On Reciprocal Foraging: Rewilding Consciousness & Shifting Culture

“Reciprocal Foraging” is a term I learned from Daniela Naomi Molnar*– a natural pigment maker, artist, ecologist, and poet – who in turn has been inspired by the work of Tilke Elkins, another amazing pigment worker, artist, thinker, and activist.

Reciprocity and relationship are the foundation of all my spirit and Earth medicine practices – and I love how this phrase brings everything into direct relationship with wildcrafting.

The ancestral arts of wildcrafting and foraging have the potential to attune us to cosmic and natural cycles, reverence and gratitude, and the ever-comingling presence of beauty, grief, and transformation. But this attunement only takes place through reciprocal foraging.

This practice is more layered and challenging than we might expect. It involves a literally revolutionary shift in consciousness. As Daniela writes:

Most of us have absorbed a conscious or subconscious stance of domination, objectification, and extraction towards the earth. Reciprocal foraging begins by: accepting that you’ve inherited this cultural stance, working to forgive yourself for harboring this violence as part of yourself, then working to doggedly undo it from the inside out.

This is a lifetime’s work. It won’t happen immediately or easily, but it’s good work, and it’s culture-shifting work – you’re changing not just yourself but the world.

You’re changing not just yourself but the world.

The art and practice of foraging is an opportunity to radically shift your relationship with the Earth and your consciousness as a result. And this is no small thing. For every human who commits to fierce work of cultivating a mythoanimist relationship with the wild world – one that sees the Earth as alive with the mythic intelligence – the consensus culture shifts in response.

The relationship we have with the Earth and the many beings who inhabit her, in all realms, is a reflection of an energetic ecology: We are part of myriad interconnected energetics.

What we forage matters. We impact layers of ecologies – physical and spiritual. What others forage matters. We are impacted not only by what is taken on a physical level, but how it’s taken within the energetic ecologies we exist in.

Every act of foraging or wildcrafting is an energetic exchange, and ideally this exchange is given and received with equality in both directions.

The following are practices that enhance this exchange, adapted from both my own work and that of Daniella…

How to practice Reciprocal Foraging

• Cultivate a mythoanimist consciousness: See the Earth as alive, with agency, abilities, and preferences. Recognize the stories you’ve inherited about ecology and Earth. Work to undo the harmful ones and begin to write new ones with reverence.

• Practice an animist vocabulary: Or, what Robin Wall Kimmerer calls a “grammar of animacy”. Give beings pronouns. Trees, stones, rivers, bears.

• Offer respect: As with any healthy, loving relationship. Sense into boundaries around giving and receiving. Daniela writes that we can “acknowledge the earth’s sentience and wisdom” as a pathway towards authentic respect.

• Engage with curiosity: Use your senses to experience direct revelation and relationship. Explore the history of the land, the beings you forage. Get curious about the people who have come before and their relationships with place. The animals. The ecology.

• Create an ethical commitment to place and self: Follow basic ethical guidelines around sustainability – and go even further. Once you know the layers of life that are present, your personal integrity becomes more fine-tuned. Know what this means for you.

• Look beyond the physical: Remember the energetic ecologies of place. Who are spiritual caretakers of that land? How do they feel about your presence? What do they view as true reciprocity?

• Be grateful and joyful: Gratitude for the ability to engage with the Earth in this way is the most important piece of reciprocal foraging. Gratitude takes us beyond survival, beyond extraction mentality. We recognize that all of life is a gift, and this is the heart of both spiritual practice and ethical foraging.

• Express your gratitude creatively: Feeling gratitude is beautiful – but transforming this feeling into an actual gift of thanks is what fosters culture-changing exchange. Write a poem. Leave an appropriate offering. Sing to the land. Engage in ritual.

• Put your ethics in action: Take action on behalf of the Earth by donating to or volunteering with organizations doing good work. Periodically review your own lifestyle and honestly and lovingly, making shifts as needed.

• Share: Spread the love. Share your creations and your learning with others. What are you contributing to the ecologies you exist within?

• Honor your teachers: Your knowledge and skills and ethics also arose within ecosystems far greater than you. Who are your teachers, mentors, and influences – within both human and other-than-human realms? The art of acknowledging is an antidote to the toxic competition of capitalism.

The karma of humanity at this time is to rewild our consciousness. To recognize that we are part of layers of ecologies. And while our collective impacts our existence each day, we too can impact the collective. But only when the foundation of true consciousness change is present.

*As I write this, I’m currently at a retreat taught by Daniela. I feel beyond grateful for the opportunity to spend over two weeks in the Oregon Outback at an art and ecology residency program hosted by the Playa at Summer Lake. Natural pigments, deep time, the poetics of Earth and art…This short piece arose out of the perfect conjunction between my time here and the theme my Rewilding the Spirit students are exploring this week – reciprocity, if you can believe it ;) If you ever have the opportunity to study with Daniela, do it.

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Juniper Stokes is a certified coach, mythoanimist guide, alchemist & artist.

Jupiter Cazimi in Cancer: A Portal to Blessings, Belonging & Earth as Home

On June 24th, Jupiter enters the heart of the Sun in the watery sign of Cancer. In astrology, we call this moment a "cazimi" — when a planet is so close to the Sun that it's bathed in its light and empowered with divine clarity. This is a rare, sacred moment of alignment — like a planetary prayer — and it ripples with potential.

Jupiter, the great benefic, is the planet of growth, wisdom, meaning, faith, and blessing. It wants us to expand — but not just outward. Jupiter calls us to grow in understanding, to align with our deepest values, and to orient toward something larger than ourselves.

The Sun is the great source — the animating center of life, of consciousness, of sovereignty. When Jupiter meets the Sun in cazimi, the two conspire to renew our vision and vitality, to illuminate a path forward that is both inspired and life-giving.

And in Cancer, we’re reminded that this path begins in the heart and soil.

Cancer: Cosmic Nourishment & Soul Home

Cancer is the sign of home, roots, belonging, memory, mothering, nurture, and emotional security. It’s deeply personal — but also collective. Cancer is the primal matrix — the way we hold and are held. It speaks to ancestral memory and the invisible bonds between people, places, and lineages. It is the sacred container of life.

During my Hellenistic astrology training, which is largely rooted in ancient Egyptian astrology, I remember seeing the Earth’s birth chart for the first time. And guess which sign was found in the first house, marking the ascendant — or driving force — of the Earth? Cancer. 

And how beautiful that Cancer, a watery sign known for nurturing and caregiving, is the rising sign of our Earth, a rare planet filled with the waters that make life possible. 

In the archetypal language of the Zodiac, Cancer is the great nourisher, often looked at as embodying the energy of the Divine Mother — she who tends her family and home with protective, unconditional love.

This type of unconditional love is a beautiful gift we can extend to ourselves and our own loved ones this season, regardless of where Cancer falls in your chart.

Cazimi Brings the higher octave

Yet there’s a higher octave to working with Cancer energies — nurturing not just your own family but all beings as your kin. And being nourished by the Earth herself in return.

This season, allow yourself to receive the love of the Earth. The beauty of wild flowers, the abundance of a farmer’s market, a cold lake on a hot day.

When Jupiter is in Cancer, it’s exalted — meaning it functions with particular grace and power here.

When Jupiter is cazimi in Cancer, we receive a potent, potentially life-changing call to step into that higher octave of Cancer. 

To open to abundance through belonging.
To trust the wisdom of the waters — our emotions, our intuition, our ancestral dreams.
To root our growth in connection vs conquest.
To remember that you are of the Earth, loved by the Earth, and need to share your loving heart with the Earth.

Yes, the world is burning. Life has gotten increasingly challenging surprisingly quickly for a lot of people. Violence and greed fill every news outlet — from the old mainstream ones to new influencers creating online communities (cults?).

Turning towards what is good and nourishing isn’t bypassing the grief we may feel. It is the medicine we need to be fully present with the radical changes our world is experiencing.

Invite the vast goodness of the world to fill you up. Then allow your own cup to overflow into unconditional love and care for all beings. This is how you attune to the higher frequencies of Cancer Season.

Just as Cancer is associated with the waters of the womb, the oceans, the rains, and the moon, so too is Earth’s well-being woven into this cosmic current. This is a potent time to:

• Bless your home, land, or body of water you live near

• Tend to your ancestors and lineage

• Renew your relationship with place and planet

• Ask yourself how your gifts can nurture the world

When we grow in harmony with the Earth, Jupiter’s blessings become not just personal gains, but communal healing.

Jupiter Cazimi Ritual: Home as Blessing Bowl

Here is a simple ritual to align with this rare and beautiful moment:

Materials:

• A small bowl of clean water

• A candle (white or gold if you have one)

• A symbol of home (a photo, key, stone from your land, or anything meaningful)

• A small offering for the Earth (flowers, herbs, honey)

Steps:

1. Create Sacred Space — Find a quiet place. Light the candle and take a few deep breaths. Imagine Jupiter and the Sun shining directly into your heart.

2. Water Blessing — Hold the bowl of water and speak your intentions into it. What do you wish to grow in your life and in the world? Name blessings for your home, your family (chosen or biological), your body, your community, the Earth.

3. Bring in Home — Place your symbol of home next to the bowl. Say aloud: “May my growth bless the place that holds me. May I remember that I am never separate from the Earth, nor from my people.”

4. Earth Offering — If you like, pour the water onto the Earth, along with your offering. As you do, feel yourself planting a seed of belonging and care.

5. Close with Gratitude — Thank the Sun and Jupiter for their light. Thank the Earth for holding you. Blow out the candle and take one small action today that nourishes something you love.

The world needs those who are willing to bless, to protect, to mother what matters. Let this moment remind you: you belong, your story matters, and the Earth is part of your becoming.

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Listening to the Land: A Path to Healing, Guidance, and Soul-Level Wholeness

Discover how deepening your relationship with nature can transform your life, heal ancestral patterns, and open pathways to profound spiritual connection.

My Journey to the Wild

I've been a nature lover since childhood—the kind who would run away from home just to be among the trees. As I traveled through different landscapes in my adult years, I began to notice something profound: each place held a different energy, almost a different karma to be lived depending on where I landed.

Some places became what I call "soul places"—locations where true, deep miracles and healing happened for me. The Oregon coast has been one such sanctuary. But it's the Rocky Mountains, especially in Colorado, that have been my most important spiritual teachers.

The relationship developed gradually. I visited in every season, spent countless hours alone in retreat, and over years and miles, I learned where certain plants grew and when, noticed shifts in ecosystems, observed mountain goats in their element. I studied these nature beings I encountered—learning about the land's history, the uses of plants for food and medicine, and the animals who made their homes there.

Eventually, this relationship transcended the personal. Walking through those mountains became like moving through a pharmacy or grocery store. New insights would appear precisely when I needed them most. Animal sightings delighted me constantly. And the insights came as a constant conversation with Spirit.

I walked those trails through heartbreak, confusion, and grief. I held ceremonies when I felt lost on my path. I celebrated in gratitude simply for being there. So much unfolded through this relationship with the land that by the time I left, the mountains had become my grandparents, the trees my siblings, and the flowers my kin.

Over that decade, I was taught a process that I can now lead others through to have this same kind of relationship—a process of rewilding the spirit.

The Gifts of Deep Earth Connection

Healing

Time and again, this deep relationship with Earth has been the source of tremendous healing in my life. The land takes what isn't mine to carry—my pain—and transmutes it. In return, it offers gifts, blessings, and energetic attunements to wellness and new opportunities.

Note: I know some well-known teachers say, "The Earth isn't a dumpster for all our junk"—suggesting we shouldn't be unconscious and expect Earth to heal us. But I prefer a different metaphor: that of mother and child.

Imagine having a teenager—they leave dishes out, pile up laundry, get into a fender bender creating huge bills, and their hormones are causing emotional chaos. It drives you crazy, but you love them. You know it's a phase; they're learning. And of course, you want to do what you can to keep them well.

If that teenager becomes more conscious—helping out, being kind, taking responsibility—you can do your job as a parent even better, and you genuinely feel gratitude. Earth is similar in her relationship with us.

Guidance

Through connecting with the land, we receive insights and wisdom from a much broader perspective. We come into partnership with something far larger than ourselves—the web of life itself.

Manifesting

The land not only helps us heal and offers guidance, but it also opens opportunities for creation. As we receive healing and offer healing in return, we attune to the land, deepen into reciprocity, and something magical happens.

The energetic imprints that cause stagnation and obstacles in our lives begin to clear, allowing energy to flow more freely. The spirits of the land and nature bring a bigger view and different kind of influence to our manifestation work.

I experienced this firsthand when tending my garden in Denver. The plants and soil taught me about patience, timing, and the subtle art of nurturing life—lessons that extended far beyond gardening into every creative project I undertook.

This manifesting partnership brings:

• Protection

• Synchronistic meetings

• Gifts of food, medicine, and beauty

• Guidance through insights and omens

• Partnership in the changes we wish to see

• Projects that flow more smoothly

Soul-Level Wholeness

The safer you feel on Earth, the more you feel you belong to the land, the more of your soul essence can come home to your body and this life. There's a direct correlation between our connection to place and our capacity to be fully present and alive.

Changing Your Karma

Think of karma as energy patterns—the divots and grooves you're born into through ancestry and past lives. These patterns create the easiest pathway for energy to move, but they can also keep us trapped in limiting cycles.

This can all be changed in partnership with the spirits of nature. They teach our light to interact with their light in new ways—this is true magic, quantum shifting. It's like digging a new channel for light and water to flow through, creating new grooves more powerfully with nature's remediation.

Trying to change thought patterns through willpower alone is hard. Even meditation can take a long time to shift deep patterns. But the masters who have been doing this work on this planet forever—stones, plants, elements—know how to facilitate transformation efficiently.

When we create right relationship with these beings, they teach us how to change our field of light—our karma and patterns—remarkably effectively.

Obstacles to Connection

This probably sounds wonderful—so what stops us from going deeper? There are several barriers to earth connection that many of us face:

1. Modern Lifestyles

We've become disconnected from reality. Our relationships with phones and AI take us further from nature. The pace of life feels unnatural, and many lack regular access to wild places.

That said, cities have spirits that can feel amazing too—there's important spiritual work being done in urban environments. The land beneath the concrete still speaks.

2. Lack of Ecoconsciousness

We've become obsessed with thought, symbols, and mind. We're enculturated to be individually focused rather than relationally conscious. We must work deliberately to connect our thoughts with something larger than ourselves.

The effects of this disconnection are clear: we become burdened by responsibilities and forget we're part of something bigger. We lose sight of co-creation and the two-way influence between ourselves and the natural world.

3. Missing Communication Skills

Many of us simply don't know how to work with the master healers and teachers that live in nature and spirit realms. We lack:

• Communication skills and etiquette

• Knowledge of how to build relationship and trust

• Understanding of reciprocity

4. Isolation from Community

What we do as individuals matters, but our impact becomes exponential in community. Community keeps us going when we feel isolated or lose touch with our practices. New insights arise, and we receive confirmation and encouragement.

This community aspect is both ancestral—very few humans ever lived alone historically—and Aquarian, written into the cosmic blueprint of this time.

Rewilding the Spirit: The Journey Home

In my 12-week course, "Rewilding the Spirit," we practice a nourishing, resonant way of attuning to nature and finding solace amidst the challenges of modern life.

We'll rewild our minds and drop into deeper ecoconsciousness through:

• Strengthening intuition

• Learning earth healing skills

• Practicing ancestral skills and embodiment

• Developing a sense of belonging to the land through actual rewilding skills that build confidence

• Getting to know the place where you are

• Meeting and learning from the master healers and teachers of the natural world

• Connecting with the spiritual beings of nature—fae, gnomes, elemental beings

• Working with the elements—foundational to all shamanic and magical practices

• Learning the language of nature

And all this happens in supportive community.

This is the most important practice and play there is. No amount of meditation, spiritual study, herbalism classes, reiki, or even shamanism will be as impactful as you want it to be unless you are grounded and in relationship with the wild world and your wild self.

The whole purpose of this work is soul-level healing. The entire course is designed to facilitate profound transformation through reconnection with the natural world.

Join the Journey

If you're ready to transform your relationship with the natural world and, in the process, with yourself, I invite you to join us. The course begins May 21, 2025.

Remember, the land is always speaking. The question is: are we listening?

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Juniper Stokes is a certified coach, mythoanimist guide, alchemist & artist.

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Astro Guidance for the Libra Full Moon in Aries

Today, the cosmos bring us a Libra full moon right in the middle of our Aries sun season. This is one of my favorite celestial moments…

Ruled by Mars, Aries season is all about individuality and action. 

With the emergence of spring, our spirits are refreshed and ready for the passions of the summer to come. The wild and wonderful Ram of Aries helps us focus on our own needs and desires, following the callings of our heart towards adventures that will fuel our soul. 

Ruled by Venus, this Libra moon is all about relationship and beauty.

Lover of the arts and high culture, Libra carries the scales of balance and sword of justice — because Libra knows that the ultimate expression of divine beauty on Earth is fairness and harmony. At her heart, Libra believes that what is best for the collective is best for the individual. 

The Libra full moon in the midst of Aries season invites us to take a pause and check in with the goals and desires we are so energetically pursuing.

This is a moment to ask yourself who or what your actions are in service of. Are you contributing beauty to the collective as you fill your own cup? Or do your intentions perhaps need a wee adjustment to come into more balance?

I love this moon because Libra and Aries, sitting on opposite sides of the zodiac, need each other.

Without Aries, Libra can become self-sacrificing. An unbalanced attempt at balance leaves Libra unable to take action for fear of hurting others. Yet without Libra, Aries storms ahead in pursuit of personal benefit, forgetting that we are all connected and here to contribute to an ecosystem of goodness for all beings.

Resistance to this partnership can show up as aggression, unhealthy competition, hoarding of resources, depletion and self-sacrifice, nonsensical decision-making, and either over-attachment or complete lack of boundaries around self and chosen tribe vs other and diverse collectives. (Seeing any of this in our world?)

Yet when the two merge in healthy partnership, we remember that both approaches to life are true: we need to take care of ourselves and prioritize our joy, and our joy so often comes in celebrating our ability to be of service to the world around us. 

My favorite plant ally combo for this celestial event? Rose & Nettle

• Rose, the blossom of Venus, blesses us with beauty inside and out. It opens our hearts to the needs of others in boundaried and compassionate ways. 

• Nettle, our prickly healer, is one of the first spring greens to awaken during Aries season, filled with nutrients to revitalize our systems after long, dormant winters. This Mars-ruled green stings us into action and protects what is ours to keep.

A combination of Rose & Nettle flower essences can be energetically supportive this full moon. Personally, I love sipping an herbal tea featuring these allies. You could just combine rose and nettle, steep, and sip. But I find the following more tasty:

Aries-Libra Harmonizing Tea

• 1 part nettle

• 1 part lemonbalm

• 1/2 part mint

• Pinch of rose petals

Steep about 1T/cup water for 5-10 minutes and enjoy 🙂

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Juniper Stokes is a certified coach, mythoanimist guide, alchemist & artist.

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A Beginner’s Guide to Plant Identification and Safe Wildcrafting

Foraging for wild plants is one of my absolute favorite ways to connect with nature, deepen your relationship with plant spirits, and access healing right from the land. It’s central to so much of the rewilding work I share.

But before you head out with your gathering basket, it’s essential to learn how to identify plants safely and harvest them ethically. This guide will help you get started on your journey into plant identification and wildcrafting with mindfulness and respect.

Wildcrafting Requires Knowledge and Care

Wildcrafting — the practice of gathering plants from their natural habitats — can be incredibly rewarding, but it carries responsibilities. Misidentification can be dangerous, and overharvesting can harm delicate ecosystems. As stewards of the earth, we must approach wildcrafting with care, patience, and reverence.

