Inspired by these beautiful sunflowers, this bath includes herbs representative of solar energy. The sun carries the energy of power, confidence, positivity, joy, physical energy, friendship, and removing depression and low mood. We often focus on moon based energy, or rituals, but there are other planets that have unique energies that can be used for not only rituals but also these baths. Summer is coming to a close and I used a lot of what was growing in the medicinal garden here in the studio. So if you have these particular herbs that is great but you can switch them out for other sun herbs. There are lots of options for other herbs that have correspondences with the sun. If...
Magnolia champaca or champak, is known as the perfume tree or the joy perfume tree. Champaca absolute is often worn as a single note or soliflore perfume. It is also one of the most expensive scents in the world. It grows native to Southeast Asia and Southern China. I am lucky enough to have one in my garden. I purchased this white champaca from a rare fruit nursery about 5 years ago. Now that summer is coming to a close, I want to preserve the beautiful scent of this flower. Every evening as I go outside to water our plants, when the wind picks up the sweet scent of of these blossoms fills the air. The flowers bloom until September and as...
There is nothing better than passionflowers blooming in the summer. While we are at the tail end of the bloom, passionflowers are still abounding in the garden. While I like to dry the flowers and stems, make tinctures and tonics; I thought I would create a cooling passionflower ritual bath. It is not often I take baths in the summer time but this is a cooling bath. You can use cold to tepid waters to help cool down during these warm (lets be real, blazing hot...) months. Passionflower has so many relaxing, calming and anxiety reducing benefits. If you happen to follow our youtube channel (you should!) you would have seen that I recently posted a video on how to...
Elderflower is beginning to bloom here in California. Sambucus nigra ssp. caerulea or Blue Elder / Mexican Elder grows from Baja to Oregon and is what we can find here in Southern California. The tiny cream colored blooms are often used to make cordials, champagne, wine or syrup. But it's not often you find other kinds of recipes for these flowers. You probably also don't have wine making supplies handy during these times. So I thought I would come up with a super easy infused wine recipe to take advantage of these fragrant little flowers. I added some really fragrant rose petals from our garden that I thought would compliment the delicate flavor of elderflower. ...
I was inspired to make this tincture today as I drove past hillsides covered in our state flower - the California poppy. This is the time of year where the hills are speckled with these bright orange flowers. Since we cant go hiking or enjoy the wildflowers this year I thought I would bring some of the wild California flowers to the kitchen and whip up a tincture. Tinctures are a fantastic introduction to beginner herbalists. You only need 2 ingredients the herbs and the grain alcohol. It is very difficult to mess it up. This tincture I have aptly named poppy potion. But it also includes chamomile and lavender buds. I opted to...
