for enhancing love on a spiritual level 

• Green Aventurine — for luck in lasting love

• Amber — for spontaneous, passionate encounters

Flower Essences

Add 2-3 drops of desired essences to your bath.

• All Lilies — for connecting with the divine feminine, healthy sexual energy and expression

• Rose — for romantic love and an open heart

• Basil — to integrate sexual and spiritual energy

• Bleeding Heart — to feel unconditional love

• Hibiscus — to enhance sexuality and connection with the body

• Pomegranate — for joyful feminine expression

Essential Oils

Add about 6 drops of essential oils to either a bit of oil or bath salts first, and add this blend to your bath once it’s fully run.

Floral essential oils open us to love on spiritual levels and enhance romantic, sexy moods. Warming and spicy essential oils can increase circulation and energy. And citrus scents add joy, ease, and playfulness. 

• Rose — enhances love and supports a balanced loving heart 

• Jasmine and Ylang Ylang— seductive, sexy flowers with a special affinity for the sacral chakra

• Patchouli — this earthy, musky scent grounds us into our sensual natures

• Black Pepper, Ginger, Cardamom, and Coriander — these spices can help spice up your sex life

• Sweet Orange — adds some playful joy

• Myrtle — sacred to Aphrodite, myrtle enhances true love and increases physical pleasure

• Lavender — melt away tension

• Sandalwood — has an affinity for the sexual centers

• Vanilla — warm, playful, and edible

Recipes

These above all go together beautifully—feel free to mix and match anything from these lists. Or, try one of the following magical blends. Each blend can be added to a mist, diffuser, bath, or body oi:

An Erotic Blend — 2 drops jasmine, 2 drops ylang ylang, 2 drops sweet orange, 1 drop garnet essence, 1 drop amber essence, 1 drop basil essence

A Sensual Blend — 2 drops rose, 3 drops patchouli, 1 drop ginger, 1 drop moonstone essence, 1 drop lily essence

A Loving Heart Blend — 1 drop rose, 3 drops lavender, 2 drops bergamot, 1 drop rose essence, 1 drop bleeding heart essence, 1 drop rose quartz essence

A Balancing Blend — 3 drops lavender, 3 drops geranium, 1 drop moonstone

A Spicy Blend — 1 drops cardamom, 1 drop vanilla, 2 drops rose, 2 drops patchouli, 1 drop amber essence, 1 drop hibiscus

A Stress Relief Blend — 3 drops grapefruit, 2 drops ginger, 1 drop ylang ylang, 1 drop pomegranate, 1 drop green aventurine

The Age of Aquarius & Psychic Protection

Have you felt extra sensitive or emotional lately? Has your intuition felt super on point? Maybe there seems to be more strange phenomena happening around you? Or maybe you’ve even had weird health issues pop up? 

As we collectively shift into the Age of Aquarius, the vibrational density of our planet is changing. Our own density is changing. It’s becoming easier for us to connect with various realms of the multidimensional world we live in-  and the many beings who inhabit those realms.

This phenomena is impacting all of our lives in a few interesting ways:

⭐️Even people who haven’t felt especially “psychic” in the past are finding that their empathic abilities are increasing, which can feel really disconcerting if you’re not used to it

⭐️The thoughts we have, and words we speak, tend to manifest and take form more quickly than in the past

⭐️Gurus and any teachers who need their students to be dependent upon them for spiritual wisdom will continue to fall (find teachers who empower you to find your own answers!)

⭐️Many people’s spiritual lights are shining brighter, and the various spiritual beings around us recognize this

⭐️For those who know how to keep their energy clear and align with soul, this will continue to be a powerful time of joy, purpose, and service

⭐️It’s easier to get hijacked by other people’s (and other being’s) energy unless you up your protection skills

There is a lot more going on that meets the eye, and all of us are affected by this energy whether we realize it or not.

But this isn’t something to be scared of! It’s actually very empowering to recognize the energetic influences at play in our lives, and to know we have the power to keep our own energy protected and clear.

Each month I offer a virtual shamanic journey circle, and this month, we’ll explore psychic protection.

I was recently taught a new protection practice from my helping spirits, and while it borrows elements from Western Magick and Egyptian Mysticism, as far as I know, it’s a unique practice that is perfect for the times we live in. I’m honored to be the messenger that gets to share this practice with you.

If you’d like to join us, be sure to sign up below!

Reimagining Valentine’s Day - How does the divine feminine view this day of love and romance?

Ah Valentine’s Day. Of all the holidays, this one seems to elicit such diverse reactions. From making time for a romantic evening with a loved one, to stressed out gift-givers complaining about it’s commercialization, to feminist critique of how patriarchal this holiday is, to the Singles Awareness Day effort...everyone seems to have their thoughts on February 14th.

I get it. It can be tempting to write off Valentine’s Day as an over-commercialized holiday that upholds patriarchal gender roles and relationship standards. 

But there is so much energy behind this day, centuries of energy, all focused upon February 14th as a day of love and romance. 

As someone who lives and breathes by reading energy, I just can’t ignore the energetic potency of Valentine’s Day. What if we could harness this energy to feed love, romance, and sensuality in their highest forms? What would this look like for ourselves and our loved ones? 

The energy of love is one of the highest frequencies we can attune to―and there are all types of love we can celebrate. 

Romance is the recognition that life is more than our routines and tasks―it’s an invitation to step outside of the ordinary and notice the beauty available to us if we only effort to notice. 

Sensuality is our ability to enjoy embodiment―more than vehicles to live through, our bodies can be portals to pleasure, intuition, and shared experiences. 

The invitation from the divine feminine energy rising throughout our planet is to harness the collective energy of this holiday to raise our vibrations of love and take time for pleasure.

Love and pleasure, even, and perhaps especially, in the midst of shutdowns and long winters.

This invitation will look different to everyone, and I encourage you to ask your heart what it most needs this Valentine’s Day. 

For those in relationships, this can be a powerful time to acknowledge and show your appreciation for your partner. If you’ve been distracted or just getting by each day, try pausing to deeply express your gratitude for all you love in your partner. 

This year will mean staying home and spending Valentine’s Day with the entire family this year for many. What if this became an opportunity to express familial love and appreciation?

If you’re trying to call in a partner, or if your relationship has been on the rocks, or your heartbroken, beat down, and tired, you might like to see if you can harness the energy of Valentine’s Day for your own rituals and reflections. What happens when you open your heart and feel into your deepest needs and desires? 

Regardless of our individual situations and needs, Valentine’s Day offers us all an invitation to engage in exquisite self care. To romance ourselves, engage our senses, and set aside precious time for pleasure and joy.  

For me, this almost always involves botanical treats―herbal teas, aromatic baths, body oils, homemade chocolates, perfumes...the plant world brings us both energetic and aromatic blessings. 

Enjoy these rituals and recipes for self care this Valentine’s Day, and explore the apothecary and perfumery for special Valentine’s Day gift sets, sensual perfumes, and heart-healing aromatherapy products. 

Curious as to a bit of the history behind this day, and why there’s so much energy here?

In many ways, Valentine’s Day is one of our more mysterious holidays as far as its origins go. There are at least three saints named Valentine or Valentinus, though legend has it that one in particular inspired the holiday: While in jail, he sent the first “Valentine” to his crush. And then he was martyred, so his legacy, now a quite romantic one, lived on. 

But all the saints get days. What made Saint Valentine’s day become such a popular holiday?

For this, like with many holidays, we need to look further to the past and the ancient Roman celebration of Lupercalia―a fertility festival celebrated mid-February. As Christianity spread, this festival was outlawed.

Still, in the Middle Ages, February 14th was known as the day the bird began mating—the love and fertility connections continued…

Whatever the origins, we can trace the popularizing of Valentine’s Day with romantic love to Chaucer, and this holiday has continued to celebrate love and romance ever since. 

The Alchemy of Making Spiritual Perfumes

John William Waterhouse - The Soul of the Rose, 1903

Updated! This is article is currently being updated — check back soon for what is becoming a rich resource for you aromatic studies!!!

In the meantime, you might enjoy taking a look at the Complete Guide to Magickal Anointing Oils and my growing collection of Spiritual Perfumes.

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Scent holds the unique power to transcend the physical realm and connect us with the spiritual. Across cultures and civilizations, the use of fragrances in spiritual practices has been a common thread that weaves together the human experience with the divine. 

It seems our ancestors intuitively knew the wisdom we’re reclaiming today: Fragrance can invoke emotions and trigger memories, shift both our vibrational frequency and our chemistry, and alter our state of consciousness. Fragrance elevates our rituals, creates sacred spaces, and facilitates a deeper connection with the unseen realms.

