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Juniper and juniper berries were one of the first plants I ever worked with as an herbalist. Juniper essential oil is also a great part of the plant to work with, and I’ve used it in many of my blends.
A lot of people may think of gin when they think of juniper, but the berries from this tree also has a deep-rooted history as far back as the Roman Empire (and probably even further back than that). They are also used in cooking, medicine, and in some cases, flavoring.
This is a very difficult and personal recipe and rambling for me today. If you have been following the series, you may have seen that I am divorced after 14 years of marriage. When I found this quote, though I love it, it made me wonder if I had a right to use it, given the state of my dissolved marriage.
However, I am adding it to the series because over these adversaries {link previous blog}, I have learned a lot of great things. Now that I am dating someone new, I am consciously unmaking previous mistakes in this new relationship.
Marshmallow is an extremely common herb you will find in almost every herbalist pharmacy. The roots, leaves, and flowers of this plant are all used in herbal medicine, and its use goes back for centuries.
At times, it has been used for medicinal purposes, like a stomachache, but has also used for enjoyment in sweet wine and even those fluffy marshmallows we enjoy today – though it is no longer used in your everyday grocery marshmallow. Usually, though, you will find this herb in a tincture or tea for gastritis, digestive disorders, or used as a mild laxative.
For my mother's 40th birthday, my father gave her a gold pendant that said #1 Bitch. She wore that pendant probably every day to the day she died.
When I found this quote, I thought of my mother and her pendant and knew it would be a great addition to my Recipe and Ramblings series. Bette Davis’ quote reminds me of everything my mother taught me about being a woman in a man’s world.
Rowan, otherwise known as mountain ash, is a descendant of the rose family. The fruit of the tree is similar to dates and can be used fresh a variety of ways. There is not a lot of medicinal information on this plant as it’s not typically used in herbal medicine, but it is used a lot as a building material.
These trees and shrubs offer birds, insects, and some mammals a great deal of food because their harvests are so plentiful.
There are pure blends in this series that will touch upon self-reflection and meditation. I believe that in order to be our best selves, we need time to get to know ourselves.
I have a friend from college that I hadn't seen in almost 10 years. The person that she was to me in college, was not the person that I had lunch with. To say that she had changed is an understatement. As my brother would say, she did a 180.