Feeling into the energetics of place ~ I live in the remnants of the Great Black Swamp. During mud season, things are "stuck", the fields are too wet to get cultivating equipment into, and the land will steal your boots if you try. Right now, we're in the hot, dry, drought time of year, and things feel stuck for different reasons. The air is thick and heavy, muggy, the sun beats down upon us, and even easy chores seem to take herculean effort to complete. If we shift our focus, our perspective, our schedules, we find there is freedom of movement in the soft light of dawn and twilight. Working with instead of fighting against. How have you shifted self to make the most of your seasonal obstacles?

Healing damaged mother/daughter relationships

I just read a wonderful blog post about healing damaged mother/daughter relationships.  So insightful, empowering and healing.  Make a cup of tea and head on over to womboflight and check out her post about the rupture of the mother line.  

Why internal usage of essential oils is a bad idea

During herb school, we took a field trip.  It was a week long immersion into different growing zones.  We camped, and each day we took a trip to meet different plant communities.  One day was a very rocky hike, and I had recently strained my ankle, so I decided to stay at the camp.  We were camped along the Poudre river.  I was hanging out next to the river, beside a stand of willows, when they decided to share with me.  The impression was strong, and was that they just wanted to share with us.  Just be with us.  We didn't have to take from them to share their gifts, their medicine.  It was a profoundly moving moment for me, nestled into the greater experience of digging deep, connecting with allies and building tribe.

I agree that sometimes we need larger volumes of plant material to address a problem or imbalance. This doesn't mean internal essential oil usage.  This means teas, tinctures, oxymels, poultices, pastes, foods, oils and salves.  Many times, it is enough, or more appropriate, to work with herbs in drop doses, in flower essence form, or just to be with that plant.  Sometimes.  Always, we work with plants as allies, in relationship.  Take this for that doesn't do justice to the subtle art of the healer or the gift of healing our plant allies offer.  Our responsibility to ourselves, our clients and the plants is to always consider "do no harm."

MLM companies like Young Living and DoTerra recommend dangerous usages of essential oils.  They are not to be taken internally.  Following the recommended usages of those companies not only puts more money in their pockets, but it is grossly disrespectful to the plants who gift us with their medicine so freely.  Let's show our plant allies that we respect them and are grateful for their offerings by using their gifts responsibly.  

Check out this post by barefootdragonfly for her concise and well written take on internal usage of essential oils.