It has been interesting living in a state that has made medical marijuana legal. People are officially recognizing its use as a healing herb, which vindicates the views of many people since before the law changed.
Of course, there are many who still have the opinion, that people who use marijuana are addicts, even though marijuana is not an addictive substance. Some of these people share the opinion that it should never have been legalized.
And now the politicians have changed the laws that govern this new home grown industry. Yes, home grown in the sense that it is creating new jobs here.
Of course, there are many people who enjoy smoking marijuana just for fun and those people look forward to the day when full legalization will come, and people will just be able to go and buy it like a pack of cigarettes, and the government will make money on the taxes.
It certainly has less side effects than drinking. If we simply penalize users for their errant behavior, then it will be the same as drinking in terms of the way we set limits on it.
One irony of all this is that although the so called War on Drugs has attempted to wipe out marijuana consumption, that battle has long been lost, medical marijuana or not. The other thing is that the growers became expert botanists and gardeners with a very scientific approach because when aerial recon and spraying forced growers indoors, they found ways to grow more productive plants in less space, without natural light.
So the failed war on drugs not only created better and better generations of growers and plants to supply an ever increasing demand. It is like what happened when politicians got the bright idea to outlaw beer and alcohol. People didn't quit drinking and organizations sprang up to slake their thirst.
Funny how we have to keep on learning the same lessons over and over.
Right now all the wrangling over new laws is about who is controlling the money. The debate is no longer whether marijuana is good medicine. And the debate is no longer whether there is growing popular support for it both as medicine and for recreation. it is just a matter of time until more minds change.
It is interesting to watch such a momentous change in action. It must have been that way when our grandparents watched alcohol was declared illegal, remained popular and then return to legal status.
From caveman days to less than a hundred years ago, people freely used it as medicine, ceremonial herbs, and for fun. They never would have thought that we would be going through contortions like this over it.
We look at lessons like this from within the memory of our grandparents time. The same types of lessons can be learned from past lives. But that is another story.
Showing posts with label herbs. Show all posts
Showing posts with label herbs. Show all posts
Monday, December 13, 2010
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
What We Thought We Would Be
The first time I ever remember someone asking me what I wanted to be when I grew up was way back when I was in grammar school. The question kind of stumped me, because at that time the farthest I was thinking ahead was to a softball game after school.
So I did what most kids did and just said whatever came to mind. I think I said that I wanted to be a lawyer because the night before I had watched a TV show with a lawyer in it and that sounded like as good a thing as any to say. Sure, I want to be a lawyer.
Of course, I forgot about that as soon as they got done asking me about it. Not once in my life did I ever think of going to law school. Heck, there were more important things to think about, like softball or basketball.
Then again in high school, they asked what I would like to be and what I wanted to major in when I went to college. At that time, I was just getting acquainted with the charms of the opposite sex. Why would I want to think about what class I would like to take in college when I wasn't even done with high school?
I have no clue what I answered then. Maybe newspaper reporter because I used to deliver newspapers, and I used to read them all the time, and the one I delivered had a great columnist by the name of Mike Royko. Back then, when you rode the subway or the bus home from work, you could tell that everybody was reading his column because they had the paper folded back so that they could read the left side of page 3, which is where Royko's column always was.
So at some point, I chose majors in college and chose jobs when I got out of college, then every so often, I chose to change jobs and change careers when something looked interesting.
There were times when I set goals and then achieved them and then moved on. Then I would choose some other career goal and achieve that.
Sometimes when we look back and reflect on what we have done and remember all those times when we said things about what we thought we would be, we notice that we still have time to choose again.
I figure I will live to be 150, so I haven't even had my midlife crisis yet, so I still have time to think about what I would like to be.
Yes, it has changed several times already. But hey, who says you only get one chance to choose in 150 years?
All these vitamins and supplements they keep coming up with keep working so well that maybe if I take enough Horny Goat Weed, vitamin C and Niacin I can live to be 250. Why not? I still have plenty of time to think about what I would like to be!
So I did what most kids did and just said whatever came to mind. I think I said that I wanted to be a lawyer because the night before I had watched a TV show with a lawyer in it and that sounded like as good a thing as any to say. Sure, I want to be a lawyer.
Of course, I forgot about that as soon as they got done asking me about it. Not once in my life did I ever think of going to law school. Heck, there were more important things to think about, like softball or basketball.
Then again in high school, they asked what I would like to be and what I wanted to major in when I went to college. At that time, I was just getting acquainted with the charms of the opposite sex. Why would I want to think about what class I would like to take in college when I wasn't even done with high school?
I have no clue what I answered then. Maybe newspaper reporter because I used to deliver newspapers, and I used to read them all the time, and the one I delivered had a great columnist by the name of Mike Royko. Back then, when you rode the subway or the bus home from work, you could tell that everybody was reading his column because they had the paper folded back so that they could read the left side of page 3, which is where Royko's column always was.
So at some point, I chose majors in college and chose jobs when I got out of college, then every so often, I chose to change jobs and change careers when something looked interesting.
There were times when I set goals and then achieved them and then moved on. Then I would choose some other career goal and achieve that.
Sometimes when we look back and reflect on what we have done and remember all those times when we said things about what we thought we would be, we notice that we still have time to choose again.
I figure I will live to be 150, so I haven't even had my midlife crisis yet, so I still have time to think about what I would like to be.
Yes, it has changed several times already. But hey, who says you only get one chance to choose in 150 years?
All these vitamins and supplements they keep coming up with keep working so well that maybe if I take enough Horny Goat Weed, vitamin C and Niacin I can live to be 250. Why not? I still have plenty of time to think about what I would like to be!
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Soothing the Throat
This evening my throat was feeling a little raw, so I knew that I needed to do few things to address it. First was the old standby, gargling with warm salt water. Then there were cough drops, cough syrup and then a few mugs of hot tea.
A hot bath with Epsom salts, eucalyptus oil and hyssop oil really felt good as well. Then I felt like something a bit more gentle for the spirit would help as well, so I chose a biography of the author and Trappist monk Thomas Merton to watch, and kept getting these little surprises throughout when they featured comments by Buddhist monks he had dialogue with, Thich Nhat Hanh and the Dalai Lama.
There was also a sequence that made me smile when Merton's publishers said that they were not sure that his books would sell, and they were amazed at how well they sold. That shows a difference in the way commercial publishing works these days. Then, if the publisher thought that the author had something worthwhile to say, they would publish it even if they were not sure it would be popular. Today, the trend in publishing is to try and only print what is popular. But that does not always prove to be a winner either, because the public's taste can be fickle and ephemeral.
It was also interesting that some people who knew Merton commented that people were not always happy with what he wrote when he spoke out about subjects like peace. He had the clarity of mind to point out that his church had no problem taking a hard line stance on abortion, because they see it as the death of a person, yet they took no stand against using nuclear weapons which could kill millions of people at a time.
There, of course, were also people who had to stretch themselves to understand how or why a Christian monk could find such common ground with Buddhist monks.
In some way, the peaceful spirit emanating from this story helped calm my throat as well. I finished off the evening with some classical music which was very soothing, and then it started to rain, which is always a healing sound for me.
There are a lot of ways to help soothe physical discomforts, using resources from within and without. Healing often works in mysterious ways.
It is important to do more treatments of this sort tomorrow as well, since I will be talking a lot Friday, Saturday and Sunday, doing readings and giving a talk. My voice is important in my work.
So this is a time of charging up the batteries for a large amount of activity, so that I am ready when I need to be.