Of all the many historical and ritual uses of fragrance, it is the art of perfumery that inspires true soul-level alchemy. Through spiritual perfumery, the healing spirits of nature and the gods themselves are invited into elixirs of beauty and transformation.

The alchemy of making spiritual perfumes is one of the lost temple arts.

As someone who walks the path of the wild priestess, I’ve been initiated into ancient temple arts by guides in both human and spiritual form. I’ve studied with shamans throughout the world, apprenticed in Taoist anointing practices, become clinically certified in aromatherapy, been mentored in Western magickal practices, and professionally trained with the preeminent natural perfumers of our time. I’ve traveled to temples and perfumeries in India, Egypt, and Greece. 

Many people who are drawn to natural perfumery are motivated by their spiritual connections with plants and perfume — yet it’s been incredibly challenging to find teachers in human form who truly bridge the artistry with the depths of spiritual practice possible when it comes to the alchemy of spiritual perfumes (though my teacher Roxanna certainly brings spirit and art into her creations). And so, I also learned perfumery as a temple art from the goddesses themselves. 

In the deepest part of my soul, I’ve always known that perfume is a path to the sacred. 

Through the alchemy of beauty, art, ritual, intention, and the healing power of the plants themselves, perfume has the potential to shift us out of the mundane and into the magical. 

It breaks the spell of our collective sleep. It rewires us for pleasure and delight. And it bridges the physical with the spiritual.

In this article, I’ll share an overview of the alchemical art of making spiritual perfumes. Together, we’ll dive into the aromatic history of spiritual fragrances and the importance of the priestess path when it comes to aromatics. We’ll explore the divine nectar of fragrant plants — and look at why spiritual perfumes must be made with natural materials. And we’ll look at rituals and ceremonies for both creating and using sacred scents.

You are about to step into the endless world of spiritual aromatics — a world that has been subtly and intentionally removed from us, with devastating effects on our psyches and feminine power (read “Severed from Scent” for more on this). But we are reclaiming the true potency and transformative power of these lost arts. And your journey of remembering is just beginning. 

Creating an Elevated Perfume and the Feminine Reclamation of Beauty

Fragrance is sacred. Aroma is healing. And the spiritual use of scent has taken many forms throughout history. 

So what sets spiritual perfumes apart? 

The word “perfume” can be a bit of a confusing word because of its dual meaning: It can refer to both a pleasing aroma in general, as well as the liquid fragrances you probably first think of when you hear this word. 

While I adore fragrance in all its forms, this article is about perfumes in the “perfume in a bottle” sense — and why bringing back the sacred and the natural to the art of perfumery is a divine act mandate for bringing our world back into cosmic balance. 

Okay… yes, that probably sounds a bit over-the-top. But bear with me. Perfume is powerful.

Part of what sets perfume apart from other spiritual fragrances is its emphasis on beauty. Far from the superficial reputation “beauty culture” often has today, beauty is actually an essential part of the cosmos. 

Beauty reminds us that we are not here only to survive but to thrive. We are not here only to learn and grow but to delight in pleasure and the sensual nature of our embodiment. 

Pausing to fully experience the beauty of life is an act of rebellion in a culture that’s always pushing us to go and grow. It is a reclamation of feminine value, power, and ways of knowing.

Beauty awakens our hearts to gratitude. It is the celebration of the natural world and the potential of elevated human creativity and culture. 

And all of this comes together in an elevated spiritual perfume. 

When I create true spiritual perfumes, I bridge the magic of nature — partnering with plant spirits and using only natural materials — with inspiration from spirit — filling each aromatic bottle with a transmission of spiritual power. And, I always do so within the context of artistry and beauty. An aromatic blend might be healing and spiritual (many aromatherapy blends are), but it’s not a perfume unless it ignites the senses with blessings of artistry and beauty. 

This is why the alchemy of making spiritual perfumes is so close to my heart. And why I hope you become inspired to reclaim the temple arts of the priestess path and journey into the world of spiritual perfumery. 

Daily Ritual to Unplug & Get Grounded

We are of the Earth. Our bodies and the Earth’s body are made of the same materials. When we’re in a healthy vibrational state, we resonate with the frequencies of the Earth. We’re able to remain rooted and grounded, and this supports our health in myriad ways.

Yet, over the course of our lives, many of us gradually get off balance and ungrounded, and one of the main influences on this ungrounding is our relationship with technology. 

Giving so much of our attention to technological communication, social media, and entertainment can have very detrimental effects on our wellbeing…

Unconscious use of technology often leads to energy leaks, as we can easily become corded to other people and online groups. 

Addiction to various media and obsession with information are also common, and both knock us out of alignment with the truth held in the earth.

Without discernment, we can become unwittingly programmed by ideas that do not serve our true nature—we become susceptible to whatever is in the field of mass consciousness and our decisions become driven by false fears rather than divine guidance. 

Technology’s ungrounding influence doesn’t just happen through the information it allows us to receive, either—it also carries frequencies that our human bodies have not fully adapted to. The full impact of EMFs and other frequencies emitted by new devices are still emerging.

To be clear, the broad field of technology is neutral. Just within my lifetime I’ve seen developments that save lives, increase creative expression, and foster peace. I’ve also seen how it can be used to create chaos and inflict harm.  

In either case, as technology’s impact on our lives continues to grow exponentially, we must more consciously adapt to the vast amount of new frequencies and information we’re exposed to. 

When we take time to reconnect with the energies of the Earth, to ‘unplug” from tech energetically, we give ourselves the opportunity to reset our vibrational frequency to that of the Earth. We come into coherence, a state of health. This grounded state is our true nature.

Ritual to Unplug and Get Grounded

In our increasingly technological world, it’s more important than ever to energetically detach ourselves after a day in internet-land and reconnect with the physical and energetic earth. This is a beautiful ritual to end your work day with, or to do anytime you’ve just spent a lot of time online. 

• Find a comfortable seat or lie down. 

• Take a few deep breaths and bring awareness to the sensations of your body. 

• Bring your conscious awareness to a quiet place to rest, perhaps just behind your third eye.

• See yourself and your computer or another device in your mind’s eye.

• Notice any energetic cords that have hooked into you from your time online. Some might form as a result of interactions on social media. Some might be purely energetic. Knowing where they originate can be helpful, but isn’t necessary.

• Witness each cord being unhooked from your energy field and returned to where it originated, flowing back into your device. 

• Ask for all other energy leaks, cords, or ongoing connections between you and your experience of technology to be completely severed. Feel any remaining energy entanglements draining into the earth to be cleansed and transmuted.

• Feel the energetic body of the Earth rise to meet your energetic body.

• Allow the resonance of the Earth’s frequency to reset your energetic system. This will happen naturally as you hold the intention to receive the healing.

• Give thanks to the Earth and for the healing you’ve received.

Botanical Support

I find that using an intentionally charged aromatic spray or anointing oil greatly supports this ritual. Use one you have on hand, or visit the apothecary to check out my selection, which will be released in the coming days:

• Cleanse & Protect is a good choice for supporting cord cutting and energy leaks.

• Spiritual Light is a wonderful option for helping you remember your true nature.

• Tree of Life helps you stay grounded to the earth while opening to divine inspiration.

• Grounding does just what is says—an obvious choice for this ritual :)

Visit the apothecary to learn more.

You might also like:

• The Color Bubble Practice for Energetic Protection

• What Happens When You Watch A Sunrise?

• It’s Not Depression. It’s Exhaustion. ☥ Why Creative Women Are Burning Out and the Soul-Level Need for Deep Rest

• On angels, psychic saviors, fallen gurus, and sovereignty (And the magic of being human)

Earth Friends & Reciprocity (You Belong Here)

This weekend I escaped the heat and smoke of the city by heading to my favorite place on Earth—the Colorado Rocky Mountains in the traditional lands of the Ute and Cheyenne. My very generous extended family has a place up here, so I've been blessed with spending a lot of time wandering these trails and communing with mountains over the past few years. 

This year, as we drove into the mountains, I felt my eyes begin to tear up. My friends were welcoming me home.

My friends. The mountains here are my friends. I feel their spirits and their love and our mutual delight in each other just as I would a human friend. The same with the trees, rocks, flowers, and animals. And with the unseen nature beings, ancestors, and land spirits that enliven and guard this place. 

At this stage in our relationship, we recognize each other. I feel their warm welcome. I am overcome with heart-bursting love. And this is why teary waters stream down my cheeks. 

Last night, I took a walk through the aspen after dinner. Sun was setting and the crepuscular animals were stirring. With every step, I felt the love of the earth rise to greet me. Any hint of fear gently left my being, replaced with a sense of belonging. Of reuniting with my kin.

I began to whisper, "I love you. I love you. I love you."

