My Favorite Herbs for Travel (And How to Make Your Own Herbal Travel Kit)

Before I even began studying to become an herbalist, I was carrying around tiny jars and bundles of herbs with me on my adventures around the neighborhood, to school, and almost anytime that I stepped out of the house. I tucked these herb bundles into pockets, sewed little bags into necklaces to wear them close to my heart, and flattened them between the folds of origami envelopes. I found these little bundles for years afterwards, tucked into all sorts of pockets and holding spots.

During my herbal student days, I was moving all around the country and began creating different variations of herbal travel kits, developing my remedy-making abilities and testing out what it was that I really needed (and really didn't need) on my journeys. 

While that process of trial and error with herbal travel kits (and, more broadly, herbal first aid kits), is one that remains ongoing as my needs changed over the years, there are a few types of plant allies that I always make sure to have on hand. Below, I’ve shared with you a simple list of types of plants that are my favorite to travel with when leaving the comfy corners of my own home.

For the more experienced herbal practitioners, you might find this initial list to be more than enough to inspire your herbal travel kit making. For those seeking more guidance, I've noted some of my most trusted plant allies for each category as well as other aspects of herbal travel kit making to consider and extra resources to support your project. My goal is for you to feel inspired without the overwhelm when it comes to thinking about and choosing the plant allies that will serve your healing needs best during your travels.

Not only are making herbal travel and first aid kits great ways to learn about herbalism, its a practical way to put your growing knowledge as a student herbalist to use and for practitioners, (re)creating a kit can act like a review of our practice as we reassess our needs. In the end, you'll know a bit more about useful plant allies for common complaints and have a super practical kit to bring with you on your travels.

While I’ve listed general indications for the plants listed below, as always, refer to a trusted materia medica (see some of my recommendations) or herbal practitioner to understand a plant’s contraindications and your own healing needs.

image via @consciousdesign

My Herbal Travel Kit

The herbal travel kit you put together will be shaped by your unique needs, but I hope that you find the following outline helpful in planning out what to bring in a way that feels simple and not like you're bringing an entire apothecary with you.

For many of us visiting family and friends, carrying a complete first aid kit that an herbal street medic might carry to a protest or gathering isn't necessary. In general, most of us need less than we think, we should always consider if we'll be able to purchase an herbal remedy if we really need it at the place we are visiting, and if we can use one herb in place of many. 

My basic traveling kit consists of:

• A first aid salve that can double as a moisturizer, but also helps heal simple cuts and abrasions. 

• A digestive aid to help keep regular during an irregular travel schedule

• A nervine-based tonic to aid in focus and help with nervous system regulation

• A sleep aid to aid with rest, sleep, and sensory issues

• An immune system aid to help prevent infection and illness

• A headache or pain tonic to alleviate inflammation and pain

Depending on the time of year you're traveling, you can review the corresponding seasonal guide for herbal remedies, from cold and flu care for winter travel to spring allergies, sun care for summer adventures and respiratory tonics for autumn journeys. You should also include those herbs that you are taking on a regular basis in your herbal travel kit, from your morning tea to herbal capsules.

While I've focused on creating a kit for travel, you can easily adapt it for keeping at work or as a mini version to carry with you on your daily commute, as a care package for friends, family or community members, or even expand it out into a more robust home family first aid kit. 

First Aid Salve

My favorite first aid salve usually includes some combination of Plantain (Plantago spp.) and Calendula (Calendula officinalis). Both are great at healing simple wounds, alleviating the irritation of bug bites, and helping to moisturize the skin. Applying salves alongside simple massage, can also be a great way to keep grounded and centered during your travels, and they can be blended with a variety of herbs and even flower essences.

Other considerations for first aid salves is whether to add stronger smelling plants or even essential oils - I typically don't because then a greater number of folks can use the salve (essential oils, even in salves and carrier oils, can be irritating to many skin types) and if I know I'll be in an enclosed space during travels or sharing accommodations, I try to avoid highly scented products.

