words.

words.  seeming inviolable.  and at once perturbed.
a mist receding.
the darkness conjures and the light reflects.
but where did they go.  the tail spins off and I am lost again.
a myriad of destinations.  leading nowhere.
and straight home to me.

Sunset in the Wishseeds

Listening:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xFHwg6aNKy0

'Tumultuous Acquisition'

 

 "The sign of a soul awake is outrage."

 - James Hillman

~

Elderberry Syrup - A Method and Discussion

From this beautiful bouquet of a flower comes the berry...

 Great as a healing treat or a culinary delicacy!

This medicinal syrup is often thought of as being invaluable to the onset of colds and flu, particularly with fever, as it cools and promotes sweating, opening the pores and releasing the"evils" (as would be said in TCM).  I use this syrup for this, but also for some lesser known therapeutics:  nerve damage and pain (acute or chronic), constipation, and food poisoning.  And it tastes great...one of the easier herbs with which to gain compliance.  :)

Return of the Jedi in my oven.  :)

There are different ways of making this syrup and lots of possibilities of herbs to add.  In this batch I added Pine needles  (Pinus virginiana) my apprentices and I wild-harvested and processed.  This time I did not have fresh berries (was traveling when they were ripe here in Virginia), I used organic sugar for the syrup (you can also use glycerin), and I strained it.  Sometimes I leave it chunky for all the added goodness of the skin and seeds, but felt with the Pine needles included, straining would be good.  Plus peeps seem to prefer the syrup smooth.  ;)  Mind you if you leave the seeds in, you must cook it thoroughly as they can be toxic if uncooked.


Here's how to do this yourself:
(or inquire if you want to purchase or barter from me)

You will need:
1 lb. dry Elderberries 
(see link for Mountain Rose to right side to order)
about 7 c. organic raw sugar
any other herbs you wish to infuse, 
I used about 1 c. of Pine needles
canning jars or other containers

Begin by reconstituting your berries:  bring 8 c. of water to a boil, pour over berries and other herbs, let them sit steeping with a lid for a half hour.  Next hand mash or use a stick blender to break up berries being careful not to break up seeds (they won't hurt you, just taste bitter).  Then strain.  I used a cheese press for this, but you could use a mesh bag or the like.  Put this liquid in a large pot with the sugar. 

If you aren't making a divine mess in the kitchen, you aren't doing it right.  ;)

Boil, stirring regularly until it's frothy.  Have your canning jars ready (warmed so they don't break), lids off.  Once frothy, pour the syrup into the jars and put the lids on.  As they cool, they will pop.  You can store these jars unopened a year out of the fridge.  I like to keep it in the fridge once I open it.

Getting frothy.

The marc, or leftover herbs after pressing, can then be composted or used for something else.  As I said, I usually don't strain my syrup and this is why.  This seems like a waste of good nutrients and fiber.  Normally I would utilize this marc, at least as a filler, in muffins or bars.  Or use it externally as a poultice even.  But being swamped for time and, after an apprentice day of remedy prep, loaded up on various marcs that I want to get the last bit of magic out of, let's just say the raccoons will be pooping purple!

I think next time I want to add something like Pine needles, I will infuse them first, strain, and then use that infusion to reconstitute the berries.  Live and learn, always something new to learn, especially when you constantly experiment and rarely do the same thing twice.  :)

I doubled the recipe.  One recipe makes (12) 8 oz. jars. 

Inquire if you want to purchase or barter, $15 for an 8oz. jar.*
All Organic.  Shipping is expensive for liquids and this weight, 
so best if you know me and can get it in person, but I will ship, inquire...

Elderberry Abstract Art

*If you are buying several Ravenwind Botanica products at one time, whether the same item or not, you can save substantially on shipping as I will ship it all together, please inquire and we'll get the payment set up right for you.  :)  You can click on 'Ravenwind Botanica' in the list to the right to see all products available.  Thanks for supporting my work.

Dandy Dandelion - A Study in Beauty

“Matter is spirit moving slowly enough to be seen.”
― Pierre Teilhard de Chardin

 

 

 

"I found I could say things with color and shapes that I couldn't say any other way - things I had no words for. "

- Georgie O'Keeffe

 

 

 
"I'm afraid that if you look at a thing long enough, it loses all of its meaning." - Andy Warhol

"Art enables us to find ourselves and lose ourselves at the same time." 

- Thomas Merton

“If we were not so single-minded
about keeping our lives moving
and for once could do nothing,
perhaps a huge silence
might interrupt this sadness
of never understanding ourselves
and of threatening ourselves with death
Perhaps the world can teach us
as when everything seems dead
but later proves to be alive.”
- Pablo Neruda

 

Make a wish!

This wonderful wildflower is not only a beauty but is also edible and one of the first nectar sources for bees.
Do you have these beauties in your yard?

See my earlier blog post on Dandelions.


~

Divine Dandelion

Often what we need is right under our nose. 

Plants that grow in the area where we live are particularly suited to us.  

They are growing in the same environment we are growing in. 

I often think about how Dandelions grow all over in the U.S. and it is just what we, as a people, need.
It offers itself to us, growing in abundance with tenacity.

Yet, do we revere it?  

Most of us do not, either wishing it wasn't there or attempting to eradicate it
by spraying "weed" killer in an attempt to have a "golf-course lawn."

Why do we do this?  Where did we get the idea that Dandelions are unwanted?
The chemical herbicide companies taught us this.
It's time we thought for ourselves.

A weed, by definition, is an unwanted plant.  

Dandelions offer us so much; they should be on the top of our want list.

Look at this fantastic Beauty:

I love how the stamens split and end with a double curlicue.

Besides being happy, smiling sunshines dotting our yards and roadsides that later turn to playful orbs,
~ Dandelions benefit our health ~

and are one of the first plants to bloom in the Spring that provide nectar for the valuable honeybee.

Its common in this country to have our Livers taxed from an improper diet:  

too much alcohol, caffeine, fried foods, hydrogenated oils, refined foods, soft drinks, and sugar. 

Sounds like the usual American diet, eh?. 

Also, the Liver is burdened with other chemicals:  food additives, drugs (including prescription), 

and pollutants in the environment.  This leads to various health issues like 

anger, depression, headaches, stomach aches, menstrual disorders, pains, tension, and more. 

Now, what does the Dandelion do? 

It supports the Liver! - amongst other virtues.  Hmmm.... sounds like just what we need!

So, next time you see a Dandelion, reconsider it.

Roasted Dandelion Root makes a great coffee substitute or a special tea in its own right.   

Here's a recipe to make your own, or you can purchase it from Mountain Rose.

You can harvest the leaves for salads, to steam as a green, add to a stirfy or an omelette...get creative.  

It's a little bitter, but you can add just a little until you grow to like it.  

I have found you can add a little to most meals.

You can make fritters from the flowers.

It's a delight to go into your yard and harvest free food that is good for you!

Just be sure there are no pesticides or other toxins on anything you wild harvest.

Bee-licious!

Enjoy!


________________________________________________________________

And lastly, a picture of me as a child enjoying Dandelions.  I have such fond memories of playing with them.
I loved to run through the yard and scatter the seeds about
or make a wish as I was blowing them into the air.

You can see the landscaper in the making.