Welcome to this week’s newsletter and what a magical time it’s been too. I’ve smiled a lot and laughed with joy and it all started with a wander through the field, partly garden over the lane from home. I say part garden as my husband (henceforth known as Digger!) is slowly claiming part of the field as extra garden.
I took my wander and a patch of vibrant yellow caught my eye near the herb bed almost looking as if she were edging her way in that general direction! I wondered what it was and I was thrilled to see an Evening Primrose had appeared and I rather feel it was a gift – perhaps from the fairies, for the plant is is associated with these lovely beings. This did make me laugh for joy as not so many moons ago, I saw this plant growing wild in a nearby village and admired it then and thought ‘I’d love one of those’ and hey presto!! The fairies must have been listening in. Here she has appeared with divine timing.
Evening primrose is certainly a wonderful plant to have your garden and not just for their vibrant beauty. This lovely biennial plant has many wonderful healing properties. ‘My’ plant is currently about a three to four feet high but, it may yet grow some more as they can reach a rangy 6ft. The blooms are four petalled and when opened you can see the petals are a perfect heart-shaped form and, four comes into play a little further on too. (You’ll see).
Evening primrose is associated with both Sun, Moon and Venus and it is a ‘watery’ plant, feminine and nurturing in its nature. The moon connection is obvious if you take into account that the petals partially close or close right up in bright light, only opening fully on a shady, cloudy day. Their colour of course relates to that bright disc we occasionally see in the sky, lol, especially where I live! It’s numerology is connected to the number four – hold that thought.
You probably have come across and perhaps take Evening Primrose for PMS and relieving those unpleasant symptoms associated with it. It gets more magical than that though (and yes, it is associated with magic too). Think skin, hair loss, mood swings, arthritis, chest problems and you have assistance for all of these with Evening Primrose (Oenothera biennas for those who love the Latin names).
How about a cuppa then? Just an ounce of bark and leaves in ½ litre of water, boil and simmer for just ten minutes. Cool and strain. Will keep for a couple of day’s in the fridge.
(Always use herbs with caution, especially if you are on medication or have medical conditions which may be adversely affected. If in doubt, ask a herbalist or your G,P.)
As I write there is a bit of a theme developing or rather, developing more deeply. Moon Essences and Moon Magic are nudging me. You might like to try this if it appeals, for your Lunar rituals if you partake in them, or for healing (again pay heed to the above words). Rituals or celebrations will be featured in future newsletters as we turn through the wheel of the year.
FOR A LUNAR (OR SOLAR) ESSENCE OF EVENING PRIMROSE
You’ll need a clean clear glass bowl, spring water,clean scissors or plant snips, and either brandy, vodka, food grade glycerine or apple cider vinegar.
Firstly, I always think it polite to connect with the plant and to ask permission to use its blooms and I usually say why and what for. I say my words in my mind, you don’t have to be yelling out, so don’t fret about looking like a total oddball in communing with the plant kingdom. You may get a sense of yes go ahead, or sometimes a you can even get a firm feeling of no. If you do get a no, then honour it and move to another plant. Remember to say thank you too!
Now for the really fun bit. Have your bowl of spring water ready and hold it below the bloom you are about to snip off. Catch the flower in the water taking care not to actually handle it. You want the pure vibration of the flower. Depending on whether you’re going lunar or solar, place your bowl somewhere where it won’t be overshadowed
by other plants. You can put it on a windowsill if you wish to put it inside where it’ll catch the solar or lunar rays.
Now you may wish to just use the water in a little ritual or even make a tincture! Firstly though you need to take out the flowers and any other debris. Do this with a leaf from the plant is a nice idea. Don’t do it with your fingers. Return the flowers and any other bits and bobs to the Earth with a word of gratitude.
Decant the water into a dark bottle. To make a tincture half fill a bottle with the water and top up with either brandy, vodka, glycerine or apple cider vinegar as mentioned earlier. The last too are for those who do not touch alcohol. I usually use vodka. A tincture will keep good for many years. Store it in a dark place.
If you use the no alcohol method, then you need to put it in a fridge but it may still last for up to 12 months.
Tinctures can be taken in water or on the tongue. For the internal taking do talk to a qualified practitioner. I’m just sharing what I’ve learnt on my journey!
Having been dazzled by the zingy yellow, let’s move onto colour healing (I can never resist talking about colour).
YELLOW IN COLOUR HEALING
Yellow is associated with the solar plexus chakra (spinning energy wheel) which is sitting just above your navel, right where you might get butterflies when you’re anxious or nervous! I get a mental image of a Brimstone butterfly here :-)
It is associated with self power, confidence, intellect, mental stimulation. It’s a great supportive colour to work with if you’re studying! Wear some yellow, or just have something yellow around you. You’ll see if you try it out.