A hot bath with Epsom salts, eucalyptus oil and hyssop oil really felt good as well. Then I felt like something a bit more gentle for the spirit would help as well, so I chose a biography of the author and Trappist monk Thomas Merton to watch, and kept getting these little surprises throughout when they featured comments by Buddhist monks he had dialogue with, Thich Nhat Hanh and the Dalai Lama.
There was also a sequence that made me smile when Merton's publishers said that they were not sure that his books would sell, and they were amazed at how well they sold. That shows a difference in the way commercial publishing works these days. Then, if the publisher thought that the author had something worthwhile to say, they would publish it even if they were not sure it would be popular. Today, the trend in publishing is to try and only print what is popular. But that does not always prove to be a winner either, because the public's taste can be fickle and ephemeral.
It was also interesting that some people who knew Merton commented that people were not always happy with what he wrote when he spoke out about subjects like peace. He had the clarity of mind to point out that his church had no problem taking a hard line stance on abortion, because they see it as the death of a person, yet they took no stand against using nuclear weapons which could kill millions of people at a time.
There, of course, were also people who had to stretch themselves to understand how or why a Christian monk could find such common ground with Buddhist monks.
In some way, the peaceful spirit emanating from this story helped calm my throat as well. I finished off the evening with some classical music which was very soothing, and then it started to rain, which is always a healing sound for me.
There are a lot of ways to help soothe physical discomforts, using resources from within and without. Healing often works in mysterious ways.
It is important to do more treatments of this sort tomorrow as well, since I will be talking a lot Friday, Saturday and Sunday, doing readings and giving a talk. My voice is important in my work.
So this is a time of charging up the batteries for a large amount of activity, so that I am ready when I need to be.
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
The Unnamed
Among our spirit guides are those ancestors so far back that we do not know their names. Yet, I feel that these people, as well as relatives or friends we knew in this lifetime who have crossed over, are looking out for our best interests. These people figured out how to survive on this planet, and since we are their offspring, they would like to see us succeed too. They prompt us through our gut instinct.
They may have had different ideas about family and tribe than we do, but they certainly did master the art of getting food and shelter. Today, we always use the phrase of necessities as food, shelter clothing and medical care. Clothing for sure was a different concept. In the early days, they used furs or skins to protect their bodies from the weather, and if the weather was pleasant enough, no clothing was necessary.
Medical care and healing were more like a subset of food. Discovering that certain plants could help alleviate pain, make symptoms of illness go away, or induce states of euphoria, calmness, aphrodisiacs, dreams and visions, these were certainly intertwined with their search for plants that were good to eat.
Yet, our illiterate ancestors, relying on their gut instincts and observations of nature, figured out what they needed to know. It is this power, this ability of knowing how to know that we are tapping into when we develop our psychic and intuitive abilities. That knowing, and our connection to the unnamed continues to this day.
They may have had different ideas about family and tribe than we do, but they certainly did master the art of getting food and shelter. Today, we always use the phrase of necessities as food, shelter clothing and medical care. Clothing for sure was a different concept. In the early days, they used furs or skins to protect their bodies from the weather, and if the weather was pleasant enough, no clothing was necessary.
Medical care and healing were more like a subset of food. Discovering that certain plants could help alleviate pain, make symptoms of illness go away, or induce states of euphoria, calmness, aphrodisiacs, dreams and visions, these were certainly intertwined with their search for plants that were good to eat.
Yet, our illiterate ancestors, relying on their gut instincts and observations of nature, figured out what they needed to know. It is this power, this ability of knowing how to know that we are tapping into when we develop our psychic and intuitive abilities. That knowing, and our connection to the unnamed continues to this day.
Monday, August 23, 2010
Tastes Good Too!
My sisters have long made a habit out of shopping for their produce at the farmers market as a way of both getting high quality, interesting foods while at the same time supporting local farmers.
I do buy locally grown fruits and vegetables too, but I am not eager to get out of bed early on a Saturday when I don't have to.
You will notice that even the chain grocery stores will have signs up when produce is local. Personally, I am not so concerned about organic. For some items, I will go for it, but for some, I am not willing to pay a lot extra. To be certified organic a farm must be doing everything organically for several years, and I would see more sense in spending the money on organic leafy greens than say, potatoes or bananas. Just my opinion, of course.
I think that if you consider that some of these farmers who are taking the time to cultivate heirloom vegetables and different varieties are doing so on a smaller scale on a family farm, they are paying a lot more attention to what they grow and how they grow, even if it is not certified organic, and I think that is a good thing.
Most important I think is when you buy produce at the farmers market, the income goes directly to the farmer, and that helps them to make more profit.
One of the added bonuses is that at the farmers market you will find heirloom varieties, and vegetables and fruits that have surprising tastes, colors and textures.
That's a great added bonus for supporting local farmers and helping to keep jobs in the American economy. Every little bit helps, and it tastes good too!
I do buy locally grown fruits and vegetables too, but I am not eager to get out of bed early on a Saturday when I don't have to.
You will notice that even the chain grocery stores will have signs up when produce is local. Personally, I am not so concerned about organic. For some items, I will go for it, but for some, I am not willing to pay a lot extra. To be certified organic a farm must be doing everything organically for several years, and I would see more sense in spending the money on organic leafy greens than say, potatoes or bananas. Just my opinion, of course.
I think that if you consider that some of these farmers who are taking the time to cultivate heirloom vegetables and different varieties are doing so on a smaller scale on a family farm, they are paying a lot more attention to what they grow and how they grow, even if it is not certified organic, and I think that is a good thing.
Most important I think is when you buy produce at the farmers market, the income goes directly to the farmer, and that helps them to make more profit.
One of the added bonuses is that at the farmers market you will find heirloom varieties, and vegetables and fruits that have surprising tastes, colors and textures.
That's a great added bonus for supporting local farmers and helping to keep jobs in the American economy. Every little bit helps, and it tastes good too!
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Soft Summer Solstice
It felt appropriate to spend part of my Summer Solstice planting in the garden, then taking a relaxing bath.
The herbs are growing nicely and it is wonderful time to stop and give thanks for all of the wonderful healing energy they bring us and all the ways they add flavor and health to our lives.
The longest day of sunlight is also a time for gratitude for all that we have received. A time for gratitude for the people in our lives. A time for gratitude for health, love and abundance.
A time to light a candle and relax with a glass of wine and reflect on the polarity between this and the shortest day of the year.
In Shakespeare's play, this would be the magical night of the Midsummer Night's Dream. In Europe, May 1 is the first day of summer. Here they call the Solstice the first day of summer. Most years that seems too late, but this year, with snow until May, it feels like we just started summer.
In the fullness of life, there is much to be grateful for now. The wheel is turning.
The herbs are growing nicely and it is wonderful time to stop and give thanks for all of the wonderful healing energy they bring us and all the ways they add flavor and health to our lives.
The longest day of sunlight is also a time for gratitude for all that we have received. A time for gratitude for the people in our lives. A time for gratitude for health, love and abundance.
A time to light a candle and relax with a glass of wine and reflect on the polarity between this and the shortest day of the year.
In Shakespeare's play, this would be the magical night of the Midsummer Night's Dream. In Europe, May 1 is the first day of summer. Here they call the Solstice the first day of summer. Most years that seems too late, but this year, with snow until May, it feels like we just started summer.
In the fullness of life, there is much to be grateful for now. The wheel is turning.
