Wildcrafting and Preparing Herbs by the Lunar Phases

The moon has always mystified mankind and, just like the sun, she sustains the balance of life. Embodied as the divine feminine, she nurtures the oceans and tends to the earth as we sleep in our beds. In honor of last night's full moon, I would like to share the importance of the moon and it's relation to wildcrafting herbs and medicinal plants. Herbs and plants can be harvested at any time; however, their potency and medicinal properties are furthur enhanced according to the lunar phases.

Although humanity claims to understand the moon through the accomplishments of modern science, I believe she is still quite a mystery that ought not be scrutinized so intently. It seems that everything in this day and age must be based upon factual evidence, disregarding all spiritual and transcendent importance. It is a flaw that continues to taint our intuitive knowledge of the natural world. As a child, I can remember regarding the moon as sacred; no one had endowed this awareness unto me, I just knew. Walking under the moonlight made me feel comforted and protected. Even now, as an adult, she possesses a magnificence that continues to confound me.

Similar to the tides of the ocean, the lunar phases also control the ebb and flow of energy within plants. This is very important for determining when to harvest a plant because it influences where the energy of the plant is focused: inwards (the roots) or outwards (the stems, leaves, and flowers). Since potency is usually desired when wildcrafting, understanding the energy distribution throughout the plant is invaluable.

When the moon is waxing (the stage between the new moon and the full moon), the gravitational force she exerts pulls away from the earth. This is usually when high tides occur and the oceans are pulled towards the moon. This is the perfect time for harvesting plant materials above the soil (leaves, stems, flowers). The energy of the plant is focused upward and therefore the potency of healing qualities within these specific aerial parts intensifies. This can also be applied to crystals and even tinctures! I usually leave my tinctures underneath the full moon just to encourage some added energy.

As oppose to the waxing moon, the waning moon (the stage between the full moon and the new moon) pushes energy down and inward. This means that the energy of the plant is pushed downwards and focused on the roots. It is ideal to wildcraft plant materials beneath the soil at this time as well as take down any dried/bundled herbs in preparation for storage, else their energy be lessened.

So, the basic idea is that the waxing moon encourages growth, whereas the waning moon spurs dormancy. The lunar phases should also be considered when preparing the herbs: for instance, if you were to prepare a tincture which detoxifies the body, you would want to do so during the waning moon to lessen or remove any detrimental toxins. In contrast, if you were to prepare an herbal tea that promotes clear skin, it would be best to concoct it during the waxing moon.

As I mentioned at the beginning of this post, wildcrafting herbs by lunar phase is not necessary, by any means. No matter the harvest, your herbs will serve you well, so long as you use them correctly. :) If anything, wildcrafting and preparing your herbal remedies by lunar phase will increase your appreciation for the natural world around you and its abundant wealth of medicine
.

Fire Cider Season

It's that time of year again! Cold & flu season are in full swing, so I've been busy making fire cider to keep sickness at bay. If you've been with The Wildcraft Chronicles since the beginning, you'll remember we posted a recipe just last year. I decided to revise the ingredients just a bit, hence the reason for this blog post. I originally found this wonderful concoction in Rosemary Gladstar's Herbal Recipes for Vibrant Health; although her recipe is quite potent, I like to add a bit more kick to mine. You can always adjust the spiciness according to your liking. As for my taste, the spicier, the better.

If you have absolutely no idea what I'm talking about, well then, you're in for a treat! Fire cider is a wonderful way to start the day. This special concoction is quite similar to pickled vegetables in brine. The only difference is that the brine is the most important part. Taking a few tablespoons of the spice infused vinegar protects your immune system and warms up your entire body--great for those cold mornings when it's hard to get out of bed! In addition, it's incredibly beneficial for those of us with bad blood circulation (like diabetics). Last year was the first time I made fire cider, and I can honestly say that it improved my overall health and even prevented me from catching any serious illnesses, like I usually do.

I found that fire cider also makes for a wonderful gift as well.  Nothing like ensuring your loved ones stay healthy this year!

Fire Cider
ingredients:
1 large onion, chopped into wedges
1 tbsp grated ginger
1 tbsp grated horseradish
1 pepper (I used an Anaheim pepper, mildly spicy)
3 cloves of minced garlic
1 tsp turmeric
1 sprig of rosemary
1/8 tsp cayenne
2 chunks of dried ginseng root
Honey to taste
Apple cider vinegar with mother 

preparation:
 1. Place all of the herbal ingredients into a jar. Pour enough apple cider vinegar to cover herbs, leaving an inch of "breathing space". Seal jar tightly, shake, and place in a cool, dark place for 30 days. Remember to shake your jar once a day.