Reciprocity is important with the natural world. Humans aren't meant to take and take. Or even to only "receive". We are beloveds of the land, giving and receiving in the dance of life. We belong on this earth. 

Our voices are powerful ways to offer reciprocity. Sing to the land. Speak your awe and your gratitude. Let the vibration of your heart dance upon subtle waves that meet with the spirits of the trees. 

Near the end of my evening walk last night, after chanting my love to spirits here out loud, I rounded a corner only to find two giant moose enjoying their dinner of aspen leaves. I must have sat watching them for 20 minutes in a timeless state of joy. I find that even the smallest act of reciprocity, if infused with the purest of love, comes back tenfold. As I write this, a beautiful fox trotted out to hunt only 20 feet in front of me.

At this point, you might wonder, "But do we really belong here? We've destroyed this planet. And let's face it, the rise in fascism is revealing the stupidity of the populace." 

It's true. But it's not humanity that nearly destroyed and wrought our earth with violence. It's the patriarchy. And we are dismantling it. Don't give up. Our Earth and her children still need us. 

When those of us who deeply love the earth focus on all the harm humans have done, we begin to feel like we don't belong here. Think about this—we feel like we don't belong on the very planet that sustains us. Our sense of any home, of any rootedness or resting place, becomes fundamentally damaged. 

In my recent post on food sovereignty, I discussed one way that our root chakras are damaged by being disconnected from the Earth. Well, this is another one. When we lack a fundamental sense of belonging on this planet, our root chakras are unable to fully function. We carry a soul-level feeling of unworthiness that makes it next to impossible to actually enter into reciprocity with the Earth.

We live in times so troublesome it's tempting to give into anger, fear, and apocalyptic thoughts. I'm certainly not immune. Yet the healing that comes from love, unconditional and divine love that cannot be broken no matter difficult our challenges, is what is called for now more than ever. 

What words are you speaking? Can you be authentically angry and terrified and grieving, as well as authentically rooted and hopeful and grateful? Can you speak the truth with a vibration of love? Take the first steps of reciprocity with your voice. Begin shifting the vibrations that create our reality with your intentions and your words. 

This is a gentle yet powerful step into reciprocity. And of course, I encourage more radical ones as well (like for real changing your entire lifestyle, but that's another post . . . )

We are not alone. The Earth is still our ally. And she needs our love. 

Sit Spot Ritual

From Thoreau's observations of the natural cycles at Walden Pond to Monet's appreciation for the seasonal shifts in his own gardens, humans throughout the ages have deepened their relationship with the natural world through Sit Spot rituals.

A Sit Spot ritual is a wonderful way to cultivate your own relationship with the natural world and all the potential "friends" who reside there. To start a Sit Spot ritual, simply find a place in nature that you can visit regularly. This can be somewhere in the woods or outside the city, a park, or even your own backyard. Then visit this place as regularly as you can—weekly or monthly, preferably.

A few ideas for when you visit your sit spot:

• Notice the seasonal and subtle changes each time—Who's blooming? What creatures are visiting? Who comes and goes throughout the seasons, and who stays?

• Choose a constant nature spirit to connect with each time—a tree, a rock, a stream

• Ask to feel the presence of the other spirits of the land—ancestors, fae, guardians

• Learn a bit about the land you're on—Who were the original people of the land? How did it form? What brought you to this place?

• Get grounded—Sink your energetic roots into the earth to strengthen your root chakra and sense of belonging.

• Bring your journal or sketchbook—You can alternate between tracking what you see and feel, and allowing spirit to communicate you through automatic writing or drawing.

• Use your voice—Speak to the spirits of the land and share all that's in your heart. Sing your gratitude for your relationship with them.

• Bring offerings—seed crystals, feathers, a hair, flowers, mandala creation, healing rituals

• Receive, as well—The land may offer you an extraction or cleansing, a blessing, messages, or even physical gifts.

You do belong here. You are important. Let the land show you how much your presence is needed.

A Shamanic Guide to Illness & Health

Explore the five main causes of illness from a shamanic perspective―and how to heal them.

In this free workshop, you'll discover:
​

• The 5 types of spiritual illness we all encounter
• How to know if you're experiencing spiritual illness
• The surprising ways addressing spiritual illness can impact your life
• A practice to strengthen your energy field right now

TAKE A POWERFUL STEP TOWARD THE LIFE YOU'RE HERE TO LIVE.

Enter your email to access this 65-minute workshop today!

Send me the workshop!

You might also like:

• Ecological Trauma: A Guide to Understanding Eco-Trauma

• Coregulating with the Natural World

• Humans are losing their ****, and how body and Earth can help

• 6 Ways to Celebrate the Autumn Equinox

Who is your Spirit Animal? A 4-Step Guide for Understanding Our Animal Allies

How often have you had an unusual encounter with an animal and immediately wondered, “What does it mean?” 

Perhaps you saw an owl in daylight. Or you kept noticing images of elephants everywhere. Or maybe a huge spider appeared right in front of you on the sidewalk. 

If you’re like many spiritually-inclined folks, the first thing you’ll want to do in these situations is google what that animal “means”. 

I understand the temptation, but please—hold off!

The universe and spirit have many ways of communicating with us, including animal messengers. And the universe does not play by a set of preexisting rules. The messages each animal carries will be unique to you, and no book or website can tell you the full meaning of your encounter. 

The same is true of power animals—spiritual helpers in animal form who share their gifts and medicine with us. While a bit of research can certainly be helpful, if you dive right in to other people’s interpretations, you’ll be more likely to miss important elements of your personal relationship with your power animal.

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Animal messenger or “normal animal doing normal things”?

I can hear it now . . . Sometimes a bird is just a bird. It doesn’t have to mean anything.

That’s true. Not everything has to mean something. 

But I have to be honest—one of my biggest pet peeves in spiritual communities is dismissing others’ experiences in this way. 

Because the truth is, the universe is always communicating with us. Who are you to say what does or doesn’t have meaning for another person?

The great Advaita scholar Richard Miller, PhD, once spoke to this in a training while teaching us about the art of welcoming. As he explained, it’s too exhausting to keep trying to figure out which parts of life are trying to tell us something and which parts are so-called “normal life”, so he has the practice of “welcoming everything as a messenger”. 

This practice of welcoming is a beautiful way to fall deeper into relationship with all of life. Every sensation, emotion, encounter, or insight can provide an opportunity to open to and learn from spirit.

If this sounds overwhelming, not to worry. This doesn’t mean you need to go through life looking at every little thing as a symbol to decipher or every animal as a messenger bearing life-altering news. Instead, it means that spiritual guidance is always available to us. To access this wisdom:

• Relax. You don’t need to overwhelm yourself by seeing every little thing that happens as a critical message. You will notice what you need to notice.  

• If something does catch your attention, even if it’s something very common and “normal”, trust your intuition and recognize that you are noticing it for a reason.

• You can also set an intention to receive a message from a spirit via the natural world. Bring your awareness into your heart, send your request to spirit, and then open your awareness, letting your attention wander and draw you to your answers.

• Finally, once something does call your awareness, use the process outlined below to discover the meaning and messages it holds for you.

When to Pay Attention

Many teachers share that for an animal to actually mean something, rather than be a simple sighting, it must show itself to you four times. For example, let’s say you see a hawk on a walk, then on TV, then hear the word “hawk” in a conversation, and then find a hawk feather.

Still others will note that if an animal is behaving in an unusual way, it could very well carry a message for you.

If either of these happen, definitely pay attention.

And if you only see a normal animal doing normal things, but feel that there is a message for you, trust that too.

Maybe the Message is Love

Sometimes when our attention is drawn to something in nature—a beautiful flower, an animal sighting, or an unusual cloud—we’re receiving a blessing. In this case, you don’t necessarily need to go through the process below. Simply receive your hello from spirit and know that the “message” is love. 

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So, when you encounter an animal—whether a messenger in nature or an actual power animal—what are you to do? How do you figure out what the message is? How do you know what gifts your power animal carries?

Here’s the process I recommend for understanding your animal messengers and power animals. This is based on years of working with my own animal spirit guides and those of my clients. 

A Shamanic Guide to Illness & Health

Explore the five main causes of illness from a shamanic perspective―and how to heal them.

In this free workshop, you'll discover:
​

• The 5 types of spiritual illness we all encounter
• How to know if you're experiencing spiritual illness
• The surprising ways addressing spiritual illness can impact your life
• A practice to strengthen your energy field right now

TAKE A POWERFUL STEP TOWARD THE LIFE YOU'RE HERE TO LIVE.

Enter your email to access this 65-minute workshop today!

Send me the workshop!

