Kindred Earth Botanicals

Time for a Ramble

4/11/2017

Not that a ramble afield makes everything
okay, just like that. But going out, alert
and open, causes some chamber of the heart
that has temporarily drained to pump
again. You can remember that you can
harbor loss, hold tight to sorrow, and honor
grief, while still rejoicing in the rich gifts of
the Earth . . . in a world deeply flawed . . .
this is no small potatoes.

- Robert M. Pyle

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Celebrating the Spring Equinox

3/20/2017

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This year, the Spring Equinox falls on Monday, March 20. The Spring Equinox is a celebration of fertility and new life. It marks the beginning of Spring and a time when day and night are balanced.

New growth is stimulated and supported in Spring; now is an excellent time for making a new start. Heightened creativity and enthusiasm naturally emerge to support you.

Here are a few ideas for welcoming the Spring Equinox:

Think of a new intention you have for the year ahead. Tie a colored ribbon around the branch of a nearby tree to remind you of this intention.

Anoint yourself with jasmine, rose, or any other natural sweet scents. Journal intentions about how you wish to feel in this new season. You can then continue to anoint yourself with these aromas throughout spring to deepen your connection to your wishes.

Plan ideas for your garden. What would you like to clear away? What will you plant anew?

Invite friends over for an equinox celebration. A potluck can feature seasonal foods like radishes, parsley, beets, avocado, artichokes, rhubarb, etc.

Have an Equinox adventure. Set out into nature on your own and be open to whatever the day brings. You may want to take a small journal with you to jot down any thoughts or inspiration that emerges.

Plan a seed swap with friends who like to garden.

Spring clean with essential oils. Clear out the old to welcome in the new. Find a recipe for an all natural cleaner here.

The equinox is a time when day and night are roughly equal. Reflect on what ways your life is in or out of balance. What could you do to bring about more balance?

Be open to change. The future may be filled with experiences, people, and places you've never seen. It may be benevolent in ways you've never imagined.

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Dear Reader,

What is your favorite way to celebrate the arrival of Spring?

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3 Reasons to Join NAHA in 2017

3/2/2017

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1. Subscription to NAHA's Aromatherapy Journal.
The quarterly e-journal is filled with articles written by the world's leading aromatherapy experts.
I love their aromatherapy blending recipes (you can find some of my own recipes in the journal too!)

2. Community.
The NAHA community is warm and welcoming. You can make new friends and network at our NAHA state meetings. I serve as the Illinois District Director and would love to see you at our Spring 2017 meeting which will be held in the North Chicago area. Feel free to contact me with any questions. As a NAHA member, you can also join in on live, educational aromatherapy webinars which are held online every month.

3. Attend the 2018 NAHA Aromatherapy Conference!
Our last conference was held in Salt Lake City, Utah. The event was so outstanding that NAHA has decided to hold it there again for the 2018 conference. You will love the Red Butte Botanical Garden on campus. 2018 will be here before you know it. Mark your calendar!

Here are some pictures from our last conference . . .

Join NAHA today and save $10.00 on NEW Membership
To learn more, visit:

naha.org/?/membership/become-a-member

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Building Ojas (Vitality) in 2017

1/10/2017

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Ayurveda is an ancient traditional healing modality from India. My clinical aromatherapy education included learning an Ayurvedic perspective on wellness.

According to Ayurvedic medicine, Ojas represents our wellness, vigor, and vitality. You could also say it's what gives us a "glow" that radiates out to others.

As I continue to delve into Ayurveda, I've discovered that certain practices really do add to my life and wellness. I hope you will find these tips useful!

Ways to Build Ojas:

Loving others
Laughing
Acting on what you are passionate about
Giving and serving others
Yoga
Abhyanga (self massage with warm herbal oils)
Aromatherapy
Meditation
Nasal breathing exercises
Being in nature
Practice surrendering to what is
Keep good company - surround yourself with positive, compassionate people
Eating fresh, wholesome foods in a relaxed manner
Getting ample rest – 7-8 hours of sleep with the cycles (up early, to bed early)
Eating dates and ghee (in moderate quantites)
Drinking golden milk. My favorite version consists of almond milk, raw honey, loads of turmeric, a pinch of black pepper, and adaptogenic herbs.

If you are interested in more Ayurvedic wisdom, take a look at my personal aromatherapy consultations. I offer an Ayurvedic intake and blends that are custom tailored to your own dosha (your unique constitution).

