Category Archives: Uncategorized

Herbs and Somatic Practices for Stress, Trauma and Resilience

As promised, here are the handouts and the presentation that accompanied my talk at the 13th International Herb Symposium this past weekend. Enjoy!

*I updated these materials for my talk at the Dandelion Seed Conference in October and have swapped in these newest materials to replace those previously posted here. Enjoy!

(Click titles to view)

PowerPoint: Herbs and Somatic Practices for Stress, Trauma and Resilience

Handout: Basic Patterns of Distress

Calendula

Calendula

Sustainable Herbs Project Rewards

At Ann’s request, I’ve put together these high resolution photo collages that can be used as desktop or tablet backgrounds or screen savers…or for whatever your heart desires. These are large and high-resolution, suited to wide screens. Click on them to see their full size. Just visit the Sustainable Herbs Kickstarter project to claim one of these and support this important work.

Enjoy!
California wild

 

 

 

 

 

 

Patera Physic Garden for Healing & Learning 20115

 

 

 

 

 

 

Roses and Foxes

winter medicine

heaven

Yesterday was Imbolc, the day halfway between Winter Solstice and Spring Equinox, and officially the start of Spring on more seasonal, agrarian calendars, particularly those of my ancestors in the British Isles. In those more moderate climes, the snow drops are apt to be showing themselves and Imbolc brings with it a real promise of the unfurling once again of the fertile green cloak across the land. But, of course, in our Vermont climate, we are deeply ensconced in Winter still, and this day offers more of a symbolic glimpse towards the brightening and warming of these hills.

It’s been frigid here, 60 degrees below freezing within the past two weeks and then thawing and raining shortly after, only to freeze once again. And all the while it’s been mostly gray, clouding the spirits of most and obscuring the feeling of any sort of stirring or quickening of sap, seedling or inner inspiration, all of which are promised by Imbolc and its patron goddess, Brigid.

So, when I woke today to a blue sky and temperatures just at freezing, it seemed that perhaps Spring might come after all–that the thick, slow  ice flows of Winter might dislodge, that the light of the sun might be truly growing and kindling a small flame in the heart of the world.

As I padded downstairs, I was greeted immediately by our resident grouse outside my window, all puffed up to keep herself warm as she foraged for her daily ration of tree buds. I haven’t seen her in a couple of months, since the hard freeze, and I wondered where she’d dug her snow tunnel for safety and warmth. For a bit, she crouched under the hemlock outside the window and watched me, while I watched her, and then she scurried off. I decided she was giving me the “hard eye”–as my sweetie describes the look we give the cats when they’re misbehaving–admonishing me to get myself outside and into the woods.

So, I did. I found, of course, that there is much afoot, even under cover of snow and ice. I’m always in need of reminding that the cold and slow times are important preparation for the productivity and maturation of the Fire season. But, perhaps even more, I need a reminder that the simplicity and pared down nature of Winter makes space for a depth of reflection and quality of work that can’t be achieved at any other time. The modest, purposeful movements of the animals in search of food reminds me that only so much can be done in short days and only that which is necessary.

Simple realizations and small practices, like the tiny swollen tree buds, are the potent beginnings of the glories of Summer’s canopy, yes. But condensed inner and outer movements–such as dreaming and intention-setting, long naps and fire-tending–also hold their own value, solid ballast for the frenzied expansion and manifestation to come.

Here are a few of the images I collected today to remind myself of the need for “tending the buds”, treasuring the simple, the slow, the essential–my gifts from Winter.

the clear path

purpose

golden birch, a small flame in the forest

illumination

work around

imagination

sunlight capture

preservation

rest

rest

sturdy resolve

resolve

love

love

Also posted in philosophy, seasonal musings Tagged , , , , , , , , |

Welcome to our Medicine Garden!

The medicine faeries–as the apprentices were named by the kiddos that live at the garden site–have been hard at work, and soon we’ll share a few pictures from our first meeting…