Why Swamp Tea is the Best Tea for the Summer

Ok, I know, you're asking me what the heck swamp tea is and why you should be excited about it this summer...

First, we have to travel back to Portland, Maine. I lived there with my love a few years back and fell deeply in love with that little city by the sea. In fact, it's where I started my business and began selling my tea and herbal powders at the sweet farmer's markets abundant with the local goods of the surrounding farmlands. 

(And less that sounds too romantic, mind you, I started selling my wares in November. In Maine. Without a winter coat. I can't explain that last bit except to say that I thought my pleather jacket was cooler than my need to be warm. I've since gotten over this and have learned the art of warm jackets and layering.)

But back to swamp tea!

Summers in Maine are so dang beautiful.

There was this local cafe down the street from my apartment which was run by and full of lesbians, dykes, queers, transfolks and their families (it closed it's doors when we were still living there, unfortunately, and was replaced with a run-of-the-mill pizza place - boo). They served something called swamp tea and it was delicious! My love and I barely had any extra money at that point, but getting a swamp tea was a special reward. When they closed I started to make my own in an attempt to comfort my heart over yet another queer dyke space closing it's doors (seriously, folks, we need more than bars - and even those are far and few between - and increasingly corporatized pride festivals for a healthy community).  

What follows is my swamp tea recipe that I include in my book for magickal mornings. But I've also given you the basic ratios to make your own swamp tea with whatever tea, spices, sweetener, and milk of choice.

Renegade Iced Tea
(aka my version of swamp tea)
 

Why Renegade Tea? Because this tea just might inspire you to be the superfolk you were always meant to be!

Tea can do that. :)

For every 8 oz of water you will need:

• 2 teaspoons to 1 tablespoon of Yerba Mate (Ilex paraguariensis)
• 1/2 to 1 inch of fresh Ginger (Zingiber officinale)
• 1 teaspoon of Cardamom Pods
• 1/4 cup milk of choice (I like almond milk with Yerba Mate!)
• Sweetener of choice

You'll begin by making an extra-strong brew of tea because it'll be watered down by the ice you add to it. For every cup of water you will need at least 2 teaspoons of tea but if you like your tea strong you can use 1 tablespoon.

Brew your Yerba Mate for 3 - 4 minutes (or follow the recommendations for whatever tea you're using). While your tea is brewing, prepare your tea's spicy renegade companion.

Blend together the Ginger and Cardamom with your milk of choice. Whizz up the blend to a frothy consistency and then strain out the Ginger and Cardamom. 

Mix together the spicy milk with the Yerba Mate tea. If you want extra sweetener, you can add it here. Pour over ice and shake it up! Your swamp tea is ready to enjoy!

Bonus! Add in whole blueberries for a boba tea effect - yum!

Go forth and make some swamp tea!

What are your favorite summer teas? Let me know in the comments!

Herbs of the New Moon

By the light of the New
we renew and grow...

With the popularity of my Making Medicines by the Moon post, I thought I would follow-up with a series of posts exploring herbs of each Moon phase, staring with the New. I've also added a very brief look at the original Greek Medicine Energetics which informs some of the ways that Traditional Western Herbalists categorize herbs by the Moon. Looking for a deep dive into the energetics of Traditional Western Herbalism? Come this way.

Herbs of the New and growing Crescent Moon are excellent for most any remedy-making endeavor as the power of the brew will grow with the Moon’s waxing. Remedies such as stimulating brews, warming bitters, energizing nervines, restoratives, alteratives, and remedies for new beginnings, for children, and to jumpstart vitality are especially auspicious. 

Traditionally, the New Moon is a time of hot and moist herbs. The tradition I am referring to is Greek medicine with its four element system of earth, air, fire, and water and its corresponding qualities (or energetics) of cold, dry, hot, and moist. The Moon was linked to the seasons of the solar year. The New Moon, representing a time of birth, youth, and vigor, straddled the season of spring into summer which moved from the time of water (represented in the west as the time of spring) to the time of fire (represented in the south as the time of summer).

Side note: If you’re a modern Pagan (like myself) who works with the common elemental correspondence system where east is the direction of spring and air and west the direction of autumn and water you’ll have to do a bit or rearranging in your brain to grasp this system.

When I correspond herbs to Moon phases I don’t rely solely on the traditional categorization of herbs by their temperature and quality. Instead, I incorporate my knowledge of the magick of each herb as well as its medicinal uses and the energetic signature of each Moon phase, which you can learn about in my original post on making medicine by the Moon.