Thursday, May 13, 2010
The Art of the Apprentice
Once upon a time, the normal process for learning a new skill or trade was for the person who wanted to learn to apprentice with someone who had established a reputation for excellence.
Companies today seem less interested in making any such arrangements. They want people who either are already experts to just jump in as contractors and hit the ground running or hire absolute beginners with very limited skills who possess the virtue of being available for cheap wages.
So it is in our personal endeavors that we will have more of an opportunity to create an apprentice experience.
Although apprenticeship could refer to people learning skills from carpentry to masonry, it would also refer to a person learning how to cook well enough to become a chef or a master brewer. There are those who apprentice to learn how to be master gardeners or herbalists.
The term can also be used relative to a person learning a musical instrument, a sport, and also in learning hobbies like sewing, glasswork, carving, beadwork or pottery.
Apprenticeship also has a long history in esoteric learning, such as those who want to learn witchcraft or shamanism, those who want to learn tarot, astrology, kabbalah, runes, magic and spiritual healing.
Being an apprentice is about a devotion to excellence. The true apprentice desires to learn to perfrom their chosen endeavor as well as it can be done, and are always interested in learning more about it.
A person who is truly an apprentice knows that there is always more to be learned through practice and study,, so that no matter how recognized they are for their abilities, they know that they do not know it all. So there is a certain amount of humility and quiet pride that characterizes the person who apprentices.
At a certain point, such a person will be recognized as having mastery of their chosen skills. That may come in the form of official recognition and it may also come in the form of recognition by those who employ them or appreciate the beauty and excellence they display in their endeavors.
To be an apprentice in any field is a joy and a way that gives focus to a person's energies. Rewards eventually come to those who choose to take up the art of the apprentice. At some point along their path, they savor the satisfaction of a job well done, and the adulation of those who recognize it.
If you are not getting a deep level of satisfaction in life, consider the art of the apprentice as a path to pursue. You can apprentice in absolutely any field you choose. Anything and everything, from sexual pleasure to embroidery, from tarot reading to picture framing, from home building to auto repair, from software design to stand up comedy, from drumming to belly dance and anything else you can imagine can be areas that a person can choose as a vehicle for their apprenticeship.
The art of the apprentice is a vehicle for getting more out of life.
Companies today seem less interested in making any such arrangements. They want people who either are already experts to just jump in as contractors and hit the ground running or hire absolute beginners with very limited skills who possess the virtue of being available for cheap wages.
So it is in our personal endeavors that we will have more of an opportunity to create an apprentice experience.
Although apprenticeship could refer to people learning skills from carpentry to masonry, it would also refer to a person learning how to cook well enough to become a chef or a master brewer. There are those who apprentice to learn how to be master gardeners or herbalists.
The term can also be used relative to a person learning a musical instrument, a sport, and also in learning hobbies like sewing, glasswork, carving, beadwork or pottery.
Apprenticeship also has a long history in esoteric learning, such as those who want to learn witchcraft or shamanism, those who want to learn tarot, astrology, kabbalah, runes, magic and spiritual healing.
Being an apprentice is about a devotion to excellence. The true apprentice desires to learn to perfrom their chosen endeavor as well as it can be done, and are always interested in learning more about it.
A person who is truly an apprentice knows that there is always more to be learned through practice and study,, so that no matter how recognized they are for their abilities, they know that they do not know it all. So there is a certain amount of humility and quiet pride that characterizes the person who apprentices.
At a certain point, such a person will be recognized as having mastery of their chosen skills. That may come in the form of official recognition and it may also come in the form of recognition by those who employ them or appreciate the beauty and excellence they display in their endeavors.
To be an apprentice in any field is a joy and a way that gives focus to a person's energies. Rewards eventually come to those who choose to take up the art of the apprentice. At some point along their path, they savor the satisfaction of a job well done, and the adulation of those who recognize it.
If you are not getting a deep level of satisfaction in life, consider the art of the apprentice as a path to pursue. You can apprentice in absolutely any field you choose. Anything and everything, from sexual pleasure to embroidery, from tarot reading to picture framing, from home building to auto repair, from software design to stand up comedy, from drumming to belly dance and anything else you can imagine can be areas that a person can choose as a vehicle for their apprenticeship.
The art of the apprentice is a vehicle for getting more out of life.
Sunday, January 31, 2010
The Horny Old Goat
This evening I stopped by the tasting room at Left Hand Brewery. There are other good local breweries in Colorado too, but Left Hand is on the way home from the grocery in the neighborhood where I live, and I had been wanting to do this for a while. Glad I did. They have a few flavors there that are not available in six packs, so I tried one of these, a Rye Bock. It was delicious and gave a pleasant buzz.
I like the idea of supporting a locally owned business that makes a good product and employs people right here. I like to buy locally produced fruits, vegetables, milk, beeswax, weed and honey too.
After a day's work, sometimes a good beer is the perfect thing. When I was growing up in Chicago, there had been a long history of independent breweries and beer gardens, but it changed when the last independent, Meister Brau, was bought by Miller. Miester Brau used to make a bock beer every spring, and traditionally, bock is only a spring beer. They had also created Lite Beer, which has been a big winner for Miller, although I think they quit making the bock beer years ago, or maybe I just haven't been living in parts of the country where they sell it.
Yes, I am enjoying the renaissance of microbreweries.
This may seem strange to you, but in old Europe, February 1 signaled the beginning of spring. Groundhog Day originated in Germany. The Celtic celebration of Imbolc also comes on this day. So here we are at the first day of spring, celebrating with a drink of bock beer. I still miss the daffodils that would always be in bloom by this date when I lived in Georgia. As a harbinger of spring, what could be better than a sun yellow flower with a sweet scent?
The legend on the Rye Bock bottle says that it was traditional for farmers to feed their goats rye in the spring to make them a little more randy. I didn't know they needed help with that. They say the Bavarians originated the idea of putting rye in beer along with the hops. How's this for a beer label? "Will our Rye Bock exacerbate your spring fever? Maybe not, but trying out old folklore never tasted so good."
Don't know about you, but this felt like a great way to welcome in spring, especially following this gorgeous full Wolf Moon. Here's to all you old goats and goatesses!
I like the idea of supporting a locally owned business that makes a good product and employs people right here. I like to buy locally produced fruits, vegetables, milk, beeswax, weed and honey too.
After a day's work, sometimes a good beer is the perfect thing. When I was growing up in Chicago, there had been a long history of independent breweries and beer gardens, but it changed when the last independent, Meister Brau, was bought by Miller. Miester Brau used to make a bock beer every spring, and traditionally, bock is only a spring beer. They had also created Lite Beer, which has been a big winner for Miller, although I think they quit making the bock beer years ago, or maybe I just haven't been living in parts of the country where they sell it.
Yes, I am enjoying the renaissance of microbreweries.
This may seem strange to you, but in old Europe, February 1 signaled the beginning of spring. Groundhog Day originated in Germany. The Celtic celebration of Imbolc also comes on this day. So here we are at the first day of spring, celebrating with a drink of bock beer. I still miss the daffodils that would always be in bloom by this date when I lived in Georgia. As a harbinger of spring, what could be better than a sun yellow flower with a sweet scent?
The legend on the Rye Bock bottle says that it was traditional for farmers to feed their goats rye in the spring to make them a little more randy. I didn't know they needed help with that. They say the Bavarians originated the idea of putting rye in beer along with the hops. How's this for a beer label? "Will our Rye Bock exacerbate your spring fever? Maybe not, but trying out old folklore never tasted so good."
Don't know about you, but this felt like a great way to welcome in spring, especially following this gorgeous full Wolf Moon. Here's to all you old goats and goatesses!
Saturday, December 19, 2009
Labor of Love
It feels really good when you make something and after investing your time and energy into making it, you get feedback that it really has benefitted the people who have bought it and are using it? It feels wonderful. I love being able to get the acknowledgement. Wouldn't it be wonderful if all of us could get more of this kind of result from our work? What kind of world would it be if all labors were labors of love?
Testimonials for
Magical Awakenings Comfrey Reiki Salve &
Magical Awakenings Attraction Oil
Comfrey/Reiki Salve testimonial: "I burned my finger today on the wood stove, and I just put on your salve and the pain went away instantly! Your salve is awesome. I had a deep crack on my finger and it hurt. One day later it does not hurt and is almost healed! It’s funny how I got your salve yesterday and it has already healed the cut on my finger and the burn is healing!" ---Lora
Comfrey/Reiki Salve testimonial: "Loving it as an eye cream so far! I also use it under my concealer. Smooths everything!" Mary Michael
Comfrey/Reiki Salve testimonial: "Put the salve on my rough elbow and it is feeling much softer." ---Patti Auten
Comfrey/Reiki Salve testimonial: "Hi Dan! I got the salve yesterday and I love it! I have a problem with really nasty, dark, dry patches on my hands during the winter that sometimes crack and bleed. I'm already seeing much improvement, and the stuff smells wonderful." ---Harusami
Comfrey/Reiki Salve & Attraction Oil testimonial: "I do love the salve and feel its soothing energy; use it as lip balm for now. The oil smells terrific and it lasts all day long. Interestingly, my daughter is fascinated by it and follows me around the apartment, saying hmmm. She is normally picky but loves the fragrance. I am going to start wearing it with intention starting today.” : )Lilou
Comfrey/Reiki Salve testimonial: "I had really chapped lips after the Boutique Sunday and was using some other natural organic lip balm that I really like, but my lips were so chapped it just wasn't doing the trick. I tried the salve on my lips and a few hours later my dry cracked (and painful) lips were totally back to normal. Absolutely amazing results!" ---Cory Michelle Johnson
Comfrey/Reiki Salve testimonial: I put this salve on my dog's footpads to protect them from cracking in the cold weather. Since our cats go outside, I rub salve on their footpads too. It really works to help protect them because it penetrates the skin so well that even though they lick their feet, the salve has already gone in and done its work." --- Joanne
Comfrey/Reiki Salve testimonial: "A friend who got some of your salve said that it is addressing her condition of rosacea (don't know how to spell it!). Also planning to use your Attraction Oil for setting some intentions for 2010 -- tis the season!"---Lisa
Comfrey/Reiki Salve testimonials: "Your salve makes a soothing balm for my nipples. Thank you!"---R
Attraction Oil testimonial: I got your prosperity oil yesterday and have been using it. I just received a call from one of the stores where I sell my soap and they want more!, In the 10 years or so that I have been making soap I have never received a call from a store, I always have to go there and ask them, this time they had asked me! I believe it is your Attraction Oil at work! Thank you! ---L
Comfrey/Reiki Salve testimonials: "Your salve has worked well for me as a wrinkle cream around the eyes. I also use it on my lips. And it is great protection for my hands and face in cold weather when I am not wearing makeup."---S
Comfrey/Reiki Salve testimonials: "I had a hairline fracture in my heel. My doctor gave me steroids, but I did not like the feeling of taking those, so I stopped taking them. As soon as I started using your salve, my heel started to feel better. when I went back to the doctor and he took another X-ray, the hairline fracture was gone."---J
Comfrey/Reiki Salve testimonial: "It is incredible that the comfrey is grown by the same person who makes it into salve. Herbal medicine is always more potent when the medicine maker has interacted with the plant. It feels warming and soothing and helped my knee feel better right away." --- Elizabeth Willis
For ordering or more info, contact:
Dan Liss, 720-468-2624
pandan49@msn.com
Testimonials for
Magical Awakenings Comfrey Reiki Salve &
Magical Awakenings Attraction Oil
Comfrey/Reiki Salve testimonial: "I burned my finger today on the wood stove, and I just put on your salve and the pain went away instantly! Your salve is awesome. I had a deep crack on my finger and it hurt. One day later it does not hurt and is almost healed! It’s funny how I got your salve yesterday and it has already healed the cut on my finger and the burn is healing!" ---Lora
Comfrey/Reiki Salve testimonial: "Loving it as an eye cream so far! I also use it under my concealer. Smooths everything!" Mary Michael
Comfrey/Reiki Salve testimonial: "Put the salve on my rough elbow and it is feeling much softer." ---Patti Auten
Comfrey/Reiki Salve testimonial: "Hi Dan! I got the salve yesterday and I love it! I have a problem with really nasty, dark, dry patches on my hands during the winter that sometimes crack and bleed. I'm already seeing much improvement, and the stuff smells wonderful." ---Harusami
Comfrey/Reiki Salve & Attraction Oil testimonial: "I do love the salve and feel its soothing energy; use it as lip balm for now. The oil smells terrific and it lasts all day long. Interestingly, my daughter is fascinated by it and follows me around the apartment, saying hmmm. She is normally picky but loves the fragrance. I am going to start wearing it with intention starting today.” : )Lilou
Comfrey/Reiki Salve testimonial: "I had really chapped lips after the Boutique Sunday and was using some other natural organic lip balm that I really like, but my lips were so chapped it just wasn't doing the trick. I tried the salve on my lips and a few hours later my dry cracked (and painful) lips were totally back to normal. Absolutely amazing results!" ---Cory Michelle Johnson
Comfrey/Reiki Salve testimonial: I put this salve on my dog's footpads to protect them from cracking in the cold weather. Since our cats go outside, I rub salve on their footpads too. It really works to help protect them because it penetrates the skin so well that even though they lick their feet, the salve has already gone in and done its work." --- Joanne
Comfrey/Reiki Salve testimonial: "A friend who got some of your salve said that it is addressing her condition of rosacea (don't know how to spell it!). Also planning to use your Attraction Oil for setting some intentions for 2010 -- tis the season!"---Lisa
Comfrey/Reiki Salve testimonials: "Your salve makes a soothing balm for my nipples. Thank you!"---R
Attraction Oil testimonial: I got your prosperity oil yesterday and have been using it. I just received a call from one of the stores where I sell my soap and they want more!, In the 10 years or so that I have been making soap I have never received a call from a store, I always have to go there and ask them, this time they had asked me! I believe it is your Attraction Oil at work! Thank you! ---L
Comfrey/Reiki Salve testimonials: "Your salve has worked well for me as a wrinkle cream around the eyes. I also use it on my lips. And it is great protection for my hands and face in cold weather when I am not wearing makeup."---S
Comfrey/Reiki Salve testimonials: "I had a hairline fracture in my heel. My doctor gave me steroids, but I did not like the feeling of taking those, so I stopped taking them. As soon as I started using your salve, my heel started to feel better. when I went back to the doctor and he took another X-ray, the hairline fracture was gone."---J
Comfrey/Reiki Salve testimonial: "It is incredible that the comfrey is grown by the same person who makes it into salve. Herbal medicine is always more potent when the medicine maker has interacted with the plant. It feels warming and soothing and helped my knee feel better right away." --- Elizabeth Willis
For ordering or more info, contact:
Dan Liss, 720-468-2624
pandan49@msn.com
Friday, December 11, 2009
Comfort, Humility, Quiet Moments
Comfort, comfrey, comfort. As I read over all the wonderful feedback and testimonials from people who have used the comfrey/reiki salve I made, there is a very satisfying feeling of having done something well and worthwhile. Observing all the ways it has done good for people, the word comfort comes to mind. Comfrey, comfort.
Herbs have a way of comforting while they impart their magic and healing. Feel the warmth radiate through your body as you sip a cup of hot tea on a cold night. Inhale the fragrance when you open the door and return home and the lingering scent of incense greets you. Feel the sensuous joy of a bath with Epsom salts and herbs as they saturate your body and you drift in the water, melting away pain and stress. Taste how good food is by simply adding a few herbs while it is cooking. With the addition of a few pinches of well chosen herbs, vegetables and meat go from being simply fuel to exotic palate pleasers. Plants have always been good companions to us, and all we have to do is learn how to use them. Of course, they also add to the visual beauty of our surroundings when we have a few houseplants in places where we see them as we sit and rest or entertain.
Comfort from the plants imparts a spirit to our place, to our life, adding quality in a quiet way.
There is another quiet sense that comes to me when I go to the recreation center. It is a sense of humility. I am exercising for my health. There are some people who work out just to look good. They put in many hours sculpting six pack abs and big biceps.
For myself, I simply walk and swim and perhaps from time to time do a little on an elliptical or weight resistance machine. I find that I have more energy and uplifted spirits after exercising.
I notice something else. There are other people who are making an effort because they are also fighting for their health. I smile and make eye contact with others who are making an effort to work with their body. Some people have a longer way to go than others in order to reach their goals, but everyone who is out here doing something is to be commended.
It is also an exercise in humility when you have to work your way back into fitness and good health. We have to use an act of will to come back from our habits that let us become too heavy or recover from surgery or reenergize and reshape ourselves. And sometimes it takes a while to notice the improvements.
In this way, it feels good to be quiet and keep moving, doing what it takes to achieve our goals. Working in this quiet state brings me a feeling of humility and a different consciousness, and these quiet moments are full of life.
Herbs have a way of comforting while they impart their magic and healing. Feel the warmth radiate through your body as you sip a cup of hot tea on a cold night. Inhale the fragrance when you open the door and return home and the lingering scent of incense greets you. Feel the sensuous joy of a bath with Epsom salts and herbs as they saturate your body and you drift in the water, melting away pain and stress. Taste how good food is by simply adding a few herbs while it is cooking. With the addition of a few pinches of well chosen herbs, vegetables and meat go from being simply fuel to exotic palate pleasers. Plants have always been good companions to us, and all we have to do is learn how to use them. Of course, they also add to the visual beauty of our surroundings when we have a few houseplants in places where we see them as we sit and rest or entertain.
Comfort from the plants imparts a spirit to our place, to our life, adding quality in a quiet way.
There is another quiet sense that comes to me when I go to the recreation center. It is a sense of humility. I am exercising for my health. There are some people who work out just to look good. They put in many hours sculpting six pack abs and big biceps.
For myself, I simply walk and swim and perhaps from time to time do a little on an elliptical or weight resistance machine. I find that I have more energy and uplifted spirits after exercising.
I notice something else. There are other people who are making an effort because they are also fighting for their health. I smile and make eye contact with others who are making an effort to work with their body. Some people have a longer way to go than others in order to reach their goals, but everyone who is out here doing something is to be commended.
It is also an exercise in humility when you have to work your way back into fitness and good health. We have to use an act of will to come back from our habits that let us become too heavy or recover from surgery or reenergize and reshape ourselves. And sometimes it takes a while to notice the improvements.
In this way, it feels good to be quiet and keep moving, doing what it takes to achieve our goals. Working in this quiet state brings me a feeling of humility and a different consciousness, and these quiet moments are full of life.
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Creative Evolution
This morning, I read an article about Sting performing a winter Concert in the Cathedral of St. John the Divine. The photo showed a bearded man dressed in 19th century clothes accompanied by Northumbrian pipes, mandolin and other acoustic instruments. His choice of songs was drawn from European early music and old English composers such as Purcell, Southwell, Warlock and Schubert. They say that he even sang in a lower range than is usual for him. All in all, a far cry from the musician who became famous for his performances with the band the Police. Reading the review made me wish I had been at that concert.
Creative people often evolve in unexpected ways. Author Walter Mosley initially became famous for writing detective novels set in Los Angeles in the 50s and 60s, then branched out to write science fiction. That's an unusual shift, and no doubt there are fans of his detective novels who didn't follow him very far into science fiction. Then again, he picked up other new fans because he did. And, of course, some fans like all of his work. Just like some of the people who enjoyed the music of the Police in years gone by might now be savoring the sounds of him performing in the context of an early music consort.
Many of us go through similar evolutions by following our creative instincts and pursuing work and projects for which we have passion and enthusiasm. In my own case, I am happy to just be a tarot reader, tarot teacher, a tarot dealer, a herbalist, gardener, past life facilitator and reiki healer. When people ask me if I would like to be a magazine editor again, I can honestly answer no. I successfully created and managed publications for years, but that was then. I have no desire to do it again. I am happy to be of service to people on a one-on-one basis. My life is simple in that manner of speaking and very fulfilling. I do have a busy schedule, but it all revolves around my reading schedule. It is an evolution.
I know that many of you are doing things right now that do not look like what you were doing a few years ago. That may puzzle some puzzle some people, but it is all part of our learning curve, our creative evolution.
Creative people often evolve in unexpected ways. Author Walter Mosley initially became famous for writing detective novels set in Los Angeles in the 50s and 60s, then branched out to write science fiction. That's an unusual shift, and no doubt there are fans of his detective novels who didn't follow him very far into science fiction. Then again, he picked up other new fans because he did. And, of course, some fans like all of his work. Just like some of the people who enjoyed the music of the Police in years gone by might now be savoring the sounds of him performing in the context of an early music consort.
Many of us go through similar evolutions by following our creative instincts and pursuing work and projects for which we have passion and enthusiasm. In my own case, I am happy to just be a tarot reader, tarot teacher, a tarot dealer, a herbalist, gardener, past life facilitator and reiki healer. When people ask me if I would like to be a magazine editor again, I can honestly answer no. I successfully created and managed publications for years, but that was then. I have no desire to do it again. I am happy to be of service to people on a one-on-one basis. My life is simple in that manner of speaking and very fulfilling. I do have a busy schedule, but it all revolves around my reading schedule. It is an evolution.
I know that many of you are doing things right now that do not look like what you were doing a few years ago. That may puzzle some puzzle some people, but it is all part of our learning curve, our creative evolution.
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
The Herbalist's Path
I have long been interested in herbs and how they can help heal. So I learned how to blend herbs for teas. I learned how to make incense. Then I learned how to make bath salts. Then I learned how to make tinctures and salves. When I made things, I would give some to others to see how they liked it.
Each step of the way, people told me that they were enjoying the products I made. That was a double pleasure because I started out making these things for my own personal use. So to get these unsolicited comments when I was not trying to impress anyone or sell anything was a very satisfying development.
Enjoying working with herbs, in turn opened the path to gardening. Once I started gardening, I loved watching the plants and how they grew, and how they responded to the elements. I am still mystified by the way a seed becomes a plant and how they look when they flower, and the shape their leaves take. The textures, scents and colors are sometimes very subtle, and that adds to beauty.