Additional first aid plant allies include: Rose (Rosa spp.), Mullein (Verbascum thapsus), Burdock (Arctium lappa), Lavender (Lavandula spp.), Turmeric (Curcuma longa), Sage (Salvia spp.), and Chamomile (Matricaria recutita).

Digestive Aid

If you've been in a consultation with an herbalist you have probably been asked a lot about your digestion and elimination - your digestive health can help an herbalist begin to understand what else is happening in your body. As you study plants and get to know your own bodily rhythms and what upsets them, you'll find that digestive plant allies play a key role in overall health. Many, many herbs support digestive health, but the following are a few of my favorite for the sort of digestive complaints that can arise from traveling.

Ginger (Zingiber officinale): One of my favorite herbs to prevent motion sickness. Ginger is helpful for general indigestion, protecting against infections, and helps our body adjust to new time zones and environments. Indications include low energy, poor circulation (including caused by travel conditions), and loss of or low appetite.

Licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra): I carry a few teabags of Licorice root with me in my travel kit to support digestive health, to help with cases of food poisoning, as an immunomodulator, and as an overall rejuvenative tonic. Licorice is also a great remedy for motion sickness. Indications include digestive upset, constipation, low energy, allergies, headache, and general jet lag.

Marshmallow (Althea officinalis): For those prone to constipation or diarrhea (or a mix of both) during travel, Marshmallow can be a great ally to keep nearby. Indications include overall dryness (including dry skin, dry cough, etc.), digestive upset, constipation, and/or diarrhea.

Chamomile (Matricaria recutita): A great digestive aid for folks of all ages, Chamomile not only helps to alleviate intestinal cramping(and any accompanying issues with elimination, but helps with the crankiness that can occur because of the stress of travel. Indications include impatience, restlessness and irritability, intestinal cramping, teething, and general inflammation.

Additional digestive plant allies include: Astragalus (Astragalus membranaceus), Catnip (Nepeta cataria), Chamomile (Matricaria recutita), Fennel (Foeniculum vulgaris), Hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna), Lavender (Lavandula spp.), Peppermint (Mentha piperita), Thyme (Thymus vulgaris).

image via @dorne_marting

A Nervous System Tonic

I wrote a course all about nervines and sensory overload because I work with so many wonderful folks who have these incredible, sensitive, and tuned-in nervous systems (which is essentially a description of many activists, organizers, herbalists or health practitioners - no surprise!). So, it is no surprise that having one or more nervous system tonics while traveling is essential for me and I hope you find working with nervines helps you navigate travel with greater ease.

Milky Oat (Avena sativa): If I could only stock a handful of herbs in my apothecary, Milky Oat would be at the top of my list. Milky Oat is my favorite nervous system herb. As stress is an underlying factor for most of the illnesses and symptoms that I see in my practice, and gets in the way of folks being able to sit with and explore their experiences, it is a vital and beloved plant ally of mine. Milky Oat is a nervous system ​​trophorestorative making it an ideal plant ally to work with for most any nervous system needs.

Skullcap (Scutellaria lateriflora): There can be a lot of focus needed for travel when getting from one place to another and Skullcap is one of my favorite herbs for helping to quiet anxiety and promote clearheadedness. It is also a great ally to induce sleep and to help us feel better if we happen to catch a cold. Indications include mental fatigue, loss of focus, physical exhaustion, tension headaches, and indigestion.

Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis): An overall great tonic herb to have around, Lemon Balm is antimicrobial, antiviral, antihistamine, and a lovely digestive tonic, all qualities you want in a plant ally travel companion. Indications include general fatigue, social exhaustion, mental weariness, and restlessness.

Additional nervous system plant allies include: Rose (Rosa spp.), Lavender (Lavandula spp.), Catnip (Nepeta cataria), Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera), Chamomile (Matricaria recutita), Sacred Basil (Ocimum sanctum), Vervain (Verbena spp.), and Rhodiola (Rhodiola rosea). 

