...where You can post your dreams, art, poems, articles, thoughts....etc...check it out and if you'd like to share email allie at herbshealing dot com.
My inspiration comes from many sources. I rely mostly on my dreams and inner feelings as I have done since I was a child, along with my love of nature, instilled within me from an early age by my parents, and their wonderful tales of myths and legends which they would share with me at bedtime.
Now as an adult with more experience of the world, I am influenced by artists from the past, such as Alphonse Mucha and William Morris, and the era in which they lived and worked, I also have a fascination for the supernatural and unexplained, all of these elements help to fire my imagination and enable me to create my images.
The idea of the Faerie Folk or earth spirits, call them what you will, dates back as far as time itself, to me they represent the natural world we live in and whether you believe in the fae or not, I feel that they have a place in our modern day society, even more now than they ever did in the past.
It's time to look at our beautiful world and take stock of our feelings and behaviour towards our fellow man, time to open our eyes to see what harm we are doing.
I find it easier to translate some of my feelings into my work, ironically, the sort of feelings that make you feel powerless to do anything about can be turned into the most enchanting images. These are usually some of my larger more complicated paintings, each one containing my messages of hope, perhaps a gentle reminder to take care of the world and each other.
Most of my images are serine and benign, although we all have a darker more passionate side waiting to emerge..... “After all we are only human.”
I truly believe that we all have a little bit of Faerie magic within our hearts, helping us to make the right decisions within our everyday lives, we just have to look for it.
These powerful images were created by the founder of Touch Drawing, Deborah Koff-Chapin, while listening to Susun Weed speak at the recent Women of Wisdom conference. This is the third in a series of Weblogs featuring all of these profound, joyful and inspiring pieces of art.
Touch Drawing is a simple yet profound process where the fingers take the place of pen or brush. Paper is placed over a freshly painted surface. Wherever it is touched, an imprint is made on the back side. Impulses from within take form on paper through the movement of the fingertips on the page. A multitude of drawings can be created in one session, each a stepping stone to the next; guiding progressively deeper into the self. You can see video demonstration here.
In a medium as immediate and transparent as Touch Drawing, previously unused channels of expression are opened, enabling uncensored feelings to flow forth. The act of creating with these feelings provides more than cathartic release: it unleashes vibrant healing forces which guide the psyche toward
From the Website: Touch Drawing is a simple yet profound way of drawing with your fingertips.It is used by people of all ages in a vast range of settings. Touch Drawing is a creative catalyst, healing art form and transformational tool. I encourage you to explore how you can integrate it into your life and work. Find out more about Touch Drawing and the resources of this site here. Continue reading below to get the most current happenings. If you want to receive my 'Image Offerings' and Center for Touch Drawing news, sign our mailing list.
As you no may recall, I am astride a horse, riding through Provence, singing to the scotch broom, inhaling lavender, rosemary and thyme, drinking teas of elder blossom or linden flowers, swigging St. Joan's wort tincture, rubbing myself with Joan's wort oil, spraying myself with yarrow tincture, and hoarding my osha root in case there's an emergency. What else is in my herbal first-aid kit? With the abundance of herbs around me, what else did I bring to France? What herbs do I carry with me whenever I leave home?
Of the herbs in my herbal first-aid kit, osha is the rarest one I use. (See last issue.) But poke is the most dangerous, and comfrey the most controversial. Poke plants (Phytolacca americana) are large, showy perennials. Living as they do year after year, they accumulate a huge, spindle-shaped, root. In southern Virginia I once met an ancient poke plant whose root top was over two feet from one side to the other. The flashy, hot pink stalks, leaves that are big and smooth all over (edges too), and bunches of nearly black berries held at eye level make this weed easy to recognize and remember. All parts of the poke plant can be used: some for medicine, and some for food.
Yes, even though poke is considered a violent poisoner, people eat it. The leaves, cooked in several changes of water, are a specialty green below the Mason-Dixon line, where supermarkets carry canned poke sallet (or sallat). To make your own sallet: Collect very young poke greens as early as possible in the season (late April to mid-May in the Catskills, as early as February in Georgia). Pour boiling water over the greens and boil them one minute. Discard water. Add more boiling water and again boil the greens for one minute. Discard the water. Do this at least twice more before attempting to eat the greens. If you fail to leach out the poisonous compounds -- or are foolish enough to attempt to eat poke leaves raw -- your mouth and throat will feel like they are on fire, you may vomit, and you will no doubt have copious diarrhea.