2. After 30 days, separate the vinegar from the herbs and spices. You can either toss the herbs/spices or keep them refrigerated in a separate jar (I like to add them to salads or just eat them plain. The onions are especially delicious!). Take a teaspoon or two every morning for best results.

Garlic Ginger Cough Syrup

Do ya'll remember me mentioning that I was sick earlier this week? Well, it wasn't just any old cold... it was the whooping cough.

Even though I had been vaccinated as a child against this old-timey disease, it took a swing at me anyway. There's been a recent revival of this epidemic in the U.S. and it's grown to withstand our vaccines. For those of you who are unfamiliar with the symptoms of whooping cough, they include:  a dry and harsh cough, "coughing spells" that can last up to five minutes, and even turning red/blue from the violent, prolonged coughs. Although this infection is more likely to develop in children, adults can get it too. In fact, as the symptoms get worse, your body begins to suffer from exhaustion and you are more likely to force a hernia or even crack a rib.

Honestly, I've  had quite the number of painful and troubling infections in my life, and this ranked number 2! Although whooping cough can easily be remedied with antibiotics, I really didn't want to visit the doctor. I don't particularly like antibiotics--they are over-prescribed and are actually the reason why so many diseases are mutating and making a comeback. In addition, they completely dishevel the balance of your digestive system. Anyway, I decided to treat myself with herbs and natural remedies. If things got too serious after a few days, then I would make a visit to the doctor. 

Firstly, let me tell you just how much I enjoy creating my own remedies. As a wildcrafter, you are your own healer. Preparing the herbs and spices is a ritual in its own right. It's the process and the tender love and care which you prepare your ingredients that makes them so powerful and healing, instilled with your good intent and personal magick. Likewise, if you trust in the gifts of nature, you will certainly have a better chance for a speedy recovery. 

Among the MANY natural remedies against whooping cough, I found two which easily accommodated my spice cabinet. The first was incredibly simple, and something which I actually do quite regularly to fight off other illnesses. Since whooping cough is a bacterial infection, a natural and potent antibiotic that can begin fighting off this illness is none other than garlic! While eating a couple cloves a day was a bit unsettling for my stomach at first, I soon realized how my overall energy improved within a few short hours. On top of that, I found another fast and simple way to ease my coughing: cough syrups from the general drug store seemed to have absolutely no effect on my cough,  so I took it upon myself to make a homemade, natural cough syrup. Here's a brew that I created using several recipes:

Natural Cough Syrup
ingredients:
1 cup of water
1-2 minced cloves of garlic
1 teaspoon of fresh ginger
1/8 tsp of turmeric
1/8 cup honey

method:
Bring the water to a soft bubble over medium/high heat. Throw in the garlic, ginger,and turmeric and lower to a simmerfor five minutes. Finally, turn off the heat and add honey. Take as often as needed.

The syrup is simply magic. It tastes absolutely heavenly and it completely settled my nagging cough. This syrup doesn't just treat whooping cough, it's soothing enough to apply to any throat problem. The garlic, honey, and turmeric all clear bacterial infection, while the ginger helps with inflammation and irritation.

I do encourage you to keep healthy and seek natural remedies before sick season fully sets in. It's never too early to prepare. And if you care to learn more about whooping cough and natural remedies, I highly suggest you start here. 

Love & Light

Hearty Chicken Barley Soup

It's been a while since I've posted anything food related, hasn't it? Well, you'll be happy to know that I found a new favorite! 

I was recently inspired to cook a comforting meal as a result of being sick. I couldn't decide between cooking a beef barley soup or a chicken noodle, so I combined the best of both. I love the hearty texture of a beef barley soup, but I knew that the chicken broth would soothe my stomach. The result was a healthy and nourishing meal that enriched my aching body. 

But, before I hand over my recipe, let me first enlighten (or bore) you with a history lesson regarding the Celtic peoples and how they used barley. Barley was a staple to the Celtic diet. Although they utilized this ancient grain in baked goods, like bannock, as well as beers, they also regularly made soups and porridge.  Since barley is extremely fibrous and has a high content of maltose (sugars), it was the perfect grain to sustain whole tribes during the colder months and kept the Celtic people healthy and energized.

In addition to the barley, adding herbs to your soup is a wonderful way to enhance taste as well as health benefits. For this particular soup, I added parsley and thyme. Parsley is a diuretic, which basically encourages urination and thus clears the system from any toxins. Thyme is a warm, sweat-inducing herb which is excellent for ridding oneself of the common cold or even fever. It is quite the versatile herb and is a curative for a sore throat and even whooping cough. The healing powers of herbs never cease to amaze me.

Now, as promised, the recipe:

Hearty Chicken Barley Soup

Serves 4-6, Prep./Cook time ~90min.