I also work with the six tissue states of Traditional Western Herbalism (TWH) which builds upon the Greek system while incorporating Galenic (as in the Roman herbalist Claudius Galenus), Culpeperian (made that term up, but I am referring to English herbalist Nicholas Culpeper), and the United States physiomedicalism tradition (aka reformed Thompsonianism which was begun by US American herbalist Samuel Thompson and refined by Dr. Alvah Curtis and further codified by Dr. Joseph M. Thurston). I highly recommend studying Matthew Wood’s The Practice of Traditional Western Herbalism: Basic Doctrine, Energetics, and Classification for an in-depth understanding of tissue states. The six tissue states have various names, but I use the following combination names which link back to the original Greek quality system while incorporating more modern physiomedical actions. I will also include the other names that you might find these tissue states referred to in your studies.

The Six Tissue States of Traditional Western Herbalism

• Hot/Excitation (Irritation, Choleric)

• Cold/Depression (Melancholic)

• Dry/Atrophy (Atrophic, Sanguine)

• Damp/Relaxation (Lax, Atony)

• Damp/Stagnation (Torpor, Torpid, Bad or Impure Blood, Phlegmatic)

• Tense/Constriction (Wind, Sanguine)

Since I also work with the tissue states and Lunar magick, I am interested in experimenting with the tissue states in correspondence with the Lunar phases. It is an ongoing process, and I am not seeking hard rules but general guidelines. Here are my following New Moon tissue states correspondences:

The New and growing or waxing Crescent Moon strengthens the Hot/Excitation and Damp/Stagnation tissue states.

The New and growing or waxing Crescent Moon alleviates the Cold/Depression and Dry/Atrophy tissue states.

I wrote about the tissue states briefly in Morning Mischief, but I’m currently writing up a tutorial that I have been teaching to my offline students on using the six tissue states of TWH and incorporating astroherbology for the Lunar Apothecary. It has been a really fun ongoing experiment and one that has proven useful again and again in my practice.

Herbs of the New + Waxing Crescent Moon

Milky Oats (Avena sativa) : Oats are not generally associated with the moon, but as a warming and moistening nutritive tonic that builds the blood and alleviates nervous exhaustion, I find Oats to have a special affinity for the New Moon. As the New Moon calls us to begin a cycle of emergence and to slowly expand our energy after a period of waning contraction, Oats are richly nutritious, lending us foundational strength for the work ahead. The generous nutritive qualities of Oats give us a hint to its magickal uses, too, which are primarily for prosperity and abundance rituals. Read the full Milky Oat plant profile.

image via botanical.com

Ginger (Zingiber officinalis) : Ginger root stimulates an underperforming circulatory system, moving blood and heat throughout the body. Ginger awakens the senses and calls the body to action! It clears out lingering colds, damp conditions, clears catarrh, and lifts the spirits wherever dourness or melancholy might dwell. If you want to use the heating properties of Ginger, but are someone who already runs dry, reduce the Ginger content of your brew while adding in moistening herbs like Milky Oats or Angelica.

Blessed Thistle (Cnicus benedictus) : Blessed Thistle can be a great choice when you want to take advantage of the clarifying and clearing energies of the New and growing crescent Moon. The eliminatory powers of Blessed Thistle act as a purifier of the blood. In combination with its skin-opening diaphoretic properties, Blessed Thistle helps to re-establish balance or homeostasis in the body. The herb is also a nervine and can be used to relieve spastic pain and headaches, especially when brought on by nervous tension. Blessed Thistle relieves brain fog and has a markedly uplifting effect, perfect for greeting and working with the energies of the New Moon. 

image via botanical.com

Lavender (Lavandula officinalis) : I love Lavender for all phases of the Moon, but for the New Moon I think of it as a great nervine for the performance anxiety that the energy of the New Moon can bring on. For some of us new beginnings are a welcome change of pace, whereas for others it is a big cave o’ uncertainty. Wherever you may fall, Lavender can soften the sharper edges of the Moon’s slicing crescent energy, helping us to focus on what needs to be done without getting overwhelmed by the details.

Angelica (Angelica archangelica) : Angelica is another example of an herb that falls under the traditional interpretation of a New Moon herb as hot and moist. Angelica is more warm than hot but were still in the same neighborhood. I’ve posted a full plant profile on Angelica as part of my Plant Ally Project: 30 Day Challenge.

Need more Moon medicine and magick in your life? Heck yeah! Join me and a circle of starry-hearted magick-makers in the Lunar Apothecary.

Look for my posts on each phase of the Moon and their herbal correspondences in the coming months. In the meantime, have fun reading up on the art of astroherbology or making your own herbal remedies.