Step 1: Journey to the Spirit of the Animal

Journey to the spirit of the animal. Ask them to teach you about themselves and your relationship. If you don’t have a journey practice, you can meditate on the following prompts.

If the animal in question is one you’ve encountered in ordinary reality, you might like to ask:

• Are you here to share a message with me, or are you appearing to bring my awareness to a new power animal relationship? Or both?

• What is the message you bring me?

If you’ve received a power animal, whether from a power animal retrieval or another means, you might like to explore some or all of the following questions:

• What medicine do you carry? 

• What gifts would you like to share with me? 

• How may I carry your medicine? 

• What areas of life can you help me with?

• Why are you appearing in my life now?

• Are you a new power animal, or have you been with me for sometime?

• May I have an attunement to your energy?

• What name may I call you by?

If you don’t have a journey practice, or if you simply want support in going deeper, an experienced shamanic practitioner can help you discover personal gifts and messages from your animal spirit guides. This is one of my favorite things to do in a session ;)

Step 2: Use What You Already Know

After you’ve done your journey or meditation, think about any preexisting ideas or knowledge you already have about this animal. This process can provide many clues as to how the animal will support you.

Ask yourself:

• What is my immediate reaction to this animal? Am I excited, fearful, surprised?

• What symbology or associations do I think of first? 

• Are there any stories or myths that come to mind?

• What character traits do I personally connect with this animal?

Then, reflect on what your answers might mean for either a message, or for unique gifts a power animal might share with you.

Step 3: Do Some Research  

Once you’ve finished this personal exploration, it’s time to learn more about your animal in ordinary reality. Try to find out:

• What do they eat?

• Where do they live?

• What is their social nature? Family dynamics?

• What unique features stand out about this animal? 

• When are they most active? Quietest?

• What are their biggest threats? 

• What do you find most fascinating about this animal?

Ask yourself how the following information might help you understand either the message or your power animal’s gifts. 

Step 4: Access Our Collective Wisdom and Mythologies

Finally, go ahead and look up existing ideas, symbolism, and mythology about your power animal might mean. Even though we don’t want to fill our minds with other people’s and cultures’ ideas first, this information can be helpful. 

As you explore, pay attention to a few things:

• What feels right and relevant? Where do you get an immediate hit or “ah-ha” moment?

• What doesn’t feel right or relevant? Not everything you read will relate your personal relationship.

• Does the animal have any particular meanings within your own ancestry? What about within other cultures you feel especially connected to?*

*Make sure to explore a variety of cultural mythologies at this stage, as each might have quite different interpretations of your animal. For example: In North America, many indigenous tribes associate the owl with death. Yet in Greek and Roman mythology, the owl was a bearer of wisdom. Though in China the owl was viewed as an ominous creature, the Japanese considered the owl to be a sign of good fortune. 

I’ll also encourage you to avoid the spirit guide websites out there—in my experience, many of them seem to exist just for profit and do not have the depth of meaning you can find in a book, such as Ted Andrew’s Animal Speak or Jamie Sam’s Medicine Cards. If you’re looking online, visiting sites that detail mythological or symbolic associations from more academic perspectives can be useful.

Receiving messages from spirit through the natural world is a gift that has been bestowed on humanity since the beginning of our species on this planet. Be gentle with yourself as you learn to read the signs and deepen your relationship with the natural world. It is your birthright. 

And, while the steps outlined here can initiate your journey into understanding your power animal, getting to know your power animal and its gifts is a lifelong journey. Revisit each of these steps often, and make sure to nurture your relationship with your power animal just as you would with a beloved friend.

Want more insights and guidance around spirit animals? Be sure to get your copy of The Spirit Animal Guidebook today.

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• Are You Scared of an Animal? Here's What Spirit Has to Say...

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• 8 Benefits of Partnering with the Spirits of Nature

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• Lessons from Squirrels

Mountain Medicine: Making a Healing Salve with wild plants (and more)

Y'all. The cosmos has been doing a number on me. This full moon lunar eclipse, on the 4th of July no less, was in Capricorn. Capricorn and it's ruling planet, Saturn, govern structure—including our bones. And low and behold, I broke my toe under the light of that full moon. 

Breaking a toe always sucks. But this time it was especially disappointing: I look forward to one magical week in the mountains all year. This is a week when I hike for miles everyday, commune with the animals and nature spirits, make my plant medicines, and soak up the healing power of Colorado's Rocky Mountains. And I broke my toe on only my second night. 😞

And, even though I have a pretty epic natural first aid kit, full of homemade remedies of herbs and oils, I’d left everything at home this week. Oops.

A Wildly Healing Oil

Given that I came up here in part to work with plant medicine, I decided to view my broken toe as an opportunity to practice what I preach and see how well I could treat myself with mountain remedies. 

The toe in question is my fourth toe, so I’ve been able to hobble around slowly. The morning after my injury, I buddy taped my toe and set to the trails for some plants I know are in season and can help:

• Bluebell—similar to comfrey in its ability to mend bones, but a bit milder

• Arnica—you've probably used the homeopathic remedies, and the fresh flowers and leaves can be infused into healing oils

• Yarrow—one of my favorite protector plants, wonderful for wound healing

• Goldenrod—for inflammation, topically, it’s similar to arnica

• Aspen—the bark has pain relieving properties, so I collected only fallen twigs

I had a bit of sunflower oil on hand, so I decided to do a quick oil infusion using a double boiler method. I tore apart the flowers, leaves, and twigs by hand and added them to the oil, holding the intention of healing and gratitude for the ability to work in partnership with nature to make medicine. I then gently infused the oil for a couple hours. The result was the most divine smelling brew, full of healing goodness.*

*Side note … the infused oil smelled sooo good that I’m now tincturing aspen twigs for use in my perfumes :) 

To tend to internal support for healing, I've gathered fresh dandelion leaves, horsetail, and wild parsley—all full of bone-building minerals! The dandelion and parsley go into dinner each evening, while I simply suck the liquid out of the fresh horsetail.

I've been gently massaging the oil into my toe for a few days now, and keeping up with my wild greens, and I’m happy to say that the swelling has gone down significantly. 

Breaking a toe and limiting my hikes really sucks. But I'm grateful to be surrounded with nature's medicine and to work in partnership with the spirits as I heal. And lucky for you, I've made more than enough oil. When I'm back home, I'll turn what I have into some healing salves to share :) 

UPDATE This beautiful oil sold out quickly…but I generally have seasonal versions available in the apothecary :)

Wildcrafted Smoke Bundles 

Despite the broken toe, I did manage to commune with the plants this year. I hobbled around and gathered some of my favorite botanical friends to create more flower essences and just a few plant bundles for smoke clearing. 

When I wildcraft, I only use plants that I have developed a relationship with over the years, and I gather and make everything in sacred ceremony. I feel that the health of the forest always comes first, so I only take what is offered and do healing ceremonies for the land in return. 

This year, I was guided to create three types of bundles:

• Cleanse & Protect—This bundle is perfect for space clearing and protection, similar to traditional sage bundles. It contains protective, cleansing, and sacred plants including three artemisias, goldenrod, yarrow, golden aster, sulfur buckwheat, kinnikinnick, and pussy toes.

• Passion—A bundle to clear blocks and carry your wishes to spirit, this contains a trio of artemisias, fireweed, fairy trumpet, pussy toes, harebell, bedstraw, and wild geranium.

• Dreams—A bundle to encourage visionary dreams and protection at night, this contains the trio of artemisias, elephant head flower, mountain valerian, yarrow, northern bedstraw, pussy toes, and kinnikinnick.

Find your bundles in the apothecary!

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Navigating the Gifts of Our Magnificent Clusterf*ck

A well-known psychotherapist I know recently told me that the technical term for what we’re collectively experiencing right now is a magnificent clusterfuck. Seems about right. 

I’ve been swinging between feeling hopeful for our future and grateful that more white-bodied people are taking on the internalized and systemic racism that has plagued our society for hundreds of years. And I’ve been feeling absolutely terrified by what I see on the news. 

We were collectively exhausted and emotionally inflamed even before the violence started. Now, in the US at least, many people, on a really fundamental level, are feeling the multi-level collapse of our society. 

And this is a good thing. 

The systems that underpin our society have been broken for a long time, and the critical mass we’re experiencing now—aka magnificent clusterfuck—is forcing us to grow. 

As a shamanic practitioner, I know that there is always more going on than what meets the eye. The pandemic didn’t occur in a vacuum—our species has insisted on keeping our heads in the sand as our Earth has suffered for far too long. The racism we’re being asked to confront has been woven into our systems and our DNA for hundreds of years. There are layers and layers of lineage patterns, curses, soul loss, and more involved in addition to the institutionalized practices we’re aware of.