Ingredients:

1 tbsp olive oil

1/2 large onion, diced

2 large carrots, peeled and chopped

3-4 stalks of celery, chopped

8 cups of chicken stock

1 1/2 cup of pearl barley

3 skinless chicken breasts (boneless optional)

1 tbsp of parsley

1 tbsp of thyme

Salt & pepper to taste

Preparation:

After peeling and chopping the vegetables, add the olive oil to a large cooking pot and heat to medium/low heat. Throw in the onions first, until soft and wilted, followed by the carrots and celery. Continue cooking veggies until the onions begin to caramelize. Then add in chicken stock and barley. Turn heat up to medium/high. Once the soup comes to nice bubble, lower the stove top to a medium heat, add in chicken breast, parsley, and thyme, and cover with lid. Continue to cook for 30 minutes. Then remove the chicken, shred, and return it to the pot. Add salt and pepper to your liking and the soup is ready!

Of course this meal pairs best with freshly baked bannock bread. Enjoy!

Dream Pillows

It seems as though the dream world has been very active lately. In fact, most conversations I've had with friends and acquaintances recount the wonderful or disturbing experiences we fall into as we sleep. I'm not particularly a dream interpreting expert, but when it comes to controlling, or rather consciously taking charge of your dreams, I'm more than willing to share some secrets.

When I was younger, I had incredibly vivid and frightening dreams, some which would reoccur more than once. Of course, I wasn't sure what to make of these dreams--I only knew that I was eager to rid myself of them. I began experimenting with lucid dreaming to face my fears; before bed I would tell myself what I wanted to dream about, how I wanted to resolve the situation, and what I wanted to remember. In the beginning, this approach seemed to work... but as I got deeper into my dreams and more comfortable with "wandering", I began to lose control again. Falling asleep was no longer a pleasure, it was my nightmare.

Dreaming finally got easier when I discovered the magick of dream pillows. The beauty behind a dream pillow is that you can prescribe yourself any kind of dream, so long as you blend the right herbs together. Rose hips can induce dreams of love, chamomile kindles dreams of relaxation and comfort, mugwort encourages astral projection, and so on. All you need do is simply place the herbal pouch near your head or pillow; as you sleep, inhaling the scent of the flowers or herbs creates your desired dream scenario. Even when awake, I tend to pack a small dream pillow in my purse or pack and inhale its fragrance whenever I'm feeling especially troubled. 

There are countless recipe's for dream pillows. My favorite and most comforting blend has a handful of herbal scents, all of which I believe inspire the most pleasant sleep. Though these pillows do not always guarantee dreams, they most certainly will leave you feeling relaxed and well rested.

What you need:

A cloth pouch

1 part dried lavender

1 part dried rose hips/petals

1 part dried hops

1 part dried calendula

1 part dried chamomile

1-2 drops lavender oil

I do hope you discover the magick of the dream pillow. They make wonderful Samhain gifts. 

Moonwater

Last week I attended my first Spiral Dance in celebration of the Spring Equinox. It was a beautiful gathering and I was glad to have been a part of it. Since we've been experiencing very little rainfall, the purpose of the dance was to invoke the spring rains. Starhawk, a very well known and respected figure within the spiritual community, led the dance recounted the story of Persephone. We all sang and danced round and round until we came to the center and then spiraled back out. It was quite entrancing.

Anyway, you can't imagine how much rain we've gotten since then (thank the goddess, we needed it!). Lucky for me, I've also been running short on moonwater, so the rains were just the thing I needed to replenish my supply.

Simply put, moon water is water that has been set out under the light of the full moon. It is said to have certain healing properties and promotes growth.

Moonwater can be used in all sorts of ways:

• Sprinkled atop my herb garden, the rejuvenating properties of the moon intensify the properties of each plant. The plants tend grow healthier, heartier, and have increased healing abilities. 
• Many people also like use it as an offering upon altars. It's a meaningful way to keep water upon your altar in lieu of the four elements (water, earth, air, and fire), or to represent the three realms (sky, land, and sea).
• Some like to use it for scrying as it holds a much higher vibration than does most water and has thus been "touched" by the gods.
• Legend says that moonwater even has the power to attract certain garden faeries to keep watch and tend your plants while you are not looking. I certainly believe they do!

So how does one acquire moonwater? Well, it's quite simple really. All you need is a little rainwater... or a lot depending on how much you wish to use. I usually collect the rainwater in a large goblet, but you can use anything really. Even a plain bucket works! Store your rainwater in a glass bottle or jar. Whence the full moon graces the sky, leave your bottle of rainwater under her gleam and watch as the she bestows her blessing unto you. You may collect your bottle of water the next morning. Voila, moonwater! Happy collecting!