Plant Ally Project : Creating An Indispensable Herbs List

When I started my herbal studies I was so friggin’ excited!

I could make tea that could take care of my cold! Look an herbal oil for hair care! Ahhhh, that weed growing up through the concrete does a really useful thing!!!

And then I realized that there are a bajillion herbs in the world (that is a completely accurate measurement of the number of plant kindred on our planet). Holy heck, how was I supposed to learn them all, their names and uses and contraindications? How about their folklore? Their favorite color? The dreaded student overwhelm settled in. 

Fortunately, some of my earliest teachers (both of person and book form) emphasized the following:

It is not about knowing all the herbs, but knowing a few very well.

I have continued to follow this simple guideline and it has served me well in my practice. While I’m always interested in learning about new herbs, especially ones that show up in my travels or are introduced to me by others (aka nerding out with other herbalists about their favorite plants), I tend to return to the same herbs again and again in my practice. These plant kindred are what I call my indispensable herbs - without them I would practice very differently and they are some of my greatest herbal teachers. I first came across the idea of a indispensable herb list from Matthew Wood who has posted his own list on his website, though, the idea of practicing with a small list of herbs for many ailments was initially introduced to me through Susun Weed’s Healing Wise.

Image by Harriet Isabel Adams | source

If you’re new to herbalism, studying plants from a foundation of developing an indispensable herb list can help you to focus your studies and begin to better understand how to use one herb for a wide range of complaints. If you’ve been at the herbal game for a while, creating an indispensable herb list can freshen up and focus your practice. An indispensable herb list is a great teaching tool for your own clients and students, as you can focus on speaking confidently on and sharing information about these select herbs in a way that is concise and accessible.

My indispensable herb list structure is an adaptation of Matthew Wood’s since we both work with Traditional Western Herbalism (TWH) energetics which work with the six tissue states. I also include a magickal herb and tonic herbs that are indispensable for me but didn’t fit into the initial list. If you work with other herbal traditions I encourage you to adapt the list appropriately. An Ayurvedic list, for example, might have herbs that cultivate or curb the energy of each one of the three doshas and dosha combinations. Another option would be to come up with an indispensable herb list for each organ and/or body systems. If you are an herbal practitioner that works with clients your indispensable herb list for your professional practice might be different than your list for your personal practice. Or, you could take an astroherbology approach and have indispensable herbs for the signs and planets. As you can see, creating an indispensable herb list is endlessly customizable.

But what makes an herb indispensable? Well, that is up to you. For me an indispensable herb is one that has the following qualities:

• The herb is one that I am very familiar with and know how to use for a variety of conditions.

• The herb is easily accessible meaning that I can either grow it myself, wildcraft it, or source it from a reputable supplier.

• The herb is generally considered safe with little to no side effects and many can be taken for an extended period of time. 

Botanical illustration of Zingiber officinale by Francisco Manuel Blanco | source

In all, there are thirteen herbs on my indispensable herbs lists (because witchcraft). Here is how my indispensable herbs list is structured:

The Nine Foundational Herbs are as they are described - foundational to my practice and often the foundational herb in remedies that I make. But they are also the pillars of my practice and my beloved teachers and guides. They correspond to the six tissue states as well as three additional herbs that cover the blood, muscle and bones, and heart of the body more explicitly. These nine herbs are the sacred structure of the temple of my practice.

My Nine Foundational Herbs

• Warming Remedy: Ginger (Zingiber officinalis)

• Cooling Remedy: Rose (Rosa spp.)

• Drying Remedy: Sage (Salvia spp.)

• Oil/Moistening Remedy: Burdock (Arctium lappa)

• Stimulating Nervine Remedy: Basil (Ocimum spp.)

• Relaxing Nervine Remedy: Skullcap (Scutellaria lateriflora)

• Blood Remedy: Yarrow (Achillea millefolium)

• Musculoskeletal Remedy: St. Joan’s Wort (Hypericum perforatum)

• Heart Remedy: Hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna)

source unknown - if you know, comment below!

The Three Tonic Herbs are ones that didn’t fit in neatly to the above list because their healing reach is so expansive in my practice, but mostly because I use them as tonics very often. Tonic herbs are plants that can be taken long-term and have a nourishing and restorative effect on the body. I always recommend a tonic herb or herb blend in my consultations along with whatever remedies I’ve created to address more acute conditions. These tonic herbs are the attending Priest/esses and Weavers of the sacred temple of my practice. 

My Three Tonic Herbs

• Elder (Sambucus nigra)

• Nettles (Urtica dioica)

• Milky Oats (Avena sativa)

The Artemisia californica plant that is now growing in my garden.

The Magickal Herb is one that some folks may have on their list but many others won’t. I practice both medicinal and magickal herbalism, so all of the herbs on my list are ones that I also incorporate into my magickal practice. My Magickal Herb is one that I would be pretty sad to live without and one that I use in many a ritual and charm, but more importantly, my magickal herb is my teacher and guide to my clients on the magickal arts. This herb is the crystal-heart of the temple of my practice. 

My Magickal Herb

• California Mugwort (Artemisia californica)

So you’ve created your list - what next? 

If you’re a member of my free Magick Mail (if you’re not already, it’s quite easy to join) you can download my indispensable herb chart worksheet which uses the format I've described above. I regularly pull out and review my indispensable herb list because as my practice grows and changes so does my list. Angelica (Angelica archangelica) used to be my primary oily remedy, but I find myself using the more accessible (meaning it has wider range of use amongst a variety of folks) Burdock (Arctium lappa) these days. Angelica has grown more and more into an indispensable magickal herb for me, in fact. These regular reviews of your indispensable herb list are like sit down chats with your plant allies where everyone convenes and compares notes on where we’ve been and where we might be going. 

Consider working with each herb on your list through the Plant Ally Project. Or begin creating your custom seasonal apothecaries based on your list. Name your children after each of your indispensable herbs! Or pets! Or your favorite rocks!

Oh and will someone please create a beautiful oracle deck of their indispensable herbs and then show me some pictures so I can jump up and down excitedly in glee? #IndispensableHerbOracle

In the meantime, cast some cards with the Indispensable Interview spread.

Check out the rest of the Plant Ally Project series and be sure to comment below with questions or musings. Better yet, share your list!

The Plant Allies of Winter: Creating A Winter Wellness Apothecary

The sniffles. The 'flu. The cranky tummy. The hacking cough.

All travel around quicker than a skittish reindeer during the winter and while many of us might want to turn to herbal remedies for some help, it can be hard to know what herb to choose - especially when you're feeling under the weather. 

With a bit of preparation, you can create an easy-to-use winter apothecary for common seasonal complaints. It all begins by getting to know your winter plant allies and selecting a few that you become comfortable working with. One herb often serves many needs (because plants are galaxies of healing, blessed be!) and you don't need to know a hundred herbs, but just a handful, to help you keep well during the winter. Each herb listed below is in at least two categories if not more to help you find a few herbs that will work for a multitude of complaints. I have not created an extensive, never-ending list of herbs for each common winter ailment listed below because I am hoping to encourage focused simplicity in your practice. However, you might already use an herb for one or more of the categories below that is not listed and you are very much encouraged to incorporate it into your list of indispensable winter herbs. 

Since Creating A Winter Apothecary is part of the free Plant Ally Project series (check out the Thirty Day Challenge for a more in-depth herbal experience), I'm going to offer suggestions for herbs that you might check out but it's up to you to meet the plants and build a custom winter apothecary for you and your loved ones.

Subscribers to my Magick Mail get a free worksheet and quick guide to organize their winter apothecary and easily reference what herb they might need for whatever winter illness issue that might arise.

Creating Your Winter Apothecary

• Begin by reading through the list of herbs below in each of the ten categories. I've listed when I've written about each herb, but you can also start with my Winter Wellness: Healing Herbs for the Dark of the Year which profiles some herbs on this list.

• After doing some research, choose one herb from each category. You might end up with 10 different herbs to work with, but most likely you'll have less since each herb can be found in more than one category.

• Learn about the best way to prepare your herb as a remedy. I've listed common remedy preparations in my Plant Ally Project Thirty Day Challenge. If you're looking for more in-depth and diverse herbal remedy tutorials check out the Lunar Apothecary.

• Gather together your chosen herbs and have them in an easy to access space in your home. I encourage you to add labels to their containers (whether a loose herb jar or a tincture bottle) that indicates what the herb can be used for as well as dosage. You might have a jar of Sage (Salvia officinalis) and label it with the following description: "Good for wet coughs + excess phlegm, congestion, sore throats, and indigestion. Dosage is 1 teaspoon per cup of water."

• Create your own Winer Apothecary "cheat sheet" with my free worksheet and quick guide available to my Magick Mail subscribers.

Herbs for Preventative Care or Daily Tonics

Let's start with some daily winter tonics which are nutritive, generally warming, and often immunomodulating (as opposed to immunostimulating - which we'll look at later). These are herbs that can be taken on a daily basis throughout the winter. 