Perhaps the number one thing I like to keep in mind: The land needs plants more than you do.

This is a little controversial on the surface — after all, we literally do need plants in order to survive!

But here’s what I mean: Right now, with our modern lives the way they are, we actually don’t need to go out get wild plants in order to survive. We can buy food and medicine in grocery stores, grow potted plants, and tend sustainable gardens. 

For this reason, I feel that anything you harvest from a wild area — be it a forest, desert, coast, or other ecosystem — is a gift and a luxury. 

And you are worthy of gifts and luxuries!

And — forest foods are not luxuries to the wildlife that depend on them for survival. They are not luxuries to the ecosystems that need them for balance.  

Those fragrant wild rose blossoms? As lovely as they are in teas and other elixirs, they are also important food sources for pollinators, who draw birds to the area. And those summer blooms don’t just disappear when the cold comes — they become red, juicy rosehips, another vital winter food source for so many of our animal friends. 

I believe that the spirits of nature delight when humans delight in the beauty and abundance of the wilds. A relationship goes two ways, and we are meant to receive joyfully from the Earth. We just must do so with reverence and awareness of our role in every ecosystem.

With that said, let’s dive into safe and ethical wildcrafting :) 

Learning to Identify Plants Safely

Proper plant identification is the most important skill you can develop as a beginner. Here’s how to ensure you’re gathering the right plant and not a toxic lookalike:

My number one tip for plant identification? Use multiple guides.

Invest in a few reputable field guides specific to your region. Photographs, botanical drawings, and descriptions will help you recognize key plant characteristics. I like to use a combination of online and printed resources:

• Favorite books: the Peterson’s guides and any book from Timber Press’s Medicinal Plants series

• Seek app by iNaturalist: While you should never use an app alone for identification, it can at least help narrow down your options. Note the plant families identified, then compare with a deeper look at the botany, region, and lookalikes to confirm your identification.

• Online sites: Yes, you need to be careful in the wild west of online info — but there are sooo many great plant identification sites and YouTube channels, many with even more in-depth pictures than printed guides. Look for reputable sites like those from botanical gardens, university extension offices, and longtime herbal teachers (without a bunch of ads on their sites).

My next big tip? Keep revisiting the same plants throughout the seasons. 

Walk slowly in silence. Take pictures. Make notes. Get to know the same plants again and again throughout the year. Here are a few tips to help you know your plant neighbors:

• Observe All Plant Features – Examine leaves, stems, flowers, seeds, and roots. Many plants look similar at a glance but have distinct characteristics upon closer inspection. Use a botany book to help you identify subtle differences.

• Pay Attention to Habitat – Certain plants only grow in specific conditions. If a plant is out of place, double-check its identity.

• Smell and Touch (with Caution) – Some plants have unique scents or textures that help with identification — smell is how our ancestors navigated so much of the plant world. But this one has a few important cautions:

• Several plants are known to cause allergic reactions or rashes just by touching them. Research the potentially poison plants in your area, so you know what to avoid. 

• Even plants that are not poisonous can cause dermatological reactions and sun sensitivity in different folks, so know your own sensitivity levels and start very small with touch.

• And never taste a plant unless you are absolutely certain of its identity!

Finally, the best advice? Learn from local experts.

Join a foraging group or take a class with an experienced herbalist to gain hands-on knowledge. You can often find free or very affordable plant walks to join.

This is how I got my start oh so many years ago (with the amazing Brigit Mars). There’s nothing like getting to know plants in person with a person ;) 

Ok — one more piece of advice: Start slow.

There are magical, healing plants everywhere! So many green friends to meet :) When I hiking along a forest trail, I literally feel like I’m walking through a pharmacy or grocery store. 

But it took me a looong time to get here. 

I started by revisiting the same trails again and again throughout the year. Each time, I might remember and learn about one or two more plants I noticed. Then I might forget, and remember those two plants again with the next visit, and then add a third to my repertoire. 

Going slow lets the plant wisdom seep deep into you, so you embody your knowledge fully. This is the foundation of true spiritual plant wisdom. It’s not a huge list of plants or a big library of identification books (though those are lovely to have). It’s a slow, authentically cultivated relationship with plants that you know inside and out. 

Ethical and Sustainable Wildcrafting

Once you’ve properly identified a plant, the next step is to harvest with care, reverence, and strong ethical foundations. My number one perameter for ethical harvesting is above — the health of the forest comes first. 

These additional guidelines will help you ensure that wild populations remain healthy for generations to come:

Harvest with Permission – Permission from both the plants and people involved. 

• If gathering on private land, ask for permission. In public spaces, check regulations before foraging. Get permits as necessary, and respect restrictions in wilderness areas — these are in place for a reason.

• And remember that permission from the spirits of nature, the land guardians, and the plant itself are primary. This is something I cover in much more depth in Rewilding the Spirit. 

Follow the ‘One in Twenty’ Rule – A general rule of foraging is to only harvest if at least twenty plants are present in the area, and never take more than 5-10% of a stand. While this is a good guideline in general, you really need to trust your intuition and look at the unique circumstances around you. 

For example, if you’re in a field of dandelions or another invasive species — harvesting to your heart’s content might actually help the ecosystem, even if you take way more than 10%. 

But if that area is frequented by many wildcrafters, leaving some for others is important. 

Or, maybe you find a patch of wild roses that is super abundant…but it’s the only patch for miles around. In this case, perhaps nibbling on just a petal or two is most appropriate. 

The more you can venture out with more experienced folks, the more these ethical guidelines will become natural to you.

Leave No Trace – Avoid trampling surrounding plants and habitats. Refill holes where roots were dug. When you look back at where you gathered, it should look as if you were never there and nothing was taken.

Harvest Mindfully and Kindly – Before taking any plants, learn how to obtain them without damaging or causing harm. With berries, this might be as simple as picking them, while stems and leaves should be clipped at the appropriate areas with sharp, clean clippers. Bark should not be harvested without expert training. Harvesting roots can kill the plant and requires special care.

Give Back – Reciprocity is at the heart of ethical wildcrafting. Leaving offerings, singing to the land, returning plant material to be composted where it was gathered, scattering appropriate seeds, and becoming a steward of the Earth in all of life are keys.

Pay Attention to Environmental Contamination

Before harvesting, consider the quality of the land where the plant is growing. Many areas are contaminated with pollutants that can be absorbed by plants, making them unsafe for use.

• Avoid roadside foraging – Plants growing near busy roads can accumulate heavy metals and other pollutants from vehicle emissions.

• Be cautious near industrial sites – Old factories, railways, and mining areas may have lingering chemical contamination in the soil.

• Watch for pesticide use – Parks, golf courses, and agricultural fields are often treated with pesticides and herbicides that can make plants toxic.

• Know your water sources – Plants growing near polluted rivers, storm drains, or runoff areas may be unsafe due to waterborne contaminants.

• Test the soil if unsure – If you plan to harvest regularly from a location, consider testing the soil for heavy metals or toxins.

• Dog pee is a thing – Plants by signs and corners along trails or in parks can be prime spots for pee piles.

Building a Relationship with Plants

Foraging isn’t just about gathering—it’s about forming a relationship with the plants and the land. Spend time observing plants in different seasons, sit with them in meditation, and listen to their wisdom. Many traditional herbalists and plant spirit practitioners believe that plants offer guidance to those who approach with respect and an open heart.

I believe these relationships are best built in community — both with each other and with the greater world of nature spirits. This is exactly what we’ll be doing in Rewilding the Spirit this summer. This program only opens once a year and it is deep.

Wildcrafting is a beautiful way to connect with nature and experience plant healing firsthand. By practicing careful identification, ethical harvesting, and safe preparation, you can develop a deeper, more reciprocal relationship with the plant world. May your plant adventures be filled with wisdom, wonder, and gratitude!

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Enjoyed this article? The absolute most wonderful way to say thank you is by sharing it! Use the image below for Pinterest or add to all your socials :)

You might also like:

• Coregulating with the Natural World

• Ethical Wildcrafting and Making Mountain Medicine

• Wildcrafting with Fireweed

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Recent Posts

The Kitchen Alchemist’s Guide to Liquid Herbal Preparations

The Animals Among Us

The Perfumed Heart & Anointing the Windows to Heaven

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ASTROLOGY | RECIPES | REWILDING | SACRED AROMATICS | SHAMANISM | SPIRITUALITY | WELLNESS

Juniper Stokes is a certified coach, mythoanimist guide, alchemist & artist.

A FREE 45-page guide to awaken your inner magic!

The Kitchen Alchemist’s Guide to Liquid Herbal Preparations

There's something magical about transforming plants into medicine in your own kitchen.

Each time we create an herbal preparation, we're participating in an ancient tradition that connects us to both the practical wisdom of our ancestors and the subtle energetic properties of the plants themselves. 

There are of course a billion ways to incorporate plants into your kitchen witchery…I share some of my favorites here and here.

In these cold winter months, I’ve been sipping teas and broths constantly. I just strained my homemade fire cider and got an herbal wellness tincture going for some upcoming travels.

Communing with these healing remedies in my kitchen has been inspiring me to write some of the content for my upcoming Wild Alchemy Apprenticeship — I’m even trying my hand at making some how-to videos as I write down the real life recipes I’m making these days :) 

And, this process has got me reflecting how many different liquid extraction methods there are for herbs!

Teas, tinctures, and broths…and also oxymels, infusions, syrups…even mocktails!

Traditional herbalists understand that different extraction methods draw out different properties from plants, just as different plants share their wisdom and medicine in unique ways.

Being the maximalist I am, I thought it would be fun to share an overview of the many liquid preparations herbalists turn to. 

Keep in mind, this is an overview — so if you want to dive deeper into why you’d use different extractions for different herbs, even more recipes, and more about the benefits of each, definitely consider joining the apprenticeship ;) 

Water-Based Preparations

Simple Teas & Infusions

One of the most accessible form of herbal medicine, teas and infusions are essentially water-based extracts. While a tea steeps for 5-15 minutes, an infusion is steeped for several hours, drawing out more nutrients and medicinal compounds.

• Best for: Delicate plant parts like leaves, flowers, and tender stems; can be made with fresh or dried plants

• Spiritual qualities: Tea-making can be a mindful ritual, a gentle moment to connect with a plant's energy (find my favorite tea ritual here)

• A few favorite herbs for teas: mints, nettle, chamomile, lemon balm

Find dreamy tea blend below!

You may be wondering…Do those little tea bags you buy at the store really have medicinal effects? Maybe. I prefer a bigger dose of dried herbs than those tea bags have. Still, steeping for at least 10 minutes will help you make the most of whatever you have.

Decoctions

These are long-simmered preparations perfect for tough plant materials that need more time to release their properties.

• Best for: Roots, bark, berries, and mushrooms
  Spiritual qualities: The slow extraction process teaches patience and deep listening
  A few favorite herbs for decoctions: Astragalus, reishi, dandelion root, burdock

My favorite decoction is a “winter brew”. This is my own made up remedy that’s sort of like an herbal coffee meets chai, but simmered with immune boosters like elderberry, rosehips, and echinacea for hours. I swear by it. If our household is coming down with something, I make a crockpot of winter brew and keep it going for all day sips. It works!

Hydrosols

The gentle aromatic waters produced through plant distillation.

• Best for: When gentle medicine is needed

• Spiritual qualities: Captures the most subtle, ethereal aspects of the plant

• Favorite herbs: Anything you can gather a lot of

I love hydrosols so much that I wrote an entire, comprehensive guide covering everything about them. Find the hydrosol guide here.

And, I even made a PDF with 44 ways to use hydrosols, which you can download here:

Broths

These mineral-rich preparations extract the medicinal properties of herbs through long, slow simmering in water — often with the addition of mushrooms, seaweeds, or vegetables. Though bone broths have become quite vogue in recent years, a good mineral rich veggie broth is my preference :)

• Best for: Mineral-rich herbs, adaptogenic mushrooms, nutritive plants

• Spiritual qualities: Connects us to the ancient tradition of healing soups and the wisdom of slow food

• Best herbs: Astragalus, reishi, shiitake, kombu, nettles, burdock

I love a good sipping broth. Garlic, onions, turmeric, ginger, shiitake, kombu, astragalus, and a bit of miso stirred in at the end is a favorite. So is garlic, onion, leek, carrot, celery, fennel, mushroom, and sweet potato, with a whole lot of culinary herbs and nettle.

Alcohol-Based Preparations

Tinctures

Tinctures are alcohol-based extracts that preserve and concentrate herbs' medicinal properties. Vodka and brandy are common carriers. Tinctures last for several years when properly made and stored.

• Best for: Nearly all herbs, especially those with resin or volatile oils

• Spiritual qualities: Tinctures capture both the physical and energetic essence of the plant

• A favorite: Motherwort tincture for heart health and emotional balance

Tinctures are one of my favorite ways to work with local, wild plants. Here in Oregon, Oregon Grape is everywhere! Even my own yard :) Oregon grape root is good for a ton of things…but especially stomach bugs! I took a bottle of homemade Oregon grape root tincture with me on my last trip to Mexico…and my digestion was never so amazing. (I mean — who’s stomach gets better in Mexico?)

Herbal Liqueurs

These spirit-based preparations have a long history as both medicine and pleasure. From medieval monasteries to modern Italian cafes, herbal liqueurs represent some of our oldest recorded herbal formulations.

• Best for: Digestive herbs, aromatic spices, bitter roots

• Spiritual qualities: Connects us to ancient traditions of monastic herbalism and folk medicine

• Notable examples: Chartreuse (made by monks since 1737), B&B, Jägermeister (originally medicinal!)

Once upon a time (this is a true story)…

I was on the Greek Island of Amorgos in early September, just after most tourists had left. My girlfriend and I set off on a hike up a steep cliffside to a beautiful and rugged monastery. Low and behold, the hottest monk I’ve ever seen (not that I’ve seen a lot of monks in person), appeared and offered us each a small glass of the most deliciously sweet herbal liquor.

So yes. Climbing a mountain and being served sweet elixirs by a hot monk is a thing. Definitely a medicinal, spiritual thing.

If you’re into infused liquors and spirits, the book The Good Reverend's Guide to Infused Spirits is one of my favorite resources.

Bitters

These potent herbal preparations are experiencing a renaissance both in craft cocktail culture and herbal medicine.

• Best for: Digestive herbs, aromatic plants, and flowers

• Spiritual qualities: Bitters help us digest food and life

• A few choice herbs: Gentian, artichoke leaf, dandelion, yellow dock, angelica

I went down the bitter-making rabbit hole a few years ago, making all sorts of fun themed bitters — love bitters, chill out bitters, tropical bitters… My Alchemessence Bear Bitters had osha, honey, cacao, medicinal mushrooms (double extracted), and bitter herbs and were ridiculously delicious. Now that I’m writing this, I think I’ll get another batch started and share the recipe in the apprenticeship ;)

For those of you who can’t wait to get started, check out the book Botany at the Bar.

Sweet Preparations

Glycerites

Glycerites are sweet, alcohol-free extracts made with vegetable glycerin.

• Best for: Herbs for children or those avoiding alcohol

• Spiritual aspect: Glycerites carry the gentle, nurturing energy of plants

• A few favorite herbs: Lemon balm, chamomile, marjoram

I love making relaxing “garden glycerites”. I add lemon balm, mints, strawberry leaves, skullcap, edible flowers…all sorts of fragrant, sweet, garden grown summer herbs. Then, whenever I need a winter pick-me-up, I take a dropperful. :)

Elixirs

“Elixir” is a bit of an umbrella term that generally refers to any sweetened herbal preparation, though they are often alcohol-based. (Oxymels, syrups, and glycerites can all be thought of as elixirs!)

• Best for: Making medicine you keep coming back for

• Spiritual qualities: Elixirs were traditionally associated with life extension and vitality — who doesn’t want a longevity elixir?

• Best herbs: hawthorn, rose, holy basil, damiana

One of the first elixirs I made was a violet one…made from violets gathered in a cemetery of all places. I was studying with a Mayan shaman at the time, and that is where our class was held! I infused violet blossoms in brandy and added maple syrup. Delicious and heart healing.

Syrups

These are concentrated herbal decoctions preserved with honey or sugar.

• Best for: Respiratory herbs, bitter herbs that need tastier delivery, herbal flavoring

• Spiritual qualities: “just a spoon full of sugar helps the medicine go down!” right? Healing can be sweet :)

• Favorites: elderberry for wellness, hibiscus for summer fun

While I make medicinal syrups with honey, I’ll often use a lighter agave for syrups meant to be used in mocktails or more for flavor. This summer, I made a lovely mint simple syrup that added digestive and uplifting qualities to sparkly summer elixirs.

Psst: Find a recipe for healing elderberry syrup in the section at the end of this article!

Moon Milks

These warming, nurturing drinks blend herbs with milk (usually plant-based) and often include adaptogens and spices. Moon milks definitely don’t need to be sweetened, but since they often do have a touch of sweet added, I’m including them in this sweet section.

Best for: Evening rituals, stress support, sleep
Spiritual qualities: Connected to lunar energy, self love, and Ayurvedic wisdom
Favorite ingredients: turmeric, rose petals, warming spices, butterfly pea flower, cacao

I don’t know where the term “moon milk” got started, but I put all sorts of milky beverages in this category — from golden milk to chai lattes to cacao elixirs.

Psst: I’m sharing an extra-rich and delicious moon milk recipe at the end of this article ;)

Vinegar-Based Preparations

Image from Fare Isle, with an lovely recipe here.

Infused Vinegars

Herbs extracted in vinegar offer medicinal properties, culinary applications, and spiritual cleansing.

• Spiritual aspect: Vinegar transmutes and purifies while extracting medicine

• Best for: Mineral-rich herbs, immune-supporting plants

• Perennial Favorites: Fire Cider, Queen of Hungary Water

I’ll probably share a whole how-to guide for fire cider at some point. There’s a ton out there, but I have a special approach that involves seasonally collected wild plants ;)

Another really great use of infused vinegar is for spiritual washes. Infuse some potent, protective plants — like rosemary, evergreens, rue, mugwort, lemon — into a basic white vinegar. Then, dilute this infusion with water to use as a purifying floor wash. Bad juju be gone!

Oxymels

These are preparations combining honey and vinegar with herbs.

Best for: Respiratory support, immune herbs, wellness
Spiritual aspect: Represents the balance of opposites — sweet and sour, warming and cooling
Example: A thyme and elderberry oxymel for winter wellness

Local honey is said to help with allergies! So, I make a special springtime oxymel with local honey, raw apple cider vinegar, and flowering herbs from my garden — especially nettle, a must have during allergy season. When the pollen count goes up, a spoonful of oxymel in sparkling water becomes my daily ritual. Plus, mixing honey and vinegar is the best kind of kitchen witchery — a little sweet and a little sour, just like life ;)

A Bit of Everything

Tonics

Like “elixirs”, this is more of an umbrella term than a specific liquid extraction — which is why I threw it in this section. Tonics can include broths, teas, tinctures…Any nourishing preparations designed to be taken regularly for overall wellness and vitality, tonics generally work gradually to build strength and resilience. They “tonify” our organs and bodily systems with targeted vitamins, minerals, and nutrients.

• Best for: Adaptogenic herbs, nutritive plants, immune supporters

• Spiritual qualities: Represents commitment to self-care and the slow medicine of prevention

• Some favorite herbs: Astragalus, codonopsis, American ginseng, nettles, raspberry leaf

Herbal Mocktails

Mocktails are everywhere these days — and you can be so endlessly creative with them that pretty much all of the previous preparations can become mocktail ingredients, which is why they get their own category :)

• Best for: Adaptogenic herbs, nervines, and aromatic plants

• Spiritual aspect: these offer multidemensional experiences for multidimensional beings

• Some favorite herbs: Holy basil, hibiscus, rose, lavender, mint, lemon balm, bitters, berries

I make my own tonic syrup with real quinine, juniper berries from my yard, and a variety of citruses. So potent and delicious in all sorts of drinks!

