Favorite Creative Collaborations with Plants – Spring Edition

Love is all around and at every moment we have the opportunity to act from a place of Love. Valentine’s Day is simply one 24-hour period in time where we are reminded to amplify our Love frequency within and without. Self-love, love of family/friends/community, love of the land, love of Life. Everywhere you turn there is someone and something to love, including our own inner landscape. Love every atom and inch of your being and you will know infinity.

Today I’m sharing my love with you — my love for the plants, my love for creativity, my love of discovery and curiosity. In love we slow down to experience a deeper awareness of our connections to one another. In love we see the reflection of our divinity in all around us.

So with love I put together this playlist of my favorite moments from the springtime lessons of INFUSE, a collaborative co-creation with the plants.

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Crafting Birch Staves

Kick off the springtime with the fresh-start feeling of Birch. I’ll show you how to craft a stave to use for magical purposes or to wear as an amulet.

Dandelion Blossom Tempura

Feed your spirit and body with this delicious spring delicacy that reminds us of the enduring nature of the Sun and the fleeting nature of life.

Chickweed Flower Essence

Open to presence, open to community, open to your connection to the Cosmos — these are some of the applications of Chickweed Flower Essence. Learn how to make your own in this video.

Cleavers Binding Ritual

What or whom are you attaching yourself to? What or whom are you releasing? Learn how to make a sigil to either commit to or release attachments, with the help of Cleavers.

Filé Gumbo Sassafras

Some say the way to another’s heart is through their stomach… And with heart-warming Sassafras, you’ll have even more success. Here’s one delicious way to nourish yourself and those you love. Learn more about the history of Gumbo.

Hawthorn Heal the Heart Salve

Massage and sensual touch is a pleasurable way to experience the love of someone, including your self! Craft a heart-healing herbal oil, salve, and infusion to open your heart to love.

Strength Through Challenge Meditation

Call on the spirit of Hawthorn to help you face challenging moments with love, grace, and compassion.

I’d love to hear from you! Whether you create with these plant allies or intend to, or whether you have a different way of working with and loving the plants, share in the comments below. ❤️❤️❤️

Of Will & Wishes - Working with Dandelion Medicine

Everyone knows this weedy wonder.

Many are beginning to wake up to their healing benefits, despite the lawn cultivating culture that deems this plant public enemy #1 and a primary target of poisonous endocrine-disrupting herbicides.

I say, stop the war and let the weeds win.

There’s a big reward in that kind of surrender.

A reward of health, not just because we aren’t poisoning the soil and water (and ourselves) with chemicals, but because of the nutrient density and medicinal properties of many of the weeds.

It’s interesting that on a spiritual and energetic level, Dandelion affects the solar plexus center, the place of identity, will, and action. I say this because, we have the will to shift our relationship with plants we may not see the value of. We have the will to find the beauty and gifts in these plants.

Dandelion is also a plant of wishes. It is a rare individual who has not blown on a fluff of Dandelion seeds to make a wish. My wish is that we all understand the value and wisdom of the wild and weedy ones. Especially those who make decisions about using weed killer or not!

(You might be very happy to learn that NYC Parks Department stopped spraying herbicides, thanks to a group of elementary school kids’ dedication, wishes, and will!)

I’ve written about Dandelion a few times before.

This is one of the plants that I mark the seasons by, that I feel the turning of the wheel of the year with, that I incorporate into my life on a regular basis.

In the following video I’ll share a bit more about this plant’s magical attributes and we’ll go on a journey with them to our inner sun.

Enjoy the video! Please like, share, comment, and all that good stuff.

The golden glow of Dandelion blossom dye (video)

The temps are in the 50s here in Brooklyn and it’s feeling very spring-like.

Are you ready?

I think we all are!

But are you ready…

for Dandelion blossom season?

Every year in March or April (it varies) I seek out the big flushes of golden blossoms in fields and meadows so that I can:

• make dandy blossom fritters

• make Dandelion-infused oil & salve

and last year, I added this one on to the list:

• make Dandelion blossom dye!

Dandelion blossoms impart a lovely yellow color to fabric. In this video I show you how simple it is to make dye from these sunny beauties.

Be sure to mordant your fabric beforehand to keep that color!