With so much coming to the surface at once, and the absolutely disgusting response of the administration in the US, it’s all too easy to fall into complete despair. Or anger. Or fear. It’s all too easy to focus on how absolutely terrible everything appears.

As humans, we’re wired to respond to threat with a fight, flight, or freeze response. The expressions of this in response to ongoing threats are a bit subtler than you might realize. I’m guessing most of you can see yourself in all three at some point over the past few months… 

• Fight: arguing with strangers online, posting aggressive memes, misplaced volatility, arguments with loved ones, ongoing outrage

• Flight: numbing out, distracting yourself with booze or TV or overeating, avoiding news and media to an unhealthy degree

• Freeze: chronic exhaustion, inability to engage in normal activities, difficulty connecting with others, overwhelm and depression, the belief that you can’t make a difference

It’s important to acknowledge the difficult feelings that are arising right now and allow ourselves to feel them fully. It’s also important not to get stuck in them. When we’re stuck in fight, flight, freeze, it’s harder for us to change—ourselves or our world. And right now we really need to change both.

Racism stems from the same systemic patriarchal oppression that dehumanizes women, prioritizes profit over life, harms the earth, allows factory farming and abuse of animals, contributes to growing economic inequality, and keeps all of us divided and distracted and disempowered. 

This oppression is so pervasive that most of us, no matter what our genders or colors, internalize its effects and inadvertently perpetuate the very systems that keep us small and stuck. We have our work cut out for us. But it’s work that is so important. 

In spiritual traditions throughout the world, there is an awareness that what we put our attention on, our energy into, is what we create. We have to align our hearts, energy, and action in the world with the highest vision of our future if we’re going to make that future a reality. 

In order to take on this big work, we have to be able to shift out of fight, flight, freeze and into action. The following tools are just a few that are helping me stay resourced spiritually so I can show up and act in the world. I hope they’re helpful for you too.

We’re at a choice point. And we have to keep choosing love.

Mindfulness

The ability to bring our awareness to the present moment—all of our bodily sensations, thoughts, feelings—without judgement, is a critical skill. Mindfulness helps regulate our nervous system, making us less likely to become triggered or reactive, and more likely to connect with love and empowered action. It also increases our ability to focus, and in this increasingly distracted world, we absolutely must be able to focus on what matters most.

Mindfulness is especially important for our interactions with social media right now. Pause before you post or comment. Ask yourself what energy you’re putting into the world. Notice your responses to various types of media and use this to inform how you engage going forward.

Quick Practice:

Bring awareness to your tongue. Let it melt into your lower mouth. Feel your jaw slightly open. Notice all tension melt from your mouth. Breathe and notice your overall feeling of relaxation.

Focus on What You’re For

Mother Theresa famously said that she wouldn’t attend anti-war rallies but would support a pro-peace movement. One of my personal teachers, Sandra Ingerman, teaches the same thing, emphasizing the power of language and how we use our words. Spiritual teacher Elizabeth Peru, along with many others, shares that the energies of our universe are shifting in ways that allow for more immediate manifestation of our thoughts, and it’s more important than ever to become aware of how we’re using our energy. 

Ask yourself, what are you feeding with your thoughts, emotions, and words? Are you working against the old world or for a new one?

Quick Practice:

Prepare a list of words with positive and negative connotations. Come into a meditative state. Read each word aloud, pausing to notice what happens in your body as you say it. Which words help you feel light, clear, or empowered? Which words make you feel heavy, clogged, or hopeless?

A few words to start with: love, hate, equality, peace, wrong, outrage, compassion, wisdom, kindness

Shadow Work

Now, I can already hear some people saying that focusing on “love and light” is spiritual bypassing. And they’re right. 

We do need to keep bringing love and light into all we do. Spirit is love. Our connection with the Divine is light. But we live in a world of duality. Physically, energetically, and in layers of the spiritual realms, we exist in a paradigm of darkness and light. If we ignore the dark, we bypass and do not fully claim our power to change the world. 

Shadow work is the process of looking at the uncomfortable parts ourselves. It’s looking at our shame, guilt, fear, rage, confusions, and grief. It’s feeling them fully but not getting trapped in them. It’s shining a light on the patterns and emotions that we ignore, and that keep us stuck as a result.

When we ignore our shadows they control us. When we bring them to the light, we can discover the gifts that hide within. Our disempowered outrage transforms into holy rage. Our shame transforms into compassion. We clear the cobwebs that keep us from listening to our hearts and are able to take action that aligns with love and makes a difference in our world. 

Quick Practice:

Just kidding. Shadow work is hard and you need to be prepared for heavy lifting. Work with a therapist, a shamanic practitioner, and/or coach for support. Arm yourself with compassion.

Energy Hygiene

Right now, so many people are in so much pain that they’ve become even more unconscious than usual with the energy they put out into the world. Those of us who are more sensitive can easily be affected by this. Anger and outrage can act like darts that either pierce our energy bodies or attach cords to us that cause ongoing energy leaks. We can suffer from entanglement with collective emotions. We become more vulnerable to suffering beings. It is critical that we clear, ground, and protect our energy on a regular basis. 

Quick Practice:

Get outside and lay on the ground (on a blanket is fine). Feel any energy or emotions that aren’t your own release into the Earth to be transmuted. Notice as your own vibrational state begins to come into coherence with the Earth’s frequencies.

Remember Your Spiritual Support

Our spiritual guides—the angels, power animals, teachers, nature spirits, star beings, ancestors, and more—are with us all the time. They love us unconditionally. They see a bigger picture that we don’t have access to. They are ready to help whenever we ask. So remember to ask. The burdens of the world are too big for us to carry alone, and we don’t have to. 

Quick-ish Practice:

Put on your favorite drumming track and take a shamanic journey with the intention of meeting a power animal that can support you when you start slipping into fight, flight, freeze mode. 

If you don’t have a journey practice, you can choose an animal that feels empowering and visualize them sharing their strength with you. Or, book a session and request a power animal retrieval from me ;) 

Discernment

A population that is divided and distracted is less of a threat to those in power. When we look at the shadows of the world, we can see that there are people with agendas that still support the toxic patriarchal systems that harm all of us. And these people know that when we’re busy fighting each other, we’re easier to control. From Russian bots to deep fakes and astroturf movements (fake and funded grassroots imitations), it’s never been more important to question what you read or hear. 

Discernment is our ability to know what’s true and what isn’t quite the truth…to recognize when information comes with an agenda, or carries seeds of disempowerment and separation. This applies to both our own spiritual guidance—recognizing what is true guidance versus fear-based or wishful thinking—and to information from outside sources.

Discernment is tricky and it takes time to develop, but all of the other practices here will help you fine-tune your radar for truth.

Quick Practice:

Ask your body: What does truth feel like? What does a lie feel like? Notice the subtle sensations and differences. 

If you continue this practice over time, you’ll begin to recognize when something carries the vibration of truth and when it doesn’t more easily.

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8 Essential Oils to Kickstart Your Next Creative Project + 3 Aroma-Rituals

Warmer weather and sunny days are finally upon us, and I’ve been feeling a big shift in energy lately—from the dormant and reflective energy of winter to the fertile and creative energy of spring and summer. The Earth is waking up, and so am I.

It’s only natural for us humans to join our animal friends in coming out of hibernation at this time of year, and I’m guessing that many of you are feeling the impulse to begin new projects, express yourself creatively, and bring a bit more celebration into your lives. 

Here’s the thing—feeling the creative impulse and acting on it are two different things. 

Maybe you’re flooded with ideas but don’t know where to start. Or maybe you feel out of practice or intimidated after a winter of rest. Or maybe you just want a creative boost. 

If you’re ready to ignite your creative spark this season, aromatherapy can help release blocks, increase inspiration, and motivate creative action. 

Essential Oils for Creativity

Floral essential oils and absolutes are wonderful for creative expression. Many floral oils have an affinity for the sacral chakra. As blossoms open to warm weather, these oils help our creative centers open to inspiration.

• Neroli—Relieves anxiety around creating while deepening our connection with our higher selves . . . even Leonardo da Vinci is said to have breathed in the perfume of neroli while he worked.

• Ylang Ylang—Brings us directly into our creative centers with its seductive fragrance. Especially useful for sensual creations—culinary endeavors, body products, and natural perfumes.

• Geranium—Eases perfectionistic tendencies, irritability, and frustration. This is the oil you want to help move through resistance to creative action.

• Rose—Opens the heart center, allowing us to trust and love with abandon. Use rose to merge the love in your heart with your creative impulses—a powerful combination.

• Jasmine—Shares a joyful energy that removes inhibitions and increases self-confidence, allowing you to more fully invest in your creative expression. 