That recipe is a bit complex…but your mocktails don’t have to be. I share a simple, refreshing recipe below :)

Beyond the Basics

Each herbal preparation is born from a unique relationship between you and the plants. As you work with these different forms, you'll continue to develop an intuitive sense for which preparations are best for different plants, at different times, with different intentions. The creative possibilities are endless.

The key to any successful herbal preparations lies not just in technique — but in the authentic connection we form with the plants who support us.

If you are craving a nourishing and deep connection with plants , join the yearlong Wild Alchemy program. You'll learn to make healing preparations while developing your own spiritual connection to the plant realm.

Starting in September, we spend an entire year diving into ceremonies, rituals, elemental magic, and more — so you can embody the wisdom of plants and share this magic with your own communities.

No matter what kind of healer you are — from shamans to stay at home moms to acupuncturists to psychotherapists and Reiki Akashic Astro IFS Animists… partnering with the plants in an intentional, spirit-led container will 100% transform your offerings to the world.

This is a seasonal program, and our learning and practices will be guided by the sun, moon, and stars.

Learn more and join us here:

The Wild Alchemy Apprenticeship

Your Turn!

What are your favorite preparations and recipes? What did I forget? Let me know any favorite liquid remedies I’ve missed in the comments and I’ll add them to the list :) This is just an overview, and one that hopefully inspires your own creative remedies!

Recipes

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Simple Dream Time Tea

• 2 parts chamomile

• 1 part lemon balm

• 1 part spearmint

• pinch lavender and/or rose petals

Steep in hot water for 10 minutes.

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Elderberry Syrup

This elderberry syrup recipe combines the immune-supportive benefits of elderberries with additional herbs like ginger, cinnamon, and echinacea for a powerhouse blend to help fortify your defenses.

Ingredients

• 1 cup dried elderberries (or 2 cups fresh elderberries)

• 4 cups filtered water

• 1 tablespoon fresh ginger root, grated (or 1 teaspoon dried ginger)

• 1 cinnamon stick (or 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon)

• 4-5 whole cloves (or 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves)

• 1 teaspoon dried echinacea root

• 2 teaspoons wild cherry bark

• 1 teaspoon dried orange peel

• 1/2 to 1 cup raw honey (you want about a 1:1 ratio of honey to liquid, though can be a little less)

Instructions

Prepare the Ingredients: Rinse elderberries if fresh, and ensure they are free of stems and debris. Grate the ginger if using fresh.

Simmer the Herbs: In a medium saucepan, combine elderberries, water, ginger, cinnamon, cloves, echinacea root, and orange peel (if using). Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce to a gentle simmer.

Cook Down: Simmer uncovered for 30-45 minutes, stirring occasionally, or until the liquid reduces by half.

Strain the Mixture: Remove from heat and let cool so it won’t burn your hands. Using a fine mesh strainer or cheesecloth, strain the mixture into a bowl. Press or squeeze the berries and herbs to extract all the liquid. Discard the solids.

Add Honey: Once the liquid has cooled to warm (not hot), stir in the raw honey. Mix well until fully incorporated. The honey not only sweetens but also adds antimicrobial properties.

Store the Syrup: Pour the syrup into a sterilized glass jar or bottle. Seal tightly and store in the refrigerator for up to 3 months. Enjoy your elderberry syrup as a daily immune boost, drizzled over pancakes, stirred into teas, or simply by the spoonful!

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Dreamy Moon Milk with Cacao Butter

This luxurious moon milk is perfect for winding down in the evening. It’s thick, creamy, and infused with cacao butter for a velvety texture, along with relaxing herbs and spices to help you drift into peaceful sleep.

Ingredients

• 2 cups plant milk (my favorite is Elmhurst cashew milk)

• 1 tablespoon cacao butter (adds creaminess — so worth it)

• 1 teaspoon ashwagandha powder

• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

• 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

• Maple syrup or raw honey to taste

• Pinch of sea salt

• Optional garnish: a sprinkle of cinnamon or edible dried flowers (like lavender or rose petals)

Instructions

Warm the Milk: In a small saucepan over low-medium heat, warm the plant milk until it’s steaming (but not boiling).

Melt the Cacao Butter: Add the cacao butter to the milk and stir until fully melted. This creates a luscious, creamy base.

Add the Herbs and Spices: Stir in the ashwagandha powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, and a pinch of sea salt. Whisk well to combine.

Sweeten and Flavor: Remove from heat and stir in the vanilla extract and your sweetener of choice. Adjust sweetness to taste.

Blend for Frothiness (Optional): For an extra-smooth and frothy moon milk, pour the mixture into a blender and blend on low for 10-15 seconds.

Serve Warm: Pour the moon milk into your favorite mug. Garnish with a sprinkle of cinnamon or dried edible flowers if desired.

Why I love this one

• Cacao Butter: Rich in antioxidants and healthy fats, it creates a velvety, soothing texture.

• Ashwagandha: Known as an adaptogen, it helps promote relaxation and stress relief.

• Warm Spices: Cinnamon and nutmeg offer gentle warmth and comfort, perfect for bedtime rituals.

Pair this moon milk with a relaxing evening practice like journaling, a short meditation, or reading a favorite book. This cozy drink is a hug in a mug—perfect for preparing the mind and body for sweet dreams.

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Citrus Thyme Bliss Sparkling Herbal Mocktail

This vibrant, refreshing mocktail features immune-boosting thyme, bright citrus, and sparkling water for a delightful drink that feels fancy yet nourishing. It's perfect for sharing with friends or savoring solo.

Ingredients

• a few sprigs fresh thyme or about a teaspoon dried

• 1 tablespoon raw honey (or maple syrup for a vegan option)

• 1/2 fresh orange, juiced

• 1/4 fresh lemon, juiced

• 1/4 teaspoon grated fresh ginger

• 6 oz sparkling water

• Ice cubes

• Garnish: a thyme sprig, orange slice, or edible flower

Instructions

Make the Thyme Infusion: In a small bowl or glass, muddle the fresh thyme with honey (or maple syrup) to release the herb’s oils. Let it sit for 2-3 minutes. If using dried thyme, steep it in 2 tablespoons of hot water for 5 minutes, then strain and mix with the honey.

Mix the Citrus Base: In a cocktail shaker or mason jar, combine the orange juice, lemon juice, and grated ginger (if using). Add the thyme infusion and stir well.

Shake it Up: Add a handful of ice cubes to the shaker/jar. Cover and shake for 15-20 seconds to chill the mixture.

Assemble the Mocktail: Strain the citrus and thyme mixture into a glass filled with fresh ice. Top with sparkling water and gently stir to combine.

Garnish and Serve: Garnish with a sprig of thyme, a slice of orange, or an edible flower for a touch of elegance. Serve immediately and enjoy!

Why I love this one

Thyme is not only flavorful but also known for its antimicrobial and immune-boosting properties. The citrus provides a dose of vitamin C, and ginger adds a warming touch, making this mocktail a perfect blend of delicious and functional.

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Enjoyed this article? The absolute most wonderful way to say thank you is by sharing it! Use the image below for Pinterest or add to all your socials :)

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---

ASTROLOGY | RECIPES | REWILDING | SACRED AROMATICS | SHAMANISM | SPIRITUALITY | WELLNESS

Juniper Stokes is a certified coach, mythoanimist guide, alchemist & artist.

A FREE 45-page guide to awaken your inner magic!

the animals among us

wild allies for wild times, my komodo encounter, and our upcoming community workshop on April 5

Times are legitimately wild. And I love wild! If you’ve been here awhile, you know this ;) 

But let’s be clear — there are a few different types of wild, and I like some a lot better than others.

Fun aside — a woman recently unsubscribed with a note telling me that she thought my love of the wild was dangerous and misguided…ah the joys of self-employment! What do you think? I’m partial to the idea that everything you read is a Rorschack test for your own psyche ;) 

I actually don’t love the wild times we’re in. I would much prefer a world filled with love, peace, and happiness. But this division? The power grabs, lies, violence, and environmental destruction facing us? This wild is rough.

Here’s the wild I do love: the untamed nature of your divine soul. When I say wild, I’m speaking to that part of you that has never been domesticated. That still believes in magic. That knows you are worthy and wonderful beyond belief. 

This internal wild is what’s needed to meet the external chaotic wild that seeks to divide and destroy. This wild knows how to love freely, feel fully, and live with the joy of possibility. 

How do we access this wild within? 

We turn to the wild world around us — the wild spirit of undomesticated nature. 

And here’s one of my absolute favorite ways to connect with this wild essence: animals.

The hawk sighted on your morning commute. The whale that appeared in your dreams. Your beloved animal allies, with you all the time. 

The spiritual nature of animals teaches us how to reclaim our own wild spirits.

When you learn to read the wisdom in your animal encounters — whether in your own backyard or the spirit world — you tap into a way of being that aligns with your soul. You discover new hidden talents. You experiment with more authentic and healthy ways of living. You listen to whispers of what’s to come and how to respond. 

What birds awaken you in the morning? Who lives in the forests around you? Which wild ones fill your dreams? What favorite creatures have been lifelong loves? 

Take time to learn about the wild beasts that call to you, and trust the wisdom that arises. 

Who are the spirit animals in your life? Do you know who your most trusted animal allies are? 

A Story
A “Dragon”
A Heartbreak
A Love

Once I was visiting a zoo in Singapore. I don’t like zoos or visit them now, but at the time I was traveling and that particular experience came highly recommended.

At one point, a komodo dragon was being teased by some kids. “Gross!” “So ugly!” They shouted. 

This behavior breaks my heart on so many levels. 

Because I know the animals understand more than we think. 

And, what has happened to these kids’ hearts to make them behave like this towards a living creature? That so many young ones are being raised without reverence for the great diversity of the natural world is a tragedy, and one we see the consequences of all around us. 

As I stood there, gazing a beautiful being trapped in a cage being taunted by children, by broken heart reached out towards the giant lizard. 

I love you. My heart whispered. You are so beautiful, and I’m honored to be in your presence. Your sacrifice, living this life in this way, matters. I’m grateful for you and this life you are living. 

The komodo dragon turned its head as I spoke these words silently through my heart, making deep and long eye contact with me. 

Thank you. I felt. 

Calling the wild ones to your own heart.

For those on any sort of spiritual path, there have likely been at least a few key animal encounters in your history.

Ones that shifted how you thought, felt, or experienced the wisdom of the animal world. Ones that guided your path forward in some key way. Ones that let you know you aren’t alone, and you are loved.

I’ve been speaking with animals since I was born (I assume, lol — my earliest memories are from age three, but I was definitely communing with animals by then). And I’ve had a lot of really wild animal experiences….

• A seal swam right up to my face, looked me in the eyes, and dove away.

• A baby crocodile, only 6 feet away from where I stood, seemed to wink at me. 

• A magpie landed on my partner’s shoulder before hopping onto mine.

• A great horned owl flew from tree to tree in broad daylight with me on a hike.

• A mountain goat, usually my friend, tried to run me off the side of a cliff when I told it I was leaving Colorado (probably should’ve paid more attention to that one…).

• A cave of glow worms told me that they were just as creepy as they were magical.

• Two eagles circled over my yard when I felt I had nothing left to live for. 

I’ve heard just as many stories from my clients and friends. When you are sensitive, and when you love the natural world, animals appear. 

Interpreting the presence of these animals, however, is another story. 

It’s a practice that takes discernment, trust, skill, and heart.

Thank goodness understanding the presence of animals, even communicating with animals, is something that anyone can learn to do. 

On April 5th, I’m sharing a LIVE 2-hour workshop that will teach you how to interpret animal omens, begin communicating with animals, identify and meet your own animal allies, and more. 

This will be a super interactive workshop, filled with guided practices, sharing, and time for Q&A. 

Plus, you get a bunch of goodies when you register ;) 

We’ll meet Saturday, April 5th at 9:30am PT — and yes, there will be a replay for those who can’t come live :)

Oh, and in case you’re wondering…this workshop is only $45! Seriously a bargain for a 2-hour live class, 60-page manual, recorded practices, lifetime access, and more.

Learn the art of animal magic 🐾

Why this workshop? Well…

I’ve been giving power animal readings to clients and teaching live workshops all about spirit animals for years now, and I’ve been asked a lot of questions on this topic:

How many power animals can I have? 
I saw a raccoon cross the road last night. Do you think it means anything?
What’s the difference between a spirit animal and a power animal?
Can I have a dinosaur as my power animal? 
I dreamed about a walrus—what does that mean?
A shaman said I have a bear as a power animal, now what?  

As I noticed the same questions coming up again and again, I decided to put my wealth of wisdom and experience all into one place ― an easy to understand workshop that will help absolutely anyone learn how to work with spirit animals.

When you sign up for the live class, you’ll immediately get 3 gifts included with your purchase:

• The Spirit Animal Guidebook―The core teachings of this workshop come in a 60-page, beautifully designed PDF guidebook. (Hint: read this first so you can ask questions at the live class!)

• A Guided Power Animal Journey―Discover one of your power animals with a 20 minute guided shamanic journey.

• A Drumming Track―Enjoy a 10 minute drumming track to use for your own journeys, so you can explore without narration.

Plus, you’ll have lifetime access to everything, including the recording of the live workshop!

I know it’s a bit of a risk offering this workshop right in the middle of eclipse - rx everything season…but I also think this workshop is the perfect medicine for the wild times upon us.

Let’s gather in community, with each other and the spirit world, and connect with the love and wild power that will carry us through the chaos.

Enjoyed this article? The absolute most wonderful way to say thank you is by sharing it! Use the image below for Pinterest or add to all your socials :)

You might also like:

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---

ASTROLOGY | RECIPES | REWILDING | SACRED AROMATICS | SHAMANISM | SPIRITUALITY | WELLNESS

Juniper Stokes is a certified coach, mythoanimist guide, alchemist & artist.

A FREE 45-page guide to awaken your inner magic!

The Perfumed Heart & Anointing the Windows to Heaven

Allegory of the Sense of Smell (1617–18), Peter Paul Rubens and Jan Brueghel the Elder. Museo del Prado, Madrid

A dab on the wrist, a splash behind the ears.

To the French aristocrats of the 17th century, these points held the allure of seduction. In these close contact areas, perfume would waft from neck to nose during greetings, whispers, and embraces. A perfumed wrist would leave a trail of aroma with every movement, and could be easily accessed for a discreet inhale.

Practically — these points on the skin hold heat, which helps distribute and enhance aroma, and you’re less likely to stain clothing from these points. 

The wrists and neck are also known pulse points. Did our perfumed ancestors intuit how protective and healing anointing these places with fragrant oils could be?

And here we are, centuries later — still creating fragrant auras by placing perfumes upon our wrists and necks.

This practice, when done in partnership with pure plant perfumes, has the potential to protect our heart and attune us to spirit throughout the day. 

Unfortunately, most people aren’t using botanical, natural perfumes. Even many “spiritual” perfumes are made with synthetic fragrances. 

If you’ve been around here for awhile, you probably already know some of the risks of synthetic perfumes — namely disrupting the endocrine system. But stay with me here. There is way more at stake that you might realize. 

And — way more benefit to uncover, too ;)

The Meridian Matrix of Perfumed Points

When we apply any perfume to wrist and neck points on the body, we are activating and anointing our energetic blueprint — our meridian matrix.

This means that the perfume you put on these key points not only travels through your skin into your body’s chemistry, it also moves into specific meridians, where it is further circulated throughout your system.

Meridians, to review, are energetic pathways through our body. Some of them have an affinity with organ systems and very real effects on our physical health. Some of them carry karma, patterns, and life lessons. All of them impact us on multiple levels of our being.

Any system that utilizes the meridian matrix for healing — from acupuncture to tapping to anointing — aims to free us from blockages and foreign energy that clogs or disrupts the healthy flow of our energy.

So how do the commonly perfumed wrist and neck points relate to our energetic body?

Let’s begin with the wrist points. 

In TCM, the Pericardium meridian runs down the arm, with a few key points along the wrist. It protects the heart — both physically and emotionally — just like the actual pericardium, the membrane around the physical heart. 

Take a look at the image below, and you’ll see just where some of the key wrist points are:

Hand Jue Yin Pericardium Meridian 手厥陰心包經穴 | SpringerLink

A healthy Pericardium helps us manage emotional stress, heartbreak, and trauma. It opens us to joy, love, and connection. 

Next, let's look at the neck points. 

The neck is home to several points within the grouping known as the Windows of Heaven.* Also referred to as Heavenly Windows or Windows of the Sky, these points are often used to connect us with our higher selves and facilitate all sorts of spiritual healing. A few of the Heavenly Window points found along the neck include:

• Large Intestine 18

• Triple Heater 16

• Stomach 9

Images below thanks to Yin Yang House.

*There is contention around the actual age and origin of these points, with many scholars calling them a modern invention. It seems that a version with 5 points has some origin in ancient texts, while the grouping of 10 points might be a modern development. I find that the results speak for themselves, regardless of their origins. See this article for more.

Plant Perfumes as Energetic Allies

While acupuncture is probably the most well-known way to stimulate these points, they aren’t our only option. Placing stones on these points is an ancient practice. And so is anointing them with sacred, perfumed oils.

By anointing your wrist points and neck with sacred oils via a simple daily perfume ritual, you stimulate energies of love, connection, and healthy emotional boundaries within yourself. You facilitate your connection to spirit and your true, divine nature.

This happens simply by applying perfume. (But only the right kind of perfume…)

We evolved in partnership with plants, and plants help us remember how to be healthy. Essential oils in particular carry the healthy, vibrant energetic blueprint of a plant — which in turns helps our own energy blueprint remember its most healthy and vibrant way of being. 

When we wear perfumes made with real essential oils and absolutes, not only do we benefit from the condensed chemistry of plants, but we receive their spiritual essence and energetic gifts, as well. 

If you have a diluted essential oil or truly botanical perfume nearby, you can experience this right now: 

Dab a bit of your perfume onto your your pulse points. Feel the spiritual essence of the plants flow into your body on the lines of energetic matrix. Notice how the plants know just where to go, effortlessly clearing any stagnation as they circulate health chi throughout your system. This may feel subtle. Simply notice any tiny shifts, buzzes, vibrations, or thoughts that arise. 

For those wondering — yes, certain plants do have an affinity for certain meridians, and I’ll share some of my favorite plant perfume allies in a moment. 

Now that you have some idea of how truly magical and healing plant perfumes can be, let’s look at how typical commercial perfumes impact our systems… 

Popular Perfumes as Foreign Energy

There’s a foundational concept when it comes to healing at energetic and spiritual levels:

Either something is missing that should be there, or something is there shouldn’t be there.*

(I have an entire 65-minute class on this topic that is totally FREE, which you can check out here.)

Anointing with pure plant perfumes has the potential to call our soul home. To ignite memory beyond the mundane and help our souls remember who we really are. In other words, plant perfumes restore what should be there.

Anointing with synthetic entities that have not evolved to support us introduces foreign substances and energetics into our system. We are literally inducing spiritual illness because synthetic perfumes add something that shouldn’t be there.

In Taoist alchemy, we refer to these substances as parasites or ghosts — foreign energies that enter our system and begin to hijack our wellness to support their own survival. 

When “ghosts” take up residence in our hearts: 

• We have trouble letting go of the past. The process of integrating challenging experiences into lessons that become strengths is clogged, and our most painful emotions get lodged in our systems.