The Charms of Chard

If there is one leafy green that I could never get tired of, it would have to be chard. Lucky for me, my chard clusters not only bloom once but twice a year. Score! As you can guess, I've been harvesting my fair share of these leafy greens lately whilst including them in as many dishes as possible. Regrettably, I've also been racing against those pesky snails in my garden; apparently they love it just as much as I do.

Chard is one of the healthiest foods you can eat and varies in numerous colors--it adds vibrancy to dishes, but also serves as one of the more practical vegetables, packed with all kinds of vitamins (A, K, and C). It's also incredibly easy to grow. You can plant seedlings anytime from early spring to late summer and still have a decent first harvest. You can always expect chard to stay in bloom longer than either kale or spinach.

One of my favorite dishes which includes kale is colcannon. Though traditionally made with cabbage (it's a Celtic/Irish dish after all, go figure) and potatoes you can really substitute any leafy green to your desire. With a mixture of creamy mashed potatoes and fair heap of rich greens, this dish is a definite addition to my comfort food list.

Colcanonn 

Ingredients:4 potatoes, peeled, boiled and mashed
1/4 stick of butter
1 cup milk or cream
1 bushel of chard (about 6-8 stalks)
2 green onions 

After peeling potatoes and placing them in a deep pot to boil, chop green onions and place in a large saute pan with a small amount of butter. Throw in chopped chard and cook until greens are wilted. Drain and mash potatoes. Add butter (until melted) as well as milk/cream. Mix in the greens.  Serve hot with a square of butter on top.

Bannock

Although my interest in herbs and healing usually make up the majority of my posts, I thought perhaps today you would enjoy a post of another sort.

Celebrations always put me in a mood of nostalgia and make me crave for certain comforts, but lately it seems that I'm constantly in this kind of spirit. I've been paying more heed to my home, dialing into folk music, and hunger for wholesome, hearty cooking. In essence, I hope to recreate an atmosphere which perhaps the Celtic people would have lived. It may sound silly, even far-fetched, but somehow it's the way in which I connect with my roots best. Anyway, it's a certain kind of healing in itself. 

More than anything, food recaptures the Celtic tradition best for me. Food is a ritual on its own and sharing a feast with friends and family (or even just the gods) is much more spiritual. 

Recently I've taken to perfecting my bannock recipe, otherwise known as flat quick bread or pan-fried bread. Bannock is a dense bread, shaped in an oval or circle. When cross up into triangle pieces, each chunk is usually referred to as a scone. Bannock originated in Northern Britain and Scotland where it was a simple staple food. And simple it is! With no more than four ingredients, you merely need to throw this quick bread on a griddle and watch it do its magic. Although it's usually made with oats and barley, many modern recipes now call for baking powder and flour. Bannock is perfect when breakingfast--I usually serve mine with goat cheese and honey. 

In many pagan traditions, bannock was used as a ritual offering. As a result there are quite a lot of varying recipes calling for certain ingredients according to the season. Since I like to make it often, I have a base recipe of which I add additional ingredients when appropriate. 

Bannock (Quick Bread) Serves 2

Ingredients:
1 1/2 cup of flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking powder
2 tablespoons butter (melted)
3/4 cup of water

Mix all dry ingredients first following wet ingredients. Knead dough gently until the mixture is firm. Add more water if dough is too dry or add more flour if dough is too sticky. Cook dough on a well grease griddle or frying pan over medium heat (adjust if necessary). Each side should take about 15 minutes. Let the bread rest about 5 minutes before serving.

Bannock is absolutely delicious and satisfying, despite its simplicity. When making a heartier bannock bread, I add various spices and herbs such a nettle, thyme, or rosemary. Not only are these additions tasty, but they're also wonderful for your health. If I'm in the mood for something sweet I'll add blue berries, raspberries... sometimes even mulberries. Either way, savory or sweet, it makes for a great pairing with a dollop of goat cheese and warm honey. Thanks for reading, my dears!

 

Apothecary: Aspen Anxiety Tonic

Though anxiety is much less common than everyday stress, the feeling can be completely overwhelming and paralyzing. Luckily we can turn to our magickal plant friends to help us unwind and relax.

I used to suffer from anxiety attacks last year and often resorted to shutting myself away in my room for hours on end. Naturally, my anxiety got even worse, especially when I had to socialize at work or during classes. This was also around the time when I was first exploring paganism and traditional healing with herbs; it seemed too good of a coincidence that the old ways had caught my attention when I suddenly needed a cure. In desperation for a remedy, I searched my bookshelves and finally came across a list of medicinal and magickal plant essences. Lo and behold, aspen was the corresponding flower essence said to calm anxiety attacks.