In addition to the florals, citruses and spices can also enhance our creative works:

• Patchouli—Another wonderful oil for connecting us to our sensual, creative selves. Patchouli also introduces an earthy element into the creative process, helping us ground our inspiration in physical form.

• Sweet Orange—Orange is the color of creativity, and sweet orange carries this resonance perfectly. Plus, as a citrus, it uplifts us as we work, reminding us to take joy in the creative process.

• Ginger—Energizing and warming, ginger is perfect for those who have a creative vision but lack the motivation to see it through. Ginger essential oil helps us take optimistic action in our creative work.

These are only a few of the many essential oils that can assist us with releasing our creative energy this season. Let your own creative impulses guide you to the perfect oils and blends for your unique creative spirit!

Aroma-Rituals

Heart-Centered Ritual

• Add three drops sweet orange, two drops patchouli, and one drop rose to an essential oil diffuser. Run the diffuser throughout this entire process.

• Take a meditative seat and breathe deeply until you feel centered in your body.

• Bring awareness to your root chakra. Affirm, I am grounded and supported by the earth.

• Bring awareness to your sacral chakra. Affirm, I joyfully allow the creative impulses within to flow into form.

• Bring awareness to your heart chakra. Affirm, With an open heart, I infuse my creations with love. 

• Continue to diffuse these oils throughout your creative session.

Ritual to Break through Blocks

• To a 1oz glass spray bottle, add: 2 drops ginger, 2 drops geranium, and 2 drops neroli. Fill the rest of the bottle with spring water.

• Shake and mist yourself and your space. 

• Speak these words as you mist: I call upon the benevolent spirits of ginger, geranium, and neroli. May these plant guides clear any fears I have around expressing my creative truth. I gratefully receive their blessings of creative inspiration and motivation.

Magical Paint Water

• Take a meditative seat and breathe deeply until you feel centered in your body.

• Ask your intuition, Which essential oil or oils wish to support my creative process today?

• Allow the answers to arise. Trust what you receive. 

• Fill your painting water vessel and add 2-3 drops of your oils. 

• Whisper an intention for your painting into the oil-infused water—perhaps May this work of art carry the essence of divine love or May the truth in my soul take form in this painting.

• Use this magical water throughout your painting process, recharging with oils and intentions as needed.

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Dandelion Magic: Wild Spring Greens & Tarragon Pesto (Plus a Bonus Healing Herbal Salve Recipe)

My “lawn” would make many a homeowner cringe. But every time I step outside and say hello to all my botanical friends, I’m filled with so much gratitude and joy.

I see a field of yellow, purple, and green. I see buzzy bees and fertile soil. I see such a happy yard that even lettuce and arugula from last year’s garden are sprouting up next to mallow and mustard. I see a small patch of chickweed thriving under my blue spruce. I see my sweet woodruff blooming just in time for Beltaine’s Maywine. I see emerging violets that will add a pop of color to my spring salads.

Spring greens emerge after each winter’s slumber with offerings of fresh vitamins and minerals. Their bitter green medicine helps reset our digestion after the heavy foods of winter. 

my backyard weeds/pharmacy ;)

This year, I’ve felt even more grateful for the fresh greens that have been emerging in my yard since early March. With a growing pandemic and shelter-in-place orders—and a pantry full of beans—I’ve been able to avoid unnecessary trips to the store and thrive on wild greens. 

Even if you don’t have a yard, many of these plants grow in disturbed areas, cracks in the sidewalk, parks, trails, and alleyways...just be mindful of pollution and pesticides.

If you’re new to foraging, triple check your identification and do your research on the location for safety and sustainability. There is a ton of info on this online—please be responsible!

Dandelion Magic

I love dandelions. Not only are they one of the first sources of pollen of the year for our beloved bees, they provide us with both food and medicine. The entire plant is a gift. 

Allowing dandelions to spread in your lawns is actually beneficial to the soil health. Their deep roots prevent erosion and draw nutrients to the surface. Their leaves shade the soil so more microbes can flourish. And their sunny blossoms attract pollinators that benefit the entire garden.

Medicinally, dandelion is a great lymph mover, liver cleanser, and supports digestion with its prebiotic roots and bitter greens. The flowers are also wonderful for the skin and contain pain-relieving properties. 

As a food, dandelion gives us a power-packed dose of minerals and vitamins—including iron, potassium, calcium, magnesium, copper, folate, manganese, and Vitamins C, A, E, K, and B6. 

Energetically, dandelion offers us the gift of resilience. No amount of pavement can stop these spring beauties. No matter how depleted the soil, dandelion can help restore health. Dandelion’s sunny countenance connects us with the healing energy of the sun, which can support us in letting go of behaviors and thoughts that no longer serve us as we come more fully into the present moment.

Embrace the healing gifts of dandelion with these recipes for the whole plant.

DANDELION ROOT

Dandelion Root is a tonic herb that supports our liver and digestion. Harvest the roots in the fall and use them as any root vegetable in soups and stir fries. They also make a wonderful tincture. 

Perhaps the best known use of dandelion root is for herbal coffee—gather, clean, chop, and roast. Then brew for a rich coffee substitute. If you do well with a bit of daily dandelion, you can add 1 part roasted dandelion root to the recipe found here.

Note on the coffee: The root is so incredibly cleansing that my body prefers to have it only on occasion rather than daily, but many people seem to do well with a daily dose. Listen to your own body :)

DANDELION LEAVES

The leaves of dandelion are nutritive and bitter, making them a healthy food that supports digestion...and is free! Plus, they’re wonderful for nursing mothers. 

Greens are less bitter in the spring and can easily be substituted for any green in a recipe, cooked or raw. Here is one of my new favorites, just created this spring ;)

Spring Green, Tarragon, and Walnut Pesto
vegan, gluten-free

This versatile green sauce is packed with nutrients and wild food goodness. Though it doesn’t look like much tarragon, the flavor is just right. I used a wild greens infused ACV for even more wild goodness.

Ingredients

• 2 cups loosely packed spring greens (dandelion, blue mustard, chickweed, etc)

• ¾ cup walnuts, lightly toasted

• 2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh tarragon

• 2 cloves garlic (more or less depending on how garlicky you want to go)

• 2 tablespoons capers

• ¾ cup extra virgin olive oil

• 1 tablespoon ACV

• Salt and pepper to taste

Directions

Combine all ingredients in a food processor and pulse until pesto-like texture is achieved.

Serve over pasta, on flatbread, in salad dressings, or with roasted vegetables.

I served this with a spaghetti squash primavera topped with Rancho Gordo Christmas lima beans and it was absolutely divine.

DANDELION FLOWERS

Another edible part of the plant, dandelion flowers are great for the skin and have pain-relieving properties—plus they make a lovely flower essence. 

Dandelion Salve

Begin by infusing freshly wilted dandelion blossoms in oil. Any type of oil will do—jojoba, sunflower, sweet almond, coconut, olive...use what you have. 

Place the dandelion flowers in a mason jar. I like to allow them to wilt just a bit—this gives little bugs a chance to escape and takes out a bit of the water content. Then, cover in a mason jar with oil and let sit in a dark place for a week or two. No need to take off the green bits or measure precisely—this is folk medicine :)

After about two weeks, strain the flowers from your oil using a cheesecloth or other fine strainer.

Here’s the general ingredient ratio for the salve:
You can adjust this based on how much oil you’ve made.

• ¼ cup (2oz) oil

• 1T beeswax or a vegan wax alternative

• 30-40 drops essential oils (optional)

To make the salve: 

1. Heat the oil and wax in a double broiler. 

2. Stir until the wax is totally dissolved and remove from heat.

3. Quickly stir in the essential oils.

4. Pour into containers.

If you’re making a skin salve, essential oils such as immortelle, carrot seed, and rose are lovely. If your salve is for pain, try peppermint, basil, and lavender.

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How to Boost Your Immune System with Essential Oils

Remember to check out my comprehensive list of immune-boosting essential oils.

How to Use Essential Oils for Respiratory Health and Immune Support

Diffusers

Make your own anti-infectious diffuser blend to get rid of airborne microbes. If the room is well-ventilated, feel free to enjoy the aromas. But, the germ-killing works best if done in a closed room for a few hours. You do not want to be in this closed room during the diffusion—and you really don’t want kids or pets in the room. Instead, let the room air out a bit before returning to it. 

Sprays

Sprays can have a similar effect as diffusers, but you can be more targeted in where you use them. I love to mist myself, my sheets, and my man (hehe) often. Sprays are also great for the shower: As soon as your shower starts, mist the entire area with your spray and enjoy the steamy aromas.

Pro Tip: Spray the inside of your mask before you go out in public! Remember the masks from the Black Death? Well, those beaks were full of herbs and spices. You can make yourself an updated version with a homemade mask and essential oil spray. 