Dive deeper into the Magic & Medicine of Dandelion in INFUSE, a la carte, a month long immersion with this wonderful plant ally!

Inner Sun Meditation With Dandelion

We are within the darkest months of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. Although our shared modern culture does not always honor it, this is a time of going within and rest. It is a time to reflect, to dream, to create inner landscapes and plant inner seeds to be birthed with the return of the light.

And though the daylight hours are less, the intensity of light seems concentrated as the Sun dips down closer to the horizon. Hat brims seem useless. It’s almost as if the Sun is lowering down to look us straight in the eye, to remind us that that giant star is always there for us, even in the midst of the approaching winter.

If you can get outside to greet the Sun at this time of year, I recommend it. Go on a walk to your favorite park, get to a hiking trail, find yourself at the edge of a river, or just open a window and let the sunlight stream in unfiltered. (I also lead plant walks in Prospect Park every month on the third Friday via MINKA Brooklyn. Come on out if you are in the area!)

Whether you can get outside or not, we all have a Sun within us to connect with. In this following meditation, we meet with the Dandelion flower, a rooted embodiment of the Sun. Journey to your innermost dreams and desires and let the seeds be carried on the wind to manifest your vision.

Dive deeper into the Magic & Medicine of Dandelion in INFUSE, a la carte, a month long immersion with this wonderful plant ally!

Yellow Is the Color of My True Love’s Hair

This is the third post in a series I’m sharing about colorful signatures in the plant realm. Here they are in order so far:

The Power of Red in Times of Disruption

Orange ya glad? How Orange Stimulates Joy

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Photo by Natalia Luchanko on Unsplash

Yellow is the colour of my true love's hair

In the morning when we rise
In the morning when we rise
That's the time, that's the time

I love the best

I wonder if Donovan was secretly singing about Dandelion, because that’s who I picture as my true love when I hear this song.

Dandelion blossoms in spring

Like the rays of the golden sun, yellow brings things to life. Yellow is the epitome of cheery. Yellow boosts our confidence and our energy.

Our bodies’ sun lies in the solar plexus, the 3rd chakra (sanskrit: manipurna meaning “city of jewels”). This is the center of identity, self-expression, and will. Our sun is how we show up, in every sense. How do we rise to the occasion? It’s also the place where we create boundaries; it’s where I end and you begin.

To restore the energy of an imbalanced solar plexus, add a little yellow to your life.

You can sit with yellow stones with an intention to boost your confidence or turn down those negative self-talk voices. Here are a few you might want to try: citrine, yellow calcite, yellow sapphire, golden healer, tiger’s eye, and pyrite.

The plants that balance our solar plexus are plentiful. Many of them have yellow flowers, and sometimes roots.

Black-eyed Susan bloom

Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia species)

With gorgeously golden rays and a deep dark center, Black-eyed Susan flower essence brings our shadow to the light, allowing us to process what is at the recesses of our psyches with love and compassion. Medicinally, this beauty is akin to its relative, Echinacea, being a detoxifier and stimulant to the immune system. It is sometimes utilized in formulations for Lyme Disease, a condition that can rock a person to their core (aka, the solar plexus center).

Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale)

One of my favorite plant allies. Dandelion is a rooted grounded reflection of the sun above, with radiant golden blooms. Dandelion blossoms used topically are a mild pain reliever and make a great massage oil for the solar plexus. The root is well known for its liver-supportive effects. (The liver and gallbladder are also located in the solar plexus region - yellow is a signature for these organs).

Goldenrod and Bull Thistle

Goldenrod (Solidago species)

As the light of the day begins to wane, Goldenrod shines the way into the darker months. Like Dandelion, Goldenrod makes a lovely massage oil for the solar plexus. It’s also a great ally for disorders of the urinary tract (yellow) and for treating candidiasis.

Saint John’s Wort (Hypericum perforatum)

Delicate golden blossoms that bleed red when you squeeze them speak to the ability of Saint John’s Wort to balance both the root (red) and solar plexus (yellow). Lots of caveats to working with this one. If you want to work with this plant but feel it’s contraindicated for you, you can work with the flower essence or the oil, topically applied to the solar plexus region.