My little bottle of aspen anxiety tonic was a miracle. Every time I was sure to have an attack, I would place three drop under my tongue and melt away into relaxation. The sensation of the essence not only made my mouth tingle with numbness, but it also slowed my breath and made me feel more stable. After two weeks, I didn't even have to depend on the aspen any longer. I was finally over my anxiety, thanks to that lovely little flower.

I have made this remedy and many other similar tonics for friends and family and all have sworn by it. Be it depression, anxiety, despair, or any other gloomy emotion, there's most certainly a flower for you.

So you're probably wondering how I made the tonic. While most tonic and tinctures call for brandy as the base liquid, I substituted for vegetable glycerin. It's much more affordable and doesn't require you to be of drinking age to purchase. So anyway, here is the perfect recipe for preparing your lifesaving nectar:

Materials/Ingredients - 

1. 1 Small amber bottle with a dropper
2. Distilled water
3. Flower Essence (Aspen or otherwise)
4. Brandy or Vegetable Glycerin

After sanitizing a small bottle with the dropper, fill the amber bottle a little less than half way with brandy or vegetable glycerin (you can find the veggie glycerin at most health food stores). Continue to fill the other half of the bottle with distilled water. I would not suggest using tap water or otherwise because the tincture will not last as long and lose its potency. Top off the bottle with 15-20 drops of the aspen flower essence and shake/stir the mixture well. Voila. Take as many drops as you please or as needed. 

Anyway, I hope that this recipe is as useful to you as it was for me. Blessed be.

P.S. This is my first Pagan Blog Project kick off post for the year! I'm planning to follow up with an additional post on the history of the apothecary. See you soon!

Blackberry Pickin's

Although the season is nearing its end for the wild blackberry, I managed to harvest some last minute sweetness. Nothing is more tempting than that of a ripened blackberry.

I may or may not have eaten half of what I picked (heh), but I do intend to bake some muffins from what I did gather.

Some rules of thumb when exploring the thorny depths of a blackberry bush:

1. Wear gloves. Unless you have a fondness for thorny fingers, I don't suggest you pick bear bare handed. Even if you are quite the berry thief, you shant get away without a few purple stained fingers. I would know. :)
2. Wear boots. Much of the same goes for your feet. Those bushes are quite affectionate and would love to tangle you in their vines, least you be willing enough. 
3. Don't wear knit clothing. As I attempted to gather berries in my knit sweater last season, it apparently had an affinity to catching the thorns, thus dragging me down to the pokey depths as I struggled to unlatch myself. It was quite the scene.
4. Don't harvest in one spot for too long. There are always more bushes and you wouldn't want to exhaust the lovely plant of its gifts.
5. Do have a few berries for yourself. But try to stick to the task at hand. It's quite tough, I must admit.
6. Lastly, gather with dignity and express your gratitude. I always bring a music box when gathering and sing a sweet song of thanks. 

Alas, that is all the advice I can give for now. Good-morrow! 

Candied Ginger!

Here it is! The final product--candied wild ginger. It may look like a mop of a mess, but trust me, it's quite the opposite. I can't keep my hands off of this goodness! Thor and I will try our best to jar this up before we eat it all!

Another Samhain tradition for the books. I'll definitely be making this again! If you missed the post on how to harvest and make this treat, you can read about it here.

Samhain Apple Goodness

It's finally starting to feel like autumn and the veil continues to vanish as we delve deeper into the month of October. The leaves are beginning to wander off the tree limbs, the air grows more frigid, and with every step there's a certain silence and mystery as if something were ready to be discovered.

I've already begun my preparations for Samhain and the winter months to come; I've lit the cinnamon scented candles which bring me a certain nostalgia, prepared my harvests (huzzah!), and begun to preserve what I still can. My spell workings are stronger than ever and the wheel is coming to a full cycle. I can't help but embrace this excitement!

Along with the familiar scents of autumn come familiar tastes--and what is autumn without apples? Among the many wild crafted gifts I have prepared for my friends and family this season, I made my own apple sauce for the first time!

Grant it, it's not incredibly hard to make; canning the sauce was probably harder than the actual cooking part! Oy vey! But there really is no better feeling than making something entirely by yourself with a little bit of luck, a little bit of patience, and a lot of love. You can find the recipe which I used right here; it's very straight forward and even has some handy tips and pictures to go by.

After canning the apple sauce, I left the freshly sealed jars atop my altar and said a simple enchantment to bring health and happiness to whomever may have a little taste:

"May these apples bring you good health.
A spoonful a day for good luck and wealth."

