Wow, it's almost been a year. It's not that I haven't been thinking of green things and wanting to plant and wanting to write. I guess I just haven't. No worries though - that's the beauty of a blog for me...I'd love to have a following...but if I can just make sure I get my thoughts down so one day I can read them again, I'm happy.

So my inspiration today is SPRING TIME! I'm in love with being able to plant and greenify my space. And it's been totally true, the more stable I am/feel, the more I'm able to plant and get into it.

Some of my recent accomplishments: I've planted a lovely little herb pot! Mom gave it to me a few weeks ago after she decided she wasn't ever going to plant it. (And she gave me her 3 plant mini gardens too, btw - more about those later.) Well I went ahead and planted the herb pot and some strawberry seeds I had from a strawberry planter kit and a few days ago the herbs started sprouting! They are really coming up! I'm so excited about that. There's something magical about growth, especially when you can see it so tangibly. I told myself purposely that I wouldn't label them until they grew to a decent distinguishable size. I know it's backwards but it does make it more fun:).

The strawberries are a LOT slower but they are sprouting teeny weeny sprouts too now. and they all seem to be well watered and healthy. that's wonderful:). very affirming indeed.

So I made this weekend/specifically Saturday my garden day. I'm so looking forward to it:).

My Summer Solstice Celebration Dish :-)

I made deviled eggs to celebrate the Summer Solstice this year. They were so easy! This is truthfully the first year I've done anything more than a ritual at my own altar or outside. I still haven't had the fun of participating in a celebration with a bunch of others but one day:).

Here is the book my recipe came from.


I love this cookbook! It's full of fairly easy recipes that correlate to different holidays and aspirations. It makes a meal that much more special when you infuse it with a little magic;).

Clayton College Masters of Natural Health

I'm SO excited to say that I've started back up my program! It's been YEARS, lol. Life has been so full and so demanding and so challenging. And for a long while, I wasn't able to get back to my studies. But now finally I am!

My concentration is in herbalogy but technically, I'm still towards the beginning of my classes and taking my foundation courses. So when I stopped I was just finishing up my 1st herbalogy course and was preparing to start my homeopathy 101 course.

The course is based on the book "Everybody's Guide to Homeopathic Medicine". I love this book!

It's so easy to read and I'm of course, learning a lot.

I can't describe adequately either the feeling of being actively involved in this kind of study again. It feels so fulfilling! I can easily say that I don't know what I'm going to do with my master's. I don't know what it realistically is going to prepare me for or how I'm going to really be able to use it. But I want it. I really really want it. And so I guess for right now, that's going to be enough:).

I've been toying with the idea of sticking around in my current location for a while longer than I had originally planned and applying to a fancy school of public service for yet another masters. Two years is going to pass by regardless-so maybe it's worth it to make it two years that culminate towards something rather than not. I'm thinking about it:).

Pomegranate Raspberry Green Tea

It's been a long while since I've had the taste for this tea. And again, I know it's not quite what you'd expect from an herbalist. I figure though, well I've come to terms with is more apt, that proclaiming myself a green witch doesn't have to be a limitation. It doesn't have to mean "I only do this and not that." I love all things green. I appreciate all the ways the planet nurtures and nourishes me. I try to be thankful for all the gifts that the Universe provides me.

And that includes Stash Pomegranate Raspberry Green Tea ;-). I steeped it for 15 mins, much longer than suggested. I always do and I always cover it. Any tea I'm making-it's hard to break the habit and I'm not convinced it's a habit that needs breaking. Accept maybe in the case of Chamomile:-).

I added the wonderful local honey I've been feasting on for the past few months. And the cup is lovely. Absolutely lovely. Absolutely perfect. It's kept me from eating more chocolate chips by satiating completely that (sometimes) nuisance of a sweet tooth of mine:).

I'm grateful for Stash today and truly grateful for sweet tea.

Solixir

I found a new favorite beverage today at Whole Foods. It's called Solixir and it's stock full of really good herbs. And it tastes pretty good too.

Reading the label with lovelies like elderberry and nettles just made my heart sing. It's $1.99 for a 12 oz (I think can) which is not too bad at all.

I think I'm going to add it to my treat menu-things I buy when I'm treating myself:). On this page, you can find all the botanicals that they use. Their choices are fabulous...perfeot modern green witchy herbs...Solixir's Botanicals

There's a Goddess In You Workshop Description

Hey All! This is a workshop I'm hoping to give here in LR in the next month or so. LR seems to be a town just now opening to things of this nature. It'd be good for them and soooo good for me too:). Do check it out! Be forewarned though, it's rather long:).

