Tree Spirit Medicine... my 'book' in progress

As many of you may know, trees are one of my greatest passions.  So, back in 2006 when I was studying with David Winston in his 2-year Herbal Studies Program, we had to complete a medicinal botanical-related project - one for each year.  Of course I chose to do mine about my tree friends:  their medicine, their contributions to humanity, their mystery, magick and use in traditional ceremony and ritual, etc.  I dove into my research with wild abandon, gathering as much information as I could.  I used books of course, and I also used my connection with the trees to help guide me about what information they wanted to share.

As the months rolled on, I found that I could not limit my project-turned-'book' to just one year, so I was approved to expand it into a two-year project.  I had so much fun with my botanical buddies, that I finally realized that I would have to force my Self to stop writing so that I could turn it in!  With that said, I would like to quote from the Epilogue:

"First and foremost:  My love and gratitude to all the trees who unselfishly lent their physical and spiritual support to my discussion ~ and especially to those trees who graciously stepped back and agreed to wait for volume II ~ or a book ~ whichever comes next. 

Secondly, it is my hope that you have enjoyed reading this paper as much as I have enjoyed writing it.  Some of the lighthearted comments contained within are mine, and some reflect the humor and good-natured-ness of the tree spirit I was working with ~ whether sitting together with them or researching in books ~ their chatter, input and friendship was unwavering. 

I hope that I have conveyed some of my passion and appreciation for these silent, giving beings:  from oxygen to food to shelter to shade…  …and still they keep giving.  Even though the majority of humanity has been so destructive with them, they still choose to be among us, and I am grateful for the opportunity to learn…  ...to listen……and, when they decide, …sometimes even to speak for them."

In wanting to share an excerpt, it seemed only fitting to start with the chapter on Willows.  I hope it brings new understanding and helps strengthen your relationships with the trees in your yards and neighborhoods.

Making Garlic Mustard Vinegar

Back in March, I posted about making Spring Pesto with greens from our yard, especially using highly invasive garlic mustard (Allaria petiolata).  As a member of the Brassicaceae family, garlic mustard contains many healthful and medicinal qualities, so please see that post.  Herbal vinegars are truly an excellent way to preserve the goodness of nutritious, tonic herbs and to create a valuable nutritional supplement.  I am not talking about the 'culinary vinegars' decorated with a few sprigs of kitchen herbs like rosemary or thyme, but rather concentrated herbal formulas using nutrient-dense herbs and wild foods like Burdock, Nettles, Dandelion and other wild foods/greens.  The Spring Pesto post from March has great foraging and plant identification books listed.

In April, while harvesting to make yet more pesto - YUM! - I saved the roots and crowns (the part where the stem meets the roots).  Then, after gently washing away the dirt, I chopped them all into small pieces using a scissors since the some of the roots are thick and dense. 

(Wise Woman Tip:  Remember that you should be in a good mood when working in your kitchen and using medicinal botanicals.....    Set the tone with music, etc., whatever puts you in good spirits because the act of creating adds your own energy to the process and the items you make absorb your positive energy.    The same principle applies to making meals:  prepare them with positive, loving, healing thoughts and vibrations, and your family will receive that love two-fold!)

This is the simpler's method for making an herbal vinegar, so you will fill the jar twice. 

Making Risotto with our Shiitake Mushrooms!

As you know, we have been waiting, watching, and waiting some more since January 2011 for our mushroom logs to produce shiitake mushrooms. (Did I mention that we've been waiting?)  The logs started showing signs of emerging mushrooms back in the beginning of March, (see post) and as you can see, they are finally here! My daughter and I ceremoniously harvested the three mushrooms with care and reverence, and then promptly made Mushroom Risotto for our dinner on Mother's Day.  Since we only had three fresh mushrooms, we added some diced baby portabellas and rehydrated the dried porcini mushrooms from the pantry.  YUM!

The stems were so dense, that I decided to make a mushroom vinegar with them, and they are now steeping in organic apple cider vinegar.  I will continue to add the stems as more mushrooms bloom. 

If you remember, shiitake are incredibly nutritious and wonderfully medicinal!  To recap briefly from my original post from January 2011:  

1. From a medicinal perspective, shiitake - taken in the form of LEM - has antiviral, antifungal and immuno-modulating properties, and studies have shown tumor inhibiting properties as well.
2. From a food standpoint, shiitakes are a nutritional powerhouse.  As with most mushrooms, one gains the maximum nutritional benefit only upon cooking them.  They contribute a wide range of essential amino acids, are low in fat, high in fiber and provide a wide range of vitamins including Vitamin D, thiamine, niacin, ascorbic acid, riboflavin and biotin.

And of course I just love trivia:  

Celebrating the Vernal Equinox (Ostara)!

What a difference a year makes!  Here in northwestern NJ, last year’s never-ending-winter was still maintaining it’s snowy/icy grip at the Vernal Equinox, and now in 2012, we have had such a mild season that I can hardly even call it 'winter'.  Six weeks ago at Imbolc, the daffodils were already pushing up through the unfrozen ground;  this year as we approach March 21, hyacinths, daffodils, tulips and crocus are already blooming, trees are budding and decorative shrubs, roses, lilacs and viburnams have their new leaves emerging.  The ground is soft and moist, but not soggy.  With barely one noteworthy snowstorm this winter (excepting the freak Halloween storm that pummeled the trees and knocked out power for 8 days here) I can hear the cries of ‘drought’ in the not too distant future.  For now, the world is greening again as the days lengthen and the daytime temps soar into the unseasonably warm 60’s and 70’s, as they have been doing intermittently for the last six weeks.  The weather forecasters are calling for temps to be in the 80's for this Thursday, March 22.  As we turn the wheel of the year, get outside and be part of this new season!