A Sleep Aid

Supporting our sleeping and dreaming selves shapes the ways we are able to function and connect with the world around us during our waking hours. Since travel often leads to disturbances in our normal sleep cycles - from early wake-up times to late nights, time changes and whole new sleeping environments - bringing an herbal sleep-aid with us can make our travels way more enjoyable.

In general, other herbs in my traveling kit (especially my nervous system herbs) are already supporting the work of helping me to rest and relax but sometimes we need to reach for herbs that have gentle sedating qualities to help us find sleep, a few of which I've recommended below in addition to relaxing nervines.

Passionflower (Passilora incarnata): Passionflower is excellent for those who struggle with insomnia, bringing in restful sleep, and helping you to wake up refreshed. Indications include insomnia, muscle spasms, tremors, hiccoughs, pain, inflammation, and feeling easily overheated at night.

California Poppy (Eschscholzia californica): If you're looking for an herb to help reset disruptive sleep patterns but have found other herbs like Valerian (Valeriana spp.) or Passionflower (Passiflora incarnata) leaving you too drowsy, California Poppy might be a good ally to work with. California Poppy is less sedating, but still relaxing, helping to draw energy downwards. Indications include insomnia, tension headaches, ADHD, and a dysregulated nervous system.

Sacred Basil (Ocimum sanctum): One of my favorite adaptogens to alleviate tension and anxiety that is contributing to restlessness and disrupting sleep cycles. Indications include excess stagnation, brain fog, weak circulation, and sore muscles.

Eleuthero (Eleutherococcus senticosus): My other favorite adaptogen to help return the body back to a state of rest, whether we've been traveling for a few hours or a whole day. A wonderfully harmonizing plant ally, Eleuthero helps to reduce stress, regulate the endocrine system, and strengthen our inner vitality. Indications include hypersensitivity, nervous exhaustion, PTSD, adrenal stress, and recovering from intense physical exertion.

Skullcap (Scutellaria lateriflora): A great nervous system tonic and rest aid for those who start to fall asleep but are woken up by anxious thoughts. Indications include anxiety, overthinking, nervous exhaustion, and neuralgia.

Additional sleep and rest plant allies include: Valerian (Valeriana spp.), Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera), Milky Oat (Avena sativa), Chamomile (Matricaria recutita), Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis), and Lavender (Lavandula spp.).

image via @jules_eatrunhike

An Immune System Tonic

I think the best way to support the immune system during travel is by taking immunostimulating or immunomodulating herbs (based on your needs) a week or so before you start traveling. Other precautions to take while travel include using physical barriers to germs like wearing a mask, frequent handwashing, and using saline nose sprays - all inexpensive and effective ways of preventing and reducing illness.

Yet, travel exposes our immune system to all sorts of challenges that can be difficult to prepare for or prevent no matter how careful, so having an immune system plant ally on hand can be a wise choice. I also tuck in a few bags of my favorite cold care tea, individually packaged for easy brewing.

Elder (Sambucus nigra): Elder, especially the Elderberry, is my favorite immunomodulator. Elder helps to disrupt a viruses' ability to replicate while also helping to strengthen the nervous system. I use Elderberry syrup as a daily tonic during the height of cold and flu season, but it is great in teas and tinctures, too. Indications include infections, fever, runny nose, excess mucus, aches and pains.

Echinacea (Echinacea purpurea): I don't use Echinacea often, but it is a powerful immunostimulant for short-term, acute infections. Begin taking at the first sign of illness, every few hours for the first few days, but no longer than a week. Indications include sore throat, fever, poor circulation, congestion, swollen glands, and repeated infections.

Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis): I really like Lemon Balm as a long-term remedy for immune system support - I take it regularly in tea form and bring it along with me in a more potent tincture form when I travel. Indications include brain fog, hypersensitivity, overextension of energy, and general stress.

Turmeric (Curcuma longa): I pack a small jar of haldi doodh or golden milk with me whenever I travel and drink it every morning. I love Turmeric's ability to enhance the immune system and nourish the body. Indications include aches and pains, general fatigue, and low mood.