I've found so many delicious pairings with this apple sauce, especially when warmed in a pan. I like to add a dollop atop my pancakes, ice-cream, and morning toast. Here's a little twist for your morning breakfast:

Apple Toast

Ingredients:
-Apple sauce
-Cinnamon
-Brown sugar
-A sliver of bread

First, toast your piece of bread (you don't have to, I actually prefer mine to be on the softer side to soak up the apple juices). While the bread is toasting, bring apple sauce to a simmer over the stove top. Plate the bread first, then add however much apple sauce you wish, garnishing with brown sugar and cinnamon. Enjoy!

I'll be posting pictures soon of the final product of candied ginger.

Blessed be!

Wild Ginger Hunting

Well, it's not exactly the season for wild ginger hunting per say, but I've been having a certain craving for it. I've been dreaming and drooling ever since I happened upon a patch last week on a walk through the forest.

What with Samhain on the way, I've decided to prepare a few gifts to honor my friends and family. I could think of no greater gift than that of candied ginger and syrup. Yum!

Wild ginger can usually be found in Northern California's damp forests, among the redwoods and under the protective skirts of the ferns. They tend to like the shadier nooks, where the soil is cool and moist (I found the ones pictured above nestling under a sword fern, sneaky little buggers!). Their leaves are smooth, somewhat shiny, and of a soft heart shape. They're commonly mistaken for wild violet leaves, which are also edible, but definitely not the taste we're looking for. Along with their distinctive heart shape, it's generally easy to identify the roots because they also smell and taste similarly to Asian ginger, only with a subtler punch.

Unlike the common Asian ginger root found in most grocery stores, wild ginger has pretty lanky roots, usually no thicker than pasta noodles. Even though there's not much to work with, the end result is very much worth the toil. 

The indigenous peoples of area have incorporated wild ginger root in their medicinal workings as well as daily diets for hundreds of years. It's no wonder it cures tummy aches and bloating when ingested. Ladies, if y'all are on your moon, I promise chewing a couple pieces of raw ginger will leave you feeling quite pacified. Plus you get a tasty treat.

Also, as with any herb or plant that you harvest, be it wild or homegrown, give thanks! Sing a song, breath life unto the plant, leave an offering (such as tobacco or cornmeal), caress it, or simply say thank you. Another habit I've come to be mindful of is over exhausting the plant; that is, don't harvest the entire plant. Leave some room for regeneration. It's not only beneficial for the plant, but you'll also always have a source to go back to.

Anyway, here's two personal recipes for y'all to try out. I like to incorporate every part of this plant, leaves and root, when making candy and syrup.

What you'll need for candied wild ginger root and wild ginger syrup:
- 11/2 cup of fine white sugar
- 1/2 cup of brown sugar
- 2 cups of water
- 1 cup of fresh, wild ginger root (chopped into 1 inch peices)
   *Dont have access to wild ginger root? Not a problem. You can easily substitute Asian ginger root, fresh or dry. :)

Instructions:
1. Add the sugars (11/2 cup of fine white sugar & 1/2 cup of brown sugar) to a sauce pan along with 2 cups of water. Bring to a boil.
2. Add the ginger root. Continue to let the syrup and roots boil for another 5-10 minutes.
3. Turn down the heat and let simmer for about an hour.
4. Let it cool and pour syrup and ginger roots into a jar. Let sit in a cool dry place for 3 days. (Such a painful wait! But alas, magick is afoot!)
5. After 3 days, pour the syrup sauce pan -hold the ginger roots back for now- and bring to a rolling boil.
6. Add ginger root to the syrup and boil again for 15-20 minutes.
7. Remove ginger and place on a metal rack to drip dry.
8. Once the syrup ceases to drip from the roots, place the roots in a pie plate and cover with fine white sugar, making sure each piece is coated in the sugary grave. Let sit over night. (Almost done!)
9. Voila! All done! Now you have your own, homemade, candied ginger. You can do whatever you please with the remaining syrup. I usually use it to put into my tea or to top of my ice-cream. Yummy!



What you'll need for wild ginger & mint leaf syrup:
- 11/2 cup of fine white sugar
- 1/2 cup of brown sugar
- 2 cups of water
- 1/2 cup of fresh wild ginger leaves and stems
- 3 sprigs of fresh mint leaves

Instructions:
1. Add the sugars (11/2 cup of fine white sugar & 1/2 cup of brown sugar) to a sauce pan along with 2 cups of water. Bring to a boil.
2. Add the ginger leaves and mint. Continue to let the syrup and leaves boil for another 5-10 minutes.
3. Turn down the heat and let simmer for about an hour or until it reaches the desired thickness.
4. Let it cool and pour syrup into a jar (you can take out the leaves now, if you please).
5. Done! Use it for teas or to top off some ice-cream.

