When you’re out on that final walk with the dog later than you should be at the tail end of dusk. Drops begin to fall. Sparse and then less so. And you close your eyes for a moment as that same dog leads you with his regular series of hurried steps and pauses and the… Continue reading
That mist encountered on a spring evening just after rains trapped the warmth that chose to flow the mist that draws out those heady scents of green and earth that drapes flimsy-like loose woven linen angled gently across forest ground cover a gnarled tree looping itself out like a leg from under the covers on… Continue reading
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Recently, a question was posed on a parenting email list that I belong to. To summarize, a mother of a toddler found herself considering whether to support the idea of Santa. Her worries were those of many families I know – not wanting to lie to our children, discomfort with patriarchy, not wanting to support… Continue reading
It’s hard to believe it was nearly a year ago when my neighbor and friend Beckie mentioned that they would be trying for baby number two and asked what I knew about VBAC. I shared what information I had, but little did I know that it was just the very beginning of an epic journey,… Continue reading