Additional immune system herbs include: Ginger (Zingiber officinale), Astragalus (Astragalus membranaceus), Sacred Basil (Ocimum sanctum), Thyme (Thymus vulgaris), Elecampane (Inula helenium), and Lomatium (Lomatium dissectum). 

A Pain-Relieving Tonic

In addition to over-the-counter options, I like to carry an analgesic and anti-inflammatory herb that I can rely on should traveling and less than ideal sleeping arrangements lead to an increase in headaches and pain. 

Wood Betony (Betonica officinalis): One of my favorite herbs to alleviate headaches and, when taken early enough, reduce the severity of migraines. Indications include pain and nervous tension, headaches, anxiety, indigestion, blood sugar issues, cramps, and insomnia.

Rosemary (Salvia rosmarinus): If your pain improves with heat, such as warm compresses, a warming anti-inflammatory like Rosemary might be a good choice. Indications include indigestion, pain brought on by colds and fevers, and neuropathic pain.

Additional pain-relieving herbs include: Turmeric (Curcuma longa), Peppermint (Mentha piperita), Feverfew (Tanacetum parthenium), Lavender (Lavandula spp.), Ginger (Zingiber officinale), and White Willow Bark (Salix alba). 

A few considerations for my witch folk and magickal kin

Grimoires old and new are filled with charms for the traveller, from alleviating foot ache to protecting against the weather one was likely to find on the road. I find travel charms to act as a physical item to reassure and remind you to ground and center should things become stressful or when plans go awry, but to also connect with the magick of the journey.

A few magickal herbal charms include:

• A charm to protect your body from aches and weariness - Mullein (Verbascum thapsus) is an old traveling charm for this very need.

• A protective herb for you and all of your luggage.

• A wayfinder charm to protect you from getting lost.

• Charms for your Ascendant can be a wonderful travel aid.

• A wonder finding herb to help you find magickal moments along your path - often, this is a beloved plant ally.

• Connecting with the energy of Sagittarius can help you feel freer in your journeys.

Putting Your Kit Together

In general, I reach for teas and powdered herbs before I reach for tinctures in my personal practice, but when it comes to traveling, tinctures or alcohol extracts are the most convenient and space effective. So in addition to my first aid salve, a few bags of cold care tea (as well as any daily tea I normally take), most of what is in my travel kit are 1/2 ounce to 1 ounce tincture bottle.

I have a variety of handmade zippered and tied pouches with elastic straps or small pockets for holding individual bottles in place, which are easy to make with simple sewing techniques. Use what you already have for your kit or you can purchase a handmade tincture pouch, wrap or sleeve insert from a small business. I’ve also known herbalists with crocheting or knitting skills to stitch up individual tincture holders that can be added to an existing toiletry kit (and it looks super cute). But it’s also just as effective to throw your jars and bags into an ancient ziploc bag if that means that’s the way you’re able to bring them with you - do what works!

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If you’re looking for more herbal support for the winter holidays, you might find this post useful. You can also find my full list of herbal profiles in the plant ally archive for more inspiration.

I love to travel and it can be a stressful thing to do, especially when you live in places that haven’t yet come to know the joy of an extensive and well-operated public transit network (having spent my early years in Tokyo, I still dream of an highly functional, accessible, and clean rail network). I find that the process of planning what herbs I am going to bring with me, not only for my needs but my fellow traveling companions, to be a centering and soothing exercise.

So while I cannot predict what I will find on my journey, I know I have trusted allies with me along the way - I find this reassuring and I hope this post has helped you identify your own reassurances in the form of our plant kin.

This post was made possible through patron support.
❤︎ Thanks, friends. ❤︎

Cozy Autumn, Festive Winter: Herbal Remedies for the Dark Season

The bright half of the year - from late spring to long summer - seems to move at a dizzying pace when compared to the dark half of the year - fleeting autumn to deep winter - which slows and steadies as light slumbers and the cold takes hold.

We need these bright times and these dark times with all of the mottled light and shadow that dances between. We need time to be speedy and swift just as much as we need time to be unhurried and languid. For me, the space between autumn and winter embodies the pause between the inbreath and outbreath more than any other time of year. Our experience of the pause between inhalation and exhalation, and the end of the old bright year and the birth of the new dark year, can teach us so much about our relationship with rest and being restful.

That place of pause holds a lot of uncertainty - What should I be doing? What should I be thinking? Will I breathe again? What's the point? - and who needs more uncertainty during these already uncertain times? And then, on top of all of the uncertainty, we are supposed to feel restful? There is too much work to do!

And yet, we must rest and learn to be uncomfortable for a moment to experience the length of deep rest. There is a magick in meandering, dreams that only come to us when we've fully relinquished the day, and visions of what might be that only appear after we've gotten a little lost. And then we turn the corner and find ourselves seeing something around and within ourselves for the first time. 

Herbalism, with its connection to time through the rhythms of the year, and the way that healing requires us to move backwards and forwards along our own timelines, is full of supportive herbs and plant allies that help us connect with this pause. While I can't point to a singular reason why working with plants strengthens our ability to engage with our healing pause, I've witnessed again and again, the ways that engaging with a form of healing deeply rooted in our collective ancestral experience gets us to slow down, to pause, and to reconnect. In this place of holy pause we can take a view of life and the ways we are living it not from a place of doing but of being. Plants, with their ability to move with time instead of struggling against it (as we are so prone to do as a species), can be wonderful guides back to this place of pause and steadiness. I find these pauses and ability to rest to make the festive moments of raucous cheer that much brighter and the more challenging periods of winter's dark that much shorter.

With practice, the pause helps us to move swiftly when needed, agilly adjusting to the challenges that come our way, while remaining rooted to our values of care and connection.

So as autumn transforms into winter, I've collected a few of my favorite recipes for this time of year to help us slow down, let go of the weight of what was, and let ourselves get lost in our own becoming.

Autumn to Winter Remedies

The following recipes are formulated as teas but can easily be made into herbal extracts, baths, or other forms of herbal remedies. I’ve crafted them with the transition from (roughly) Sagittarius to Capricorn season in the northern hemisphere and from (roughly) Gemini to Cancer season in the southern hemisphere in mind, but they can easily be adapted or used throughout the year.

image via @purejulie

For When You Need Help Letting Go

Autumn is precious and fleeting - it's a steep narrow path into the deep valley of winter and the more we try to carry what we no longer need with us, the harder the journey can be. The passage between autumn and winter can help us get clear on what helps to carry us along our path versus what weighs us down, along with everything in the muddled middle. One of the intangible aspects of working with plant allies is the way that, through alleviating discomfort and helping us feel better in our bodies, they can illuminate what it is we want, what we need, and what is ready to be let go. Some of my favorite path-illuminators and liberating herbs are Rose (Rosa spp.), which opens the heart to possibility, Peppermint (Mentha piperita), which brings us clarity, and Calendula (Calendula officinalis), which clears out shadows and lights the way ahead.

• 4 parts Peppermint (Mentha piperita)

• 1 part Calendula (Calendula officinalis)

• ¼ part Rose (Rosa spp.)

image via @purejulia

For When You Need To Wander

The ability to wander, meander, and unfollow, is as valuable as the ability to focus, pursue, and analyze. While it might feel counterintuitive to not try to figure out and name, with precision and finality, what it is we need to heal in our lives, the opportunity to get away from what we know and get a little lost what we don't know can serve us well in the long run. I find that the plant allies that help us wander are ones that are often recommended for dreamwork, such as Mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris), or ones associated with the Good Folk like Thyme (Thymus vulgaris). I also like to include Fennel (Foeniculum vulgaris), not only because it softens the bitterness of Mugwort's flavor, but it strengthens the compass of our intuition - a good thing to have while we wander. 

• 2 parts Thyme (Thymus vulgaris)

• 1 part Fennel (Foeniculum vulgaris)

• ½ part Mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris)

image via @purejulia

For When Your Immune System Needs a Boost

As the weather grows cooler and we spend more time indoors with others, our immune systems have to work extra hard to protect us against colds and flus. The work of building up our immunity takes place throughout the year, but we all need extra support with increased exposure to viruses. We can call upon a combination of immunostimulating and immunomodulating herbs to help us through the dark half of the year. Elder (Sambucus nigra) is my favorite immunomodulating herb that I start taking as soon as autumn arrives. I love Thyme (Thymus vulgaris) not just for its flavor but for its ability to warm us up and strengthen our immune system, while Sage (Salvia officinalis) protects against viral infections.

• 4 parts Elder (Sambucus nigra)

• 2 parts Thyme (Thymus vulgaris)

• ½ part Sage (Salvia officinalis)

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Three simple recipes to help us move from autumn into winter, carrying only what we need so that we can feel free to go where we desire.

You can find more seasonal inspiration for your practice by checking out my autumn wellness apothecary and winter wellness apothecary posts. You can also explore my series on herbal and magickal suggestions for every season.

If you’re looking for more between-the-seasons guides be sure to check out:

• Slow Winter, Soft Spring: Herbal Remedies for the Quiet Season

• Sweet Spring, Bright Summer: Herbal Remedies for the Waking Season

• Joyful Summer, Golden Autumn: Herbal Remedies for the Bright Season

May these days of bluster and change bring clarity to your heart, clearness to your vision, and open up paths of connection back to the people, places, and practices that you feel most at home.

This post was made possible through patron support.
❤︎ Thanks, friends. ❤︎

Make Your Own Lovely Lughnasadh Brew

Lughnasadh, also known as Lammas, is the first harvest festival of the wheel of the year.

Traditionally, the day is a time of athletic competition and funeral games in honor of Lugh's foster-mother Tailtu, an ancient earth mother and incredibly powerful queen, who cleared the land in Ireland, died from her efforts, and became the life-sustaining grain that sprang forth from the fields. The intermingling celebrations of life and death is a common theme in both ancient and modern Pagan festivals. Lughnasadh is a reminder to celebrate our harvest and show off the skills we have developed over the previous season. It is also a period to remember the ancestors whose shoulders we stand upon - those who have given their lives in the struggle so that we may be sustained and grow. May we be able vessels of their memories, may we speak their names, and may we carry on their work for the betterment of our communities.

Modern celebrations of Lughnasadh is typically take place between July 31 and August 2. Astrologically speaking, Lughnasadh is marked by the Sun reaching the midpoint of the sign of Leo (or 15 degrees Leo). Which basically means that you can celebrate the First Harvest for a whole week if you like, which would be quite lovely. You can learn more about the significance of Leo within astroherbology over here.

My tea of the season celebrates the slow burning end of summer with some spicy heat and beautiful berries. Make a big community pot to heal the hearts of your kindreds after a long, hot summer season. If you don't have blackberries available, use another local sweet berry in its place - especially if you've harvested them yourself!

The tea features Rooibos (Aspalathus linearis) which is an amazing African herb that is a rich source of antioxidants and it's a great daily tonic tea. The tea is a beautiful red color (it's name is Afrikaans for "red bush") and is rich in flavonoids which do all sorts of great things in our body from reducing inflammation and easing tension. Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) is a great digestive herb helping to soothe angry intestines while Cinnamon (Cinnamomum spp.) is well known for its ability to manage blood sugar and is another digestive aid. Black Pepper (Piper nigra) harmonizes and sparks the blend, again, helping with digestion (specifically awakening a sluggish digestive system) and having an overall clearing affect in the body.

Lovely Lughnasadh Brew

Blend together the following herbs:

• 5 parts Rooibos (Aspalathus linearis)
• 1/2 part Fennel Seeds (Foeniculum vulgare)
• 1/2 part Cinnamon Chips (Cinnamomum spp.)
• 1/4 - 1/8 part Freshly ground Black Pepper (Piper nigrum)

Add 1 teaspoon to 1 cup of hot water. Then add 2 - 3 Blackberries to each cup of tea and allow to steep for 5 - 7 minutes. You can adjust the level of spiciness by adding or reducing the amount of Black Pepper (Piper nigrum) or omitting it all together. Want it more sweet? Add more Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare). No fresh berries available? (That's a shame.) The tea is still good without them (but really find some berries if you can).  You'll be set for some Lughnasadh feasting with this cuppa in your hands! 