Sunflower

Sunflower (Helianthus annuus)

Towering above reaching toward the sky with its tall stalks, yet facing downward as if looking down upon us humble creatures below, Sunflower is a reminder of the fruitful relationship between the Earth and the Sun. Its abundant seeds are nourishing and cleansing, its fragrant petals infused in oil and blended with the other golden blossoms mentioned here, again, make an excellent solar plexus massage oil. The flower buds orient to the sun and the flower essence helps us do the same, bestowing a more shining expression of our truest selves.

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These are just some of my favorite plants that prominently feature yellow. Do you have a favorite yellow ally? Share in the comments below!

Photo by Dmitry Grigoriev on Unsplash

handy dandy dandelion

Hello Spring! Well, sort of. Despite the blanket of snow outside, the gifts of Spring are emerging. A couple of weeks ago I was out in the park with my son and some of our friends. One of the kids excitedly pointed out the unmistakeable golden yellow blossom of the Dandelion. They were all very protective of it, yelling "don't pick it!" while the adults (especially me!) were taking pictures.

Each Spring when the Dandelions bloom I take the time to pick the yellow sun rays and make Dandelion blossom oil (see recipe below) and if I have enough left over I make Dandelion fritters. I always make sure to leave plenty for the bees and other insects. Read on for more about the beautifully humble Dandelion... 

Taraxacum officinale

Taraxacum, may be derived from the Greek taraxos (disorder), and akos (remedy). Officinale indicates the long history of use as a medicine.

DANDELION (Taraxacum officinale) 

Lesson: strong foundation to raise your vibration;
stay the course regardless of circumstances
Offering: purification, digestion, pain relief
Element & planetary affiliation: air, Jupiter, Sun
Energetics: bitter, sweet, dry, cool (root & leaf)

Humble warrior
Dandelion is sadly maligned and misunderstood. If only militant gardeners and lawn lovers knew what they were missing when they poisoned this beneficial beauty. This humble plant is tenacious – if you try to rip out dandelion it will only grow back stronger. Dandelion teaches us that to shine brightly, to raise our vibration, we need to have a strong root, a strong foundation. And to not give up regardless of circumstances.

The blossom of the dandelion is like the Great Eastern Sun – radiant, brilliant, awake. The stem, leaves, and root are tender, like the warrior’s heart. When I speak of a warrior, I mean a spiritual warrior. Someone who is confident and clear about where they stand, but also tender and vulnerable, open to the world around them. 

Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche brought the concept of Shambhala Buddhism and Enlightened Society to the West. He endured great hardships to get here. He was forced to leave Tibet when the Chinese communist party took control in 1959. He led a small group of monks on horseback and on foot to escape to India. Often they would trek up a mountain in harsh, snowy conditions to then have to go back the way they came and find a new path. At times their robes were frozen solid with ice and snow. 

Despite being exiled from his homeland, and later experiencing a car accident that left him partially paralyzed, Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche maintained his view of the Great Eastern Sun. I see the dandelion as an embodiment of this view. We choose to see the goodness in this humble plant, the goodness that is in all of us. 

Powerful and gentle medicine
Dandelion leaf is full of nutrients – it’s said to have more iron than spinach, and more vitamin A than carrots. It’s also a non-depleting diuretic; unlike pharmaceutical diuretics, dandelion does not deplete the body of essential minerals, like potassium. 

The root is an excellent spring tonic and a liver tonic, stimulating the production of bile and aiding the body in the elimination process. The root also contains inulin, a prebiotic fiber that helps feed beneficial bacteria in the gut.

Solar wonder
My favorite part to use is the blossom. The radiant golden flower has an affinity with the solar plexus. One of my first healing experiences with dandelion blossom was in an herbalism class with Robin Rose Bennett. She was straining off some dandelion blossom and goldenrod oils. At the time I had severe abdominal bloating and pain (I was just figuring out I had a strong gluten sensitivity). When she told the class these blossoms are especially relieving to pain in the solar plexus I jumped out of my seat. I took the oil and massaged my belly – within minutes there was a warm and radiating feeling of relief. 