Inhalers

Reusable personal inhalers with cotton wicks are easy to find online. These are a great way to support your nasal passages and avoid germs on the go, especially if those around you are sensitive to smell.

Steams

Add about 6 drops of essential oils to a bowl of hot water. Close your eyes, place a towel over your head and the bowl, and continue to deeply inhale for as long as you can. Once the water cools, you can stop. 

Important! I’m not kidding about closing your eyes! The steam/EO combo can really sting. 

Massage Oils and Lotions

Add about 6 drops of EOs to 1 Tablespoon of carrier oil (even olive oil will work) to make a massage oil, or use the same ratio with an unscented lotion. Massage into your chest, neck, temples, or sinuses as needed. (Be careful with getting the oils close to your eyes though—even if they don’t get in your eyes, God forbid, stronger oils can still sting a bit.)

Salves & Rubs

Make your own natural version of a vapor rub with essential oils and even menthol crystals. You can easily find instructions online, and I’ll be posting more salve recipes in the future.

Baths

There’s nothing like a steamy bath for a congested, achy body. Most of the oils listed here also soothe joints and muscles, so get the steamy soothing going with a hot bath. Mix 6-8 drops essential oils with either a bit of oil or bath salts. Then add to the bath after you’ve finished running it for max therapeutic qualities.

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You might also like:

• 5 Essential Oils for Mercury Retrograde (and how to use them)

• Severed from Scent

• 8 Tips for Buying High Quality Essential Oils

• 8 Essential Oils to Kickstart Your Next Creative Project + 3 Aroma-Rituals

• Essential Oils for Respiratory Health

Essential Oils for Respiratory Health

Support for respiratory health is on a lot of our minds these days, and essential oils have many benefits when it comes to keeping our airways open, clear, and soothed—not to mention their antiviral and antibacterial properties! 

Take a look at some of my favorite EOs for respiratory health—and then experiment with the many ways to use them at the end of this article :)

The Trees

You might have heard people say that “trees are the lungs of the earth”. It really is true. Trees breathe, and we are able to breathe because of trees. 

It makes sense then that tree essential oils tend to be extremely supportive for our lungs. They open our airways, clear congestion, soothe coughs and inflammation. 

Plus, all the trees have potent antimicrobial qualities, meaning they’re helpful in preventing both bacterial and viral infections, especially airborne ones.

Energetically, trees are both grounding and revitalizing, and they help strengthen our connection with spirit. 

The following trees are all amazing when it comes to the respiratory system—you really can’t go wrong. I’ve included a few energetic components for each to support your blending.

Knowing that each of these oils will support your lungs, which energetic qualities do you also want to include?

• Cedar (Cedrus atlantica) — grounding and emotionally healing

• Pine (Pinus sylvestris) — helps with the circulation of both our physical and energy bodies

• Cypress (Cupressus sempervirens) — supports us during times of transition and grief

• Juniper (Juniperus osteosperma) — a long history of purification and protection

• Spruce (Picea mariana) — revitalizes your sense of self during times of confusion

• Fir (Abies sibirica) — comforting and soothing to us energetically, lifts our spirits 

• Larch Tamarack (Larix laricina) — supportive during challenging times and big change

1,8 cineole essential oils

Essential oils high in 1,8 cineole are wonderful choices for cold and flu. Why? 1,8 cineole is a compound known for its antimicrobial, antiviral, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, expectorant, and mucolytic properties—aka, it’s amazing for both preventing and soothing colds and coughs. As a bonus, 1,8 cineole rich essential oils tend to also be good for muscle tension and headaches. 

Just be careful with these oils—many of them are too strong to use around children, babies, or those with compromised systems. 

Eucalyptus (eucalyptus globulus and radiata) Hands down, eucalyptus is my favorite 1,8 cineole oil when it comes to airway and sinus support (and yes, it’s a tree, too). It’s especially good for loosening mucus and congestion. Eucalyptus is also a very uplifting oil—a quality we could all use a bit more of these days.

Other essential oils high in 1,8 cineole include: 

• Saro (Cinnamosma fragrans)

• Ravintsara (Cinnamomum camphora ct 1,8 cineole)

• Helichrysum (Helichrysum gymnocephalum)

• Laurel Leaf (Laurus nobilis)

• Niaouli ct 1,8 cineole (Melaleuca quinquenervia ct 1,8 cineole)

• Hyssop ct 1-8-cineole (Hyssopus officinalis var decumbens)

• Cajeput (Melaleuca leucadendron var. Cajuputi)

• Myrtle (Myrtus communis)

• Rosemary ct Camphor (Rosmarinus officinalis ct camphor)

• Cardamom (Elettaria cardamomum)

Citrus Essential Oils

All citruses have both antimicrobial properties and uplift the spirits. Pick your favorite and add it to any blend for a boost of healing sunshine.

A few of my favorite citrus oils are:

• Sweet Orange (Citrus sinensis)

• Grapefruit (Citrus paradisi)

• Yuzu (Citrus junos)

• Mandarin (Citrus reticulata)

• Lemon (Citrus limon)

• Lime (Citrus aurantifolia)

• Bergamot (Citrus bergamia)

Rhododendron (Rhododendron anthopogon) 

Rhododendron is a beautiful oil, usually from Nepal. It’s both supportive for the lungs, especially with congestion, and the adrenals, making it a good choice when a lot of stress is involved with the sickness.

Tea Tree (Melaleuca alternifolia)

Tea tree can support lung health, but it’s even better known for being an antimicrobial power house. Tea tree is a great oil to add to blends when you suspect an infection is present.

Fragonia (Agonis fragrans)

Fragonia supports the breath while also carrying the antimicrobial benefits of tea tree. It’s a great oil for breaking through energetic blocks, as well.

Peppermint (Mentha x piperita)

Of course peppermint makes the list! You probably know that menthol vapor rub smell . . . well, peppermint is the original source, with peppermint essential oil containing roughly 40% menthol!

Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia)

Lavender not only boosts the immune system, but it’s also anti-inflammatory and incredibly soothing, making it a nice addition to any steam inhalation. Plus, lavender can bring the calm you need when you’ve been sick and support better sleep.

Cinnamon Leaf (Cinnamomum zeylanicum)

Germs do not stand a chance when cinnamon leaf is around. As one of the most anti-infectious essential oils we have, I’m never without some cinnamon on hand. 

How to Use Respiratory Supporting Essential Oils

First, be sure to check out my top 7 ways to use essential oils here. Using even one oil from this list will work :) But if you want to Then get creative wit your blending, here are a few tips to get you started:

1. Start with using just 3 oils for your blend. 3 is a magic number when it comes to blending—you’ll get a perfect synergy of benefits without a chaotic aroma.

2. Use what you already have. Each tree oil will have similar benefits, as will the citruses and many of the others on the list. There’s no need to rush out and get something new and exotic. 

3. Choose a different oil from each category. Start with one tree, one citrus, and one 1,8 cineole-rich oil to start. 

Need recipe inspiration? I share many recipes on my Instagram and Facebook accounts—be sure to follow and try them yourself!

You might also like:

• How to Boost Your Immune System with Essential Oils

• Flower Essences 101: How to Partner with Plants for Whole-Self Healing

• 8 Tips for Buying High Quality Essential Oils

• Simple Tricks to Add More Health-Boosting Herbs into Your Daily Routine

• Wild and Uncertain Times: Energetic, Spiritual, and Botanical Care

• 8 Essential Oils to Kickstart Your Next Creative Project + 3 Aroma-Rituals

• A Guide to Natural Perfume Fragrance Families

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Discernment

During these times, I find it important to practice the art of discernment. Discernment is the ability to look at a situation with clear sight and neutrality. Discernment takes practice, and now is the perfect time. 

True discernment comes when you honor your inner knowing over the opinions of others. This inner knowing is free from strong emotions and non-judgemental. It is simply seeing with clear eyes and a clear heart what is true. Ask yourself: 

• What information is actually appropriate for me to take in right now?

• What happens in my body when I’m aligned with the truth? With falsities? 

• What is my intuition trying to tell me, and where am I falling into rationalization or fear-driven thinking?

• What is true for me now, in this moment?

• What might be true beyond the superficial appearance of things?

The more you learn to tune into the truth and trust your inner knowing, the less you’ll be knocked off center when chaos arises. 

As part of a daily meditation practice, ask yourself, what can I be shown right now that is true? Notice what arises—the images, sensations, emotions. Overtime, you’ll learn to trust your own discernment as a new ally in life.

Wild and Uncertain Times: Energetic, Spiritual, and Botanical Care for cold and flu season

We’re living in wild and uncertain times. With major events cancelled, schools closed, and empty shelves in our stores, most of us are feeling destabilized—at the very least—on some level. 