• It becomes more difficult to discern what feelings, emotions, and opinions are our aren’t our own. Are you picking up on other people’s fear, or is it your intuition? Heart ghosts make this type of discernment incredibly confusing.

• Our relationships lack intimacy. The ghosts block us from being able to open our hearts and find the truth and love within. 

• We lose hope. For some reason, ghosts love depression. Sadness. Fear. Shame. Guilt. All the fun stuff. They feed off these emotions, and make it harder for us to access the spiritual joy that is always waiting to imbue us with blessings. 

When “ghosts” clog our Windows to Heaven:

• We lose our spiritual connection. Our attention becomes overly fixated on the material world, leaving us feeling empty and hopeless without fully understanding why.

• Our connection with our higher self is blocked or severed. We start to believe the lie that a smaller version of ourselves is the fullness of our being.

• We can’t access our intuition. There’s too much confusion with the many messages that come to us from all directions, and we lack the ability to know what’s true beyond the surface. 

• Trust in the goodness of life becomes elusive. Without an authentic connection to the realms beyond this reality, we lack the ability to see the beauty that is always within any pain.

It’s estimated that up to 80% of humans wear perfume regularly, and the vast majority of this is still synthetic. (Even “natural” perfumes can contain synthetics filled with foreign energy, which I write more about here.)

Imagine what this is doing to us. 

So many people are unaware that they are sabotaging their connection with their true nature, which often results in searching outside yourself for fullness. What should you believe? Who will protect you?

We give away our power when we lack the discernment to know lies from truth. We lose our ability to have strong communities when our hearts are filled with ghosts.

And we see the results of this all around us. 

Fortunately, there are so many options for botanical, natural perfumes today…  

Botanical Perfumes as Daily Allies

Perfume is ritual. It always has been. And it’s only been since the mid-1800s that perfumes have had synthetic materials in them. Reclaiming the ancient, ancestral practices of blessing our bodies and energy fields with sacred, natural perfumes is revolutionary act with far reaching consequences. 

Botanical perfumes are everywhere today, but you do need to be careful — there’s a lot green/spiritual washing when it comes to terms like “clean” or “natural”. (So much so that I wrote a whole article on how to navigate the chaos and jargon of natural perfumes.)

I’ve been creating natural perfumes for almost two decades now, and I know where my ingredients come from. I also have developed a process of creating perfumes while channeling compassionate spirits, so each bottle is filled with transmissions of healing energy. 

When I create a botanical perfume, I select plants based on several factors — what I know about them chemically (I’m also a certified aromatherapist with a 610-hour training under my belt), energetically (I mentor with a Taoist alchemist who specializes in anointing), and spiritually (my mediumship practices help me communicate directly with the spirits of the plants). 

This article goes into more detail about my process. 

And this article has a fun example of how all this came together when I created my Magpie perfume. 

Many of the oils for the heart and spirit gates I mentioned above are in my natural perfumes, which means that when you apply one to your wrist (and the heart itself, as I like to do), you are giving your entire body a plant healing. 

As promised, I’ll highlight a few general botanicals that you can use on your own, alongside some of my own creations, here:

Anointing the Heart

Truly, any pure botanical perfumes applied to the wrists will have a positive effect, but of course, bringing in oils with a special affinity for the heart is especially helpful. A few of my favorites:

Rose — obviously! Rose is the ultimate heart harmonizer, both opening us to love and supporting the cultivation of healthy boundaries.

A few perfumes with rose: Aphrodite, Rós, Elephant, Forest Fawn

Lavender — A great harmonizer and all-purpose healer, lavender brings balance and gentle strength to the heart center.

A few perfumes with lavender: Wild Horses, Artemis

Citruses — Uplifting the spirit, citruses are a blessing for a bright heart. 

Citrus-forward perfumes: Jardín de Citron, Yuzu Yoru

Cinnamon — A deeply penetrating oil that warms the heart and helps energy move while brightening the heart and mind.

A few with cinnamon: Oshun, Mary Magdalene (both of these have big rosy hearts, too)

Lemonbalm (Melissa) — Soothes anxiety and grief while uplifing the spirit

Anthophilia, dedicated to the bees, is the best perfume for lemonbalm; but, my heart chakra anointing oil is filled with this loving herb, along with roses and violets. 

All flowers — In general, all flowers have an affinity for the heart. Chamomile soothes and calms, jasmine nourishes, ylang ylang strengthens and uplifts, neroli does everything :) 

See floral perfumes here.

Anointing the Heavens

For the Heavenly Windows, I love oils with an affinity for spirit. Every tradition associates different plants with different types of spiritual work, so this is pretty broad…but once again, here are a few favorites to get started with:

The flowers, again — When it comes to plant parts (blooms, woods, roots, fruits, leaves, etc), the flowers have an affinity for influencing the spiritual dimensions of life. A few I love for these points are:

• Clary sage & Lavender — brings clarity to higher mind and harmonizes with the body

• Neroli — uplifting, delicate, and enhances angelic connections

• White lotus — opens us to spiritual wisdom and connection

Some perfume options: White Buffalo Calf Woman, Magpie, and Wild Horses for clary sage and lavender; Xi Wang Mu and Epona for neroli, and Kuan Yin for white lotus.

Frankincense — A protective, sacred resin, frankincense helps us ground spiritual wisdom into our bodies and minds.

Perfumes with frankincense: Innana, Mary Magdalene and Oshun again, and all the angel oils. 

Hiba & Hinoki — Two Japanese evergreens with sacred aromas, these woods calm the spirit and quiet the mind. 

My perfume for abundance, Daikoku, is inspired by and filled with these trees.

Trees — Strong and tall, the trees help us root to Earth and expand to spirit, which keeps these gates protected and open. 

Omgggg I loooove evergreen perfumes. Maybe because my name is Juniper ;) So I’ve made a few with amazing forestry fragrances, including Artemis, Wolf, and Green Man.

If you wish to use any of these essential oils on your own, make sure to dilute them first! More is not better with this practice. 5% is good to start for a light, energetic lift. Up to 20% works for most, but not for cinnamon — go with 1-2% for that one.

Becoming the Alchemist of Your Own Healing

The waitlist is open for Nectar & Alchemy, the School of Sacred Aromatics. I’ll be launching with a few courses on the spiritual dimensions of fragrance, working with plant spirit allies, and an introduction to anointing — plus a very special anointing workship for the Feast Day of Mary Magdalene in July. 

Enjoyed this article? The absolute most wonderful way to say thank you is by sharing it! Use the image below for Pinterest or add to all your socials :)

You might also like:

• Severed from Scent

• The Mystical and Magical Emergence of Angel Oils

• The Complete Guide to Magical & Ritual Anointing Oils

• 8 Tips for Buying High Quality Essential Oils

• A Guide to Perfume Types: Dilutions & Ratios in Natural Perfumes

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ASTROLOGY | RECIPES | REWILDING | SACRED AROMATICS | SHAMANISM | SPIRITUALITY | WELLNESS

Juniper Stokes is a certified coach, mythoanimist guide, alchemist & artist.

A FREE 45-page guide to awaken your inner magic!

Wild as a wolf with a box of chocolates

Nicolas Poussin | The Triumph of Pan

Yes, it was Valentine's Day yesterday, and I hope you felt the love. My favorite way to celebrate? Chocolate and roses.

Because guess what? Valentine’s Day might superficially be all about overspending on sugary bonbons and ruby red roses in the name of commodified relationship envy…

The Mythoanimist Path is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

But it’s also a day that brings awareness to the heart. And chocolates and roses are both heart medicines.

A spoonful of cacao, a pinch each of rose powder and cinnamon, and a bit of warm cashew milk. Heart-healing heaven.

But I’m not actually here to go all in on Valentine’s themes… 

Because long before heart-shaped chocolates and roses, there was Lupercalia—a Roman festival of wild abandon, fertility, and purification that honored the primal forces of nature. 

Celebrated on February 15th, Lupercalia was one of the oldest festivals in Rome. It was dedicated to Lupercus, a pastoral god sometimes associated with Faunus (the Roman equivalent of Pan), and always to the legendary she-wolf that nurtured Romulus and Remus, the twin founders of Rome.

The rites took place in the Lupercal, a cave on the Palatine Hill believed to be the very place where the she-wolf suckled the twins.

The ceremony was wild.

Priests of Lupercus, known as Luperci, sacrificed goats and a dog before cutting strips of the animals’ hides to make whips. Clad in little more than these bloodied skins, they ran through the streets of Rome, striking women along the way — an act believed to bring fertility and ease childbirth. 

As Christianity spread, Lupercalia faced increasing opposition from the Church…

(And boy did they ban that shit. The horned gods, which Lupercus was associated with via Faunus/Pan, were the primal fertility gods of so many pagan cultures. The lords of life on mother Earth. And their horns literally became the horns of the devil.)

…Anyway, Lupercalia was eventually banned — and though I’m a fan of wildness, I’m actually okay with not killing goats so their skins can be used to whip women. 🤷‍♀️

But the devotion to primal energies and cycles of nature buried within these rites? Humans — at least some humans on some level — know that we need the ecstatic chaos of wildness.

Throughout the Middle Ages, remnants of Lupercalia’s wild revelry survived in fertility rites and frenzied celebrations, with villagers and forest folks donning wolf and goat masks in carnivalesque processions. 

Like the Romans before them, villagers saw wolves as creatures of both wilderness and community — fierce hunters who also lived in loyal family groups. The wolf who nursed Rome's founders wasn't just a symbol of wildness, but of protection, guidance, and wisdom.

In these February festivals, the wolf-priests of Lupercalia and wild villagers of Europe weren't just playing at being wild — they were remembering a time when we lived closer to our animal kin. When we understood their languages, followed their signs, and learned from their ways of being.

Perhaps it's time we welcomed a bit more of this wildness back into our lives.

Not by running through streets in goatskins and forsaking the beauty of the cultural threads that keep us safe and sovereign, but by reconnecting with the animal wisdom that still lives in our bones. By remembering that we too are creatures of instinct and intuition, community, and fierce independence.

This is part of what draws me to working with spirit animals, and why I'm excited to share these ancient connections in our upcoming workshop. Because sometimes the best way to find our path forward is to remember where we came from — to let the wolf, or whatever animal speaks to your soul ,show you the way back to your own wild wisdom.

The Spirit Animal Workshop

On Sunday, March 23rd, at 9:30am PT, I’ll be sharing a LIVE 2-hour spirit animal workshop.

You’ll learn all about spirit animals, meet your own animal allies, and begin to cultivate meaningful relationships with all the animal spirits in your life. 

This will be recorded if you can’t come live :) 

Already purchased The Spirit Animal Workshop? Then you can come for free! Keep your eye out for a separate email with more info. 

Celebrating the Spirit of Lupercalia Today

While I’m not encouraging anyone to slaughter animals or run naked through the streets (please, just don’t), this is a good time of year to reconnect with the wildness within.

The heart-centered energy of our modern-day Valentine’s isn’t just about romantic love — it’s about passion. 

What inner desires, those messages from your soul, drive you to take action in the world despite all the messages that tell you not to listen?

This Lupercalia, try the following to touch into your wild passions:

• Spend time in nature — especially if it’s cold and challenging! Really following your passions in life will definitely be uncomfortable, so practice with the wilderness just outside your door.

• Meditate on the spirit of Wolf — Where is it time to become a wolf-like leader in your life? Where is it time to care for community? And what is your heart hunting?

• Engage in self-purification rituals — whether through a cleansing bath, fire ceremony, breathwork, or plant brushing.

• Do what you love — allowing yourself to be guided by passion, love, creativity, and vitality.

Lupercalia reminds us that beneath the veneer of civilization, we are still creatures of instinct, longing for connection with the primal forces of life.

You might also like:

• 5 Steps for Communicating with The Spirits of Nature

• Gnome Plant & Meeting the Queen of the Underworld

• Coregulating with the Natural World

• 8 Benefits of Partnering with the Spirits of Nature

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

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ASTROLOGY | RECIPES | REWILDING | SACRED AROMATICS | SHAMANISM | SPIRITUALITY | WELLNESS

Juniper Stokes is a certified coach, mythoanimist guide, alchemist & artist.

A FREE 45-page guide to awaken your inner magic!

Who are the spirits of nature? A comprehensive Guide to Nature Spirits

Who are the spirits of nature?

You've probably heard of elves and fairies, sensed spirits in trees, heard rumors of bigfoot, seen faces in stones, or even glimpsed sparks of light in the corner of your eye while walking through the woods.

The truth is, the spirits of nature are all around us—and they are a very diverse group of beings!

This article will introduce you to the basic categories of nature spirits. Let's dive in!

The Big Picture: Animism, Alternate Dimensions, Spirit Friends, and Lost Souls

I find it helpful to look at three main categories of nature spirits — plus a related group you'll encounter as you dive deeper into working with the spirits of nature.

But first…a bit of a disclaimer… Placing spiritual wisdom into strict categorical systems is a bit silly — spirit doesn't play by any rules, and you can probably at times feel truths that your mind has trouble articulating.

However, I love taking convoluted spiritual knowledge and organizing it into systems that help our human brains comprehend the incomprehensible. ;) This is part of my medicine in this lifetime. So, enjoy the attempted organization of the unorganizable!

Physical Nature Spirits

The first category are the nature beings we can see with our regular eyes: flowers, trees, animals, stones, bodies of water, mountains, the sun and planets — anything in nature and the cosmos that exists right alongside us in our 3D reality.

Through an animist perspective, we view all of these nature beings as enlivened by spirit, just as we are.

Magical Nature Spirits

The second category are those nature beings who also exist right alongside us, but in a slightly different frequency — in this way, they often seem quite magical. These beings include the fae, elves, devas, ancestors, various land spirits, and more. We'll dive deeper into this category below!

Though we don't usually see these beings on a regular basis (though it can happen), we can learn to connect with them using our intuitive senses.

Spiritual Nature Spirits

The third category is a bit different — these are high vibrational spirit beings who have an affinity for the earth and the natural world. This category includes our power animals, some ancestors and fae, and some deities.

These beings are often referred to as "spirit guides" — benevolent beings who serve as our teachers, protectors, and healers in the spirit worlds.

Not all spirit guides are nature spirits, and not all nature spirits in this category are spirit guides, so this category can get a little messy (such is the way of spirit!).

What's important to remember is that the first two categories — beings we can see and those in a different frequency — both reside on earth, just like we do.

This third category is for purely spiritual beings who exist beyond time and space — even life — as we know it.

So, while a living hawk has a spirit and would fall into the first category, a spirit hawk that serves as your power animal, for example, is a purely spiritual being that falls into this third category.

If you want to really understand the different types of spirit animals we might work with, I’ve created a fantastic resource for you here.

Lost Souls

We need to address one more type of being you might encounter as you explore connecting with nature spirits: lost souls.

Sometimes, after a physical body comes to its death point, the spirit inside stays on Earth instead of moving into the light and its next stage of spiritual evolution. This is true for humans and nature spirits—anyone who lives on our earth can experience this phenomenon.

Beings who remain on Earth after their death can become what we call lost souls—it's as if they're stuck. And yes, you could call them ghosts.

It's important to practice discernment when connecting with nature spirits, so you know whether you're connecting with a fellow living being or a lost soul. Lost souls aren't necessarily dangerous, but they can be misleading or draining—especially if you don't know who you're dealing with.

If you’re drawn to helping these spirits, training the art of psychopomp would be a good path for you.

A Deeper Look at Nature Spirits

As mentioned above, all beings in nature are inspirited. You can learn to connect with the spirit of a tree, a rock, a river, a river, a flower, and the Earth herself. I also think of celestial beings as inspirited nature beings, as we can connect with our sun, moon, stars, planets and other beings of the cosmos. 

Since we can all see and know who these physical spirits are, let’s explore the magical and spiritual beings who co-exist with us as the spirits of nature…

Spirits of the Land and Place

While "nature spirits" and "spirits of the land" are often used interchangeably, there's a subtle distinction. Nature spirits can be any of the beings we've discussed, whether they're tied to a particular location or not. Spirits of the land are specifically place-based nature spirits.

In addition to the many spirits of the land that reside in each place, every place has its own spirit, too. This might be the spirit of a city, your home or property, a neighborhood, a park, a mountain, wilderness area…

The more you work with nature spirits, the more you’ll be able to feel into what area is contained within each spirit of place. (And yes, they can overlap!)

The Fairy Realm

Perhaps one of the most beloved and well-known types of nature spirits are the fairies. Some people use the term “fairy” to refer to almost any magical being in nature—including elves, sylphs, gnomes, and more. Others have more intentional uses of the world, with different cultures making their own distinctions about who counts as a fairy. 

The truth is, there are so many different kinds of fairies, and so many different names for them throughout the world, that this could be an entire book! (And is, many times over.)

As you read more about the fairy worlds, you’ll find that many cultures refer to “dark” and “light” versions—in other words, some are benevolent and some are malevolent. 

For now, let’s look a few common types of fairies that you might hear about:

The Fae: This is an umbrella term primarily used for English and Germanic fairies, though it can encompass many magical beings. They're often divided into two courts:

• The Seelie Court (Trooping Fairies): Generally more benevolent, including the Tuatha de Danann and various noble fae

• The Unseelie Court (Wild Fairies): Often considered more dangerous or mischievous

Other common fairy types include:

• Brownies and Pixies: Usually household helpers

• Dryads: Tree spirits

• Elemental Beings: such as sylphs for air, salamanders for fire, gnomes for earth, and undines for water

• Will O'Wisps: Mysterious lights that appear in nature

• Kelpies: Water spirits

• Flower Fairies: The overlighting spirits of flowers

• Changlings: A supernatural being that is left in place of a human child

There are of course so many more! And while this list primarily comes from European folklore, every culture has it’s own language for and communities of fairy beings! If you want a more comprehensive list, I recommend looking into the work of Judika Iles :)

Magical and Mythical Beings

Beyond the fae, so many of the beings we often say are “mythical” are actually nature spirits, existing in parallel realms — often able to cross into the physical for the rare appearance.

Tales of merfolk, satyrs, unicorns, yeti, dragons, selki…are these beings truly only in myth, or do they perhaps exist as spirits of the land?

Here in the Northwest United States, sightings and stories of bigfoot are common — and not just among modern day hikers. The native tribes of the coastal West have legends of bigfoot as a protector and guardian of the forest, appearing to those who are worthy.

What mythological nature spirits reside in your location?

Earth Deities and Guardian Spirits

At the highest level of nature spirits are the great earth deities and guardian spirits found across cultures:

• Gaia/Mother Earth/Pacha Mama: The spirit of Earth herself

• Artemis, Dionysus, Geb, Danu, Nerthus, and more: Deities associated with wild nature

• Various indigenous guardian spirits who protect specific landscapes

These beings often work through other nature spirits to maintain balance and harmony in the natural world, and they are powerful allies to contact directly with your own earth tending.

How to work with the Magical Spirits of Nature

When engaging with nature spirits, especially the fae, it's important to remember a few key principles:

1. Respect and Reciprocity: Unlike purely divine spirits, such as angels or benevolent ancestors, many magical nature spirits operate on a system of exchange. They can see perfectly well if you are a friend or foe…and they will respond accordingly!

2. Boundaries: Be careful about accepting gifts from nature spirits, especially in dreams or journeys. Such exchanges can create energetic bonds that might become challenging to manage. There’s a reason so many myths and fairy tales caution against imbibing the drink of the fae!

3. Cultural Context: While these beings appear in traditions worldwide, their specific characteristics and how to interact with them can vary significantly by culture. What's considered appropriate interaction in one tradition might not be in another.