Wise Woman Herbalist Susun Weed says this about dandelion blossom oil: 

“Dandelion has a special affinity for breasts. Regular use of dandelion flower oil promotes deep relaxation of the breast tissues, facilitating the release of held emotions. Applied regularly to the entire breast area, glowing golden dandelion flower oil can strengthen your sense of self worth as well as your immune system. Easily made, this oil is a superb ally for regular breast self-massage, and highly praised by those doing therapeutic breast massage. Dandelion root oil, used alone or in conjunction with the flower oil, can help clear minor infections, relieve impacted milk glands and reduce cysts in the breasts.”

I also love to make dandelion blossom fritters – all you do is make a batter, dip them in whole and fry them. Tastes like spring! Ethnobotanist and foraging expert (and friend) Leda Meredith turns the blossoms into wine, and sometimes beer. (Recipe here: http://ledameredith.com/dandelion-beer-recipe/) 

Weather predictions

Ancient traditions state that if dandelions stay closed in the morning, it will rain. 
If they bloom in April and July, the summer will be wet.

https://peninsulalighthouse.wordpress.com/2012/11/04/plant-lore-acanthus-to-dandelion/

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MORE ABOUT DANDELION

Constituents and Nutrients
B vitamins; vitamins A, C, E, and K; calcium, iron, manganese, magnesium, inulin; flavonoids (luteolin, apigenin, isoquercitrin); caffeic and chlorogenic acid; terpenoids, triterpenes, sesquiterpenes 

Actions
leaf: bitter digestive, potassium-sparing diuretic, tonic
root: alterative, anti-rheumatic, mild aperient, bitter digestive, potassium-sparing diuretic, cholagogue, hepatic
flower: anodyne (topical)

Conditions
acne, arthritis, cirrhosis, constipation, eczema, edema, gout, hepatitis, jaundice, kidney stones, warts (using latex sap)

Distinguishing Features
From a Modern Herbal, by Maud Grieve: “From its thick tap root, dark brown, almost black on the outside though white and milky within, the long jagged leaves rise directly, radiating from it to form a rosette Iying close upon the ground, each leaf being grooved and constructed so that all the rain falling on it is conducted straight to the centre of the rosette and thus to the root which is, therefore, always kept well watered. The maximum amount of water is in this manner directed towards the proper region for utilization by the root, which but for this arrangement would not obtain sufficient moisture, the leaves being spread too close to the ground for the water to penetrate.

The leaves are shiny and without hairs, the margin of each leaf cut into great jagged teeth, either upright or pointing somewhat backwards, and these teeth are themselves cut here and there into lesser teeth. It is this somewhat fanciful resemblance to the canine teeth of a lion that (it is generally assumed) gives the plant its most familiar name of Dandelion, which is a corruption of the French Dent de Lion, an equivalent of this name being found not only in its former specific Latin name Dens leonis and in the Greek name for the genus to which Linnaeus assigned it, Leontodon, but also in nearly all the languages of Europe.”

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RECIPES

For roots, a decoction
Take a handful of dried roots and place it in one quart of water in a small pot. Gently simmer for 20 minutes. Strain and enjoy.

For leaves, an infusion
Take a handful of herb and place it in a 1-quart jar. Pour boiling water over the herbs, cover, and let steep overnight (or at least 20 minutes). In the morning, strain the herbs and compost them. This is the way I make most leaf and flower infusions. 

Dandelion Greens with Double Garlic
from How to Cook Everything, by Mark Bittman
Makes: 4 servings; Time: 15 minutes

The first measure of garlic mellows as it cooks with the greens; it’s the second that adds a real kick. Substitute minced ginger for the second addition of garlic if you like.

1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
1/4 cup thinly sliced garlic (5 or 6 cloves), plus
1 teaspoon minced garlic, or more to taste
1/2 teaspoon hot red pepper flakes, or to taste
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 pound dandelion greens with stems, well washed and roughly chopped
1/2 cup chicken, beef, or vegetable stock
Lemon wedges for serving

1. Put the olive oil in a large, deep saucepan with a lid over medium-high heat. When hot, add the sliced garlic, pepper flakes, and some salt and black pepper and cook for about 1 minute.

2. Add the greens and stock. Cover and cook until the greens are wilted and just tender but still a little firm, about 5 minutes.