Magenta is the color of crushed poke berries. Good for body paint, and great for ink. (Am monia, used carefully, is the fixative.) The small seeds in the berries are very poisonous. Lucky for us, they are too hard for our teeth to break open. I have had pokeberry jam (no worse than blackberry jam, that is, seedy) and pokeberry jelly (ah, no seeds) and pokeberry pie (seedy). Since children are attracted to poke plants and since the berries leave telltale stains on children's mouths and since many parents are frightened if their child eats anything wild, and since medical personnel know little about poke except that it is poisonous, lots of kids have their stomach pumped (for no good reason, since they can't break open the seeds either) after investigating the taste of poke berries..
I keep a supply of dried poke berries on hand. One or two berries, swallowed whole with water, as if you were taking a pill, relieves the pain of rheumatism and arthritis. I always caution students to experiment with poke in the safety of their homes first. What is poisonous in large dose is often psychoactive in smaller doses, and such is certainly the case with poke. You may find yourself seeing the world a little differently after ingesting poke berries. . . nothing so bla tant as hallucinations, but definitely an altered state. I pick and dry fresh poke berries each year as they are especially easily infected with insect larva and thus don't keep for a long time.
But the part of the poke plant that I carry with me in my first-aid kit is the root, tincture of the fresh root, to be exact. That's where the poisons are the most concentrated. Need I say great care in needed in wise use of this remedy? I dig only one poke root every decade or so, for the dose I use is minuscule. I choose a root that is at least three years old (the standard for digging any perennial root), rinse the soil from it, chop it coarsely, and tincture it for a minimum of six weeks in one hundred proof vodka. (No, eighty proof won't work. And, yes, it must be a fresh root, as drying seems to remove the active properties.)
I take a dose of one drop -- yes, only one drop -- once or twice a day to kick my immune system into high gear. Poke root tincture contains compounds that can harm the kidneys if it is taken continuously. I reserve its use for emergencies and do not consider it especially helpful to the immune system. Isn't it well named? It pokes the immune system and speeds up pokey lym phatic drainage. I have known a single drop to reverse chronic infections that have simmered for years, getting more and more resistant to drugs. Of course, poke root tincture, is used by those with cancer. Sometimes with astonishing results. (See Breast Cancer? Breast Health! the Wise Woman Way for lots more information on using poke to counter cancer.) My friend, Isla Burgess, director of the Waikato Center for Herbal Studies, finds poke root tincture a powerful ally for women dealing with fibroids or endometriosis. She used it herself with excellent results. Her doses were larger, but built up gradually over a period of days, as I suggest for those dancing with cancer. In extreme situations, an individual may be able to use doses of 15 drops a day. I know of some instances where doses of 30 drops a day were used, but this usually creates unwelcome side effects.
I carry poke with me as insurance -- on the off chance that I may be exposed in my travels to some new and potentially deadly bug. Had I been in Bejing when SARS broke out, I would have taken it. I would not take poke as a precaution; it is far too strong to be used that way. Only if I knew that I was likely to have been exposed to the pathogen would I use it (one drop twice a day; if I felt symptoms, I would increase to four times a day or more, as seemed reasonable at the time). How reassuring to know that a simple home-made tincture of a common garden weed can give my immune system the boost it needs when confronted with danger. An herbal first aid kit may seem insignificant in the face of the troubles in our nation and in the world, but it is a step toward health independence and -- I believe -- a step toward peace. Instead of making war on weeds like poke, I love them. Instead of making war on nature, I take her as a guide. Instead of making war on myself when I have an injury or illness, a problem or a pain, I nourish myself toward ever greater health. Green blessings surround us, uplifting our hearts and bringing joy even in trying and uncertain times. May the dancing green woman (thank you Lisa Thiel) fill you with peace.
Open Enrollment - Eight week online course with Susun Weed includes: lessons and assignments in pdf, two pre-recorded teleseminars, and personal mentorship with Susun via online classroom. Plus a bonus gift from Susun to you: two full length audio lectures: “Herbs for Injuries” and "Using Herbs Simply and Safely" (value $32)
Most of us suffer small injuries fairly regularly: scrapes, cuts, burns, bruises, muscle aches and swelling, insect bites and stings, and itching. Antibiotic ointments can delay healing. Getting stitches is not always the best response, even to a large gash. Learn how to identify, prepare, and use the common, abundant plants that grow near at hand as spit-poultices, healing ointments/oils, tinctures, compresses, and baths to soothe, ease, and heal these injuries, including surgical wounds. Then extend your herbal first aid for everyday aches in the teeth, stomach, head, and uterus, even treat food poisoning.
Art has always been at the center of my life. When I was very young, I would trace images, becoming familiar with the graceful lines, form and space. Mainly through self-taught studies, art became my profession, my expression and my joy.
