tea & sympathy (a recipe): In Dreams

  I drink so much tea! Mostly herbal so I guess I should say I drink so many tisanes. I'm really trying to cut out all caffeine. There was a time when I was completely caffeine and refined sugar free and it was great! I've been trying to get back to that, but dang, I am hooked on sugar and the buzz my sleep deprived mama mind gets from black tea and coffee (and I do live in Seattle, coffee capital of the world).
  I thought it would be fun to have a regular post about tea with a recipe so here goes...

 Of all the teas I make and sell in the shop, this one-In Dreams,  is the most popular and I get the most positive feedback about the results.
  I've always had very vivid dreams. I believe that the dream world can be an alternate dimension. I have magical adventures and work on solving very real problems in my dreamscape. I make this tea when my dreams are getting funky or not showing me signs I'm able to make sense of. You can read a bit more. The most mystical herb in this brew is Mugwort.
  Mugwort is an herb sacred to the Greek Goddess Artemis (Goddess of the moon, the hunt and chastity) and has long been used as a magical aid to encourage lucid, vibrant and even prophetic dreams (it is also a thought to be a digestive aid and good for regulating a woman's moon cycle). Drank just before bedtime this tea blend will prepare you for your journey into the dream realm.

 Blend this tea with intention and please use only dried Organic herbs.

In Dreams, lucid dreaming tea:

1 1/2 Tbsp Chamomile
2 tsp Peppermint
2 tsp Catnip (Catmint)
1 tsp California Poppy
2 Tbsp Mugwort
1 tsp linden
3 leaves white sage

Mix all the herbs together in a bowl and crumble sage leaves into mixture. Store in a seal light tight container.

To brew: pour 1 cup fresh boiled water over 2 heaping teaspoons of tea blend in mesh strainer. Let steep for 5-15 minutes (covered), the longer you steep the more potent and the more beneficial constituents will be extracted from the herbs. Lovely when sweetened with a bit of honey.

 I drank some today as I was taking these pictures and my dreams have been pretty wild lately, we'll see what I dream of tonight...

 Last night my little one climbed into my bed after midnight (I was still awake thanks to the damn time change) with an annoying sniffly/runny nose, neither one of us got much sleep after that. Today was a bit of a haze but I did manage to triumphantly clean off the top of the refrigerator which was getting nuts.

Now I ahve to convince my gal that, even though it's not exactly dark outside it is still very much bedtime... Hope you enjoy this tea! xo m

emerald isles of paradise...

  I am sitting in my kitchen breathing air that is perfumed with drying nettles. I am holding that dreamy falling-in-love-with-places feeling close right now.  I am just entering my second year of being a single lady and it feels right and perfect to fall in love with cities, trees, meadows, forests, farms... That's what I need. I'm so lucky to live in a city/state that is surrounded by clusters of lovely islands that are only a short drive and ferry ride away. And overwhelmingly green as far as the eyes can see!

   Though I only spent a little over 24 hours in her company, it was such a wonderful gift to finally meet (and have as our tour guide, field guide, chef, merry maker, etc...) the delightful nettle princess, Milla. See, there she is knee deep in her nettle empire. This lady is a true shining light and I adore her!

 Nettles... I've eaten fresh nettles with my last 3 dinners and it will continue tomorrow as I made nettle pesto today but them what? Sadness... My nettle supply is gone, I have a few baskets and cookie sheets worth drying for tea/tinctures... but they are just so delicious fried up with a little olive oil in a skillet. Thankfully, there are other spring treats to be seen to in my own backyard (but I will miss those fine nettles).

 

   So free and fun to be walking through trees and paths and beaches and not being crowded by the tons and tons of geared up Seattle folks I always bump into whenever we try to get forest-y in the city. Refreshing to see lots of space, less people, technology doesn't work, fewer consumer choices, I like this island A LOT!

  It felt like a deep spiritual cleanse to be in this lovely environment and away from the heavy, close energy of the city. I find it difficult to be around all the city-ness at times. I've been spending this last year trying to develop my intuition and explore my spirituality and it can feel very unpleasant when I encounter rough/mean/cruel people. These cranky city folks may not even be so awful but the city carries this hectic, frenzied energy that leaves a mark on many and I feel singed when I come into contact with a brisk or hurried attitude.
  I'm already dreaming of a return to all this green, more exploring and much more merry making. It was a really special weekend! xo m

amethyst, tigers eye, hematite, sage & pinon...

  Dealing with another little patch of sickness.. Thursday afternoon my gal was a bit sniffly and then it progressed to insane ear infection by evening.

 There she is in the easter aisle of the drug store. " Whoa, they have SO MUCH cool stuff!" ...

and then yesterday morning, she was looking very pale, complaining non stop about back pain so it was back to the er. urinalysis, blood work, x-rays... all fine. Home resting. She is on the upswing and I'm feeling sick again. eek. I kind of knew this was coming. At pre-school on Mon and Wed all the kids were coughing, crying, extreme runny noses...

  I spent the afternoon, cleaning house and "cleaning" house, burning sage and pinon. Making herbal, lemon honey drinks... Here's to a weekend of rest and recovery. to wellness ans sunshine! xo