3. Uncover the pan and continue to cook, stirring, until the liquid has all but evaporated and the greens are quite tender, at least 5 minutes more. Taste for seasoning and add red or black pepper and salt as needed; add the minced garlic, cook for 1 minute more, and serve hot, warm, or at room temperature, with lemon wedges.

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Dandelion Blossom (Fridge) Jelly
from Martha Stewart

4 cups water
4 cups dandelion blossoms (yellow and white parts only)
1/4 cup plus 1 1/2 teaspoons ( 1/2 package) powdered pectin
4 1/2 cups granulated sugar
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

Bring water and dandelion blossoms to a boil in a medium saucepan. Reduce heat to medium, and simmer for 3 minutes. Remove from heat, and let stand for 10 minutes. Strain through a fine sieve into a measuring cup, pressing solids. Discard blossoms. (You should have 3 cups of liquid; add water if necessary.)

Combine pectin and 1/2 cup sugar in a small bowl. Bring dandelion liquid and remaining 4 cups sugar to a boil, stirring constantly to dissolve sugar. Add the pectin mixture, stirring constantly to dissolve pectin and sugar. Add lemon juice, and boil for 1 minute. Skim foam from the surface. Let cool slightly. Pour mixture into an airtight container. Cover with a lid. Refrigerate until set, about 4 hours. Jelly can be refrigerated in the airtight container for up to  2 weeks.

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Dandelion Blossom Oil
For topical use only. 

Fill a small jar with dandelion blossoms (just blossoms, no stems). Cover blossoms completely with olive or sesame oil, filling the jar to the top. I like to cover the jar with some muslin or cheesecloth and if it’s a mason jar, just use the ring to close it (or a rubber band). This way the moisture from the blossom can escape, preventing mold from forming in the oil. After 2 to 4 weeks, strain out the blossoms. Use as is or make a salve by melting beeswax (1 part beeswax to 4 parts oil) and mixing in oil over a low heat. Pour into jars or tins. 

Poetry/songs/lore

The First Dandelion
from "Leaves of Grass," by Walt Whitman

Simple and fresh and fair from winter's close emerging,
As if no artifice of fashion, business, politics, had ever been,
Forth from its sunny nook of shelter'd grass--innocent, golden, calm as the dawn,
The spring's first dandelion shows its trustful face.

Dandelion Bubbles
From Highlights

"Dandelion" 

Dandelion
Rolling Stones
(Mick Jagger, Keith Richards)

Prince or pauper, beggar man or thing
Play the game with ev'ry flow'r you bring
Dandelion don't tell no lies
Dandelion will make you wise
Tell me if she laughs or cries
Blow away dandelion

One o'clock, two o'clock, three o'clock, four o'clock chimes
Dandelions don't care about the time
Dandelion don't tell no lies
Dandelion will make you wise
Tell me if she laughs or cries
Blow away dandelion, blow away dandelion

Tho' you're older now its just the same
You can play this dandelion game
When you're finished with your childlike prayers
Well, you know you should wear it

Tinker, tailor, soldier, sailors lives
Rich man, poor man, beautiful, daughters wives
Dandelion don't tell no lies
Dandelion will make you wise
Tell me if she laughs or cries
Blow away dandelion, blow away dandelion

Little girls, and boys come out to play
Bring your dandelions to blow away
Dandelion don't tell no lies
Dandelion will make you wise
Tell me if she laughs or cries
Blow away dandelion, blow away dandelion 

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Further Reading

The Eldrum Tree. Dandelion.
http://www.eldrumherbs.co.uk/content/content_files/profiles_dandelion_taraxacum-officinale.php?state=1

Grieve, Maud. A Modern Herbal. Dandelion. 
https://www.botanical.com/botanical/mgmh/d/dandel08.html

Image Sources:
1. Liz Neves
2. http://bluesolitaire.deviantart.com/art/Dandelion-Wine-Poem-133773013
3. Liz Neves
4. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taraxacum_officinale#/media/File:Taraxacum_officinale_-_K%C3%B6hler%E2%80%93s_Medizinal-Pflanzen-135.jpg
5. Liz Neves
6. https://www.highlightskids.com/poetry-player-poems/dandelions
7. Liz Neves

Dive deeper into the Magic & Medicine of Dandelion in INFUSE, a la carte, a month long immersion with this wonderful plant ally!