4. Elements and Alignment: Many nature spirits tend to align with specific elements and prefer to work within their domain. For example, a tree spirit might have "one foot in our world and one in another," making it a bridge between realms.

Download a free 45-page ritual guide filled with elemental practices here:

The realm of nature spirits is vast and complex, filled with beings that range from the physical to the purely spiritual. As you explore these relationships, remember to approach with respect, discernment, and an open heart. While we can create categories and systems to understand these beings better, the reality is often more fluid and mysterious than our human minds can fully grasp.

The key to working with nature spirits isn't just about understanding who they are—it's about developing relationships based on mutual respect and understanding. Whether you're connecting with the spirit of a tree in your backyard or exploring the mysterious realm of the fae, each interaction is an opportunity to deepen your connection with the living world around us.

You might also like:

• 5 Steps for Communicating with The Spirits of Nature

• Gnome Plant & Meeting the Queen of the Underworld

• Coregulating with the Natural World

• 8 Benefits of Partnering with the Spirits of Nature

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

Recent Posts

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---

ASTROLOGY | RECIPES | REWILDING | SACRED AROMATICS | SHAMANISM | SPIRITUALITY | WELLNESS

Juniper Stokes is a certified coach, mythoanimist guide, alchemist & artist.

A FREE 45-page guide to awaken your inner magic!

The Sacred Art of Earth Connection: Transforming Grief into Hope

Those of us who deeply love our Earth often carry a complex array of emotions in our hearts. We feel the grief of witnessing environmental destruction, the rage at preventable crises, and even guilt for being part of a species that has inflicted so much trauma on our planet. As natural empaths, many of us don't know how to separate the Earth's pain from our own (nor would we fully want to).

But what if these strong emotions could become catalysts for transformation?

All energy is usable energy. The question then becomes:

How do we transmute our grief into hope? How do we alchemize our rage into healing?

The transformational Power of Spiritual Rewilding

One of the most profound paths forward is through spiritual rewilding — the art and practice of returning to our true spiritual state.

When we rewild our spirits, we peel back layers of conditioning that prevent us from imagining and creating more magnificent lives. We awaken to our endless divinity and remember our true power.

The natural world serves as our perfect mirror in this process. Just as ecological rewilding restores ecosystems to their natural, wild states, spiritual rewilding helps us restore our connection to our essential nature. 

When we encounter truly wild places, we feel a different kind of energy — the energy of life living itself fully. Even death feels alive in these spaces.

Meeting the Soul of the Earth

One of the most healing practices we can engage in is connecting directly with the soul of the Earth herself. Not just the surface level where we encounter the echoes of trauma, but the deeper, eternal, compassionate spirit that holds a far more expansive vision than our human minds are accustomed to.

When we approach the Earth from an animist perspective — recognizing the inherent consciousness in all beings – we open ourselves to profound healing and guidance. The Earth is a great spiritual being who can see through our human layers to our true spirit. When we connect essence to essence, soul to soul, we remember who we really are.

Practice:

If you have a shamanic journey or meditation practice, set the intention to meet the spirit of the Earth. Learn about your relationship, and receive her reflections of your true nature.

Three Pathways to Deeper Connection

1. Co-regulation with Nature: Just as we co-regulate with other humans, we can attune our nervous systems to the steady, grounding presence of the Earth. This practice helps us tend to those challenging feelings of guilt, shame, frustration, and anger that arise in response to environmental trauma.

2. Sacred Reciprocity: True healing happens when we both give and receive with grateful hearts. The Earth doesn't want us to carry guilt — she wants us to engage in meaningful partnership. When we approach our relationship with the Earth from this perspective, we create space for miracles.

3. Being Witnessed by the Earth: In our daily lives, we often get trapped in patterns that make us feel smaller and less powerful than we truly are. When we allow ourselves to be witnessed by the Earth's loving gaze, we receive a reflection of our true potential.

A Call to Remember

Our ecological crises require a cosmological solution. 

The Earth knew you were coming — you're here at this time for a reason. She wants you to live the life you came here to live, to offer your unique gifts in service to the greater web of life.

You don't have to carry the weight of environmental trauma alone. The Earth and the spirits of nature are ready to partner with us in the work of healing and transformation. When we remember this truth, we tap into an infinite wellspring of hope and resilience.

The path forward isn't about forcing ourselves to stay positive in the face of real challenges. Instead, it's about expanding our perspective to include both the reality of what is and the possibility of what could be. It's about remembering that we are not separate from nature — we are nature, remembering itself back to wholeness.

A Ritual Guide for Earth Healing

You can make a difference, find healing, and become an even more effective Earth ally. And I want you to have the tools that I’ve personally found most impactful and transformative in this work. 

This is why I’m sharing my entire 45-page Wild Alchemy Ritual Guide for free. 

Inside, you’ll find 5 elemental rituals, reflection questions, recipes, and more to help you claim your role as a spiritual keeper of the Earth. 

Get yours here:

What wild dreams might emerge when you allow yourself to partner with the soul of the Earth? What healing might unfold when you give yourself permission to be witnessed by her loving gaze?

The Earth is waiting to show you.

You might also like:

Cosmic Evolution (A Prophecy)

Um…maybe it’s not your intuition (How to tell true guidance from mind chatter)

Shamanic Techniques for Healing

How to Work with the Spirits of the Land: 3 Powerful Practices

Recent Posts

Cosmic Evolution (A Prophecy)

The Astrology of 2025

The 13 Holy Nights: Rituals & Practices

---

ASTROLOGY | RECIPES | REWILDING | SACRED AROMATICS | SHAMANISM | SPIRITUALITY | WELLNESS

Juniper Stokes is a certified coach, mythoanimist guide, alchemist & artist.

A FREE 45-page guide to awaken your inner magic!

Transfiguration: The Ancient Art of Spiritual Transformation

Throughout human history, mystics, healers, and spiritual seekers have practiced a profound method of healing that transcends ordinary understanding. From the sacred temples of ancient Egypt to the cutting-edge research of modern quantum physicists, there's been a persistent thread of a deeper reality — one where consciousness itself can transform matter. This is the essence of transfiguration, an ancient art that invites us to access and embody the divine light within.

What is Transfiguration?

At its core, transfiguration is a complete shift of form or consciousness. It’s more than meditation or visualization — this is true alchemy. A a radical state of being where you become one with divine light, dissolving the boundaries between self and universal energy. 

This state not only transforms the practitioner but also ripples outward, affecting the environment and others in profound ways.

Throughout history, many traditions and individuals have glimpsed or practiced this phenomenon:

• Egyptian Mystery Schools: These ancient teachings described transfiguration as a process of divine light transformation. Initiates underwent rigorous spiritual practices to align with cosmic energies, often in temple rites designed to dissolve the ego and reveal the eternal soul.

• Christian Esotericism: The New Testament recounts moments of miraculous healing and transfiguration, such as the Mount of Transfiguration where Jesus radiated divine light. These acts demonstrated the power of spiritual alignment to transcend physical limitations.

• Quantum Researchers: Modern scientists like Joe Dispenza are beginning to explore the ways consciousness can influence matter. His research into meditation and brain-heart coherence reveals how focused intention and elevated emotions can create measurable shifts in physical reality.

• Shamanic Traditions: Across cultures, shamans have entered altered states of consciousness to access the divine. Through journeying, they connect with universal energies, facilitating healing and transformation for their communities.

• Global Alchemists: Both Western and Eastern Alchemical traditions hold one thing to be true — alchemy isn’t just about what happens in the laboratory. It is the complete transformation of the alchemist themselves.

The Science and Spirit of Transformation

Modern quantum physics is beginning to validate what ancient wisdom traditions have always known: consciousness is not confined to our physical bodies. At the quantum level, everything — from the cells in our bodies to the stars in the sky — is interconnected fields of energy. This understanding opens the door to profound healing and transformation.

Key principles from science and spirit converge:

1. Energetic Interconnectedness: Quantum entanglement suggests that particles remain connected across vast distances, mirroring the idea of a unified consciousness.

2. Observer Effect: At the quantum level, the act of observation influences outcomes, echoing the power of focused intention in spiritual practices.

3. Frequency and Vibration: Ancient traditions often emphasize raising one’s vibration, a concept now mirrored in the idea that higher frequencies are associated with healing and coherence.

The Seven Keys of Profound Healing

Achieving a true transfigurative state requires:

1. Powerful, Clear Intention: Intent directs energy. Without it, transformation lacks direction.

2. Unconditional Love: Love is a high-frequency state that dissolves separation and aligns with universal energy.

3. Complete Energetic Alignment: The body, mind, and spirit must harmonize to access higher states of consciousness.

4. Divine Union: A deep connection with the sacred—however one defines it—is essential.

5. Focused Concentration: Sustained attention creates a fertile ground for transformation.

6. Expansive Imagination: Visualization bridges the seen and unseen worlds, allowing new realities to emerge.

7. Sustained Energetic Coherence: Maintaining alignment over time amplifies the effects of transfiguration.

Practical Approaches to Transfiguration

While mastering transfiguration takes time, anyone can begin to explore this transformative practice with the following techniques:

• Meditation: Engage in meditative practices that dissolve the boundaries of the ego and connect you with universal consciousness. Start with guided meditations focused on light and energy.

• Energy Sensing: Practice noticing subtle shifts in energy around you. Focus on the sensations in your body and the space between your thoughts.

• Breathwork: Use breath to expand awareness. Techniques such as rhythmic or circular breathing can deepen your connection to the divine.

• Mindfulness: Observe the world with heightened awareness, paying attention to the space between particles, sounds, and moments. This can reveal the interconnected nature of existence.

Why This Matters Now

We’re living in a time of massive global transformation. Environmental challenges, social upheaval, and personal crises are calling us to evolve. Personal and planetary healing requires us to expand our understanding of what’s possible. Transfiguration offers a way forward—a means of accessing deeper states of consciousness to become agents of healing not only for ourselves but for the collective.

This isn’t about magical thinking — It’s about remembering our fundamental connection to a living, responsive universe. By tapping into the art of transfiguration, we can align with the light within and radiate it outward, creating ripples of transformation in a world that desperately needs it.

Free Guide: Your Invitation to Explore

To support your journey, I’ve created a free "Wild Alchemy Ritual Guide." Inside, you’ll find:

• Introductory meditations to access expanded states of consciousness

• Elemental connection practices to harmonize with nature’s rhythms

• Rituals and recipes to help you shift into a state of consciousness that supports quantum healing

This guidebook is 45 pages full of my most valuable content — folks have told me I should charge for it, but I think it’s too important not to share!

Every moment is an invitation to transformation. With a single breath, a moment of stillness, and the intention to see beyond the visible, you can begin your journey into the ancient art of transfiguration. The light within you is waiting to shine.

You might also like:

Cosmic Evolution (A Prophecy)

Um…maybe it’s not your intuition (How to tell true guidance from mind chatter)

Shamanic Techniques for Healing

How to Work with the Spirits of the Land: 3 Powerful Practices

Recent Posts

Cosmic Evolution (A Prophecy)

The Astrology of 2025

The 13 Holy Nights: Rituals & Practices

---

ASTROLOGY | RECIPES | REWILDING | SACRED AROMATICS | SHAMANISM | SPIRITUALITY | WELLNESS

Juniper Stokes is a certified coach, mythoanimist guide, alchemist & artist.

A FREE 45-page guide to awaken your inner magic!

Cosmic evolution (a prophecy)

Nothing on this site has been written by AI.

My man and I have been together for 9 years. I feel so grateful that we really support each other in being who we are. We’re both independent in our ways yet love connecting and have more fun together than apart. 

99.9% of the time Mike supports me in just being myself. But he does have one limiting rule: Astrology talk is limited to 5 minutes a day. 😂😂😂

Obviously not a real rule, but I get it. My girlfriends and I can go down some serious rabbit holes, and Mike just doesn’t need to pass everything through the same astro filter. ⭐🤷‍♀️

I know my friends and I are not alone though. Social channels are filled with memes for 2025, all pointing to the idea that this is the pivotal year we’ve been preparing for…

2025 really does look like it might be a lot astrologically — but are the times we live in really that unique? Haven’t people been dealing with these massive alignments and planetary shifts since time immemorial? 

History is filled with revolutions and revelations that change the course of human evolution. Massive leaps in consciousness and communication, and massive losses of plagues and more, have shifted our ways of living and beliefs around spiritual practice many times over. 

Each time, some of our ancestors survived. The world went on. 2012 didn’t end the world as we know it. The “apocalypse” never came…

…at least to the Western culture birthed in Sumeria and still spreading throughout the world today. I’m sure many native peoples, from many continents, would call a lot of history pretty damn apocalyptic.  

I think this is important to remember: Time and again throughout history, entire peoples, cultures, and ways of life have been nearly or totally wiped out for a variety of reasons.

Are we, those of us living generally modern lifestyles today, pretty much anywhere in the world, really so special that we won’t experience what might feel like an apocalyptic shift in our lifestyles? 

On Collapse.

Back on the Saturn-Jupiter conjunction of 2020 (more on this below), I sat with a small group of consciousness explorers and creative thinkers. In the midst of the pandemic, we spent a day in quiet darkness, meditating, chanting, and imagining what changes might be coming with the pandemic. 

The question of collapse naturally arose. Not so much saying that we wanted collapse, or that it was inevitable — more that the concept felt closer to reality than it had in our lives up to that point. 

In these youthful, intellectual discussions, fueled by rage and frustrations with the systems that run our lives as they are, collapse can take on a somewhat romantic color. We must release the old so the new can be born, right? 

I don’t often get political here, but I do see this as driving a lot of the last US presidential election results. So many people are rightfully so fed up with the toxicities of our current systems that they are more inclined to throw everything out the window in favor of starting over. 

Unfortunately, I don’t think I can point to a time in history when true collapse occurred — from revolution, environmental factors, or other forces — where the aftermath was utopia. It’s been almost the opposite, really. In the void of what came before, humans be humaning again. Grabbing power, othering others, and getting swindled into giving up their prosperity of mind, spirit, and material wellness.

Romanticism, Realism, and Hope

This type of questioning — collapse, societal change, collective evolution — seems to be in the zeitgeist. At least in my algorithmic world. 

And I see two pretty different narratives going on. 

One is that of radical change. The idea that this is a totally unique time in human history, for better or worse. We are either actively creating a utopia and the total destruction of life as we know it is a good thing overall, or we are all about to live through the biggest hellscape humans have ever seen. 

The other is that this time isn’t as special as we think it is. Humanity has gone through huge initiations before. Things will keep changing, but we’ll be okay, because we always have been. 

I tend towards the middle way.

A lot is the same for us as it was for our ancestors. And, even in the face of total cataclysm we might not be all that special in the longer term view of human evolution — are we repeating the same cycles and choices that led to the downfall of Atlantis or other ancient civilizations?

Yet when I look at known human history to this point and tune into the wisdom of the Earth and my own spiritual guardians, a few pieces stand out as feeling pretty unique for those of us alive at this time. 

This vision takes me back to the microcosm and macrocosm: In our personal lives, we spiral through cycles, often repeating the same lessons but with previous learning that allows us to go deeper and grow stronger each time.

Ever reread a book from your past? We never really read the same book twice, do we? We are different people, and the material meets us in such different ways that even the same book becomes a new experience. 

This is much like our collective cycles of learning and growth. We are facing the type of vast economic and technological changes that have occurred many times throughout history. And, we’re meeting these changes in new ways.

We must really be ready for depth and growth by the looks of the global changes we’re facing ;) 

I’m not a futurist, economist, scientist, nor any other -ist that has already spoken on these changes extensively, so I’m not going to rehash AI and climate change and everything else.

Rather, I’m sitting with the spiritual impacts of these changes and cycles.

What does this time in history mean for, or require of, human consciousness? Is consciousness truly evolving and changing at a mass level? 

I like to think that it is. Though I’ll admit — our collective evolution seems to be lagging behind the destructive timelines before us.

(I hope I don’t sound overly negative here because I don’t actually feel that negative. It is a spiritual skill to sit with both the pain and joys of our reality and hold a higher vision for the possibilities before us.)

For now, let’s explore just a few of the unique elements of these times in relation to our spiritual evolution.

Information overload is real — and it’s making people cray (for those born circa 1980) and delulu (for the Zs).

The obvious shadow side of this is the rampant conspiracy theories that so easily spread online; the algorithms that take perfectly sane folks down rabbit holes that reprogram their minds to serve the needs of the global elite. 

(Do you like how I just took down conspiracies with another conspiracy??? 😈 But really. Every conspiracy is threaded with truth…and twisted for various agendas.)

But again, that’s the obvious bit. And, humans have been taking wild conspiracy-esque rides since long before the internet came online.

What I find especially interesting is that we have access to more esoteric knowledge than at any other time in history.

Ancient mystery teachings that were shrouded in secrecy for millenia are now available with an internet search. Or discussed in 15-second video clips. Even shared via memes.

Regardless of whether you see this as good or bad overall (I see a lot of gifts and shadows in this — another article coming up on that soon), you have to admit that it is different. We are being asked to engage with spiritual teachings in a way that is actually pretty unique to this time in human history. 

As many dangers as this might unleash, I trust that this is happening now because human consciousness is ready for it. I hope. 😬

(But seriously — there’s a whole thing with gatekeeping, power, control, integrity, harm, economics, practitioner programs and certifications…I started writing more here and realized this topic needs its own article. Stay tuned.)

Our permeability needs a different sort of tending.

This one is a biggie, and one that I don’t see folks talking about quite as much. 
Right now, there is more foreign energy on this planet than at any other time in history (that I know of). 

This makes sense when you think about it: 

Foreign energy is simply energy that is lost or out of place. It can include random forms of energy, and it can include conscious energies, such as humans who have left their bodies but not fully crossed into their next soul stage (yeah, that’s a ghost 👻).

A lot of foreign energy is generated by humans. And right now, there are more humans on this planet than ever before. 

When you look at how much history has taken place on this planet, all the energies left behind from all the traumas over thousands of years, and all the humans and their unconscious emotional bursts of energy, and all the non-corporeal beings who are attracted to Earth for a variety of reasons — we are definitely dealing with a shit-ton of foreign energies.

And we can see this reflected in the actual physical clutter of our world. The microplastics that are in just about everything we eat. The pollutants in our airs, waters, and soil. Clutter does not happen in isolation. 

Microcosm-macrocosm, y’all.

Why does this matter when it comes to spiritual practice?

When the Earth realms were generally clearer, our bodies had more bandwidth for processing strong energy without being overwhelmed. And we could generally stay more open and empathic to the many benevolent frequencies all around us because there wasn’t so much painful clutter to sift through all the time. 

As a result, many of our ancestral healers processed the pain and trauma of others through their own bodies. Folks from all walks of life were more energetically open on a daily basis, listening to the whispers of nature spirits and communicating empathically as a natural way of being in the world.

Many people who are drawn to spiritual work and earth-based healing carry this resonance and memory within their energetic systems. Empaths by nature, we feel so much of the pain and joys of the world around us. If we work in the healing arts, we take in the pain of others to transmute it, as we’ve done throughout our lifetimes. 

But times have changed, and most often, this way of being in the world leads to illness — mental fragmentation that can make it challenging to stay both connected to spirit and grounded in this reality, and physical illness that arises as our bodies process more energy than they were ever designed to.

I’ll share more about how to deal with this in another article. For now —just know that this is different. 

There are different protocols and protections we must work with to stay healthy. We have the opportunity to learn different ways of being in our bodies or interacting with unseen forces in these times. But this takes effort, and it means we need to find new ways to engage with ancient spiritual practices.

I’m sharing one of my absolute most favorite, effective protective rituals at our angel workshop this Thursday. Join live or watch the replay! Paid members can attend for free (visit the Monthly Gift section), or anyone can just sign up for this workshop here.

