Fairy realms and collecting across the country

Fairy House

Mossy

In sunlight

Such mushrooms

Always grow there

Bright

Earthy ferns

Taller than anyone

Beneath

A tiny door

Hand made

Of the wood

Enter there

While the moon

Shines high

And the St. John's wort

Is stored

Tiny hinges

Swing

Summer tales

So much has passed with the bounty of summer, collecting, sitting in the woods, soaking in the nature of nature. Tasting each plant while collecting, and gazing in amazement at the perfect imperfect beauty in all. To walk on the moss, deep into the forrest, collecting plants, how can anything be the same after that?

I've known this old stump in the Adirondack Mountains for many years, I remember when the Hemlock stood tall, then was cut down, now last years Reishi hang on. Surely the fairies dance here at dusk. The forest floor around it is covered in violets, creating shade and shelter for the small animals, bugs and creatures of the forest, and some have given permission for me to collect for tincture, thank you, sweet violets.

We traveled over 2000 miles from New Mexico to the Adirondack Mountains, as we do every summer. Each time we find new paths and plants and secret places that call us to find stands and meadows far away from all humans. There was much rain and cool weather this year, and little Reishi to be found, but other plants were bountiful. At first the rain had beaten down much of the skullcap, then as it dried a little, the stands came back, and we found new stands larger than any we had seen before. There was an abundance of Hypericum, last year was scant, perhaps because it was very dry.

Called by the plants, I made some single plant tinctures, one of a St. John's Wort plant, so large and strong, it was the first that called me to use it as a single plant. I left more than half of it and it filled a quart tincture 1:2 ratio. I usually use the flowers, buds, and top leaves around the buds, but with this one, I used even the stems. I am looking forward to the energy of the plant. As I hold it, it feels heavy, there is something grounding to it, standing tall at the edge of a windy lake.

I also made a single plant tincture of an evening primrose using all roots, stems, leaves and flowers. It was such a sacrifice and I think strong medicine, thank you.

Evening Primrose: Note the 4-parted stigma Collecting Hypericum and Red Raspberry

in the Onagraceae family

Achillea millifolium/Yarrow spagyric

We roamed over hill and into meadows, and inspired by Sheri Hupner, I made a spagyric of Yarrow. I collected the Yarrow on the full moon, and strained it and made the spagyric on the next full moon and partial lunar eclipse. I also made a flower essence. Once back to New Mexico, I added the flower essence to the spagyric during the Solar Eclipse. Light and dark became green. The entire experience of making the spagyric has been mystical. I've been taking one drop in the morning.

I always think of Yarrow as being regal, strong, and wise. It has powerful actions on the blood, knowing to stop blood or increase blood. I feel it has an inherently wise personality to know such things. Therefore, I'm finding it can also balance wisely our system at a very deep level, into the cell structure perhaps. Being a powerful spagyric mixed with the gentle flower essence gives it a masculine and feminine balance. It's been clearing away some old illness I had, literally bringing up some old lung stuff, reminding me what a beneficial plant it is for the lung and respiratory system. The flowers have the signature of the bronchial web in our lungs, and the feathery leaves allow for air to flow around them. As I think of that, like the blood, like our cells, like the lung, Yarrow moves things!

When I first started working with Yarrow, I had images of a holy chalese, a crown like the head of the flower and the stem like a sword with the ability to cut and heal. On an emotional level, perhaps it might help those also who are emotionally bleeding out, or those who can't reach out. The flower essence is protective to the wounded. It's a classic wounded healer, warrior type. Together, the spagyric and essence give the feeling of balance with movement. It's yielding and strong.

Bitter, and activating not only the blood, but the entire digestive track, this is a plant that feels very dynamic. It's stalk is strong and not easy to break. Perhaps it's bitterness is the key to moving stuck congestion, stuck blood. Yet, it also knows the difference of when to un-stick blood and when to stop blood flow! A wise warrior.

While in the Adirondacks, we made many medicines, thank you to all the plants and so much to Scott, who is an amazing scout, and medicine man.

Joys of summer wildcrafting

St. John's Wort, Yarrow, Red Clover

In search of....

Polygonatum biflorum

Solomon's Seal

On our long journey back west, we stopped in Ithaca, where we lived for many years. A friend had asked if I would look for True Solomon's Seal, and thanks to Scott's Mom for finding us some!!! I have only worked with our New Mexican False Solomon's Seal, it has a very different feeling.

The True one has such large roots, and the stalk seemed so small compared to the root of our false species. Visually, in the pronounced shape, it's easy to see the ribbed older root, in sections like joints in the body, with the disernable seal like indentation, left from last years stem.

You can harvest the root by only taking the old growth, leave a little of the old, and the new growth, and replant, or thin a large stand out, they can become root bound. The new growth is smooth and tuberous white with a pointed tip of growth. It tastes sweet, nutty and slightly demulcent. The leaves wrap around the stem, heavily veined, with droopy delicate flowers.

I read the indigenous peoples used it as a food, and I can see why, it is food-like. It is nourishing to the muscoskeletal system, healing joints, tendons and perhaps bones. The demulcent action must lubricate and bring nourishment to the joints. It's a bit slippery to process. Having no color, I think it works on the deep bone, joint, tendons, where no light shines. It is a skeletal builder. Perhaps on an emotional level it can give you inner strength, backbone, support for those slumped over, or beaten down. As Yarrow is a blood builder and mover, Solomon's Seal feels like a bone builder. Together, I would think they may help a variety of conditions.

Polygonatum bilflorum/ Solomon's Seal: Stem, Leaf

(note how the alternate leaves wrap around the stem)

When we returned back to New Mexico, with our traveling apothecary, and after much processing of our abundant herb garden, we headed up north to gather Snakebroom.

Gutierrezia spp./Escoba De La Vibora/ Snakebroom

A thoughtful wildcrafter and teacher, Stefan Link, taught me about this abundant sweet plant. A native western plant, it blooms late August and September, and you can collect anytime it's in flower, using the arial parts. Collect into small hand-size bundles, tie, dry and store in the bundles. Traditional use is similar to arnica, for achy sore muscles, and arthritic conditions. To use, boil about a quart of water, turn off and infuse the bundle in to the water, with lid closed. Let steep 15 minutes, in the meantime, prepare a hot bath. Pour all but 1-4 ounces of the tea into the bath. Soak for 20-30 minutes and drink 1-4 ounces of tea, while soaking.

The tea is very bitter, it will help move congestion, so take as much as you feel you need, I usually get down about two ounces. This is a VERY relaxing bath, and I recommend taking it before bed, or be prepared to fall asleep, and take a nap. This is wonderful if you have sore stiff muscles, or if you're just stressed I think it is beneficial. I have made an oil with it and it is soothing like arnica, especially after a bath or shower, rub it into the sore area.

I'd like to get to know this plant more, it reminds me of the end of summer, it's a bit like Indian summer, it's showy, it's everywhere and it's like the sun. I think it's very valuable when the dark cold winter days are around, for it's anti-inflammitory benefits, but also for bringing some of the sun of late summer into our lives during dark days.

Disclaimer

I am not a licensed Medical Doctor, nor do I suggest you try any of the methods or herbs mentioned without speaking to your health care provider. I cannot diagnose, or cure disease. If you are pregnant or nursing, I would advise against using herbs without talking to your doctor. If you are taking any prescription drugs, consult with your doctor before taking any herbs or supplements. Any writings are subject to change and are ideas to think about. All writings, photography and art are not permitted to be used or copied in any form, unless you have permission from Cornelia Tobey.

thank you