Found this lovely graphic of Ostara
on several sites, citing one:
 www.thespiritofthegoddessis.nl/

March 21st is widely-known as the Spring Equinox, one of the two days a year when the sun is directly over the equator, and when there are equal amounts of hours of daylight and nighttime. For thousands of years, indigenous populations, clans and tribal peoples and even religions have marked the beginning of spring with rituals celebrating the return of warmth, sunshine and new life.

One ancient holiday associated with the Vernal Equinox is Ostara, which is a traditional celebration honoring the Saxon lunar goddess, Eostre.  Different tribal traditions tell the story slightly differently, but the underlying thread is still the same:  Eostre once rescued a wounded bird, whose feathers and wings had become totally frozen by the harsh cold of winter.  Eostre changed her into a hare, enabling her to survive the winter more easily.

Inaugural Mid-Atlantic Women's Herbal Conference

Although today was chilly and overcast, it was warm, friendly and inviting at the first annual Mid-Atlantic Women's Herbal Conference in Kempton, PA.  It was a wonderful event attended by about 100 women from various neighboring states.  The many workshops offered were presented by noted herbalists and alternative health care providers with many, many years of plant knowledge:  Deb Soule, Kerry Smith, Kathleen Maier, Jesse Tobin, Susan Hess, Bevin Clare and Charis Lindrooth.  A vendor tent included gorgeous hand-made items, books to be signed by the authors, herbal creams, local herbal lotions and products, gemstones, herbal cordials, delicious local organic food and so much more. 

The spark for the idea for this Conference was when the Women's Herbal Conference moved two hours further north from the usual locaton in Peterborough, NH.  Now nearly an 11 hour drive, it became a virtual impossibility with small children in tow.   Of equal frustration, the SE Women's Herbal Conference held in Black Mountain, NC is also 11 hours away.

Herbal practioners and women who speak for the plants - take note:  October 6, 2012 is the date for next year's event.  Plan for it.  Support it.  Make time for it, and you are making time for your Self.  Invite your Self to spend a day centered on healing and women-centered energy.  You will thank your Self for it!

Chapeau, Ladies!  A lot of hard work and extensive planning made this event such a success!

Ancient Herbal First Aid Kit discovered on Roman-era Shipwreck

In today's online edition of the UK's The Telegraph, there is an article about the discovery of this ancient first aid kit fould on a Roman ship that went down around 130 BCE off the coast of Tuscany.  In a wooden chest containing tin-lined wooden vials they found "pills made of ground-up vegetables, herbs and plants such as celery, onions, carrots, cabbage, alfalfa and chestnuts – all ingredients referred to in classical medical texts."

The article goes on to say: 
"The pills are the oldest known archaeological remains of ancient pharmaceuticals".    

Well, to my mind, botanical-based remedies are not 'pharma'-ceuticals but rather "phyto'-ceuticals,  again underscoring the ancient traditions of healing with medicinal botanicals.

Read the entire article here:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/italy/8627715/Roman-era-shipwreck-reveals-ancient-medical-secrets.html


(Many thanks to Gabrielle on the herbstudent@yahoogroups.com for bringing this article to our attention!)

Holistic Mentorship Network

The Holistic Mentorship Network, founded by a lovely, forward-thinking soul named Linda, whose vision is "To support and strengthen the holistic profession".   All disciplines of holistic healers are welcomed and encouraged to participate in events, mentor new members and network to strengthen a common goal of providing holistic healing to our communities.  Of course, the HMN mission statement says it so much more succinctly and concisely than I:

“To create a unified community of compassionate holistic practitioners that will contribute to enhancing our profession, and ourselves, by providing a supportive space to share, learn, teach, grow and lead."

One glance at the practioner directory and you will see 87+ different healing modalities represented - all trained, certified or licensed practioners.

I mention this, because in fall of 2009, I spent a week studying with famed herbalist Rosemary Gladstar in E. Barre, VT.  In my class were several herbalists from the greater Montpelier area.  I was impressed with how they all worked together to build a more (w)holistic, self-supportive community.


Returning to NJ, I wanted to recreate that sense of commonality and rural support that I felt in Vermont.  I wasn't sure how to do that....   and then I stumbled onto HMN about six weeks later.  I cannot remember exactly how I discovered them - rather, it feels to me like the Holistic Mentorship Network found me!


If you are a holistic practioner, I urge you to check out the Holistic Mentorship Network at http://www.holisticmentorshipnetwork.com/.


(on a cyber housekeeping note:  I had spent about 60 mins crafting a carefully worded blog entry to post about the HMN.  There was apparently some 'hiccup' in cyberspace because when I hit 'Publish' my original draft copy is what posted instead, and my finished, polished, final edition vanished into the electronic ether.  Note to SELF:  Remember to click "Save as Draft" often while creating any entry and/or copy the text before submitting.  You will save yourself from the mind-wrenching aggravation of trying to re-work, reword, recall and recapture the spirit of your original finished piece!  My most humble apologies as this entry pales from the original.  Grrrrrr.....)

Herbal Whispers and Inspirations

Inspired by my many herbal sisters across the country, including Yvonne at Fuller Harvest Farm in Canada, and nudged by the total lunar eclipse of the full moon last week ON the Winter Solstice (talk about a trifecta!!), I begin this Herbal 'conversation' with the hopes of encouraging folks to learn more about the healing properties of local medicinal botanicals - which include everything from ground covers to invasive vines, common plants, perceived weeds, shrubs and of course, our noble trees who are the guardians of our communities and considered the elders of the botanical world.  More information will follow as I get the hang of blogging, and additional information can always be found at my website, http://www.willowmoonherbals.com/.

FYI:  I took the above picture just as the moon was beginning to be eclipsed at about 1:35AM on 12-21-2010 EST.