If you feel sensitive to all the energies in our world right now, this is for you!

Technology is getting pretty interesting (A Prophecy)

I mean, we are in the Age of Aquarius, after all. When Saturn and Jupiter danced around in the earth sign of Capricorn, we saw massive changes in the physical nature of technology — think of the industrial revolution. Now, with these two bigguns doing the cha cha into air sign Aquarius (where they will dance for the next 240 years) we can expect some more ethereal upheavals.

We’re seeing this with AI — which will absolutely change everything about how we live in the coming years. And it will likely affect our understanding of consciousness itself. 

But even if our power grids fail, the internet is gone, and life as we know it collapses, I don’t see our technological advancements disappearing in favor of completely old-school, off-grid communities. Too much knowledge has already been gained. Unless we experience another great flood event that wipes out most human culture, we aren’t going back to pre-tech times.

Rather, over the next 240 years, we will see an increasing merging of spirituality and technology. And this will influence everything. 

I have a confession: Much of what I’m going to share in this section is channeled information. I know, channeling sounds pretty woo — but I mean, do you know me? Woo is my middle name. 🔮

Around the last Jupiter-Saturn conjunction on December 21, 2020, I was sitting down to write when I was overcome with prophecy. It felt as if my benevolent ancestors and descendants were gathering to help me channel important visions through automatic writing.

I only shared these visions with a small circle at the time. (Because do you remember how absolutely on edge and insane everyone got during the pandemic? You couldn’t say anything without being attacked. Actually, you could encourage people to attack each other. That was about it.)

Anyway, my vision.

I was shown paradise. 

Or, what would seem like a utopian paradise to us, but felt pretty much like normal life to the descents living at that time. 

And I saw it as being what felt like 200-300 years in the future. At the time, I had no idea about the astrological cycles that support this timeline (which feels very cool and confirming).

I also saw a much smaller population — about a 10th of what we have on the Earth now. 

You can probably see where this is going…something wipes out most of our population.

Maybe it’s war. More pandemics. Climate catastrophe. Fertility crises. Alien invasion. Probably some combo of everything (except the alien invasion — they’re out there but too sneaky to outright invade 👽).

If you’re a brave soul who wants a more detailed version of what I channeled, let me know. There’s a lot on the timelines and the essence of the new world itself that I think are quite beautiful — but my guidance is that some of what I saw is not for me to share with the general populace at this time.

Here’s the thing with prophecy: It can change. It’s a potentiality, a glimpse at a possible future that some resonance already within us opens the way for us to see. (More on shifting these potentialities below.)

If you’ve read this far: Congratulations on being one of the brave souls who came here to experience and participate in such interesting times ;)

But let’s jump ahead over the challenging times to where this all might lead.

In this future utopia, a few things stuck out to me:

• Again, we have a population of about a billion people (ouch, but great by the end…)

• Humanity has a new relationship with life and death (which makes sense based on the first point)

• Bloodlines are less important than we perceive them to be at this time in history (yes JD, even childless cat ladies are capable of caring about future generations)

• Spirituality and technology are merged in ways it’s hard to fathom now (crystals! or whatever…I don’t actually know)

• Humans generally have a more cosmic understanding of our place in the universe (get ready for hours of astrology talk, Mike)

I’m going to be honest. Some of the nuances in the first three bullet points will rub folks the wrong way. They won’t totally understand the vision, and they’ll be taken further from a grounded, helpful understanding of this time in history. So I’m not going to go into details. Just know that we will continue to experience major shifts in consciousness in these areas.

What I do want to circle back to, however, is the complete coherence of technology and spirituality. In this new era, they are in many ways one and the same. 

This vision runs counter to a current narrative gaining strength: That life as we know it will dissolve in disaster and only those who know ancestral skills will survive. That returning to ancestral living will save us. 

In my visions, I do see that ancestral skills are key to our survival over the coming decades. There is so much wisdom still waiting to be reclaimed. 

🧚 Especially when it comes to reclaiming our ability to communicate with the natural world and spiritual allies who support us. This is the real ancestral medicine, folks. 🧚

Yet of equal importance is the understanding that we are not returning to a previous version of life. We are creating a new version. And this new version is possible because of technological innovations that are far beyond what most of us can even comprehend. 

Many people are already there. They’ve had these inventions and innovations for decades. But they have not been allowed to make the impacts we need yet because of darker forces at play. Fortunately, this does not last forever. These technologies do come to light, along with many more that emerge as humanity taps into its creative potential to celebrate life. 

The following is a bit of the unedited channeling:

“As spirit infuses into new tech, this tech reflects more dimensions of reality than you are currently aware of. This is the quantum field many speak of, yet even those speaking on it now are limited in their understanding. Magic might be a more appropriate term for your minds at this time. Yet in the future, this magic is reality. It is harmonious with life. Every technological advance supports life.” 

Insert happy sigh here. How lovely to think of a world where the creative spark of life is valued above greed and power.

With this comes the final piece of the prophecy: There is a return to reverence of the Earth, for she is life. And reverence for the stars, for they are life. 

We have a much better idea of our place in the cosmos.. We are not a solo intelligence on a solo planet —  we are part of a cosmic ecosystem beyond our comprehension. We care for ourselves, our Earth, and our cosmos with holy reverence. 

This probably sounds like some utopic vision that will never really come to pass. But it doesn’t feel utopic to those who are living at this time. 

After all, we are still humans. 

Humans of this era continue to experience frustrations, challenges, obstacles, loss, fear, doubt, and all the hardships we face today. Yet when I feel into this time, there is a greater capacity to be with challenge. There is more flow and grace and freedom and support in meeting challenge. 

It’s human, and it’s different.

What does all this mean for us humans who are here now? 

If things feel confusing or contradictory, it’s a good sign that you’re engaging with the exact questions you need to asking. 

Awareness that things are legitimately different, that we’re not simply repeating the past though we can learn from it, invites us to more fully embrace our own spiritual evolution at this time. 

Awakening consciousness in these times asks how we can…

• Integrate seemly diverse and contradictory yet also resonant and helpful spiritual teachings into a coherent whole

• Cultivate greater discernment in a world with so many distractions 

• Remain open and permeable to spirit without losing our sense of self and grounding in reality

• Connect with spiritual beings and energies without overwhelming our sensitive systems

• Tend our animal bodies and nervous systems in the face of so many pollutants and the artificial pace of modern life

• Return to partnership with the natural world while knowing this way of life will look different than it did to our ancestors

• Stay connected to hope, love, and unity in the face of ongoing division and distraction

• Remember who we really are, and what we’re truly capable of as spirits on Earth

Tap into the unified field where all matter originates

Perhaps the most important skill we can cultivate is to face what is true while holding and co-creating our most inspired visions for the future.

A lot of folks angry or resistant when I share some of the darker awareness I have. They think I’m being overly pessimistic or putting too much attention on what I don’t want instead of what I do.

For me, ignoring what’s true, including the darkness, isn’t helpful. Our bodies know when we’re lying to ourselves, and it’s not good for us. But maybe that’s just my Scorpio talking.

Because at the same time, these Pollyannas are not wrong: We need to keep visioning the most vibrant, life-giving future possibilities we can.

Our minds hold incredible power. When we align our energy with our focus and invite the divine to support us, we are able to tap into the unified field of energy from which all creation is birthed.

Being alive at this time is an invitation to create something beautiful.

Remember: In all of the changes and challenges, prophecies and possibilities, we are not alone. We are multidimensional beings in a multidimensional universe. The physical threats we see with our eyes are one small piece of a much greater reality.

You are here because the unique challenges and opportunities we face right now seemed so damn exciting to your soul. You wanted to come into this wild world to experience just this craziness! 

You trusted that you would remember your true spiritual nature and make these wild times a bit more loving and healing for all of us. 

So thank you. Thank you for being here and being you. You can do this.

Remember how I mentioned me and my girls chatting for hours about astrology? Well I forgot to mention that I listened to Mike’s entire 3-hour podcast on Ancient Rome while we were on a roadtrip. (This video sums up everything…watch until the end if you haven’t already.)

Double click to interact with video

Another civilization with an interesting trajectory…I guess we both process these crazy times in our own ways ;) 

This amazing, in-depth article is totally free to read! You know why? Because of the subscribers like you who like, share, comment, and just generally let me know that this publication is appreciated. Thank you!

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As I track this general conversation online, everyone seems to agree on one thing: We need community.

Both human and non-human community. Those of us who fair best will have people we love and can count on, but also will be in relationship with our ancestors, guides, and the spirits of the land.

This is why I’m hoping you might like to meet me in person this year :)

This April I’m sharing what might be my only in-person workshop of the year! As I right this, there are only 4 spots left. It takes place in Sisters, Oregon and will be an immersive weekend filled with creating community. With each other, our spirit guides, and the land itself.

Feel the call? Learn more and register here:

Spiritual Rewilding Weekend Immersion

In May, I’m joining several amazing teachers and authors for a 3-day immersive experience in Sedona, AZ. Everyone is welcome! Those who go year after year keep coming back for the community this event brings together. Here’s a link to learn more:

Join Me in Sedona

You might also like:

This is the dawning of the Age of Aquarius…

Um…maybe it’s not your intuition (How to tell true guidance from mind chatter)

Remember that You Are the Cosmos

Recent Posts

The Astrology of 2025

The 13 Holy Nights: Rituals & Practices

Your Complete Guide to Hydrosols

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ASTROLOGY | RECIPES | REWILDING | SACRED AROMATICS | SHAMANISM | SPIRITUALITY | WELLNESS

Juniper Stokes is a certified coach, mythoanimist guide, alchemist & artist.

The Astrology of 2025

Nothing on this site has been written by AI.

Around this time of year, it can seem as if every astrologer is talking about how major the changes to come will be. 

It gets old, I know. 

And…2025 really is a bit wild. So let’s look at just a few select highlights.

Take a deep breath — I’m not going to bombard you with a bunch of astro terms and a million dates to remember. I am going to highlight a few things that I think you’ll find helpful :)

North Node to Pisces 1/11

First, our collective North Node is shifting into Pisces on 1/11. 

The North Node represents our collective evolutionary path, pointing toward what we are being called to embrace and integrate. In Pisces, this brings themes of spiritual growth, emotional healing, compassion, and surrender. 

Of course, the shadow side of this can be the tendency to blur the boundaries between fantasy and reality. Spiritual illusions can distract from Truth, and addictive tendencies — especially those that pull us into altered states of consciousness — can gain power.

Overall, I’m feeling hopeful and ready for this shift. It feels like the perfect energy to hold the Wild Alchemy Apprenticeship. 

I’m guessing that a lot more folks will find an interest and access in plant medicine too (if you’re headed down this path, please connect with me about psychedelic preparation and integration programs).

What to expect with the North Node in Pisces

Spiritual Awakening & Intuition

This is the time for your intuition to lead the way. If you feel called to expand your spiritual studies, live a more mystical life, and cultivate your intuitive practices — the cosmos support you! Dreams, omens, and synchronicities will be speaking to your soul, guiding you home to yourself.

More Compassion & Empathy

I don’t know about you, but I’m really ready for this. The cancel culture, info wars, and public shaming of recent years have left us divided and downtrodden, both with each other and within ourselves. It’s time to heal.

Let yourself be drawn to serve the causes that live in your heart. Be vulnerable. Trust your sensitivity. And soften the hard boundaries that cause more harm than healing. 

Where can you let go and surrender? Trust the flow of life just a bit more? 

As old structures dissolve, remember that they allow something beautiful and new to emerge.

Creativity & Imagination

Everyone is a creator. If we truly are a reflection of the divine, then it is in our nature to create from the heart. What beauty do you want to birth into the world?

Whether you are drawn to expressing yourself through art, poetry, music, film, or food; creative problem solving; or visioning a radically healed and whole future for our planet — let your imagination lead the way.

Escapism & Confusion

The world of spirit can be both enticing and confusing. Primary themes in the shadow of this era include: addiction and avoidance; blurring of healthy or needed boundaries; falling into collective fear, paranoia, and conspiracy theories; getting lost in illusion, including those that take you into martyrdom; and letting those dreams and visions take on unrealistic agendas that set you up for distraction or failure.

Support for Making the Most of this Transit

For years, I’ve specialized in working with clients who have become overwhelmed, hijacked, or disillusioned by the Wild West of modern spirituality. This feels like really important preparation for the times to come…

Which is why one of the primary intentions for the Wild Alchemy Apprenticeship is to support you in cultivating and clarifying a truly healthy and integrated spiritual practice. One that is perfect for you — not based on trying to merge a million well-intended spiritual teachers idea into one nonsensical whole. 

Registration will open soon, so grab a spot on the waitlist here.

I also will continue to offer this support in my 1:1 sessions, though there are limited spots available. These sessions support your personal spiritual path through deep inner alchemy. 

Psychedelics can play an essential role in our awakening this transit — but this world is also a place where the shadow side of Pisces gets really big. If you head down this path, please reach out. Through sacred preparation and ritual integration, you will revolutionize your psychedelic experience. 

The Generational Planets Are Shifting

The other major astro influence this year is that our two outer planets are both changing signs. In astrology, “outer planets” are known as generational planets. Every generation has its own vibes, and these planets point us to what those vibes might be.

This year, we’re kicking off a period of dynamic transformation, innovation, and a fiery drive toward idealism and change. New cultural, intellectual, and spiritual eras are upon us — bringing themes of imagination, rebellion, and courage. Buckle up…

Neptune in Aries

On 3/30, Neptune enters Aries, where it will stay until 2039. This brings some Aries fire and initiative to Neptune’s dreamy and spiritual focus. 

Spiritual breakthroughs, visionary and creative inspiration, and radical compassion are on the horizon. 

But so is the growth of the spiritual ego — think of a messiah complex and spiritual bypassing to the extreme. (Thought Bali-ponytail-tantric-healer-man was cringe? Just wait…) Watch out for this in the teachers and leaders you encounter with in the coming years (and check yourself too!).

What to expect with Neptune in Aries

Here comes the growth of spiritual leadership — for better and worse. 

This transit invites us to connect with our internal spiritual leadership, shedding old programing and awakening to what is true and right for us. It might inspire you to live more in alignment with your values and even take real world action to create a world that better matches your spiritual visions. 

Unfortunately, when spiritual leadership arises within a competitive, capitalist, survival-of-the-fittest society…it can easily become a performative money grabbing scheme at best and can perpetuate messiah-guru driven spiritual abuse at worst. 

Pretty please keep your wits about you when it comes to charismatic spiritual teachers or movements that promise salvation, revolution, or utopian visions with creepy undertones. Please.

Hopefully, radical compassion will help with this. 

When Aries is in service, it’s an unstoppable spiritual warrior. Rather than simply feeling empathy, Aries helps Neptune put compassion in action. 

This should offer a nice counter to the collective service of this Aquarian age. While Aquarius wants what’s best for the collective, it doesn’t care too much about individual feelings. This transit reminds us to really feel for the experiences of individuals while keeping a higher vision in place.  

Enjoy the creative vibes and dreamy visions that will arise.

I love that North Node Pisces is kicking off this Neptune era. In modern astrology systems, Neptune is the ruler of Pisces, so we get a super-charged dose of all things watery, dreamy, emotional, visioning, and creative. 

We might see the arts become more poignant or provocative, impacting the rest of culture more prominently. With this, utopian dreams may arise. If we can let these visions inspire us without pulling us into fantasy land, we’ll be doing our world a great service. 

Uranus in Gemini

On 7/7, Uranus enters Gemini, where it will stay until 2033. Uranus is the great disruptor, and Gemini is all about higher learning and communication. So…expect some major revolutions in how we think and connect with each other. 

If you’re thinking about AI right now, you’re on the right track. You don’t need astrology to tell you that we’re only beginning to see the impacts of this tech…but it’s pretty cool how it all lines up ;)

What to expect with Uranus in Gemini

Think intellectual, communication, technological revolution. Rather than go into all the areas of society this might influence — I’m just going to invite your imagination to go wild. You know what’s coming…AI, crypto, transportation, youth uprising, media overwhelm…it’s all already started.

While there’s a lot of good here, there are some definite things to watch out for. Information overload could go next level — especially misinformation and weaponized ideologies. 

Remember what’s true and real. Do a digital detox often. Connect with the Earth. 

Neptune in Aries + Uranus in Gemini: The Big Picture

All together, we can expect an era that continues to redefine what it is to be human. What is consciousness? What is animate and alive? What is real? 

I imagine we’ll see radical new creations arise out of the merging of art, spirituality, and technology. 

And we’ll probably see some backlash to the big changes upon us.

I hope we’ll see GenX in more leadership roles across the board. There is something about that generation that knows how to balance Piscean and Aries energy — I think this generation is perhaps the most primed to offer a bridge from the old era to the new, neither clinging to the past nor burning it all down. That’s just me though…what do you all think? 

And there’s a lot more happening this year

Overall, the first half of the year looks a little rough…but the second half looks awesome. We’ll see. Lots of fiery Aries energy, nurturing Cancer blessed by Jupiter, eclipses, retrogrades…all the things! Keep tuning in for more as each new astro season is upon us :) 

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don’t sacrifice magic at the altar of the mind: an exploration of shamanic soul retrieval

---

ASTROLOGY | RECIPES | REWILDING | SACRED AROMATICS | SHAMANISM | SPIRITUALITY | WELLNESS

Juniper Stokes is a certified coach, mythoanimist guide, alchemist & artist.

The 13 Holy Nights

Nothing on this site has been written by AI.

Let us prepare for the solstice.

On this darkest night of the year, we enter into a sacred portal.

A window between the old year and the new, this portal is known as the 13 Holy Nights.

The 13 Holy Nights* occur just after winter solstice, taking place from December 24 - January 6th. These dark days and long nights invite you to go inward and devote yourself to spiritual practice and inner reflection. This is a time to release what you do not wish to carry forward, while you plant the seeds of what you want to create in the new year. (In many ways, our tradition of making new year’s resolutions is a watered down version of this ancient, sacred practice.) 

Though the essence of the 13 Holy Nights is quite simple, understanding the energetics of this time and incorporating a few specific intentions into these coming weeks will transform your overall experience. Let’s dive in ;)

Seasonal Reflections & Taoist Energetics

During the 13 Holy Nights, we are tending the ground and receiving the seeds of what will come to life in the new year. These seeds are divine inspirations and blessings from spirit, and the more consciously we can receive them, the more ability we’ll have to keep them well-tended in the coming year.

To help prepare the ground for these cosmic seeds, it helps to understand the elemental nature of a seed cycle:

When we step into the holy nights, we’re leaving the season of harvest. Autumn is the fruit-bearing season — we’ve seen what our efforts have produced. We’ve celebrated our successes and grieved our losses. 

Autumn is associated with the metal element. In TCM, metal is associated with grief but also clarity. It’s a withdrawing time, and while we grieve all that must be released, we find greater clarity around what truly matters as we prepare for the winter ahead.

As we enter winter, we look to the fruits of our harvest for the seeds within, drawing forth the beginnings of new life as we consume or compost the old. We don’t yet know what the next harvest will bring, but we do know that it’s time to let go of that which would rot. It’s time to prepare our seeds for the earth. 

Winter is associated with the water element. This is a time for conserving and nurturing our energy, a time to restore and rest between sunnier seasons. The inner stillness of water invites us to enter into meditation and introspection.

In the spring, some of our seeds will sprout. In the frozen dark of winter, we don’t yet know which seeds will root. And in the spring, we often still can’t tell what a seed will become. Yet we begin to see the sparks of life renewed. 

There is strong, wood element energy in the spring. The strength these little sprouts need to push through the earth and into the light is similar to the upward energy of expansion we often feel as winter recedes. 

With summer comes the blossoming season. We joyfully take pleasure in the beautiful blooms and aromas around us. We now know that which we are tending. We make choices around where our energy goes — which plants have the greatest potential? Which are to be pruned or weeded away? 

Summer is associated with the fire element. Passion, joy, connection, and vitality encourage us to be present in each moment. We have the energy to do the work needed as we care for our plants and plans.

And with this, we come back to autumn, the harvest that once again brings us the seeds for winter.

But what of earth, you may ask? Where does this element fit in? 

In some schools of thought, the earth element is associated with late summer, a season of grounding through transition. Yet earth can also be seen as the sacred pause between any two seasons, like the moment of equilibrium between an inhale and exhale.

Tending the Elements Within

While these elements have seasonal associations, they are all always present.

During the depths of winter, we can find greater wellness and prepare ourselves for the holy nights by tending the balance of the elements in our lives. 

Water

At home in winter, the element of water invites us into stillness. This time of year is often jam-packed with travel, social gatherings, and last minute to-dos as the days of the year run out. This energy is the complete opposite to what winter energetics would encourage us to do. 

While most of us can’t totally tune out the busyness — and honestly, I won’t want to! — we can bring balance to our water by making time for stillness. Daily meditation, quiet nights, sleeping in, and moving at a slower pace will help your water find peace.

Wood

It’s not the time for the action-oriented wood energy of spring, but we can prepare by creating space for the seeds that will become our future dreams. Nourish rather than push right now. Look ahead and make plans, but let go of taking action just yet. 

Fire

This is the time to tend your inner flame. Find warmth in your heart as you practice gratitude for all you love — your loved ones and pets, your favorite foods and books, joyful memories…whatever fills your heart with warmth. 

Earth

The sacred pause is your ally. Though more of an equinox energy, the earth element during winter invites us to find moments of balance with the extremes of the season. Does your body need movement or rest? A warm soup or cooling winter salad? Deep listening to your inner wisdom is key here.

Metal

The inner clarity of metal is available to us through letting go and deep introspection. If anything has been hanging on, now is the time to clear it away before the new year begins. Note the insights that arise within the stillness of your meditations, paying attention to new stories and interpretations of events that emerge around the year behind you.

Entering the Holy Nights 

Energetically, the solstice is the peak of winter season, the stillness and yin energy of water. We receive our seeds in the dark. 

Cosmically, the Earth inhales.

The pause begins.

This great inhalation draws the energy of the stars to us, so the seeds planted within are imbued with celestial gifts from spirit. 

Of course, the most impactful star for all of us on Earth is the Sun. The solar return of divine light and life begins.

Between the winter solstice and the night of the 24th, we prepare.

We have these three days to tend the energetic womb where our seeds will be planted. Our practices during this time will help us receive the energetic imprints of the seeds planted in us by spirit. 

During these days, lay the foundation for the holy nights. Clean yourself and your home. Let go of internal and external clutter so there is space for the messages of spirit to enter your vessel. Spend time in meditation, allowing your own energetic body to come into alignment with your true nature.

At sunset on December 24th the 13 Holy Nights commence, extending through sunset on January 6th.

During this time, we receive the imprints of our future experiences from spirit. By bringing conscious awareness and prayer to this sacred time, we can commune with the divine as we receive our own blessed seeds.

Deepen into spiritual and reflective practices, whatever this looks like for you. Light a candle, get out your journal, and draw oracle cards. Record your meditations, journeys, and dreams. 

These 13 nights correlate with the 13 moons of the year. What do you wish for each coming cycle to bring you?  What oracle card will bless each coming month and the year as a whole? 

All of these practices help us consciously receive the imprinted seeds of spirit. With our spiritual awareness online, we have more agency and power to co-create the experiences we wish to call forth in the coming year. 

I’ve worked with the energy of this season for decades and have distilled my process into a beautiful workbook that anyone can use to become more intentional with reviewing the year before and entering into the year anew. 

This workbook is available for immediate download, and you can get your own copy here:

Reflect, Integrate, Envision: A Workbook for the Soul

The 13 Holy Nights and 12 Days of Christmas

I’m sure at this point, many of you are reflecting on the obvious correlations between Christian holidays and these holy nights. 

The number 13 has long been associated with the feminine, relating to the thirteen lunar cycles of the year. And, this very yin time of year can be thought of holding a receptive, feminine energy. 

With the oppression of the feminine came the demonization of the number 13 and undermining feminine energetics. By turning 13 to 12 and nights to days, Christianity shifted this sacred window away from the feminine and towards the masculine.

We all know that Christmas Eve correlates with the 24th, which begins the 13 nights, and Christmas day is the 25th of December, which kicks off the 12 days. 

This works well within Christianity, as the 25th is Christ’s birthday — a date probably merged with Sol Invictus, a pagan sun god celebration. Then, the 12 days could correspond with the 12 calendar months, rather than 13 moon cycles. 

Though the suppression of the feminine leaves a toxic legacy that we are still healing, there is actually beauty in the synergy of the 13 Holy Nights and 12 Days of Christmas.

Christ Consciousness is that of divine love. Through his incarnation on Earth, Christ brought forth the solar energy of radiant, unconditional love — a gift literally of the stars imprinted upon the Earth as a seed to benefit all of humanity. 

Rather than rejecting the historical influences that have brought us to these festivities and long winter nights, we can invite the blessings of our ancestors into our hearts and homes this winter solstice by tuning into the rituals of the 13 nights and opening to Christ Consciousness within our hearts.

A Resource to Consciously Connect with the 13 Moons

For those of you who wish to really tune into the energetics of lunar cycles this year, these moon pages are literally life-changing. 

I’ve used these lunar guides to help me overcome extreme burnout, heal my own monthly cycles, and deepen my connection with the rhythms of the natural world. 

Each year, I release a new and updated version of the Moon Pages. For 2025, you’ll not only receive a lunar attunement guidebook, monthly planning pages, and cycle tracking pages — you’ll also get a ritual guide with the astrological energetics of each new and full moon. 

*The concept of the 13 Holy Nights came to me via one of my favorite Toaist energy healers, Sherry Bauer, and it came to her through medical qi gong instructor Damarus Jarboux. Beyond that, the origins are a mystery.

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Your Complete Guide to Hydrosols

don’t sacrifice magic at the altar of the mind: an exploration of shamanic soul retrieval

imagination as throne for the gods

---

ASTROLOGY | RECIPES | REWILDING | SACRED AROMATICS | SHAMANISM | SPIRITUALITY | WELLNESS

Juniper Stokes is a certified coach, mythoanimist guide, alchemist & artist.

Your Complete Guide to Hydrosols

Nothing on this blog has been written by AI.

The alchemist is in session ;)

Above is a picture of my copper alembic. I love it. 

And, it took me two years to be brave enough to start using it, lol. Supposedly there can be a risk of explosion with these things…

Luckily, I have an engineering wizard of a man who put his skills to use getting me all set up this year. 

Over the summer and into early fall, our home smelled of fresh herbs and fragrant forests as I transformed wild and garden-grown plants into alchemical elixirs, mantra and blessings infusing the precious distillations. 

Blue spruce, white mountain sage, and magical mugwort are a few of the first allies who have participated in this botanical alchemy, transforming from fresh plants into healing hydrosols. Fragrant wormwood, incense cedarwood, and fresh local juniper berries are on deck, so long as I can get to them before the snow and frost set in fully.

As I tend my alembic to facilitate the transformation of these plants, I feel gratitude for the long line of alchemists who have come before me. I feel their wisdom, skill, and reverence for this process all around me, holding me within a sacred vessel of support as I do this work.

Now, steeped in aroma and the healing blessings of the plants, I come to share a bit more about this process — because I know some of you may be thinking, “Cool…but what is an alembic? What is a hydrosol? How on earth would I use one?”

I got you. And in this article, we will dive into all these questions and more ;)

Ancient Alchemy: Distillation of Spirit

There’s a reason alcohol is often referred to as “spirits” — the earliest alchemists believed the distillation process extracted the spiritual essence of plants. Since the result of botanical distillation was often alcohol, this literally intoxicating liquid became known as spirits. 

As with so many gifts from the gods, humans have created an often warped and dysregulated relationship with these liquid spirits. Yet this doesn’t mean they are inherently bad — it is pure, organic, distilled alcohol that provides the base of the sacred perfumes I create. Pure, organic alcohol, distilled from grapes in my home state of Oregon preserves the vibrational imprints of my flower essences.

In these magical, botanical remedies, alcohol isn’t just a preservative or base — it is an essential spiritual component of these botanical elixirs, helping to carry the spiritual nature of their gifts into our bodies, where we may receive great benefit. 

Yet it wasn’t only alcohol that arose from distillation…

Steam Distillation with Fragrant Aromatics

When fresh, fragrant plants are steamed in alchemical vessels, precious aroma chemicals can be captured in the form of essential oils and botanical waters — this is called steam distillation. Preparing steam distillations with my copper alembic lets me transform fresh, wild plants into magical remedies and elixirs. 

Here’s how steam distillation works: First, water and fresh plants, which contain volatile aroma chemicals and compounds, are placed in the bowl of a still (an alembic is a type of still). This is heated, and the steam rises — only the most volatile components rise in this steam, leaving the heavier plant chemicals behind. As the aromatic steam condenses back into water, it carries these compounds with it. Some compounds are water soluble, so they remain in the water, and others are not — these become essential oils that float on top of the water. 

So, this distillation creates two different magical and healing plant remedies:

• Essential Oils — You’ve probably heard of these guys ;) These are the condensed, aromatic molecules that are not soluble in water. They are highly concentrated and potent, and only a tiny amount can be extracted from the whole plant materials.

• Hydrosols — This is the recondensed aromatic steam, containing the water soluble molecules. It is gentle, fragrant, and full of very pure healing plant materials. Not as potent as essential oils, not as physically dense as a tea, hydrosols are unique distillations with their own alchemical gifts.

What Are Hydrosols, and How Are Hydrosols Different from Essential Oils?

While both hydrosols and essential oils come from the same distillation process, they are quite different in their composition and potency.

Distinctive Features of Essential Oils

• Essential oils are condensed, aromatic molecules that you’ll find floating on top of your hydrosol, their presence given away by an oily sheen.

• Essential oils float on top because they are not water soluble — rather, they are lipid-based and most soluble in fats and oils.

• They are also extremely concentrated — only a few drops are produced per gallon of water used in the distillation process.

• It takes a huge amount of plant material to make a single drop of essential oil, so they are very precious materials to use with great care.

• Since the water has been removed from essential oils, they are more shelf-stable and longer lasting than hydrosols.

Distinctive Features of Hydrosols

• Hydrosols, also known as floral waters or hydrolats, are the aromatic waters produced during a steam distillation of plant material. 

• Since they rise in steam, hydrosols contain water soluble molecules.

• And, since the steam distillation process creates a large amount of hydrosol, they tend to be fairly diluted in their potency.

• These qualities make them both more sustainable and gentle than essential oils — they are often used with sensitive individuals, children, and pets.

• Being water-based, hydrosols have a lighter, subtler scent and shorter shelf life than essential oils — a batch generally lasts about a year or two in a cool, dark place.

Ancestral Uses of Hydrosols

Historical evidence of distillation dates back thousands of years on multiple contents, with steam distillation happening extensively in Egypt, the Mediterranean, Persia, India, and China. (The copper alembic, which is what I use, likely originated with Muslim alchemists in the Islamic Golden Age, around the 8th/9th century.) 

In every country we find evidence of distillation, we can see that hydrosols were used in ritual and spiritual practices, medicine and healing, food and flavoring, and perfume and beauty.

In the past, it’s likely that the hydrosol itself was the primary aim of the distillation process, and the essential oils were either skimmed from the surface or simply mixed in — and this is really important to remember: 

So often, we think that more is better. More potent, more healing, right? Not necessarily. For thousands of years, hydrosols were incredibly valuable and revered for their medicinal properties.

The earliest use of hydrosols probably dates back to ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia, a world in which boundaries between perfume, medicine, and ritual were nonexistent.

Evidence shows that some of the earliest plants to be distilled were likely pines and junipers, along with lavender and rosemary.

In ancient Greece, hydrosols were used along with infused oils for cleansing, pathing, and ritual purification. As time went on and the use of hydrosols spread throughout Europe, health and beauty became the focus — rosewater being a favorite in both England and France.

I’m particularly drawn to the Taoist practices of the Han Dynasty in China. There is a long, beautiful history of using both hydrosols and essential oils in the Jade Purity lineage of Sun Simiao, which we’ll be diving into more deeply with my Nectar & Alchemy programs next year…

But in brief: Sun Simiao was a revered physician who used hydrosols and essential oils to anoint specific acupoints to bring about deep healing. His work was so effective that he became renowned throughout the land and was called to serve as a court physician.

Sun Simiao as depicted by Gan Bozong, woodcut print, Tang dynasty (618–907)

This is one of my favorite ways to use hydrosols today — anointing key acupoints, often related to the eight extraordinary vessels, to bring about deep, soul-level transformation and healing. 

And when I get to use hydrosols that I’ve myself, from plants grown on my own land and harvested by my own hands, the results are even more profound.

The Unique Benefits of Hydrosols

Among all the wonderful ways we can partner with plants, a few benefits make hydrosols a unique kind of remedy:

Hydrosols are very safe. Unlike essential oils and herbal remedies, hydrosols are incredibly gentle. While you should always check for contraindications and allergies, in general, you can safely use hydrosols with children, pets, and the elderly, making them wonderfully accessible remedies.

Hydrosols are energetically potent. Hydrosols are primarily energetic in nature, yet retain light and pure physical properties, as well. This combination helps us receive their gifts in every level of our being.

Hydrosols are more sustainable. For every drop of essential oil created, a gallon or more of hydrosol is made. This means that we can use far less plant material and still receive profound benefits, which makes hydrosols a more ecologically sustainable option for plant healing.

Hydrosols last under the right conditions. Kept in a cool, dark place (such as a refrigerator) and free from contamination, hydrosols will last 1-2 years without any added preservatives. While this isn’t as long as an essential oil or tincture, it is a lot longer than a tea or infused water — and pretty amazing considering no preservatives are needed!

How to Use Hydrosols

Healing, spiritual practice, fragrance and flavor, beauty…the many historical uses of hydrosols carry forward into our lives today. You can be endlessly creative with your hydrosol use, so here are just a few ideas to get started:

1. Make an aromatic mist

Use a single hydrosol, combination, or add essential oils and other plant extracts to create an aromatic mist. These mists can be used as you would any other aromatherapy spray — for beauty, cleansing, aroma, protection, refreshment…get creative!

2. Flavor your food and drinks

Add a teaspoon of hydrosol to a glass of water, use rosewater in a Mediterranean dessert, add orange blossom water to a honey cake, blend an herbal hydrosol into a salad dressing…most hydrosols are totally edible, so have fun in the kitchen. (If the plant isn’t edible, don’t eat the hydrosol!)

3. Apply topically

Hydrosols are safe to use directly on the skin — even with children and pets. Soaking some cotton pads in antiinflammatory hydrosols and applying to puffy eyes or irritated skin feels so soothing, and antibacterial hydrosols can be dabbed onto scratches.

4. Use ritually

Hydrosols can safely enhance any ritual intentions. Mist your space, attune your energy field to practice by taking a few drops internally, and cleanse your ritual objects. 

5. Anointing

Hydrosols are beautiful for any anointing practice — whether you are opening your third eye before meditation, attuning your heart to its highest vibration, or practicing traditional acupoint anointing in the TCM style, hydrosols carry the vibrational gifts of plants deep into your body’s energy system.

6. Support your health

All of the wellness benefits of the plants involved are carried into their hydrosol form. So, use peppermint and chamomile for digestion, tea tree and sage for antibacterial purposes, helichrysum for skin health, and lavender for a calm mind. Once again, there are endless possibilities. 

Psst — this list just scratches the surface! Download 44 more creative ways to use hydrosols—my gift to you!

44 Creative Ways to Use Hydrosols

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2024 Hydrosol Collection

Ok, now that you have some idea about how totally magical hydrosols are, and how many ways you can use them (although, honestly, my favorite is just to mist my face for hydration and a mood boost throughout the day), I hope you’ll be inspired to start incorporating them into your own daily rituals.

Right now, there are 4 freshly made hydrosols in the botanica at Alchemessence. Obviously, pretty limited amounts are available.

Here’s a peek at who you’ll find:

• Mugwort — Mugwort has a long history as a sacred herb for enhancing dreams, intuitive work, and protection. Known for its ability to clear energetic blockages, Mugwort supports relaxation, enhances spiritual practice, and aids meditation.

• White Sagebrush — A lovely, local, and sustainable white sage from the artemisia family, this hydrosol purifyies the mind, body, and spirit. It helps clear emotional clutter, provides mental grounding, and energetically prepares you for spiritual practices.

• Blue Spruce — This hydrosol captures the spirit of evergreen forests, bringing about feelings of peace and strength. Blue Spruce hydrosol is wonderfully grounding, helping to clear mental fog, support emotional balance, and create a sense of calm stability.

• Purple-Leaf Chokecherry Blossom — This unique hydrosol offers us gentle emotional healing and reminds us of the sweetness of life. It provides calming support for the nervous system, uplifts the heart, and enhances a sense of connectedness and harmony.

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ASTROLOGY | RECIPES | REWILDING | SACRED AROMATICS | SHAMANISM | SPIRITUALITY | WELLNESS

Juniper Stokes is a certified coach, mythoanimist guide, alchemist & artist.

don’t sacrifice magic at the altar of the mind: an exploration of shamanic soul retrieval

Nothing on this site has been written by AI.

Soul Retrieval is the shamanic art of becoming whole. It is a spiritual practice that restores all of the parts that make you you. 

It’s beautiful…and it can be a little confusing.

Isn’t the soul eternal? Aren’t we all truly divine and whole in our essence, no matter what happens to us in life? Why would part of our own spiritual essence not be present with us? 

These are very good questions, and how we answer them depends a bit on which perspectives we approach this work from…

Because shamanism is a spiritual practice. We’re dealing with spiritual healing. 

And our modern minds are psychologically oriented. We put everything through the lens of mental filters.

Depending on which worldview you’re biased towards, just what exactly is happening during a soul retrieval session might shift significantly.

Which brings me to one of my personal questions: Can the two approaches co-exist when it comes to the tradition and practice of soul retrieval? 

Want to learn the art of soul retrieval for yourself?

Join me for a rare, in-person 5-day training this September. Learn more.

Modern Mind, Timeless Spirit

The idea that illness and hardship could be the result of soul loss dates back thousands of years and is found throughout the world. 

Now, something happens in our modern minds when we hear this…

Mostly likely, you’re thinking — it’s not the soul that was lost…

• Perhaps part of the personality or an archetypal influence was lost.

• This is what we call dissociation. 

• It sounds like soul loss is actually PTSD. 

• This seems what IFS refers to as an Exile.

• It’s not soul loss — it’s an unhealthy attachment style.

• Maybe this is a metaphor for feeling depleted and out of touch with your personal power or life force energy. 

With the exception of the final statement, notice that all of these interpretations are psychological ones. 

I believe that there is great value in working with our modern-day minds. Humanity and consciousness are simply different than they were thousands of years ago. We have different needs when it comes to feeling whole, embodied, and empowered in our lives today. 

And…we are still the same animals we have always been. Our DNA remembers the power of ancestral healing techniques. Our spirits respond to ancient practices that our minds do not understand. 

As we explore the world of shamanic healing in general and soul retrieval in particular…

We must not sacrifice magic at the altar of mind. 