Looking for more recipes? Sure thing! Check out my recipes + tutorials section. You can also find out more about what is ripening in your life, what is changing, and what needs to be given with my First Harvest Tarot Spread.

I hope you have a blessed and magickal first harvest festival! Do you have a favorite Lughnasadh recipe? Share in the comments below!

House of the Heart Tarot Spread

Last month, I wrote about 5 magickal ways to engage plants everyday and one of those ways that I mentioned was through casting cards. I've also recently created three new tea blends (you can get the recipes for free as a member of Magick Mail) and one was a heart-opening brew that sparked the idea for the following tarot spread. So it only seemed right to create a spread working with the plants in one of my new favorite teas.

The House of the Heart tarot spread serves the same purpose as the brew: to blossom the heart, induce wonder, and assist us in opening up to the possibility that there is a sacred home for each one of us. For this spread, I worked with each plant ally to come up with a sacred question to be asked. I recommend giving yourself plenty of time to allow this spread to unfold. Let emotions arise. Sing your songs. Eat good food. Take a healing bath. Call to the plants and thank the spirits of the cards for their guidance. Hold your hand over your heart and say YES.

background image by Alex Blăjan

The House of the Heart Tarot Spread

Before casting your cards, I invite you to hold your hands and deck over your heart and say:

Listen, heart, I know you're there
I feel you, I know you
Listen, Heart, I know you're there
I say yes to all your wisdom
Listen, Heart, I know you're there
Yes, yes, yes!

1. Hawthorn Berry (Crataegus monogyna) asks, "What do you need to feel safe to open your heart?"

2. Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) asks, "What do you need to move freely in love?"

3. Damiana (Turnera diffusa) asks, "What is your pleasure?"

4. Elder Flower (Sambucus nigra) asks, "What is the magick of your love?"

5. Rose (Rosa damascena) asks, "What is the house of your heart made of?"

I would love to hear about your experiences with the spread in the comments below! Or share your stories with the hashtag #HouseoftheHeart on instagram. 

My heart journey is carrying me on a wild pursuit of wisdom with plant kindred and tarot spirits as I create my newest ecourse - The Tarot Apothecary! Keep track of the journey, including more plant-infused card-castings, by joining my free and fun Magick Mail.

I wish you love on all your heart journeys!

Manifesting : The Waxing Quarter Moon in Capricorn

In the Lunar Apothecary we explore our relationship to both celestial and terrestrial cycles, including the phases of the Moon. 

As part of your inexpensive and in-depth year-long membership in the Lunar Apothecary, I send out bi-monthly newsletters exploring the upcoming cycles of the Moon as well as herbal practice and plant allies (all of this is in addition to your monthly study guides). If you're ready to deepen your herbal practice and study both the medicinal and magickal powers of traditional western herbal healing and the exciting world of astroherbology, you're invited to join our starry-hearted circle. I am also pleased to announce that payment plans are available for Lunar Apothecary memberships to those who are in financial need - find out more!

The following blog is a sneak peak from one of my latest Moonlight newsletters - enjoy!

It is one of my most favorite times of year, dear Lunas! It is nearing the season of Samhain in the Northern Hemisphere and in my own town we've finally had a slight break in the heat (I might even wear a sweater!). But as the Witch's New Year approaches I focus on living in a way that I want to live in the next year - a bit of manifestation magick! If I want my next year to be full of rest and time outside, for example, I might plan a camping trip or regular outdoor excursions during this time period for a bit of forest bathing. Generally, this is the time of year that I make sure to gather together with family and friends - especially those that live far away. It is a practice of how I want to live my life in the year to come (a mix of restorative retreats and joyful gatherings) and as well as working some manifesting or like-attracts-like magick.

bagby hot springs - photo by author

A question that I ask my clients (and myself!) a lot when they come to me for a wellness consultation is not just "What feels out-of-balance right now?" but "What do you want to feel going forward?"