It’s natural for each of us to respond to destabilizing events differently, depending on our past trauma, our abilities to regulate our nervous system, the degree to which our lives are already impacted, and more. 

Some people sense massive changes ahead and are concerned about the future. 
Some are fearful for their families’ survival and are stockpiling supplies. 
Some think this is all overblown and are more concerned about panic than the virus. 
Some are fearful of crashing economies and changing ways of life. 
Some are hopeful that this will bring about a greener future.

During these times, compassion is key. For others and for yourself. For the wide range of human responses we experience. This is new. Times are changing. 

As a shamanic practitioner and botanical medicine maker, I now realize that I’ve spent a lifetime preparing for times such as these. And I have no doubt that, on some level, you have too. 

Now is the time to reflect on your true reasons for coming into this life. Ask yourself:

What unique gifts do I carry? 
What I can share with a world in need? 
What impact do I want to make on our collective? 
How can I help us shift from fear and separation to greater healing and connection? 

A couple years ago, I was channeling the great goddess Isis during a group ceremony. Through me, Isis spoke the words, “Ride the waves.”

Ride the waves. She said in no uncertain terms that change was coming. When we ride the waves, we don’t resist. We stay present and we respond. We flow and trust, for there is nothing else we can do.

I am doing my best to ride the waves right now, to cultivate health and peace and meaning as the systems around me shut down. I hope what I share here helps you, as well.

Below, you’ll find …

1. Tips and practices for managing stress

2. Energetic hygiene practices

3. Herbs to support your well-being

4. Aromatherapy recipes

5. Flower essence recommendations

1. Manage Stress

We know that increased stress lowers the immune system—but destressing feeds the spirit. Some ideas:

• Meditate—Insight Timer and YouTube have tons of free meditations in all sorts of styles.

• Breathe—Pause and watch your breath, count slowly to 10, practice pranayama or another breathwork technique. Whatever you do, breathe.

• Hop on the phone with people you love—Social distancing doesn’t have to mean social isolation!

• Watch comedies—Because laughter is the best medicine. 

• Create—Write, paint, sing, code, cook … What’s calling you?

• Practice yoga, tai chi, or qi gong—These practices move energy in ways that reduce stress and boost your immune system. 

• Limit your news exposure—Stay informed but not obsessed. 

• Be present with your family—Everything is radically different and you’re likely focused on surviving vs thriving. Be gentle and find joy in the little things. And forgive yourself when you flip out.

• Start a gratitude practice—Focus on the good. It’s the perfect antidote to all the negative.

• Get into nature—Research is finally catching up with the healing power of nature. Even better, find a quiet place and ask the spirits of nature for a healing.

• Do all the healthy things—You know, eat lots of fruits and veggies, exercise, sleep a lot, take your vitamins, stay hydrated ... this is the time to really commit to your well-being.

• But don’t stress out about perfection—Trust yourself, and when you want some coffee and chocolate (or whatever else your body asks for), take the time to savor it. 

• Use herbs and aromatherapy ... more on that below :)

2. Cultivate Energetic Hygiene

You’ve heard of a mind-body-spirit approach to health, right? Well, I believe in a mind-body-energy-spirit approach. Here are two simple practices to keep your energy clear and protected.

Energetic Sovereignty Practice

Right now, we’re experiencing massive levels of collective fear and anxiety. From an energetic perspective, this creates powerful thought forms that can affect all of us—in other words, we’re subconsciously and energetically picking up on everyone else’s fear, and it’s magnifying our own. Our systems aren’t built for this.

Yet, energetic sovereignty is your birthright. (Helping people clear their energy from foreign influences is one of the main things I do during shamanic sessions.) Here’s a simple practice to help you get started:

1. Prepare yourself for a short meditation. Find a quiet place and get comfortable.

2. Ask your helping spirits, angels, or even the universe—whatever language works for you—to clear your field of thought forms that are not your own. Relax and simply allow this to happen.

3. Notice your physical body and any sensations that arise. Notice fear-based thoughts that might appear and watch them flow out of your awareness. 

4. When this process feels complete, ask for any of your own fear-based thoughts to be healed so that you may respond from empowerment vs. reactivity to whatever arises.

5. Again, notice your body sensations and thoughts. 

6. When the process feels complete, give thanks for your healing. Allow true, deep gratitude to fill your heart. 

Energetic Protection Practice

Along with regular health and hygiene protocols, energy hygiene is an important part of staying healthy. The following practice is based on transfiguration—the art of healing with spiritual light. I go into greater depth with this in my workshops, but here’s a simple practice you can do right now. Try to do this at least once a day:

1. Prepare yourself for a short meditation. Find a quiet place and get comfortable.

2. Tune into the sensations in your heart center. Rest here as your mind quiets.

3. Bring awareness to your heartlight, the beautiful, healing light in your heart. This light is pure divinity and spirit, and it is within you.

4. Watch as this light grows. Notice that it is slowly filling every cell of your body with spiritual light. 

5. See this light grow beyond your physical body, filling your entire energy field with protective light.

6. Notice how this light has filled every molecule and beyond. There is no room for any foreign energy in your field because you are already full. You are one with divine perfection.

7. Rest in this state for as long as you can.

If you’d like personal support during these times, feel free to reach out. I’m offering discounted virtual sessions to anyone in need.

3. Incorporate Healing Herbs into Your Daily Routine

See my post on simple ways to add immune-boosting herbs and foods into your diet here. You’ll find recipes for herbal tea, healing broths, and a totally magical ginger elixir.

4. Use Essential Oils

I use essential oils to support the well-being of myself and my loved ones throughout each day—from healing salves to bath salts to sleepy time diffuser blends. I’ll be sharing a many more recipes to get you through these wild times soon—be sure to follow my Facebook Page, where I post diffuser blends regularly. 

For now, here are a few diffuser blends to support your well-being on many levels:

Anti-Influenza Diffuser Blend 

• 5 drops eucalyptus globulus or radiata

• 1 drop saro, ravintsara, or cinnamon bark

• 1 drop niaouli (optional)

Why these oils? They are all high in 1,8 cineole, which is great for getting rid of airborne microbes. Plus, if you're already congested, 1,8 cineole rich oils can provide relief.

Family-Friendly Relax & Restore Blend

• 2 drops lavender

• 2 drops sweet marjoram

• 1 drop green mandarine

• 1 drop Roman chamomile

All of these oils are both incredibly relaxing and safe for kids :)

Hand Sanitizer

Ok. There is a hand sanitizer shortage nation-wide, and I’m happy to share a good recipe with you all. But let’s have a little reality check first:

1. Covid-19 is airborne. Washing your hands and not touching your face is good, but it does not make you magically immune.

2. Washing your hands with water is better than hand sanitizer whenever possible. According to Jessie Hawkins, PhD at the Franklin Institute of Wellness, water and friction alone is actually very effective for getting rid of viruses.

3. Hand sanitizers are ineffective on physically dirty hands—get the dirt off and then use the sanitizer.

4. Hand sanitizer isn’t actually effective against viruses, but it’s better than nothing. 

5. Any efficacy, at least for bacterial infections, comes from the alcohol content, not the essential oils, though essential oils can enhance the effectiveness — use at least 70% alcohol.

So, hand sanitizers are better than nothing, and essential oils and alcohol are much safer than the antibacterial hand sanitizers you see in the store (but that’s another post …). Just remember, they probably won’t actually do much against covid-19.

DIY Essential Oil Hand Sanitizer

• 2oz vodka OR 1oz everclear and 1oz distilled water

• 1tsp aloe vera (optional)

• 90 drops essential oils

There are many great essential oils to choose from, including, peppermint, lemon, lime, lavender, lemongrass, cinnamon, oregano, clove, tea tree, eucalyptus, palmarosa, and many more. Feel free to experiment. Options I like include a blend of peppermint, lemon, and lime, or lavender, lemongrass, and tea tree.

5. Enjoy the Power of Flowers

Flower essences work on subtle, spiritual levels. Given that many people are experiencing a transformation in how they relate to their spiritual well-being right now, flower essences can be very helpful. Here are a few:

• Bach’s Rescue Remedy—for shock and trauma

• Aspen—for fear, especially ongoing and underlying fears

• Lavender—for calm and harmony

• Dandelion—for relaxation and joy

• Valerian—for deep peace and calm

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Now let’s be clear—I’m not a doctor, epidemiologist, or expert on covid-19 by any stretch of the imagination. Do your own research and follow CDC guidelines, for the love!

I am, however, deeply attuned to spirit, my inner sense of resilience, and the gifts plants offer us. I hope what I’ve shared here is helpful as you navigate the wild waves ahead.