Clear the Way to Receive
An ally that helps us stay centered and grounded, especially in the face of transition or change.
Red Clover |Trifolium pratense
Whether it is the way bees crawl around in the blossoms, or the soft rich sweetness, there are a million reasons to fall in love with Red Clover. This is one of the first plants I grew, and not as a cover crop. She/They continue to be a favorite and I ALWAYS keep a big jar of blossoms on hand. If I’m feeling uncentered or if I’m interacting with a lot of “stuff” I need to keep moving I reach for a handful and do a nice long steep of this beauty. Red Clover is an ally that helps the body maintain centeredness. Also called an herbal alterative, there is a predictable nourishing affect on the tissues, specifically the lymph and clearing pathways. Good for skin conditions, this ally cooling, mildly anti-spasmodic, and a mild expectorant. Her/Their affinity for the throat and lungs makes this a support for those working clearing their voice of outside influence.
Red Clover Wisdom from our Herbalists
"Keep Red Clover in your pocket to hold strong who you are in group settings" -Jessa
"Make an overnight infusion tea of just Red Clover, it tastes like heaven and a bit like honey! Yum." -Lilli
"I reach for Red Clover when I feel drawn to cleanse and reset. Cooling, comforting and refreshing, Red Clover moves through the body, talking with it what the body is ready to release." -Tasha
Nettle | Urtica doica
Nettle encourages homeostasis in the internal and external ecosystems. And what a blessing that this months plant spirit ally is such a harmonious compatriot with similar desires and actions, but with a completely different approach. While nettle is sharp and fiery, red clover is soft and watery. Put them together and you’re working with a special kind of healing magic.
Nettle is also an alterative and diuretic, meaning the clearing pathway it uses is the kidneys. Nettle is rich in potassium, calcium, magnesium and is a deeply restorative tonic for those who have been depleted or suffering chronic illness when prepared as an infusion. While adaptogenic and rejuvenating, nettles gives energy without overstimulating the body.
"Nettles are amazing! This Martian plant will go to battle with your allergies and win! There are super powerful anti-histamine. Here is how to make the most potent anti-histamine Nettle tincture. (props to Tammi Sweet for this pro-tip. Love you Tammi!)
Harvest FRESH nettle tops and leaves.
Fill a powerful blender full with them.
Cover with Everclear, vodka isn't as good.
Blend 'til Pureed
Add another couple handfuls of Fresh Flowering nettle tops and leaves.
Blend 'til pureed.
Pour into a jar and cover with a lid.
Shake everyday.
Let soak for 4-6 weeks. Strain with double layers of cheesecloth
Dose: 3 mLs, 3x a day Use: Very useful for seasonal allergies, food allergies, histamine intolerance, and nutritional deficiencies." -Bethany
Nettle Wisdom from our Herbalists
"Nettle is a magical nutritive with an energy like no other. Though she stings, she also soothes, offering her gentle medicine to us, growing in all her wild glory and abundance." -Tasha
"Nettle to me is abundance. Abundance in every area and realm of life. There's always more if we press in and have the courage to turn the corner. Even in the darkest corners of life, there is life and nourishment to be found. Sitting with nettle in a field or sipping on some tea reminds me to give the unlikely and unexpected a chance, reminds me that the "sting" is worth the reward." -Bright
"Urtica (Nettle) is a powerful boundary herb. She likes to make her home in inconspicuous places, blending into her surroundings. But get too close and she will definitely let you know! She is nourishing for the body and soul." - Rachel
New Moon in Cancer 2021
We are being asked with this New Moon in Cancer to protect and relish the family and friends that we hold dear. We must be ready to break free from the societal mold in order to allow our communities to become the best versions of themselves they can be. This mold can be seen through the planet Saturn. Saturn has the qualities of rigid structures, isolation, and coldness. This is in a square to Uranus in Taurus. This is one of the signature astrological aspects of the year and during this New Moon in Cancer Saturn will be opposing Mars and Venus in Leo. So while the Moon and Sun come together in the sign of family, caring, and deep (even if unseen) emotions, the penultimate masculine and feminine come together in the showiest of signs -Leo. (Hey Leo’s!) This is square to the planet of chaos, upheaval, and revolution -Uranus, in the sign of Taurus. Taurus is the earth, the body, our desires, our resources. So what I see in this formation is a welcome earthquake under the feet of the status quo and an invitation to step back from what you have been told is 1) the right way for you to express your gender 2) the right way to raise a family and take care of your community 3) the right way to interact with the blessings this earth gives to us. You don’t have to throw away anything that is working but today we are welcome to look at these structures that have been put on us and decide if we still want to grow within them or not, be it capitalism, the gender binary, the nuclear family, whatever! Take this however works for you and remember you are not alone, you are free, and you are welcome to tell us all about it!
Love - Bethany Anne Stamey