Yellow can help us with our self confidence (or lack of it) and help us to release the build up of toxins in the body. It will work by stimulating the lymphatic system into draining more efficiently and thereby, getting rid of all those yucky toxins. (Lemon juice is a good yellow drink for this too ;)). It can help diabetics, those with intestinal issue and also arthritis. I name but a few things. It is a really fabulous plant.
Personally, I love a cup of warm diluted lemon juice. It refreshes and uplifts and I could do with a cup now! *takes a break*
Back to it then and I think it’s time to share the telling off!!
I was in the wood just ambling through with Bertie (my Jack Russell Terrier) on our daily walk and I stood for a few moments beneath my favourite beech, who I call Mother Beech as she is huge and very wise,and was just enjoying the company of the trees and the lovely sound of the river babbling and gushing below, and which is in full spate after all the rain we’ve had here in Wales. I heard the most ear piercing, shrieking, shouting from up in the trees. At first my eyes couldn’t locate where this noise was from. Then I saw it…. Not a bird….
A squirrel, sat up on a branch a couple of trees away, just shouting at me! His mouth was hanging open and he had such a look of indignation on his little face. I daresay he may not have liked my pawed friend so much, but he wasn’t snuffling around anywhere near him. Did Squirrel have a cache hidden away under Mother Beech I wonder? He was worried I was going to pinch his nuts!! I took this as a nudge to move on and so we did.
I had it in my mind that a poem was there to be written but, I didn’t get straight onto that (typical Elaine fashion) until a few days later, when it happened again! Not in the same place, but I can’t help but wonder if it was the same squirrel. That 2nd experience prompted the poem I now share with you. I’ve never experienced a shouting squirrel before. Have you??
A WOODLAND MEETING
I was wandering through the woodland on an early Autumn day.
Leave rustling under foot, the wind in the leaves at play.
I stopped a while to listen to the river and my energy to ground,
When all at once came an alarming, shrieking sound.
What was that I thought, a banshee?
Then, my eyes caught sight of someone up on a branch of nearby tree.
Fuzzy little squirrel, mouth open, he’s staring and shouting at my dog and me.
He’s saying, move away, for my cache I do not want you to see.
I’ve been busying, gathering acorns to take me through Wintertime,
Especially if it’s icy, snowy or ground covered in frosty rime.
I said to him, we’re going, we’re moving away,
And as we leave you dear squirrel, may you have a Blessed day.
May the Winter be kind to you and all the animals of the wood,
And know, the message you sent was clearly understood.
We meant you no harm and wish you well,
But your message I shall tell.
So, when you go a-wandering, tread gently and with love,
And spare a thought for those who live there, be it on the ground or above.
© 2023 Elaine Jeyes
NATURE INSPIRATION
The local wood down the lane is a constant source of inspiration and sparks much creativity. So it was, that acorns sparked something. The woodland floor is literally covered with them right now, they’re not all ripe, brown ones, some still very green, that lovely fresh lime green, but the recent high winds have caused many to fall to the ground. They looked so smooth, shiny and tactile that I wanted to do something with them. I have a big soft spot for oak trees, and perhaps that had something to do with it. Here is what I made…..
I asked permission (just as I ask the plants) to take away the acorns (which will be returned in due course) and also some of the oak leaves that also had tumbled in clusters in places. Lots of little pieces of branch ends, which looked like oak leaf bouquets on the ground.
I placed these in a five pointed star shape as you can see, just by intuition . A nod to the elements which surround us and are within us all and also of course, a symbol of protection.
Oak too, is connected to protection and also with strength and wisdom. Oak nudges us to have strength and courage to take those small steps to move forward in life, be it a new phase, a new project. The Welsh word for Oak is Derw and in Gaelic Duir – which means door. A doorway to wisdom, a doorway to other realms, a doorway to opportunity. Is there a door that you’re ready to open? Oak speaks of moving forward, following your inner wisdom but to feel safe in doing so. Spirit has your back.
Allow yourself now to be drawn into the mandala/grid and connect with the energy of the acorns, oak leaves and also the clear quartz crystals.
Plants and trees love clear quartz. Place a quartz in your plant pots, they love it! A clear quartz can also lengthen the life time of cut flowers too, (so remember this next time you have some flowers, whether you give then to yourself or are gifted them). It’s likely to do with the fact that it is a crystal of high vibration and it enhances energy! It’s known to be a master healer too and takes the energy of a being (e.g. plant or human) and assists into taking the energy of that being into its purest state of being that is possible at the time. This crystal too, is associated with the Sun and Moon, just like the Evening Primrose and it too has the numerological value of number four!! Spirit is a play here again, obviously. More magic. Clear quartz then is a balancer. You know, you could perhaps place a cleansed clear quartz in your spring water when you make your flower essence! Double the energy…..
If you’d like to know more about cleansing crystals and programming them, leave a comment and I’ll factor these things into another newsletter!!
Until next time. May your days be magical, peaceful and blessed….
Elaine xx
Lovely Elaine... 💛