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There's A Goddess Within You!

 

Are you wondering what this means?

 

The Goddess within you is that part of a woman that is her wholeness – her completeness. 

 

It's what brings her sometimes fragmented world together.

 

It's what helps her remain herself amidst a world of influences.

 

It's what helps her find her strength, her wisdom, and her ability to be all that she is -

Be that for her family, her work, her community and

especially for herself

 

 

So how are you going to discover the Goddess Within You? 

Come to this workshop and be inspired!

 

In this hands-on, super fun workshop we'll learn through five modes how to embrace that beauty within us. 

 

Through playing and learning together, we'll awaken in ourselves our natural ability to be all that “WOMAN” means, something that we may have lost along our way.   

 

So what can you expect? 

Day 1

(12pm - 3pm)

Exploring the Goddess Within through Dance and Beauty!

 

Using the Rhythms of Salsa, a dance rooted in African culture,

we will learn to reconnect with our bodies and their natural rhythmic flows. 

Salsa is all about embracing the sensuality and grace of your femininity within the dance.

 

But before we learn how to move on the floor, we'll learn how to enhance our natural beauty with mineral makeup!

Using  Etniq Mineral Cosmetics, we will all become makeup artist extraordinaires!  Each lady in attendance will walk away knowing what her best colors are along with expert techniques to create any type of look she wants.  We'll also come to understand why we adorn ourselves with makeup and how to do this holistically and with continued love for self! 

 

If time permits, we'll also delve into the world of homemade natural beauty products by touching on which household items are best bets for natural skin care and what exactly fruits and vegetables can do from the outside in!

 

Day 2

(12pm - 3pm)

Exploring the Goddess Within through Hearth and Home!

 

The three topics we will cover in Day 2 are Green Cleaning Solutions, Growing your own Garden Pharmacy, and Cooking Healthfully and Easily!

 

I'll first teach you the reasons why green cleaning is important, from an outer and an inner perspective.  Then we'll have fun empowering ourselves by making a few tried and true all-natural, effective cleaners. 

 

Next up is the garden.  You don't have to have a green thumb to embrace the goddess wisdom within you about good herbs and plants you can grow.  We'll learn which herbs are easiest to grow and how to use them everyday for your nutritional ABCs to cures for common complaints.  Since it's summer, we'll also dabble in some vegetable growing!

 

Last but not least, a true goddess knows how to nourish with ease using simple and delicious foods.  This is something many of us, though eager to embrace, still have problems with.  This section will put an end to these problems, showing us what simple foods to choose and the easiest, most nutritional ways to prepare them.  The goddess within is all about balance and sometimes we need quick and easy:).  

 

And remember, everything we do will be about hands-on learning!

 

At the end of this two day workshop, I promise you will have met the goddess within you and you'll embrace her with ease and love!

 

Come play, learn, and remember with us!   

 

 

                            Who is Leah Patterson?

Leah Patterson has worked many years in the field of holistic health and wellness.  Her titles include herbalist, holistic esthetician and makeup artist, wellness instructor and workshop facilitator, holistic non-profit organization co-founder and CEO, holistic bath, body, and skin care formulator, and wellness small business owner to name some.  She is tirelessly devoted to helping others embrace a holistic lifestyle and never stops learning herself.  She conducts these workshops as much for herself as she does for her participants and truly enjoys the collaborative, supportive bonds that develop.  She says to everyone “Come join us!”

 

 

 

A Cup of Tension Tamers

Mmmm, I know that celestial seasons tension tamers isn't what you'd picture a green witch choosing. but you know what, i'm a green witch in modern times without my own forest to go frolic in.

And I need taming. And why deny that celestial seasonings has done something good. something right in providing the masses with tea that is good. IN saying that it makes me want to google celestial seasonings really quick and see if in fact the world's public opinion agrees with me. and to make sure they haven't commited any heinous crimes against nature.

but as for right now? right now, i'm going to enjoy my cup of tea. i'm going to take it in for every good thing it can bring. i'm going to imagine i saw every single herb that is blessing me with soothing tonight and thanked each one. I'm going to let myself drift away to the dream of the place where I learned to slow down and be.

Thank you Robin:).