Now, for almost a decade, my works have taken on the intense color and vibrancy of the Yunnan school of painting, reminiscent of Jiang Teifeng and Ting Shao Kuang. Delicate rice paper that I paint on both sides in “heavy color” gouache brings brilliancy, visual depth and dimension to the images. The Yunnan school fragmented the images using fine lines to focus the viewer’s eye. And so, those same graceful lines I practiced as a child now reveal the details of the smaller images within the whole. The brushwork moves the viewer’s eyes and mind between the spatial relationships, while bold color and visual images attract and hold the imagination. Raw edges of the paper are exposed and the paper floated, adding to the unique treatment and style.
The various images come from the diverse cultural experiences and relationships in my life: the crow, my friend from childhood; the tree, a symbol of life; the horse and so many other things that surround us.
Art is my total immersion. But my enjoyment and fulfillment in creating each piece is only part of my purpose. The final step in my art is you. I am honored to share each piece with you in the hope that they bring to you the peace and emotion that creating them brings me.
This is the second in a series featuring the inspiring, joyful and beautiful work of Liza Lambertini.
In the Artist's words....
"I love nature. It is within this place I see and feel the spiritual beauty of what is within each being. I believe fairies and the art I create come through the doorway of my heart and the "Source" within my soul. To me they are the real manifestation of the positive things that happen as a result of love and respect for the environment and the beings on this planet. They represent the beauty of the secret places that dwell within the human soul and are an expression of love and the experience of this wonder that I have found within nature and those around me. To me the fairies are the essence of the beauty of life in nature and the magic within the life force of all living things...."
The bee on my finger is the same one that is first pictured with the Goddess Image in the background. Sipping honey from between my fingernail. So cute!
The Owl in the oak I spotted one day in my backyard. I first thought it was a real owl! I grabbed my camera and ran to take the picture. It felt like a blessing from Nature.
Also called: Herzgespan, Agripaume cardiaque, Yi Mu Cao.
"Everyone ought to have a little Mother around the house," grandmother Edith would frequently say. The Mother she meant is motherwort, a locally common weed and a treasured ally to women stressed by menopausal problems. Grandmother Edith's love affair with motherwort began when her hot flashes knocked her out in the supermarket, continued as it mended her husband's heart, and grew and grew as her five daughters found relief from PMS and menstrual cramps, constipation and the crazies with the help of the little Mother, motherwort.
Use motherwort regularly during your menopausal years to:
o Lessen the severity, frequency, and duration of hot flashes Motherwort regulates and tonifies the functioning of the thyroid, blood vessels, liver, heart, and uterus. For best results use 5-25 drops of tincture daily for 3 months. But don't neglect to try a dropperful (in a splash of water) even after a flash has begun.
o Relieve faintness with flashes Motherwort is traditionally used to relieve shortness of breath and congestion in the respiratory passages. She invigorates the circulation and increases oxygen in the blood. Use 15-25 drops of tincture as soon as you feel faint or dizzy.
o Ease stressed nerves, relieve anxiety Motherwort calms, supports, and strengthens you the way the smell of your mother did when you were very young. Used regularly, motherwort feeds your nerves and your good common sense, relaxing and unclenching any held tension. Motherwort is not sedating, but calming, leaving you ready for action, not flying off the handle or bouncing off the walls. Ask motherwort to be your ally in tough times, in shaky times, in enraging times, in scary times, in depressed times, in grief-filled times. Try 10-20 drops as soon as you feel your nerves starting to fray or just before a stressful event. Repeat every five minutes if needed.
o Relieve insomnia and sleep disturbances Use motherwort's high-calcium calming effect when you are awakened by night sweats and have difficulty getting back to sleep. Keep a glass of water and a bottle of motherwort tincture by your bed and take 10-15 drops and a swallow of water as soon as you wake, even if it's three times an hour. Motherwort eliminates the nightmares some women experience with their menopausal Change.
o Strengthen the heart, reduce palpitations and tachycardia Motherwort calms a rapidly beating heart with readily usable minerals, trace elements, and an alkaloid exceptionally tonifying to the heart (and uterus). The German herbal doctor, Weiss, uses motherwort tincture for those with functional heart complaints. The botanical name translates as "lion-hearted." A dropperful/1 ml motherwort tincture acts quickly to ease palpitations and tachycardia. Regular use lowers hypertension, and sets you up to be a hale-hearted crone.
o Eliminate menstrual cramps
o Relieve uterine pain Motherwort tincture is my favorite remedy for women with uncomplicated menstrual cramps. I find 5-10 drops usually eases cramps in five to ten minutes. Repeat every ten minutes as needed. Motherwort encourages strong (but not crampy) uterine contractions, which strengthen the uterine muscle. So the more you take motherwort to ease your cramps, the more toned your uterus becomes, and the less likely cramps are in the future.