It can be very easy to focus on everything that feels out of sorts, wrong or just plain crappy (or maybe fancy crappy if it's been that sort of year). While I don't believe that having "negative" thoughts will only manifest negativity in your life (that can lead to blaming and shaming of victims of trauma and further traumatization), I do know that our emotions and thoughts have a physical impact on our wellbeing. If you're interested in the current scientific explorations about the connection between our emotional and physical wellbeing check out the fascinating field of psychoneuroimmunology. As herbalists we've known about these interconnections for quite some time because herbs work in an interconnected way in our bodies. It is no surprise, for example, that many herbs that relieve digestive complaints are also fantastic nervines as so often indigestion can result from stress or bring on stress (usually a combination of both). Recognizing the inherent interconnections between our body and our environment, we begin to return home to ourselves.

Much of the energy of Capricorn is about coming home, but coming home in unexpected ways.

So when I ask folks "What do you want to feel moving forward?" it is not uncommon for them not to have an answer or to find the question very challenging. Feeling well and whole is feeling at home, so when we lose that feeling of wellness and wholeness it can be very easy to lose sight of where home is and how to get back there. Often what has worked for us before either no longer works or we've forgotten what has felt like home to us before. When we ask, and more importantly answer, the question of what we want to feel we begin to reconnect to our inner compass that will help guide us back to ourselves. It can be really friggin' hard work, Lunas, but I know that many of you know that already. It is still work that needs to done and it is so rewarding in the long run.

bagby hot springs - photo taken by author

What do you want to feel moving forward, Luna?

There is no one answer to this question and that is important to remember. I know that for some folks they want to feel "happy" whatever that might look for them, but I often find that first folks want to or need to feel really, truly, uninhibitedly sad or angry or wild first. Because it is acceptable to feel happy and to want to feel happy - but that is what is expected and we're dealing with the unexpected homecoming energies of Capricorn. Sometimes we need to feel angry and rage a bit in the process of coming home. Want it, Luna. Sometimes we need to grieve and let our heart break open. Call it to you, Luna. Be honest, be accountable, find what you want and to heck with the expectations of others and dominant cultural narratives that don't align with your values. Work your magick, Luna.

In the process, invite in green allies who help you connect with what you want by supporting strength and wholeness in all parts of your selves. It is not just Capricorn but all of the signs of earth that deal with concepts and experiences of home. I recently wrote about a Virgo herb, Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare), and the type of person that it best serves (Virgo is particularly good with coming home to community and healing spaces).

Fennel is not only excellent at offering aid to those folks who not only experience digestive complaints stemming from a dried-out digestive system, but also for folks who are stressed-out worriers who lack a sense of security in the world.

Fennel folk struggle to feel like they can move freely through their day and that there are too many restrictions placed on them (whether self-imposed, inflicted by relationships or a combination thereof). Fennel folks begin to forget things that they need to do, adding to their feeling of playing catch-up all the time. Fennel will help them to take stock of the stressors in their lives, release it, and digest their emotions instead of stuffing them down. They will learn how to find the core of their need and truth under the layers of worry, stress, and anxieties. Fennel helps to bring us home to ourselves by simply holding up a mirror to who we are and letting us see ourselves.

We have spoken about homecoming before in the Lunar Apothecary, dear Lunas, and we will continue to do so as it is such a central component of herbal healing. What herb will help you to come home to yourself and manifest that which you want to feel in the world? Be sure to check out the Waxing Moon in Capricorn Ritual and Recipe which are all about manifestation for help and inspiration in calling your desire to you (both are available in the Lunar Apothecary). Find your remedy, Luna.

Ready for more herbal healing + magick in your life?
Heck yeah!

Be sure to check out the rest of my Astroherbology series including other samples from my Lunar Apothecary Moonlight newsletters. In the meantime, clever ones, I wish you well in all your manifestations, co-creations, delicious destructions, and the wild-hearted way you bring wisdom to the world. ❤