Rare Beauty Botanicals | Health/beauty
Rare Beauty Botanicals
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25.01.2022 Come along and experience something which will surprise and delight you! In this full day herbal immersion, we will practice medicine making, intuitive plant connections and the foundations of working with medicinal plants. We'll also be talking herbal supports for Spring and Summer. This is possibly the last of these workshops I'll be running this year, so if you've been thinking about coming along, now is the time to jump in. ... All previous workshops have booked out <3
25.01.2022 I believe access to herbal knowledge is of paramount importance for reclaiming sovereignty of our health and connection to land/earth. So I'm now running a free herb class on the third Saturday of each month, starting on the 21st of September
14.01.2022 My love to everyone confronted by fire in whatever way. I can't put everything I want to say into written words, but here are some things which might be helpful... for this season of fire, smoke and the intensity of summer 1. Demulcents herbs contain mucilage, which will turn to slime when it comes into contact with water. This sliminess is perfect for soothing and protecting dry and inflamed mucous membranes (sinuses, throat, lungs, eyes) and skin, as many people experience in hot, dry weather and especially where there is a lot of smoke in the atmosphere. Many of these herbs are also expectorants, which means they can help to loosen and move gunk out of our lungs. Some demulcent herbs which you might have in your garden or pantry are violet leaf mallow comfrey licorice root plantain (plantago) flaxseed With fresh plants you can just chew on a leaf and suck on the juices or, grab a handful of leaves, crush or chop them, cover them with hot water and steep over a few hours (in the fridge is optional, as cold water helps to extract mucilage). Just cold water is also an option for steeping. Follow the same process for dried plants, you might like to grind them first to increase surface area. 2. Chamomile tea (loose leaf or tea bags) can also be excellent to soothe irritated eyes, skin and nervous system. Make it up like a strong cup of tea, keep the lid on and let it steep until cool. Use soak a cloth in the tea and lay it on inflamed eyes or skin. Or just use the teabags instead of a cloth. 3. Drinking aromatic teas like chamomile, rose, lavender, peppermint, fennel, etc can help to release held tension. Have them on hand in the fridge (will keep for a couple of days), or make ice cubes with them, if you prefer cold drinks at this time of year. 4. Adrenalin runs high in emergency situations and in anticipation of emergency. Which is a good thing, in the moment, but can be very uncomfortable afterwards, eating grounding foods; oils/fats, well cooked veggies, fresh greens and rolled oats (porridge) can help. I find that I usually crave red meat. If you need to keep yourself going on caffeine and sugar, do what you need to, and when possible, give yourself some deeper sustenance to support your nervous system. There are herbs which can help with this too, but they’re less common than the ones already mentioned. Rubbing a little oil (any kind of oil) into your skin, or giving yourself a lot rub can also be very nourishing for our nervous system. 5. And, for EVERYONE, take a moment if you can, and find something green and living and breath closely with it. Just for a moment, notice the air move from leaf to lung and lung to leaf. If possible, let your bare feet rest on the earth. Find a hug if you can. And feel what you’re feeling. I’m up for chats if anyone needs it. We have space in our home near Castlemaine if anyone needs it. And I’d love to hear any questions or tips you have for getting through this time of intense heat. May the waters flow
08.01.2022 It's Spring. As I walked through the ironbark forest a few days ago, carefully stepping between the abundant wildflowers, I was reminded of the courage of plant...s who put out their delicate flowers into the world. Their energy surging up to express an inspiration of their awesome authentic self, as an exquisite invitation to the world. Who am I? Questions are an invitation for magic, and beauty as David Whyte says, 'is the harvest of presence'. Both can be discomforting. I've seen it Spring after Spring, and this year I'm feeling it myself... an impatience to be productive pulling against the tender, slow unfurling of questions and dreams. I'm sure we've all let our curiosity get the better of us as we watch the flowers in the garden slowly budding and growing bigger... we pull the petals apart to have a peek inside and in the same moment, the petals fall off and secret delight turns to sadness as we realise we've just broken that precious and beautiful flower. While my mind wants to run ahead and plan all the things and make all the money and help all the people, in my bones I lack of motion. Possibilities are abundant, but I have to hold them out of the way, for fear they will be steam rolled by the insistence of daily life chores. Some I hold out to the wind, some I keep tucked in close to me, like the flowers in my garden. Hoping or trusting that they will receive the tiny key of magic they need, carried on the wind, or a beetle's back, or word heard in passing, which catches and clings to my soul. If we're lucky and paying attention, the fruit will begin to grow. Of course, some flowers wont make it. Some will be eaten or fall to unexpected frosts. Some fruits will fail to grow. Sometimes, the magic doesn't take. But we can't know or control it all. We can only create the flowers for the universe, trusting that our unique expression of beauty and authenticity will attract and nourish those who carry the magic pollen we need. Holding my vulnerability to the wind, hearts on our sleeves, grateful for the warmth of the sun. Ready to receive some magic and to take the next steps from there. Beauty be with you. Happy Spring!