o Restore thickness and elasticity to vaginal walls Motherwort brings blood to the pelvis and thickens all tissues there (bladder, uterus, vagina). Noticeable results occur within a month of taking 10-15 drops daily.
o Lift depression A dose of motherwort first thing in the morning is far kinder to your system than coffee and helps you ease into the day with a renewed sense of life.
o Reduce water retention, edema Small, frequent doses of motherwort will reduce bloat in a few hours. For chronic care, use a dropperful/1 ml a day for 3-6 weeks.
o Relieve constipation and extend life There is a Japanese saying about the heirs of those who take motherwort: they are grumpy because they must wait so long for their inheritance. But does it really work? A small dose (5-10 drops as needed) does ease gas pain, encourage regular elimination, and improve digestion. That alone would make anyone want to live longer.
Bitter with minerals and alkaloids, motherwort is unwelcome in salads and nasty as an infusion, so it is used as a tincture, vinegar, or syrup. In Oriental herbalism, Yi Mu Cao is cooling, pungent, bitter. Dosage: Tincture of fresh flowering plant, 15-25 drops, 1-6 times a day. Vinegar of fresh plant, 1-2 tablespoons/15-30 ml, as desired.
CAUTIONS: Motherwort can aggravate a tendency toward flooding. Do not use daily if you bleed heavily or are easily habituated to substances that make you feel really good. Motherwort is so soothing, so calming, that you may begin to lose some of your own standing and lean too heavily on your Mom.
Excerpt from Chapter 2 of :NEW Menopausal Years the Wise Woman Way by Susun S. Weed. This section on Motherwort appears as one of seven herbal allies for women in the midst of menopause (pp.113-115). The other six include: black cohosh, chaste tree, liferoot, sage, ginseng, and Dong Guai.
This is the first in a series featuring the inspiring, joyful and beautiful work of Liza Lambertini.
In the Artist's Words....
This is a pic of the bee I found in my pants:) Some people pull rabbits out of hats. I get to pull bees out of my pants! lol I was raking today and I am very careful when I rake because quite often I find dormant bees burrowed within or under the leaves. (save your leaf piles and wait to rake. I always find bees under them) Those who have come to know me, know how much I love and adore bees. I cant say enough good about them, how much I admire them and how concerned I am about them considering our declining pollinator population. My relationship with bees is so wonderful and somehow, someway they know it. I must give off an "I love you pheromone or something:D I have had so many wondrous things happen with bees. Including being greeted by bumblebees similar to a happy bouncing dog. There is a difference between the happy greeting and the "angry buzz". Most would run from this but after awhile you can learn what they are saying to you.
I have heard of bee keepers saying that their bee's greet them. Perhaps then it is not so far fetched to think that maybe, just maybe these creatures who are so labeled as cold and unfeeling really are not. I have read that bees also recognize their bee keepers by facial recognition!
I have had bees come to me when they are elderly, some when they are cold others will come hang out with me to see what I am doing and if there are any goodies to be had. I have noticed the subtle shifts in their behavior toward the environment when I am annoyed at something, they too become agitated. When I am happy to see them, they too are happy to see me.
I have encountered this behavior in wasps as well. In my view I feel all creatures are sensitive and aware of their environment and those who are in it. I have no problem photographing my bees, but bees who do not recognize me tend to move around a bit more:) I believe bee's do recognize their "people." This too must be a survival skill to insure longevity and prosperity.
As I grow in understanding of my fellow residents on this wondrous Mother Earth I realize how grateful I am to my teachers. Who have come into my life in such gentleness that it brings tears to my eyes. I used to be so afraid of bees. Now I have wonder and total respect for them, their importance to us all and their purpose here on Earth.
Getting back to the story! I sat on the porch waiting for my friend the female Downy Woodpecker. I felt this squirming in my pants that translated to BUG! I have learned, best I can do is keep calm. If I don't I may get stung or bitten. I rolled up my pants and there was a bee! She/he must have enjoyed the warmth. I was so worried I may have squashed or hurt the little one. When I found out it was a bee I was so upset and concerned. Actually she/he was fine! I treated her/him to some honey which was lapped up hungrily and some fresh water given via soaked q-tip. I put her in the crocus so she could get some pollen. Gave her more honey a bit more water and then placed her very, very gently under some tree bark and leaves. This is called a long horned bee.
What is amazing is the you can see an image of the Goddess in the back ground! Double the Blessings!
What an amazing experience this was. This is my hand so I could not take the picture:) Kudos to my husband. This cardinal came and landed on my hand. He sat there for quite some time eating...Made himself comfy and chowed down. I was absolutely delighted about this experience and will never forget it. Cardinal's are quite skittish and elusive. They normally do not do that. Either way he chose to trust me and that to me is a blessing. I call this piece "Loves Trust"
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