• Elder (Sambucus nigra): Read more about Elder in my Tree of Medicine and Winter Wellness post.

• Ginger (Zingiber officinale): Read more about Ginger in my Aries Astroherbology Profile.

• Milky Oats (Avena sativa)

• Sacred Basil or Tulsi (Ocimum sanctum)

• Thyme (Thymus vulgaris)

Yerba Mansa (Anemopsis californica) by Alexis J. Cunningfolk

Herbs for Dry + Hacking Coughs

Moistening or mucilaginous herbs are of great help when the respiratory tract is dry and irritated. Many of these herbs have additional nervine qualities which help to relax the tension brought on by irritation.

• Elecampane (Inula helenium)

• Angelica (Angelica archangelica): Read about Angelica in my To Ignite the Imagination post.

• Mullein (Verbascum thapsus)

• Thyme (Thymus vulgaris)

• Vervain (Verbena officinalis)

Herbs for Wet Coughs + Excess Phlegm

Herbs that are astringent can be excellent allies in drying up excess damp and phlegm in the system. They help to tone, tighten, and restore tissues to their optimal state, preventing or helping the body to recover from infection or prevent it from settling in the body.

• Elecampane (Inula helenium)

• Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis)

• Sacred Basil or Tulsi (Ocimum sanctum)

• Sage (Salvia officinalis)

• Yerba Mansa (Anemopsis californica)

Herbs for Sore Throats

Similar to herb for dry and hacking coughs, herbs for sore throats are generally moistening in nature. Some are more drying and others are more moistening while others are neutral in temperature. Many are also anodyne in nature, meaning that they offer pain relief, which is an added bonus when dealing with the discomfort of sore throats.

• Angelica (Angelica archangelica): Read about Angelica in my To Ignite the Imagination post.

• Cleavers (Galium alparine): Especially useful when the lymph glands are swollen.

• Peppermint (Mentha piperita)

• Sage (Salvia officinalis)

• Thyme (Thymus vulgaris)

• Vervain (Verbena officinalis)

• Yerba Mansa (Anemopsis californica)

Herbs for Drippy Noses

Herbs that are warming, astringent, and tonifying to the mucus membranes can help take care of the drippiness of an unhappy nose.

• Ginger (Zingiber officinale): Read more about Ginger in my Aries Astroherbology Profile.

• Peppermint (Mentha piperita)

• Yerba Mansa (Anemopsis californica): Yerba Mansa is a tophorestorative for the mucus membranes which is why it is great for both drippy and congested noses.

Herbs for Congested Noses

Herbal expectorants help the body cough, sneeze, and release excess mucus, clearing out congestion and helping us breath clearly again. Pay attention to the color of your mucus. Yellow mucus indicates heat (think of sunny warm yellow) and more cooling expectorant herbs are useful while clear or white mucus indicates cold (think of snowy cold white) and warming expectorant herbs are a better choice.

• Elecampane (Inula helenium)

• Ginger (Zingiber officinale): Read more about Ginger in my Aries Astroherbology Profile.

• Peppermint (Mentha piperita): Read more about Peppermint in our Winter Wellness and Quicken the Mind.

• Sacred Basil or Tulsi (Ocimum sanctum)

• Sage (Salvia officinalis)

• Thyme (Thymus vulgaris)

• Yerba Mansa (Anemopsis californica)

Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) by Alexis J. Cunningfolk

Herbs to Cleanse the Lymphatic System

Our hard-working lymphatic system can get clogged down leading to uncomfortably swollen glands that can't properly process blood and fluid which means white blood cells are transferred less effectively throughout the body. Adding lymphatic cleansers to cold care blends can be very helpful in promoting a speedy recovery or preventing a virus from settling in the body in the first place.

• Calendula (Calendula officinalis)

• Cleavers (Galium alparine)

• Mullein (Verbascum thapsus)

• Yarrow (Achillea millefolium)

Herbs to Stimulate the Immune System

The following herbs are known as immunostimulators meaning that they stimulate the immune system into action and are best used for a the short run when you're dealing with a cold or 'flu or in a higher risk situation for exposure (such as air travel or hanging around kindergarteners).

• Boneset (Eupatorium perfoliatum)

• Echinacea (Echinacea purpurea)

• Elder (Sambucus nigra): Some folks categorize Elder as immunostimulating as well as immunomodulating. What Elder does is disrupts a viruses' ability to replicate and while that does stimulate the immune system into action, I have not found Elder to be more useful as tonic than a short-term herb for acute symptoms (though it still is effective in the short term because it's a pretty darn amazing plant). Read more about Elder in my Tree of Medicine and Winter Wellness post.