Hope you enjoy these recipes.

Let me know how it goes!

Blessed be.

Lemonade Elixir

Growing your own herbs is probably one of the most satisfying feelings in the world. My herbs are my children of the garden. They are the magick which brings life to my home. I tend to them as they tend to me.

Before using herbs for cooking, rituals, or what have you, I always mind the proper plant etiquette--and by this I mean I always thank the plant and the mother for the gifts I am about to take. Giving thanks doesn't take more than a second and is well worth your time. Some people leave corn meal near the plant, whisper words of praise, give breath to the bushel, or even sing a song. Then, gently cut the stalk and carry on with your purpose.

By giving gratitude to the plant it grants you its magickal qualities of healing, protection, and nourishment. After all, the plants are giving up their leaves, petals, and sprigs just for you. Its one more way to get closer with your natural world.

Although the sun graced us with her warmth today, I was feeling a bit drained for no apparent reason.  So, I made a cool and energizing Lemonade Elixir. I'll leave the recipe below so that perhaps you can enjoy a bit of sweetness in your life as well:

1 cup of lemon juice

1 cup of water

1 cup of sugar

A drizzle of simple blackberry syrup (or jam if you'd like)

1 sprig of rosemary

1 sprig of lavendar

And as many ice cubes as you desire

Blessed Be.

Teasday: Week Two

Tea is so incredibly comforting, whether it be iced or boiling lobster. I'd drink it any way, any day.

Today was, of course, the perfect day for tea as it is in fact Teasday.  It was also the first day of classes for my second semester. Before the oh-my-gumdrops-here-we-go-again panic settled in completely, I made sure to add a little extra sweetness to my morning cup. And by sweetness we all know by a "little" i actually  mean lots and lots of sugar. Probably not the healthiest choice, but hey, I was in a crisis, people.

Today's brew was yet another black, however Snow Monkey Plum Tea is surprisingly light and refreshing, making it perfect for either the summer or winter. The tea blend is standard harvested black tea leaves to which they add dried plum blossoms. Yumm.

What did you drink today?

Teasday: Week One

What better way to start a Tuesday Teasday morning than with a cup of tea? Tea is not only a lovely supplement for your coffee craze, but it's also highly beneficial depending on the brew. That's why I've decided to feature Teasday every Tuesday on the Wildcraft Chronicles.

I've noticed that most people enjoy a black tea over a green or white. Before I became the Tea Queen, my first favorite was a black tea as well, English Breakfast Tea. Unlike most tea's that  lose their taste and potency within a few months,  English Breakfast Tea can last for yeaaars.

Anyway, to my surprise, English Breakfast tea has a few health benefits which i found to be pretty impressive: 1. EBT inhibits tooth decay and, 2. it also helps in preventing kidney stones. Whaaat? That's amazing.

Well, whether it be that you choose to drink an English Breakfast Tea or a mellow green tea, I bid you a good day. :)

Story Time

We all have our reasons as to why we turn to homeopathic practices. I find that prescribed or over the counter drugs can only do so much to help a person. These drugs help you when needed right away; whether it be to reduce certain pain, swelling, or other problems.  But in the long term, we are consequently poisoning not only our bodies, but also our future children and generations to come. Why do you you think cancer has become so prevalent within the last century? You can perhaps argue the same for some wildcraft remedies.  Still, I find most programs and "top notch" physicians affiliated with the medical field are in it for all the wrong reasons.

So I'm pretty blatant when I tell you I dislike most, if not all doctors. I find most pharmaceutical companies pathetic. And medical company reps?... they disgust me. So how can I help you see the light on the other side? How can I help you believe me? Well, I guess its time for me to tell you my story.

I've been doubted, misdiagnosed, and mistreated by every doctor I have ever seen--all except for one, my endocrinologist  who I will praise a little later in this post. To start off, I have diagnosed myself days, even months before ever seeing a doctor, yet every time I go to report it to them, they tell me I have an entirely different sickness. I'm sure you're just dying to hear what exactly I've been misdiagnosed or doubted for, so I'll tell you:
When I was 11 years old, three months before I was "officially diagnosed" by a doctor, I had taken interest in a magazine article about juvenile diabetes. It was by a young girl who had carefully written out the tall tale symptoms of diabetes and her early struggles. Soon after, I too developed all of these symptoms she listed. It was truly a miracle that I came across this article because if I had not, perhaps I would have been a lot more passive about this life threatening disease. Still, as the symptoms got worse, my mother finally took me to the doctor. When I told them that I thought I might have juvenile diabetes, the doctor almost laughed at me. I may have been young, but I knew exactly what my body, what my guardian was telling me. Don't ignore this. Keep persisting. Even though I didn't have much of a voice in the adult world yet, I let my mom know how important to me it was that they tested my blood levels. So with a lot of stubborn and unnecessary measures, she finally got them to run the tests. They came back after ten minutes...  I had tested positive for juvenile diabetes.