Spirit & Soul

The foundational idea behind soul retrieval can be found in a wee linguistic nuance: 

The Spirit is eternal. It is the part of you that is always whole, complete, and divine. It is always one with all of spirit and can never be lost. 

The Soul is that part of your spiritual nature that grows and evolves. The Soul experiences separation from the oneness of truth in order to play in the variety of life. 

Although I often use these words interchangeably, which I’m sure instigates much confusion in my readers and students (sorry), this distinction helps us understand the seeming contradiction inherent in soul retrieval…and spiritual healing in general.

You are always whole. You always, always, always have access to your true nature, which is one with all and completely divine. And the more you remember and consciously embody this nature, the more you bring this truth into our current reality. And this changes our current reality in miraculous ways. 

(Psst — this can be done through the art of transfiguration, which we’ll learn at the Soul Retrieval training in September.)

Even though you are whole, the universe is expansive and dynamic. In order to participate in this dynamism, part of your spirit experiences separation — not just in physical form, but in what we refer to as spiritual dimensions as well. This part of you is your Soul. 

Each time you incarnate, your Soul carries a blueprint for your life — your gifts, lessons, joys, loves, dreams, and role in the web of life. This is the spiritual part of you, a compliment to the energetic, mental, emotional, and physical parts of you. 

Since the Soul chooses to experience separation, it can experience illness.

(Confusingly, I call this spirit sickness, even though in this framework “Spirit” is eternal.)

Alas, the limitations of language…these definitions of Soul and Spirit make sense to me. And I’ve spent a lifetime not using these exact distinctions, so…💁 I tend to use the term divine to refer to the oneness realms, spirit to refer to the spiritual dimensions of reality, and soul to refer to our individual experiences. Let me know your thoughts on all this in the comments!

So, within this model, while your divine Spirit can never be anything but whole, your Soul can have a wide range of experiences.

Note: You may have picked up that I also make a distinction between the Soul and the energy body. Your energy body — or subtle body/aura/meridian/chakra/all the things that aren’t physical body — exists in the energetic realms of reality that underlie our physical reality. Our Souls enliven both our energetic and physical bodies, so we can look at spirit sickness, energetic sickness, and physical sickness as both distinct and interconnected.

Being Ensouled

When you are fully ensouled, you more naturally live in a state of coherence: Your thoughts and actions are in harmony, and you feel more at home in your body. You have inspiring visions for your life and the world, and you feel capable of doing what you are here to do. Your entire self is aligned, and self-sabotaging patterns fade away. 

Yes, you encounter challenges, pain, loss, failure, grief, and all the parts of being human…but somehow you don’t take them so personally. You feel them fully as a natural part of life, and then you are more able to transmute difficulty into loving energy that carries you forward. 

You’re heart stays equally open in the face of pain and joy.

This is our natural state, and it is your birthright to be full of your own soul.

Unfortunately, just as our physical bodies can become injured and sick, our mental processes and beliefs can get wacky, our emotions can feel painful, and our energy bodies can have blockages and leaks…our spiritual souls can suffer, too.

Before moving on, I want to make one thing very, very clear: This is normal.

Do you have digestion issues and still live a full life? Get depressed sometimes but maintain healthy friendships? Show up to work even with a sprained ankle? 

Well, you can live a perfectly satisfying life with a bit of soul loss, too. 

But there are techniques and strategies that can help you fix your digestion, feel a little happier, and heal that ankle…just as there are ways to restore soul loss. And we feel better when we take care of ourselves. 

Symptoms & Causes of Soul Loss

When we feel fragmented, as if part of ourselves is missing, we end up constantly leaking energy as we search for lost parts of ourselves. This happens unconsciously — but our daydreams and fantasies often point to the places where our searches originate.

There’s a sense that we’re just not living as fully as we could be. We’re missing the intimacy with self and spirit and other that is meant to enliven us. We long to come home to ourselves but don’t know how.

This is the low grade, chronic condition of soul loss. Of knowing that there is more vibrancy and meaning that you are meant to experience. Of searching for something outside of yourself to fill in what’s missing.

We all do this. 

Traditionally, soul loss was seen to occur in response to trauma: Part of the soul essence separates from the whole as a self-protective measure. This can happen in response to all kinds of ongoing or acute traumas — abuse, war, accidents, loss of loved ones, miscarriage, illness, divorce, surgery, addiction…

In my experience, modern society doesn’t support us being fully ensouled.

Children are reprimanded for being their authentic selves and taught to conform. Teenagers are initiated into adulthood with shame. We’re sold stories about what a good life consists of, and we sacrifice our truths in order to achieve this false vision. Loneliness, disconnection from the Earth, witnessing the traumas of others via media…the list goes on.

All of this leads to soul loss, too.

The effects of soul loss might be subtle and chronic — much like Sandra describes in the quote above. Or, they can have more noticeable consequences: addiction, fatigue, chronic illness, dissociative tendencies, lost memories, strings of bad luck, self-sabotaging patterns, ongoing depression, and even, in extreme cases, coma. 

Our language describes what soul loss feels like: something is missing, not feeling like yourself, sleepwalking through life, feeling dead inside, nobody’s home…

When the soul is restored, these effects may melt away on their own. More often, however, the other healing work we’re engaged in becomes more effective. Our bodies seem to have more energy to heal with, we feel more motivated to stick with the changes we want to implement, and the psychological inquiry we engage in yields faster and more impactful results. 

Where does the soul go?

The feeling that something is missing, or the idea that “you’ll be happy when…” are common human experiences. We keep searching for something outside ourselves to make us satisfied. 

While timeless spiritual wisdom tells us that everything we need is already within, shamanic perspectives actually acknowledge that yes, something is missing. You’re just not going to find it in the places you’re currently looking in.

But is the soul really missing? 

From shamanic perspectives, the part of the soul that leaves is somewhere in the otherworlds, non-ordinary reality, or the dreamtime depending on the language you use. It is the role of the shaman to traverse these realms, find that soul part, and bring it home. 

Yet, in Tibetan shamanism and even many Western Mystery traditions, we are microcosms of the macrocosm. The entire universe is within us, including the realms of non-ordinary reality. So, while we may feel disconnected from a soul part, it is still within us, hiding beyond our awareness. 

This has some similarities to modern psychotherapeutic theory — the idea that parts of ourselves dissociate and get buried in our subconscious. These parts aren’t gone, but they aren’t accessible either.

Which brings me back to our modern minds…

As consciousness has evolved, it’s become more important to integrate intellectual and psychological awareness into our healing work. 

And, we are still born from our ancestors. Both our DNA and our souls respond to the mythic and magic medicine rooted in thousands of years of shamanic practice. 

There’s a danger in putting all shamanic and spiritual healing through the lens of modern psychotherapy.

The miraculous healings I’ve witnessed when a shaman or shamanic practitioner retrieves a soul on behalf of a client are just that — miraculous. The healing is a gift, and it didn’t require years of therapy or internal struggle to receive that blessing. A spiritual healing creates the conditions for psychological wellness to be cultivated.

But I’ve also seen how impactful it can be for someone to retrieve their own soul essence through guided journeys, unburdening exiles (in IFS language), and inner excavation. This work can create a psychological healing that welcomes the exiled spirit home.

I have a lot more to say on IFS, parts work, and soul retrieval…but that’s for another article. And for the upcoming Soul Retrieval workshop I’ll be sharing in September ;) 

Beyond the Individual Soul

There’s another benefit to celebrating the magical side of soul retrieval — we can heal beyond our individual lives. 

From animist perspectives, communities have souls. Homes have souls. Lands have souls.

The shamanic practice of soul retrieval can be used to heal the collective spaces and places we live within with far reaching impacts for all of us. 

(Yup — we’re definitely doing some soul retrieval for the land at the September workshop!)

Learning this practice empowers you to be a true Earth ally, to support humanity’s evolution, and foundational levels. 

Coming into Cosmic Balance

When we are fully ensouled, we are kind. I like the 8Cs that IFS theory uses to describe our true self: compassion, curiosity, clarity, creativity, calm, confidence, courage, and connectedness.

If everyone were connected to their full souls and spiritual nature, if everyone could embody these qualities more consistently, imagine how the world would change. 

The art and practice of Soul Retrieval is an essential skill for these times. I truly believe that the more people learn this, the more collective healing we’ll see.

If you are at all drawn to explore this powerful spiritual healing methodology, please consider joining me this September in Sisters, OR for a five-day training.

• If you are a healer, therapist, coach, body worker, or spiritual practitioner of any kind, I highly encourage you to join us. 

• Or, if you simply want to learn new ways to heal the Earth and our animal kin in the midst of such challenging ecological changes, then join us. 

• Or, if you just love to learn about spirit stuff and consciousness, then definitely join us!

Psst: If you’re reading this and wish to receive a soul retrieval, you can sign up for a shamanic healing session with me here:

Shamanic Healing Sessions

You might also like:

• How to take a shamanic journey

• Your complete guide to shamanism

• Shamanic Techniques for Healing

• Entering a Shamanic State of Consciousness

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Imagination as throne for the gods

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ASTROLOGY | RECIPES | REWILDING | SACRED AROMATICS | SHAMANISM | SPIRITUALITY | WELLNESS

Juniper Stokes is a certified coach, mythoanimist guide, alchemist & artist.

Imagination as throne for the gods

Nothing on this site has been written by AI.

Imagination is the language of the soul.

I think Einstein originally said that. Smart guy ;)

It’s true. Our souls speak to us through our imaginations. The dreams we let dance through our consciousness are arrows to our soul’s deeper callings.

The spirit world also communicates through the imagination. Have you ever fantasized about a better world? Created stories about the fairies who must live in that mossy grove you hiked past? These thoughts aren’t just mind inventions…they are divinely inspired insights into additional potentialities and dimensions of our reality.

The imagination is a favorite language of the Muses, too. I like to think of the Muses as angels of creativity, whispering inspiration into the vessels capable of bringing it to life.

And the imagination is an invitation to the gods.

This happens through the intentional act of visualization.

When you use your imagination to visualize a deity, with as much focus and detail as possible, you create what one of my teachers (Jason Miller) calls an “astral throne”.

I love this idea. By bringing together intention, focus, and imagination, you have created a resting place for a spirit to meet with you.

In many traditions, including the Ancient Egyptian magical practices I engage in, statues are seen as physical resting places for the gods. In the opening of the mouth ritual, a representation of a deity is anointed, creating space for the god to join our prayers and rituals here on Earth.

The astral throne serves the same purpose.

Now, the astral throne may very well be an image of the deity you wish to connect with, but quite often some sort of seal or symbol is used — Tibetan or Hindu mandalas, or Metatron’s cube, for example.

The next time you sit down to connect with a spirit guide, imagine a symbol for them with your mind’s eye.

As you place your focus on this symbol, tune into your body. Can you feel this divine being arrive? Has the potency of your experience changed in some way?

Psst: If you are among the 1-4% of the population who cannot visualize, you can still do this! Look at a physical version of the symbol you’d like to work with, and then use your intention and focus to know that the image is appearing as an astral invitation.

You might also like:

• How to take a shamanic journey

• Your complete guide to shamanism

• Shamanic Techniques for Healing

• Entering a Shamanic State of Consciousness

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ASTROLOGY | RECIPES | REWILDING | SACRED AROMATICS | SHAMANISM | SPIRITUALITY | WELLNESS

Juniper Stokes is a certified coach, mythoanimist guide, alchemist & artist.

Why We Gather

Nothing on this site has been written by AI.

It wasn’t until my thirties that I finally admitted to myself an important truth:

I despise attending festivals. 🙃

And group fitness classes. And camping within 50ft of other people. And even meditation seminars where we’re packed in a room like sardines. Burning Man. 😵‍💫

All the things that are supposed to be fun and good for me…end up feeling overwhelming and exhausting.

As an introvert and empath, crowds can be rough. So when Covid brought us all online, I celebrated the ability to teach from anywhere and reach students from around the world.

I still love the gifts of technology, and have a few online workshops coming up soon, but…

The most recent in-person shamanic workshop I taught here in Bend, OR blew my mind.

While it did take me a good amount of time to energetically recover from facilitating three immersive, in-person days of magic — the experience was 1000% worth it.

The women who gathered together were amazing. Ages ranged from 30s to 70s. Experience ranged from complete beginners to already professionals. And everyone had been through some shit in the past few years.

We needed each other. In the flesh. Our collective energy unfolding and holding, connecting and reflecting. The safety and clarity of our strong, sacred container allowed true magic to awaken within every participant there.

It was incredibly touching to witness these powerful women activate and embrace their divine gifts. The healings and divinations they facilitated for each other were wild to watch. It was as if I was viewing a room of seasoned healers and psychics do their work (and they probably all were in many lifetimes).

During our third day together, I facilitated an anointing ceremony. As I channeled the great goddess Isis, divine energy flowed from my heart, through my hands, and into the oil, where aromatic plant allies activated and attuned the power of this energy further before each participant received her blessing.

My dear friend and assistant for the workshop, Heather Porter, then guided everyone through a Celtic-style ceremony for receiving a reflection of their heart’s medicine.

Throughout our time together, we danced and sang. Meditated and channeled. Unraveled old narratives and their disempowering hangovers. And began to embody the divinity we are each here to hold.

As a facilitator, I loved witnessing all of this in person. I loved feeling the healing energy our group created. And I loved witnessing myself in this role, my decades of training coalescing into the exact workshop I wish I could have attended earlier in my journey.

What struck me most, though, was how every woman told me that this was exactly what she’d been looking for.

I’m now more motivated than ever to continue offering in-person experiences in addition to my online offerings. And the next one will be in September…

Soul Retrieval: The Shamanic Art of Becoming Whole

Soul Retrieval is my most requested class, and I’m delighted to be able to offer it at the most beautifully magical location in Sisters, OR this September.

Together, we will meet for five days of ritual, healing, learning, and connecting with each other and spirit.

Soul Retrieval is the art of integration. Of restoring those parts that have become fragmented. Of becoming who you truly are, eternally whole and loved.

And, Soul Retrieval is a gift we can share with our world. We can restore wholeness to our communities. We can release the energetic trappings of inherited trauma. And we can tend the Earth with our spiritual gifts.

​Applications for Soul Retrieval are now open, and I hope you’ll consider joining me IN PERSON ;) Please reach out with any questions.

May we all find the communities that light up our souls, even if small doses for introverts like me ;)

You might also like:

• How to take a shamanic journey

• Your complete guide to shamanism

• Shamanic Techniques for Healing

• Entering a Shamanic State of Consciousness

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A Short & Sweet Guide to Understanding Flower Essence Dilutions

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ASTROLOGY | RECIPES | REWILDING | SACRED AROMATICS | SHAMANISM | SPIRITUALITY | WELLNESS

Juniper Stokes is a certified coach, mythoanimist guide, alchemist & artist.

Remember that You Are the Cosmos

Nothing on this site has been written by AI.

Y’all know I love me some A’s — astrology, aromatics, ascension, anointing…

So I’ve often wondered…do people think I’m a flaky dilettante when they peruse my writing? 

I mean, one day I’m sharing a deep dive into the Age of Aquarius, the next I’m channeling a meditation with an Egyptian goddess, then I’m waxing poetic on ecological trauma, and then I’m going on about natural perfume fragrance families!

But it is all connected. And I’m not the only one who thinks so.

Historically, aromatic plants were always tied to spirituality through perfume. They were always a reflection of our connection with the Earth and the environments we live in. They were always understood in relationship with the cosmos. 

And this is true cross culturally, though with some differently flavored systems ;)

In Western alchemy and esoteric traditions, every plant is ruled by a planetary god (or gods). Rose graces us with the blessings of Venus, and nettles protect us alongside Mars.

I’ll share more on this later. For today, I want to dive into an area of astrological aromatics that not as many people are familiar with…Taoist cosmic perfumery.

(How absolutely juicy are those words? I think the word “juicy” is super cringe. But Taoist Cosmic Perfumery??? I mean. It does give juicy vibes.)

Taoist philosophy teaches us that our bodies are microcosms of the universal macrocosm. The cosmos are reflected in our own physical beings. Mountains and oceans of energy rise and pool throughout our energetic vessel, just as physical mountains and oceans are energetic forces upon our Earth.

And just as stars form constellations in the skies, our meridians, organs, and acupuncture points form constellations within our bodies.

The Big Dipper is one of the most important ones: Polaris, our north star, resides in our heart while the rest of the seven sacred stars rotate around it. (How beautiful that the north star is a guiding light for our souls across cultural traditions.) In a way, our hearts are portals to our connection with the cosmos all around us.

Unfortunately, life often weakens, blocks, or severs our connection with the cosmos. You can probably see this in people around you, most of whom go through life not feeling their connection with the cosmos, unaware of the universe within themselves.

When this happens, the microcosmic orbit — our inner energetic flow that forms the basis for health, vitality, and longevity — isn’t able to flow freely. And we suffer as a result.

This is where the aromatics and anointing come in.

I’ve written before on the Taoist tradition of using essential oils to anoint acupuncture points. Again, this is not a modern invention. True distillation existed in China thousands of years ago, and oils and waters produced by this process were seen as pure alchemy. 

Essential oils in particular are said to carry the jing of a plant. Jing is a type of chi that’s kind of like our genetic makeup, the divine blueprint of our physical and energetic bodies. And plant jing is perfectly evolved to support human jing :) When we receive the jing of a plant through an essential oil, it activates our body’s innate memory of its divine blueprint for health and cosmic connection.

Blending these oils into healing formulas is a whole world of complexities…which is perfect for my overactive, maximalist mind ;)

Within a Taoist anointing blend, every oils plays a different role. Some target a specific organ or meridian, some might move the energy in a different direction, and some might be part of traditional formulas for ghost points. 

And, in every blend, at least one oil has the role of restoring your connection with the cosmos.

The blend simply won’t work without this. We are cosmic beings and our relationship with the cosmos is central to our health.

As a shamanic healer, natural perfumer, and all-around alchemist and artist, is it any wonder I’m obsessed with these Taoist practices? (There’s probably an oil to use for that obsession…)

Beyond all the healing and magic here, I delight in the potential for beauty that this healing pathway brings us. Because at heart, I’m a perfumer.

I started my natural perfumery journey in 2007, so it’s been at the core of my creativity for nearly two decades. I trained at the Institute for Natural Perfumery in 2012. I apprenticed with magical, witchy, professional perfumer Roxanna Villa in person back in 2019. 

At this point, even though I’m a clinically certified aromatherapist and my Taoist teacher claims that her blends don’t smell great (lol, she’s very functional and effective and they smell fine…), I struggle to make anything that’s not absolutely beautiful smelling. 

And so, Taoist anointing, astrological influences, and artistry comes together in my magical perfumes.

Anyone can purchase my magical perfumes, and I’ll be opening a few slots for custom ones soon. But only my shamanic healing and wild alchemy coaching clients get to have me make Taoist blends for them. That might change in the future, but right now I find that I need to really understand the spiritual, energetic, and physical influences at play in order to create effective blends. (Plus, since I’m still learning, I’m bringing my case studies to my mentor, so you have both of us working on your blend.) 

June is filling up, but you can grab a spot with me here. 

You might also like:

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

• The Complete Guide to Magical & Ritual Anointing Oils

• The Alchemy of Making Spiritual Perfumes

• A Guide to Natural Perfume Fragrance Families

• How I Make Natural Perfumes: Art, Aroma, and Alchemy in a Bottle

Recent Posts

A Short & Sweet Guide to Understanding Flower Essence Dilutions

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How to take a shamanic journey

ASTROLOGY | RECIPES | REWILDING | SACRED AROMATICS | SHAMANISM | SPIRITUALITY | WELLNESS

Juniper Stokes is a certified coach, mythoanimist guide, alchemist & artist.