• Yerba Mansa (Anemopsis californica)

Herbs for Fever + Achiness 

Fevers help our bodies to burn off infection and as long as they stay within a safe range (when a fever in an adult is consistently 103° or higher and lasts for three days or more it is time to seek medical help). Yet, fevers can come with accompanying discomfort including aches and pains which may be relieved by the herbal remedies listed below.

• Boneset (Eupatorium perfoliatum): Especially useful for when the bones feel achy otherwise known as "break-bone fever."

• Echinacea (Echinacea purpurea)

• Elder Berry (Sambucus nigra): Read more about Elder in my Tree of Medicine and Winter Wellness post.

• Elder Flower (Sambucus nigra): When restlessness and irritability is present. An Elder Flower foot bath can be helpful for those who are having difficulty sleeping. Read more about Elder in my Tree of Medicine and Winter Wellness post.

• Elecampane (Inula helenium): Read more about Elecampane on my Winter Wellness post.

• Ginger (Zingiber officinale): Read more about Ginger in my Aries Astroherbology Profile.

• Milky Oat (Avena sativa): While not an herb specific to fever it can be very useful in recovering from a fever when there are signs of adrenal burnout, fatigue or if the illness has been brought on, in part, because of not allowing oneself to take time grieve a loss.

• Peppermint (Mentha piperita)

• Sacred Basil or Tulsi (Ocimum sanctum)

• Thyme (Thymus vulgaris)

• Vervain (Verbena officinalis): For type 'A's who don't know when to stop and need to relax in order to heal.

• Yarrow (Achillea millefolium)

Herbs for Indigestion

Whether indigestion that has come with the 'flu or from a sluggish system burdened by too many rich winter foods, the following herbs, many of which are considered digestive bitters, can help to improve intestinal tone, relieve gas and cramping, and help to rekindle the digestive fires.

• Angelica (Angelica archangelica)

• Calendula (Calendula officinalis): Especially good for inflammation along the intestinal tract as well as stomach ulcers.

• Ginger (Zingiber officinale): Read more about Ginger in my Aries Astroherbology Profile.

• Peppermint (Mentha piperita)

• Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis)

• Sacred Basil or Tulsi (Ocimum sanctum)

• Sage (Salvia officinalis)

• Yarrow (Achillea millefolium)

🌿

I hope you're feeling inspired to create your own Winter Wellness Apothecary! I’ve created guides for all of the seasons to help support your herbal year:

• The Spring Wellness Apothecary

• The Summer Wellness Apothecary

• The Autumn Wellness Apothecary

May your winter be full of joy and beautiful connections, with plants, people, and the magick of the ending year.

Taurus: The Astroherbology Profile

It's time to explore the sign of Taurus! I will be exploring all twelve signs from a medical astrology perspective with an emphasis on herbal healing. Learn more about the series and what all the correspondences mean check out the introduction to The Introduction to Astroherbology Zodiac Series. Missed the first sign of the Zodiac? Find out about the astroherbology wisdom of Aries!

Looking for inspiration and plant allies for the season of Taurus? Come this way!

Element: Earth
Mode: Fixed
Guardian Planet: Venus
Direction: East (traditional)
Season: Spring (NH), Autumn (SH)
House: 2nd House / Succedent
Lunar Mansions: 3rd Mansion, 4th Mansion, + 5th Mansion (Learn more about the Lunar Mansions)
Solar Gemstone: Amber
Tarot: The Hierophant, the Empress, 5 of Pentacles (4/12 - 4/30), 6 of Pentacles (5/1 - 5/10), 7 of Pentacles (5/11 - 5/20), Knight of Pentacles
Tissue State: Cold/Depression (learn more about the energetic system of traditional western herbalism)

Body Systems: Throat, neck, vocal cords, thyroid, voice, and middle ear. Metabolic system, medulla oblongata, and hearing. Salivary glands, taste buds, and teeth of the lower jaw. Jugular veins, cervical nerves of the blood vessels, and bladder. Procreative desire. Base of the skull. Find out more about the astrological correspondences to our bodies.