It is fascinating the way the scent and taste change as you go from fresh to dried. As you make things, you notice how some herbs blend well with others,and how paying attention to their properties and characteristics. The folklore surrounding herbs is very intriguing.
The path to becoming a herbalist takes different turns for different people. The magic, healing and beauty of the plant world is a path of joy and discovery that rewards the traveler down this path in many ways.
Each step of the way, people told me that they were enjoying the products I made. That was a double pleasure because I started out making these things for my own personal use. So to get these unsolicited comments when I was not trying to impress anyone or sell anything was a very satisfying development.
Enjoying working with herbs, in turn opened the path to gardening. Once I started gardening, I loved watching the plants and how they grew, and how they responded to the elements. I am still mystified by the way a seed becomes a plant and how they look when they flower, and the shape their leaves take. The textures, scents and colors are sometimes very subtle, and that adds to beauty.
It is fascinating the way the scent and taste change as you go from fresh to dried. As you make things, you notice how some herbs blend well with others,and how paying attention to their properties and characteristics. The folklore surrounding herbs is very intriguing.
The path to becoming a herbalist takes different turns for different people. The magic, healing and beauty of the plant world is a path of joy and discovery that rewards the traveler down this path in many ways.
Sunday, November 1, 2009
Attaction Oil & Healing Salve, Handcrafted
Over the years, many people have asked me if they can get some of the oils that I wear. They ask where they can buy them, but I blend them myself and have done so for years. All are blends of essential oils combined with jojoba and other fine carrier oils. My oil is called Attraction, because it is created with the intention of attracting whatever it is you want into your life. It will add energy to your desires, dreams and intentions and help draw it to you.
The healing salve I make is also handcrafted. I grow the plants, harvest them, then blend the ingredients and make the salve. I have given a few people free samples over the years. They have all reported excellent results with it.
Now because of all the requests, it is finally time for me to bottle some of these and offer them for sale. Only limited quantities will be immediately available because I have only made one batch of salve from the plants I raised last year, and there will not be another batch until after the next growing season when I have more fresh herbs that I have grown.
My experience is that there is a difference in the properties of products that are
handcrafted with a lot of love. Some of my energy goes into every plant that I grow, and in the preparation, blending and bottling of the products.
The same even held true for healing herbal teas made from plants I grew. I had friends who found that the herbal teas prepared from plants I grew produced more healing results than the ones they bought elsewhere. I was not selling these. I was giving them away. So when I gave away all I had grown, they had no choice but to buy more until my next growing season. There is an energy exchange between people and plants.
Yes, I am a reiki master, and perhaps that is the energy that goes into everything I make. It can also be the personal energy of a person who is an attentive gardener who communicates with his plants and sees the connective energy in all things.
With the oil blends, the batches are not identical, but they are always good. This is due to the variance in availability of the oils I prefer to use at certain times prompts me to slightly alter the blend rather than wait for certain things to get back in stock. Variances are subtle and delicious. I regard the constant tweaking of the blends to be a pleasure, not a problem. Personal attention goes into every dram.
I also make spritzers for aromatic air and after shave. If you are interested in obtaining any of these, let me know.
The healing salve I make is also handcrafted. I grow the plants, harvest them, then blend the ingredients and make the salve. I have given a few people free samples over the years. They have all reported excellent results with it.
Now because of all the requests, it is finally time for me to bottle some of these and offer them for sale. Only limited quantities will be immediately available because I have only made one batch of salve from the plants I raised last year, and there will not be another batch until after the next growing season when I have more fresh herbs that I have grown.
My experience is that there is a difference in the properties of products that are
handcrafted with a lot of love. Some of my energy goes into every plant that I grow, and in the preparation, blending and bottling of the products.
The same even held true for healing herbal teas made from plants I grew. I had friends who found that the herbal teas prepared from plants I grew produced more healing results than the ones they bought elsewhere. I was not selling these. I was giving them away. So when I gave away all I had grown, they had no choice but to buy more until my next growing season. There is an energy exchange between people and plants.
Yes, I am a reiki master, and perhaps that is the energy that goes into everything I make. It can also be the personal energy of a person who is an attentive gardener who communicates with his plants and sees the connective energy in all things.
With the oil blends, the batches are not identical, but they are always good. This is due to the variance in availability of the oils I prefer to use at certain times prompts me to slightly alter the blend rather than wait for certain things to get back in stock. Variances are subtle and delicious. I regard the constant tweaking of the blends to be a pleasure, not a problem. Personal attention goes into every dram.
I also make spritzers for aromatic air and after shave. If you are interested in obtaining any of these, let me know.
Monday, September 7, 2009
Off The Beaten Path
One of the things I notice about metaphysical fairs that has remained constant over the years is the underlying sense of optimism about them.
The variety of things that a person might encounter there have one thing in common. People who offer natural and traditional methods to healing, products that contribute to a healthy environment, alternative energy, ways of developing our pyschic and creative abilities, all are putting forward solutions to problems, and offering mind expanding concepts about life.
While the wide open and accepting nature of metaphysical people and events has also provided a platform for things that are without much merit, those things usually fade away while the people and methods of substance remain.
As we have seen in recent years, politics and power are often the stumbling blocks to progress. For example creative people have been promoting alternative energy for years, and invented methods to produce it. More energy efficient vehicles and homes are already possible, it is just that the powers that be have long chosen not to really promote their development and use.
Herbal healing has been a fact of human life for millennia, so it is interesting to hear experts express doubt about it. But it is about the money. Energy healing, hypnosis and other methods which have ancient roots are also considered alternative, although they were here first.
It is satisfying to see the wheel turning, as more people become interested in these things all the time. When grocery chains become interested in organic foods, there are yoga studios and herb shops in every shopping center, massage has become readily available, and people going through major life changes get readings to gain another perspective and some insight into how to deal with these changes, there is more acceptance of these concepts and methods across the general population.
This is one of the reasons I have long been involved in all this. Looking through a lens of life affirming methods and associating with life affirming people adds to our resources for getting more joy and satisfaction out of every day. Workshops and courses of all types will continue to be popular because people are always open to finding ways to improve their quality of life.
Looking into those many things that were at times dismissed as foolish, outdated or superstitious has proven to be a boon to many. When many of the realities of our world are crumbling and being replaced or rebuilt in unfamiliar ways, the whole spectrum of metaphysics, holistic health, environmentalism and personal growth have much to offer.
Journeying off the beaten path has a great deal to offer the traveler who is open to life's journey, savoring the experience and adventure of it all, and finding hidden treasures of joy and discovery in these unlikely places. Optimism, like laughter, and curiosity, make good medicine.
The variety of things that a person might encounter there have one thing in common. People who offer natural and traditional methods to healing, products that contribute to a healthy environment, alternative energy, ways of developing our pyschic and creative abilities, all are putting forward solutions to problems, and offering mind expanding concepts about life.
While the wide open and accepting nature of metaphysical people and events has also provided a platform for things that are without much merit, those things usually fade away while the people and methods of substance remain.
As we have seen in recent years, politics and power are often the stumbling blocks to progress. For example creative people have been promoting alternative energy for years, and invented methods to produce it. More energy efficient vehicles and homes are already possible, it is just that the powers that be have long chosen not to really promote their development and use.
Herbal healing has been a fact of human life for millennia, so it is interesting to hear experts express doubt about it. But it is about the money. Energy healing, hypnosis and other methods which have ancient roots are also considered alternative, although they were here first.
