When I went to sleep last night, I had no intention of waking five times before morning. Alas, such is motherhood with its mysterious agenda that we are never allowed to glimpse in advance – instead riding haphazardly from one moment to the next. I climbed into bed happy. I was thankful that my kids were sleeping and excited… Continue reading
Other Writings
Just Now
Peering through the screen door, I see light and dark, side by side, engaging in yet another subtle dialogue on this day of rapidly shifting weather. Skyward and to the right, a startlingly clear blue canvas highlighted by the sunset above a field partially draped with a misty orb. To the left, just slightly, layer… Continue reading
A June Afternoon
…and the gorgeous energy of a rain kissed garden filled with every shade of purple and green, and the smile that comes when you inhale the sun and breeze from laundry that you thought you didn’t want to hang, just before you fold it and put it away in the almost stuck drawers in a… Continue reading
Wisdom: An Exchange with Debora Geary
**This post originally appeared at herbiary.com as part of the Modern Herban Wisdom blog series.** Wisdom is what happens after you walk and live and soak in the lessons. –Debora Geary (This week’s guest post is by Meg Smith) Sparked by Maia’s wish to jog me out of some work and winter doldrums, I recently had… Continue reading
Elderberry Dreams (Sambucus nigra)
From an experiential assignment in December 2012… Oh, old friend elderberry. There was only a small amount to play with this month, but play I did, and she certainly offered plenty to write about! I settled in first with a meditation. I think I went a bit wrong there, skipping that initial meditation with the… Continue reading
Ramblings on Zingiber officinale
From an experiential assignment in February 2013… An accidental chomp and it is an explosion of bright light and heat. A genuine smile. Drunk as tea, it’s a gentler, simpler warmth. Closed eyes and a look of satisfaction. Even candied, the fieriness breaks through and travels downward to settle a troubled tum. It’s no coincidence… Continue reading
On Thyme and Stopping
This post originated as a short essay on my experience with Thyme (Thymus vulgaris) that was prepared for an herbalism course that I’m taking. I’ve decided (with some trepidation) to share these posts periodically, though out of the order in which they were written, to offer a window into my personal relationship with a variety of… Continue reading
Knitting Without Training Wheels
With chilly weather having arrived at last, I found myself longing for more warmth. In my online browsing, I came across the fabulous Japanese concept of Haramaki, or as I like to call them, “kidney warmers.” Perfect! I have a decent stash of yarn, and had been wanting to start a new knitting project, so off… Continue reading
The Role of the Holistic Practitioner and a Story of Poop
Yup. Poop. Before I begin: I don’t profess to speak for anyone but myself here, despite the use of the collective “we” in some cases. Moving on! We, students of the art of holistic care, are in a constant state of growth. Whether we are brand new, a few yeas old, or boasting decades in… Continue reading
Welcome to Herb School
Have you ever taken a risk in which that moment of truth – the moment that you “jump” – you feel your world make a cosmic shift and click into place? Enter, “Herb School” – aka Community Herbalist Training… For me, this first weekend of classes was too many things to fully describe, but I’ll… Continue reading
Laughter in Doula Land
A good, real, unrestrained, hearty laugh is a sort of glorified internal massage, performed rapidly and automatically. It manipulates and revitalizes corners and unexplored crannies of the system that are unresponsive to most other exercise methods. ~Author unknown, from an editorial in New-York Tribune, quoted in Quotations for Special Occasions by Maud van Buren Here, I will reflect… Continue reading
Birth Interviews. Introspection.
I leave behind me both my failures and accomplishments. What I do today will create a new and better future, filled with inner joy. -J. Donald Walters, Affirmations for Self Healing I debated whether or not to write this post. However, writing helps me to process things, and often takes some of the sting out… Continue reading