Imbalances + Diseases: Including sore throats, tonsillitis, thyroid conditions (especially hypothyroid), and overindulgence. The formation of tumors. Slow digestion, excess weight, and weak metabolism. Hearing loss and ear infections. Excess mucus in the upper respiratory system. Apoplexy, loss of coordination between organ systems, erratic movements, and paralysis. Glandular swelling, goiter, gout, bad blood. Loss of voice and vocal cord conditions. Sore throat, bronchial complaints, dry cough, tonsillitis, ulcerated throat, and diseases or injuries to the larynx and vocal cords. Accumulation of toxins especially in the intestinal tract and congested colon. Overly cold and dried out. Tend towards more persistent and chronic conditions - through their stubbornness they can tend to hold onto disease. Resisting change, ungrounded stubbornness, avoiding conflict, hurtful, brutish, brooding, lack of reflection on their emotions, and melancholic. 

Disease Degrees: 1 degree: palate; 2 degrees: pharynx - oral part; 3 degrees: uvula; 4 degrees: Pharyngeal cavity; 5 degrees: larynx; 0 - 6 degrees: drowning; 6 degrees: vocal cords; 7 degrees: cervical nerves; 8 degrees: alcoholism, jugular veins; 9 degrees: cervical veins, neurasthenia; 10 - 13 degrees: cervical and bravial plexi, neurasthenia; 14 degrees: true vocal cords; 15 degrees: epiglottis; 16 degrees: carotid arteries, abscess; 17 degrees: thyroid glands and tonsils; 18 degrees: lymph vessels, hair; 19 degrees: maxillary artery, alcoholism, goiter; 20 degrees: occiput, goiter, alcoholism; 21 degrees: arteries of the nasal cavity, alcoholism; 22 degrees: tongue muscles, rheumatism, alcoholism; 23 degrees: teeth, rheumatism, alcoholism; 24 degrees: upper jaw, fractures, broken bones, alcoholism; 25 degrees: lower jaw, fractures, broken bones, alcoholism, adenoids, suicide; 26 degrees: nasal bone; 27 degrees: atlas, alcoholism; 28 degrees: alcoholism, deltoid muscle and main neck muscles; 29 degrees: deltoid muscle and main neck muscles, eyesight; 30 degrees: Trapezius muscle. 

Remedies for Imbalanced and/or Weakened Taurus: Warming and stimulating activities, with emphasis on detoxifying activities. Eating a whole foods diet is important to all signs, but Taurus folk need to be especially mindful of the quality of their food and eating mindfully. 

Gifts of Taurus: Resourcefulness, grounding and centering, body knowledge, long-term planning, and consistent energy.

Rituals of Taurus: Expressing body-positive sensuality, fertility and abundance, successful long-term plans, such as business endeavors or big material investments, stability, and invoking or supporting long-term romantic partnerships. Artistic and musical rituals in which the pleasure of the senses are indulged.

Taurus Guardian Herbs: Sage (Salvia officinalis), Rose (Rosa spp.), Thyme (Thymus vulgaris), Plantain (Plantago major), Mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris), Nettles (Urtica dioica)

Taurus Remedy Herbs: Gingko (Gingko biloba), Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis), Ashwaghanda (Withania somnifera), Burdock (Arctium lappa)

Flower + Gem Essences: Aspen (Populus tremula), Gentian (Gentiana amarella), Peacock Ore, Willow (Salix vitellina)

The Sun in Taurus

Taurus is the first earth sign and fixed sign of the zodiac and they embody these energies well. Where Aries is quick-moving, Taurus is slow and steady. The bulls are typically the longest lived of all the signs of the zodiac even with their tendency that when they do get sick for it to be a permanent or chronic condition. Earthly, sensual, and indulgent pleasure (as opposed to the more artistic and balanced pleasure of Libra) can be a focus of Taurus folks. Overindulgence is something to be wary of if you your Sun or Ascendent is in Taurus or if many of your other planets are in the sign of the Bull. Typically, Taurus folks tends towards the materialistic such as the garden growing in their backyard versus a mystical garden of new age enlightenment located halfway between paradise and nirvana. 

If you have known someone with a strong Sun in Taurus, you have probably met the legendary stubbornness of the sign. Think about the idea of being “bull-headed” and you’ll begin to understand the Taurean temperament. They very much need to believe that something is their idea before they commit and if they aren’t interested or perceive something to be not useful, they can be hurtful in how they express their opinions. Learning to connect with their emotional world and not just the physical world is a challenge for most Taurus folks but well worth the effort if they want as enduring and fruitful a relationship with others as they have with their garden. All that said, Taurus folks are very loyal in relationships, their endurance for seeing a project through is matched only by their stubbornness, and they can be profoundly inspiring when it comes to helping folks re-member and re-connect to the sacredness of physical embodiment. 