It is satisfying to see the wheel turning, as more people become interested in these things all the time. When grocery chains become interested in organic foods, there are yoga studios and herb shops in every shopping center, massage has become readily available, and people going through major life changes get readings to gain another perspective and some insight into how to deal with these changes, there is more acceptance of these concepts and methods across the general population.
This is one of the reasons I have long been involved in all this. Looking through a lens of life affirming methods and associating with life affirming people adds to our resources for getting more joy and satisfaction out of every day. Workshops and courses of all types will continue to be popular because people are always open to finding ways to improve their quality of life.
Looking into those many things that were at times dismissed as foolish, outdated or superstitious has proven to be a boon to many. When many of the realities of our world are crumbling and being replaced or rebuilt in unfamiliar ways, the whole spectrum of metaphysics, holistic health, environmentalism and personal growth have much to offer.
Journeying off the beaten path has a great deal to offer the traveler who is open to life's journey, savoring the experience and adventure of it all, and finding hidden treasures of joy and discovery in these unlikely places. Optimism, like laughter, and curiosity, make good medicine.
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Disorientation & Reorientation
Tests we face in life are meant to cause us disorientation. Each time we have to recalculate our course, we have to see with fresh eyes and hear with fresh ears in order to find our way again. In this process of renewal, we discover things about ourselves. Little realizations open the door to big revelations.
Look at some of these definitions of orientation:
an integrated set of attitudes and beliefs
position or alignment relative to points of the compass or other specific directions
a person's awareness of self with regard to position and time and place and personal relationships
predilection: a predisposition in favor of something
orientation course: a course introducing a new situation or environment
When sailing a sailboat, you are constantly shifting your position relative to the wind in order to make optimum use of the energies present in the wind and water so that you can stay on course and get where you want to go. They call this maneuver tacking. Little ribbons on the top of the sail give the first indication of the shifts in the wind. These are called telltales.
When two people are dancing, someone leads and someone follows. Good dance partners only need to use a movement of the eyes, a light touch of the hand, or a shift in the hips to signal a change of direction, a turn, a spin.
When drummers are drumming together, a signal can be as simple as an extra beat to pick up or slow down the tempo.
A choice of words will indicate a range of differences in a writer's intention. Subtle, but significant signals. A tone can signify the difference between pleasure and pain.
Disorientation and reorientation are ways of responding to life by constantly revising our directions, renewing our connections and clearly reaffirming our choices in order to signal and then make our change in direction. Adjusting to flowing and shifting energy patterns is necessary to life. Consciously engaging in the procecss strengthens us and enlarges our life.
Look at some of these definitions of orientation:
an integrated set of attitudes and beliefs
position or alignment relative to points of the compass or other specific directions
a person's awareness of self with regard to position and time and place and personal relationships
predilection: a predisposition in favor of something
orientation course: a course introducing a new situation or environment
When sailing a sailboat, you are constantly shifting your position relative to the wind in order to make optimum use of the energies present in the wind and water so that you can stay on course and get where you want to go. They call this maneuver tacking. Little ribbons on the top of the sail give the first indication of the shifts in the wind. These are called telltales.
When two people are dancing, someone leads and someone follows. Good dance partners only need to use a movement of the eyes, a light touch of the hand, or a shift in the hips to signal a change of direction, a turn, a spin.
When drummers are drumming together, a signal can be as simple as an extra beat to pick up or slow down the tempo.
A choice of words will indicate a range of differences in a writer's intention. Subtle, but significant signals. A tone can signify the difference between pleasure and pain.
Disorientation and reorientation are ways of responding to life by constantly revising our directions, renewing our connections and clearly reaffirming our choices in order to signal and then make our change in direction. Adjusting to flowing and shifting energy patterns is necessary to life. Consciously engaging in the procecss strengthens us and enlarges our life.
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
Green Dreams
Green dreams include renewable energy, locally grown, healthy foods, recycling and things along those lines. Green dreams include creating work that celebrates life. Green dreams include creating new kinds of work and new opportunities. Green dreams also include ways of making a living that work for everyone.
Green dreams also include living in a way that keeps us in touch with nature. Green dreams include harmonizing our energies with those of nature. Green dreams finds power in work with, rather than against.
Green dreams include visions of the future in which simple pleasures provide what we need. Green dreams include legalizing the well known weed.
Green dreams include sustainable living and at the same time, a way of living that we want to sustain. Green dreams include spirituality that celebrates nature and our nature. Green dreams include life not just as it is, but as we would like it to be.
Green dreams also include living in a way that keeps us in touch with nature. Green dreams include harmonizing our energies with those of nature. Green dreams finds power in work with, rather than against.
Green dreams include visions of the future in which simple pleasures provide what we need. Green dreams include legalizing the well known weed.
Green dreams include sustainable living and at the same time, a way of living that we want to sustain. Green dreams include spirituality that celebrates nature and our nature. Green dreams include life not just as it is, but as we would like it to be.
Monday, July 13, 2009
Thunder Moon
Interesting that one of the traditional names for the July full moon is the Thunder Moon because of the tendency of sudden thunderstorms to blow up at this time of year. We certainly have had a number of sudden rainstorms this July. In fact recently we have had more than the usual number of rainstorms. Lots of lightning in the sky.
Another name is the Buck Moon for the new antlers that deer sprout at this time of year. Some people may also call it the Wort Moon, a word that comes from the Old English word, which in turn came from an old German word, healing green plants. That is why some of the old folk names for some herbs end in wort, like lungwort, liverwort, mugwort, St. John's Wort, spleenwort, sleepwort, dropwort, goutwort, and many others. At this time of year, many of these would be enjoying robust growth and people would begin harvesting and drying some for use during the fall and winter months.
These folkloric names for the times of the year are still useful for harmonizing ourselves with the cycles of nature. Even though many other things have changed in the world since people began naming the moons in this way, this knowledge can still be very useful to us, in both metaphorical and practical terms.
Another name is the Buck Moon for the new antlers that deer sprout at this time of year. Some people may also call it the Wort Moon, a word that comes from the Old English word, which in turn came from an old German word, healing green plants. That is why some of the old folk names for some herbs end in wort, like lungwort, liverwort, mugwort, St. John's Wort, spleenwort, sleepwort, dropwort, goutwort, and many others. At this time of year, many of these would be enjoying robust growth and people would begin harvesting and drying some for use during the fall and winter months.
These folkloric names for the times of the year are still useful for harmonizing ourselves with the cycles of nature. Even though many other things have changed in the world since people began naming the moons in this way, this knowledge can still be very useful to us, in both metaphorical and practical terms.
Friday, July 3, 2009
The Aroma, Sight and Taste of Pleasure
Since there is not really a yard at this townhouse, the garden is a number of containers. This year, we focused on planting vegetables and herbs rather than flowers. Just in more of a mood to be practical.
This week, the cucumbers bloomed with these beautiful bright yellow flowers. The pepper plants have these little white flowers. The tomatoes, of course, have little yellow flowers.
A friend, once upon a time, kept picking all the little yellow flowers off the tomatoes figuring that would make them grow bigger. Then she asked someone why her plants never got tomatoes.
Basil has not yet flowered, but it is expanding into some wonderful big leaves. Chives and parsley are exploding with growth like their own little fireworks show. Oregano is just expanding slowly and steadily. Green beans have filled their allotted spaces and the bush beans, as they call them, will in not too long a time, be providing us with a delicious harvest.