Scenario's like this literally happen to me as often as the rain falls. But luckily I've learned to do my research, treat myself accordingly, and if all else fails, I demand for doctors to listen to me. It's not that I'm not a healthy person nor does my family have severe health problems. I just happen to be prone to an unfortunate amount of sickness and disease. Just last year I was misdiagnosed yet again. But by the time I gained enough strength to  help myself, things took a turn for the worse. When I first began to feel sick the doctor on site where I worked diagnosed me for post-nasal-drip, basically a sore throat brought on by a simple house cold. She told me to sit in the sun in order to get some vitamin C, and told me to simply take ibuprofen for the pain that I was experiencing in my throat. Pain is an understatement. By the time I left the site where my job was located to get a second opinion, I had developed a severe case of strep throat which had traveled up to my ears and caused one of my ear drums to rupture. I had to be put onto Codeine (the equivalent of Vicodin) because the pain was so severe and I lost all sense of hearing for up to six months. A year later I still have spells of intense ringing in my right ear.

Additional accidental diagnosis's by doctors include asthma, mono, and mesothelioma (a type of skin cancer).

So yes. Apparently Web MD and various homeopathic health magazines know much more than these doctors have ever cared to know. It's the unfortunate truth. Most doctors and medical companies are in this practice merely for the glory of money. Shocking right? It's truly a shame, however I can manage to do just fine without them and so can you if you wish to do so.

Not all doctors are bad. The only good doctor I ever found was my endocrinologist who was appointed to me at the time that I was in the hospital after being officially diagnosed with diabetes. The first thing he ever did when he met me was take my hand in his, looked me straight in the eye and said, "I'm going to be your new uncle. Even though we are of different skin color, I want you to think of me as an uncle. I'm here to take care of you." Dr. P was my saving grace. We've been through a lot. He's a short Indian man who I found difficult to reason with growing up in my teenage years, but the only reason he was difficult was because he so very stubborn in his efforts to care. Just like me. I still consider him uncle.

Wow, I really do rant a lot. Well, the reason for this post is because I have yet another uncaring doctor who wont listen to me (he was the same one who accidentally diagnosed me with asthma). Here we go again. It's one of those days.

Please,  know your body and it's needs. If you have a gut feeling, go by it. Doctors aren't all that bad, and sometimes there's really no way out of a sickness without their help. Just make sure to speak up for yourself and your body. You'll regret it if you don't.

Spicy Super Heroes

It's officially that time of year again. The holiday season has always been about bringing families together, but it also brings another not-so-pleasant surprise... viruses! Even as I write this, I too have fallen victim to the clutches of the flu. Go figure.

Since I've been busy plodding away with finals, I unfortunately have no one to blame but myself! That said, it's never too late to reverse the flu and put up a fight. What better spices to help than cayenne and cinnamon? These two spices are definitely the best reinforcements if you want to get better quick!

I find it best to add cayenne and cinnamon to my morning tea. This may sound odd, even disgusting, but the spicy hot of the cayenne and the subtle comfort of the cinnamon really helps clear up a stuffy chest or sore throat. Along with clearing up congestion and fighting bacteria within your body cayenne and cinnamon are pretty much the super heroes of the spice family. To name a few, here are some of their magical powers:

Cinnamon:
1. Lowers bad cholesterol
2. Helps regulate blood sugars and helps regulate weight
3. Has an anti clotting effect on blood
4. Simply smelling cinnamon improves memory
5. Natural remedy for headaches and migraines

 Cayenne:
1. Eases an upset stomach and remedies diarrhea
2. Natural anti-allergen
3. Detoxes your body
4. Remedies a toothache
5. Improves heart-health

Like I said... super heroes! You don't have to limit yourself when adding these spices just to your tea. Sprinkle cinnamon on top of you morning cereal or grill up some chicken rubbed down in cayenne. Be creative!

Don't forget, it's really important to buy fresh spices from your local natural foods store or herbalist. Fresh spices make all the difference. When powdered spices like cinnamon have been sitting out on the shelf for too long, they loose their curing properties and potency.

Also, cayenne is very hot! A little goes a long way. Just adding a pinch to my morning tea really gives it a kick.

Hope this was helpful and I hope y'all are staying healthy this season. Feel free to share any comments or recipes with Indigo and me. We love feedback! Blessings and enjoy the Yule season!

P.S.

Rather than beating around the bush and taking an entire post to introduce Indigo and myself, we've created an "about us" tab. Feel free to check it out!