As a child I followed and watched my Grandmother tend to her gardens, her kitchen, and her bathroom and I wondered how she knew what everything was without any markings or labels on the bottles. When I would stay with her some weekends I began to learn her stories every time she would use or tend to something, like she had a friend in that bottle or jar.  When I entered my first herb program in 2008 I assumed it would resemble the ways that drew me to plants, unfortunately did not. The way I was first introduced to plants, that is what drew me to Herbal Mystery school.

 

 

 I would say  the process of something unfurling before our subconscious detects it. (That took me some time to make it that concise lol)

 

 

After HMS, I slowly entered back into what life was like for me in 2019, but with a whole set of eyes. The exercise of “Running the pentacle'' as well as working with the 3 cauldrons changed the way I looked at labour, relationships, and so many aspects of the modern world. I decided to obtain my Acupuncture Detox Specialist certificate and incorporate that with herb work. Through that I linked up with my now friend & colleague Rich Maddocks who facilitates a free monthly community care clinic in Hudson. I don’t think I would have been able to self actualize this without the time at HMS. Seeing how the plants moved through me each month, how they affected me asI moved the material world. At a time where the material world was a mystery  that was vital for me to have as I continue this work, and that I express so much gratitude!

 

 

 

 Burdock! Oh sweet Burdock. During times of  transition & uncertainty prior to HMS,  I don’t think I had the healthiest practices to navigate my feelings of worry or instability. Burdock gives me a sense of grounding clarity almost to address the healing project, problem, or indecision head on. That being said , times I’ve had a hectic day or I feel frazzled cerebrally, Burdock essence  is a mental manager to me saying “ let’s slow down, we got this one foot in front of the other.” Big shoutout to Burdock for that.

 

 

I definitely started writing more Hymns and poems about plants for sure! I sing in a band and for years I always used my poems or prose as lyrics, so this came pretty naturally to me. I look at it as a way to document a time and/or place now. For instance I’ll go on a trip and see a plant I have a relationship with, and I’ll note the time and the place.

 

 

I’d say in this exact moment Nettle! I give a lot of gratitude to it for helping me expand beyond what I thought I could do/be.

 

 

Birch, Blue Vervain, Burdock, Mugwort.

 

 

During our time with Rose, I was in the west coast at one point  and I harvested a few rose hips and sewed them in on a threadline like a string of beads  to make a literal small rosary.

 

 

This winter as I step into my 35th solar return I'm dreaming of grounding and expansion  and using ritual as a routine to give me the warmth of sparks to do so in the cold months ahead.

 

 

OOOOOO “Time” by George Riley was my anthem  during October. This one lyric is just too good. I just think of flying into different realms and crossing thresholds. “This time, I'll step out / Gonna find a new ride / To go anywhere I desire / So if you happen to see me / Havin' a really good time /  I'm just wanted you to be wary”

 

 

To accept and comply

or reject and assert.

Our will

in dissension.

 

An offering of honey-comb to the Ironwort;

Nine Maidens in pearls of cerulean.

 

Turn against.

Turn away.

Turn toward.

 

Enchantment and sensibility. 

 

 

~  ~ ~ 

How to find Nadine in the wild: