Hi First name / you, 

I started off writing this week's jam by pulling a tarot card for us. My intention was to be a clear channel for Spirit & remember that I am here to share my gifts & serve my community. It helped me drop out of my ego a bit & write to you from the heart, guided by Spirit. SO much of what I do in working with plants is communicating with Spirit, my ancestors, & the plants themselves. It only makes sense this would be weaved into my weekly newsletter offerings.

The card I pulled for us was Strength, from the Neo Tarot deck. When we see our shadow selves & more challenging emotions as opportunities to connect with Spirit, we cultivate strength & resiliency. This is the type of strength that is capable of holding space for our whole selves. It is the kind that allows us to move through our fears & pet the lion. As we come out of Scorpio season yet head into Winter, our shadow emotions & subconscious beliefs continue to surface so that we can reflect on & release them.

I really appreciated this card pull as I've been expanding a lot of limiting beliefs that were imprinted early on in childhood! Beliefs that keep me small & settling, in fear & survival mode. It's encouraging to be reminded of our wholeness & strength, especially in the midst of sorting through what can feel like muck.

If you're looking for some additional insight & guidance, check out these star reads for the month ahead!

Also, now is a wonderful time to do some herbal medicine making for the colder months ahead! Winter officially begins in a few weeks on the Solstice, December 21st. It is opposite Summer, a season of abundance & sunshine & can trigger feelings of scarcity & general fear of darkness. If we prepare a bit ahead of time, it can help us feel more supported to align with all that Winter has to offer us! 

Here are recipes to a few herbal medicines I like to keep on deck for the colder months. (Keep in mind that, depending on how you prepare them, tinctures & herbal extracts often need a minimum of 2 weeks to infuse.)

VITAMIN C FIRE CIDER:

Great for colds & flus, delicious in an alcohol free “hot toddy” by replacing the alcohol with fire cider.

A Glass Jar (the bigger, the more for sharing with friends & fam! abundance in winter, yes plz!)

Raw Apple Cider Vinegar

Raw Honey

Rosehips

Elder Berries

Lemon

Pomegranate

Turmeric

Ginger

Onion

Garlic

Cayenne Pepper

Cinnamon

Place intuitive amounts of each herb into your jar! Using dried herbs is best as fresh herbs add water to the blend which decreases the shelf life, though some fresh is okay! Cover your herbs with a blend of Raw Honey & Raw Apple Cider vinegar. I usually go with 1 part Honey to 5 Parts ACV, though you can adjust for sweetness/flavor. The more honey, the longer the shelf life. Label with date & ingredients & allow your jar to infuse for 2-4 weeks, shaking intermittently. If you're using a metal lid, put a layer of wax paper in between the jar & lid so the metal doesn't rust into your cider. When it's ready, strain & squeeze out all the liquid from the marc (spent herb). This liquid is now infused with the plant properties & is your beloved fire cider! It will last you anywhere from 6 months to 2 years. Store in an amber/ dark glass bottle & in the fridge for optimal preservation.

SORE THROAT/ COUGH SYRUP: 

2-3 cups Raw Honey

¼ cup dried Elder Berry

1 tbsp dried Sage 

¼ cup dried Plantain

½ Onion, sliced 

1 tbsp Ginger

Combine all ingredients in a jar, making sure the herbs are covered up to an inch by honey. Allow to infuse for 2 weeks, then strain. If the honey is too thick to strain, you can heat on low, using the double boiler method, taking care not to burn the medicine. A spoonful of this infused honey is soothing to the throat & respiratory tract!  

IMMUNITY BUILDER:

A preventative, alcohol free, wellness boost! Available in the online apothecary here.

More on Seasonal Herbalism, Winter edition to come.. stay tuned!

Thank you for being here & creating this growing community of herb angels, wellness baes, earth healers, & plant mediums with me. It's a pleasure & an honor.

See you next week!