As mentioned earlier, Taurus folks are typically the longest lived of all of the signs (again, it could be said that they stubbornly refuse to depart their physical form until they damn well want to). They can tend towards diseases and imbalances of congestion, cold, and impurity - they need to be very aware of what they eat and being sure to engage in regular energizing activities. The gift of Taurus Sun folks is that they are so blessedly grounded. They remind us to take pleasure in the physicality of life and not get so lost in our heads and the abstraction of pleasure or whether we should be desiring it. Be your pleasure, is what Sun in Taurus folks teach us.

Taurus Guardian Herbs

Rose by Alexis J. Cunningfolk

Rose (Rosa spp.)

18th century herbalist, J. Quincy, wrote that Rose “raises the spirits and gives sudden strength and cheerfulness” and categorized Rose as primarily a Cardiac and Cephalic or relating to the head. (1) In addition to strengthening the heart, Roses assist with memory and promotes clarity of mind, heart, and spirit by connecting all three. Rose nourishes the body and is sweet medicine which calms the nervous system. Within Ayurveda, Rose is considered a rasayana (rejuvenative tonic) and medhya (brain tonic + nervine) for all of the doshas. A very Taurean herb, indeed!

As an aphrodisiac, Rose is an opener - it opens the heart and body to sensual experience. Like many aphrodisiacs, Rose has nervine and nourishing qualities which help to relax and soothe the body so that it may become ready and desirous of intimacy. Additionally, Rose has also been shown to increase sperm count if fertility has been compromised because of lackluster sperm.

The benefits of Rose for the skin are manifold (anti-inflammatory, astringent, vitamin and mineral rich) and can be used in oils, scrubs, and baths for skin health and beauty. As a humectant, Rose Water adds and maintains water to the skin. Keep Rose Water in a spray bottle to use as a mild antiseptic for first aid needs.

As an herb of Venus, which is Taurus’ Guardian Planet, Rose and other Venusian herbs typically balance and cool the fiery energies of Mars in a chart. 

The latter was a sample from the much longer Rose Plant Profile available to my Lunar Apothecary students. Learn about the Rose Plant Personality, Rose Remedies, and a more in-depth exploration of Rose’s healing qualities as a member of the Lunar Apothecary!

Taurus Remedy Herb

image via wikimedia.org

Ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba)

While warming herbs might be needed for Taurus folks who have fallen out of balance (such as Rosemary or Ginger), I generally reach for a tonic herb such as Ginkgo which connects with the underlying of wisdom of Taurus. Ginkgo is the oldest living plant species on earth and has more or less stayed the same for 200 million years. I mean, come on, how much more Taurus can you get? A longevity herb for a sign known for its longevity helps Taurus folks relax into and connect with the healing qualities of Ginkgo.

Ginkgo is an antioxidant-rich, blood-clearing, memory sharpening teacher. Taurus folk can have difficulty connecting the physical reality with their emotional experiences, so Ginkgo can help them learn to interact with their emotional and spiritual landscape. I have also found the plant to help open up pathways to useful communication which Taurus folk can struggle to find when they feel apathetic, depressed, or ignoring and/or confused by their emotions. Ginkgo is clearing, moving out stagnation that may have settled in the body as pain, whether the slow healing of wounds or painful pre-menstrual tension. 

As a longevity herb, Ginkgo not only helps us live longer but live longer with vitality. My experiences with the herb is that because it connects the brain and heart (via the blood) so well it helps us to make better choices that will support vitality into our elder years.

Sun in Taurus Flower Essence

Peacock Ore supports the foundational gifts of Taurusfolk – making spirit into matter – and helps keep them from feeling that they are stuck in the mud when life feels burdensome and challenging. The stone itself looks like a healing Taurean aura - dark and rich with rainbow gleams of fertile promise. The stone aligns the energy centers of the body and creates energetic motion which can be very useful for Taurus folks who feel stuck or bogged down. Peacock Ore helps connects us back to hope in times of hopelessness and joy when it is needed most.

Ready to learn more?

• Check out the rest of my Astroherbology series including Starry-Hearted + Wild-Rooted: An Introduction to Astroherbology which includes additional study resources.

• Need a visual guide? Starmaps: The Astrological Body is for you!

• Looking for inspiration for Taurus season? Come this way!

• The Lunar Apothecary is a full length course using the tools of moon-centered herbalism and ritual to help you discover who you are as a healer.

• Want to create a healing Taurus recipe? Check out my Beautiful Sustenance Chaga Chai!

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Footnotes

(1) Tobyn, Graeme, Alison Denham, and Margaret Whitelegg. The Western Herbal Tradition: 2000 Years of Medicinal Plant Knowledge. Edinburgh: Elsevier, 2011.