It is a life lesson to watch these seeds and starter plants take a little while to acclimate to their new homes. Their flowers last for a little while, but there is much happiness in knowing that each flower will soon become something good to eat and will become dinner one evening. Sometimes it just takes a little while, and we have to let it flower and provide us with nourishment on its own schedule. They take a certain amount of time, and that is just the natural order of things.
A little earth, a fair amount of water, not too much sun, and life expands. We bring our spirit out to play with the plants and help tend the garden. We nourish the plants and then the plants nourish us. We help each other. Flowers nourish the spirit with their bursts of visual joy, but they are not the only viewing pleasure. There are all sorts of green shapes is the other plant leaves. And then there is the pleasure of the palate, which comes after the color and the aroma. Satisfaction comes in waves. Life affirming, simple, beautiful waves.
There are many different pleasures in life, and this is one of them.
This week, the cucumbers bloomed with these beautiful bright yellow flowers. The pepper plants have these little white flowers. The tomatoes, of course, have little yellow flowers.
A friend, once upon a time, kept picking all the little yellow flowers off the tomatoes figuring that would make them grow bigger. Then she asked someone why her plants never got tomatoes.
Basil has not yet flowered, but it is expanding into some wonderful big leaves. Chives and parsley are exploding with growth like their own little fireworks show. Oregano is just expanding slowly and steadily. Green beans have filled their allotted spaces and the bush beans, as they call them, will in not too long a time, be providing us with a delicious harvest.
It is a life lesson to watch these seeds and starter plants take a little while to acclimate to their new homes. Their flowers last for a little while, but there is much happiness in knowing that each flower will soon become something good to eat and will become dinner one evening. Sometimes it just takes a little while, and we have to let it flower and provide us with nourishment on its own schedule. They take a certain amount of time, and that is just the natural order of things.
A little earth, a fair amount of water, not too much sun, and life expands. We bring our spirit out to play with the plants and help tend the garden. We nourish the plants and then the plants nourish us. We help each other. Flowers nourish the spirit with their bursts of visual joy, but they are not the only viewing pleasure. There are all sorts of green shapes is the other plant leaves. And then there is the pleasure of the palate, which comes after the color and the aroma. Satisfaction comes in waves. Life affirming, simple, beautiful waves.
There are many different pleasures in life, and this is one of them.
Sunday, April 5, 2009
Everyday Luxury
There is pleasure to be had in every day things. Being conscious of every moment, I had another one of those pleasurable moments shopping at the grocery store.
What a simple pleasure it is to be able to simply choose a few fine things like some English Breakfast Tea, blueberries, bananas, sliced turkey breast, Braeburn apples, lettuce, sun dried tomatoes, almonds, rye crackers and mild peppers.
I am aware that there are people in the world who are struggling to get even a bowl of rice and beans for dinner.
What I have chosen is not extravagant, but it is a luxury. It is a luxury simply to be able to choose. It is a luxury to choose what I think tastes good and what I would like to have.
There are simple pleasures in our every day living. Do we actually take time to appreciate them?
What a simple pleasure it is to be able to simply choose a few fine things like some English Breakfast Tea, blueberries, bananas, sliced turkey breast, Braeburn apples, lettuce, sun dried tomatoes, almonds, rye crackers and mild peppers.
I am aware that there are people in the world who are struggling to get even a bowl of rice and beans for dinner.
What I have chosen is not extravagant, but it is a luxury. It is a luxury simply to be able to choose. It is a luxury to choose what I think tastes good and what I would like to have.
There are simple pleasures in our every day living. Do we actually take time to appreciate them?
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Half Empty or Half Full?
When the blizzards hit hard out here, you can see effects almost immediately. Within a couple days, even the huge chain grocery stores start to have empty shelves where produce and bread used to be.
That is an instant reminder of how interdependent we are in this world. Other people raise and produce our food and send it to us.
Such sights inspire some people to advocate that everyone store tons of food for emergencies. Of course, having some extra canned goods or dried food on hand is always a prudent idea. How much? Well, the half empty glass people will advocate a couple years worth, but perhaps a few months worth will see you through the worst emergencies, since the groceries seem to be restocked to normal within a week. So the extra will get you through times of power outages, storms and short periods of unemployment.
Another suggestion that has merit is that of victory gardens. Back around WW2, people were encouraged to grow some of their own vegetables and fruits in their own yards for their own consumption so that more produce could be available to feed the troops. Lots of people did.
Even to this day gardening is the most popular hobby not only in this country, but in the world. There is a real joy and pleasure to seeing plants grow, nurturing them and then having vegetables, fruits and herbs from your own garden be part of your meals. Herbs that season your food or become tea add a lot of life to any meal.
If you are producing more than you can eat right away, you can share it with others, you can can, freeze or dry it. Even a small patch can produce a lot. Many people would think that the idea of having a garden rather than a lawn would be less aethetically pleasing, but that all depends on your sense of aesthetics. For most of the life of this country, manicured lawns were not the standard in front of every house.
So is your life half empty or half full? We must trust that the world will continue to work. Farmers all around the world will continue to produce food and these mutual exchanges will benefit everyone. My world view is not so grim as to think that this will all end suddenly one day.
My glass is half full when I work in my garden because I enjoy it. My trust that other people will keep producing is based on the simple truth that buying and selling are necessary parts of life is also a half full view of life. We all have to guy and sell something just as part of every day life.
The half empty view of creating a life where each person is capable of producing all their own food is a reality that will never be available to most people. Seeing the glass as half full is the only option that makes sense. Always seeing it as half empty makes for a grim view of life, devoid of joy.
Another
That is an instant reminder of how interdependent we are in this world. Other people raise and produce our food and send it to us.
Such sights inspire some people to advocate that everyone store tons of food for emergencies. Of course, having some extra canned goods or dried food on hand is always a prudent idea. How much? Well, the half empty glass people will advocate a couple years worth, but perhaps a few months worth will see you through the worst emergencies, since the groceries seem to be restocked to normal within a week. So the extra will get you through times of power outages, storms and short periods of unemployment.
Another suggestion that has merit is that of victory gardens. Back around WW2, people were encouraged to grow some of their own vegetables and fruits in their own yards for their own consumption so that more produce could be available to feed the troops. Lots of people did.
Even to this day gardening is the most popular hobby not only in this country, but in the world. There is a real joy and pleasure to seeing plants grow, nurturing them and then having vegetables, fruits and herbs from your own garden be part of your meals. Herbs that season your food or become tea add a lot of life to any meal.
If you are producing more than you can eat right away, you can share it with others, you can can, freeze or dry it. Even a small patch can produce a lot. Many people would think that the idea of having a garden rather than a lawn would be less aethetically pleasing, but that all depends on your sense of aesthetics. For most of the life of this country, manicured lawns were not the standard in front of every house.
So is your life half empty or half full? We must trust that the world will continue to work. Farmers all around the world will continue to produce food and these mutual exchanges will benefit everyone. My world view is not so grim as to think that this will all end suddenly one day.
My glass is half full when I work in my garden because I enjoy it. My trust that other people will keep producing is based on the simple truth that buying and selling are necessary parts of life is also a half full view of life. We all have to guy and sell something just as part of every day life.
The half empty view of creating a life where each person is capable of producing all their own food is a reality that will never be available to most people. Seeing the glass as half full is the only option that makes sense. Always seeing it as half empty makes for a grim view of life, devoid of joy.
Another
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