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Favorite Essential Oil Diffusor Blends for Winter

12/25/2016

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Winter scene with a blue sky and snow covered trees.

Winter can be a challenging season, but it is also a peaceful time with an opportunity for rest and inward reflection. I find that creating a feeling of coziness helps me savor winter. I love lighting beeswax candles and gazing out the window at the majestic, quiet trees.

Inhalation of essential oils reduces stress, promotes relaxation, and supports a healthy immune system. Diffusing also helps lift the winter blues.

I hope you enjoy trying out these Winter essential oil diffusor recipes!

Gingerbread Manor
5 drops of ginger
2 drops of clove bud
2 drops of cinnamon bark
1 drop of black pepper

Citrus Bliss
5 drops of red mandarin
3 drops of pink grapefruit
2 drops of tangerine

Winter Immune Support
(for healthy adults only)
4 drops of sweet orange
3 drops of ravintsara
2 drops of elemi
1 drop of clove bud

Joyful & Energizing
(for healthy adults only)
7 drops of pink grapefruit
3 drops of holy basil (tulsi)

Heart Opening
5 drops of bergamot
3 drops of rose
2 drops of patchouli

Do you have a favorite essential oil or blend for Winter?
Feel free to share in the comments below!

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The Peace of Wild Things

11/15/2016

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The Peace of Wild Things
by Wendell Berry

When despair grows in me
and I wake in the night at the least sound
in fear of what my life and my children's lives may be,
I go and lie down where the wood drake
rests in his beauty on the water, and the great heron feeds.
I come into the peace of wild things
who do not tax their lives with forethought
of grief. I come into the presence of still water.
And I feel above me the day-blind stars
waiting for their light. For a time
I rest in the grace of the world, and am free.

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Feelings Return for Love

10/31/2016

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You do not heal feelings.
They heal you, when you allow them
to guide you back
to your original Wholeness,
your loving nature,
your breath,
your place on this Earth,
your Indestructible Presence.

- Jeff Foster

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Looking for Gold

10/3/2016

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Looking for Gold
by William Stafford

A flavor like wild honey begins
when you cross the river. On a sandbar
sunlight stretches out its limbs, or is it
a sycamore, so brazen, so clean and bold?
You forget about gold. You stare - and a flavor
is rising all the time from the trees.
Back from the river, over by a thick
forest, you feel the tide of wild honey
flooding your plans, flooding the hours
till they waver forward looking back. They can't
return: that river divides more than
two sides of your life. The only way
is farther, breathing that country, becoming
wise in its flavor, a native of the sun.

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Autumn Recipes: Pumpkin Lasagna with Sage

9/13/2016

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Pumpkin Lasagna
Adapted from Williams-Sonoma

This recipe is one of the most delicious creations I've made in a long time! There are so many enticing flavors here: pumpkin, garlic, sage, and fontina cheese. When it comes to salt and pepper, I recommend using a generous amount of both for optimal flavor. This is not a quick recipe - more of a Sunday afternoon project. However, it's worth the effort!

Ingredients:

1 lb. whole milk ricotta cheese (Miriam's note: I used part-skim ricotta).
1 Tbs. julienned fresh sage
1/4 cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
1/2 tsp. minced garlic
Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste (Miriam's note: season generously)
2 yellow summer squash, cut into rounds 1/4 inch thick
2 zucchini, cut into rounds 1/4 inch thick
2 Tbs. olive oil
1 large yellow onion, thinly sliced
1 jar (24 oz.) pumpkin pasta sauce (Miriam's note: I bought mine at Whole Foods)
2 Tbs. parmesan cheese, optional (Miriam's note: I added this to the pumpkin sauce)
12 sheets dried ruffle-edged lasagna noodles, cooked until al dente (Miriam's note: I used gluten free, no cook lasagna noodles - they worked beautifully).
1/2 lb. Italian fontina cheese, shredded

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 450°F.

In a bowl, stir together the ricotta, sage, 3 Tbs. of the parsley and the garlic, and season with salt and pepper. Set aside.

In a large bowl, toss the yellow squash and zucchini with 1 Tbs. of the olive oil, and season with salt and pepper. Arrange in a single layer on a oiled baking sheet. Transfer to the oven and roast until tender and lightly browned, about 15 minutes.

Meanwhile, in an oval Dutch oven over medium heat, warm the remaining 1 Tbs. olive oil. Add the onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened and lightly browned, about 15 minutes. Transfer to a bowl and add the yellow squash and zucchini. Reduce the oven temperature to 400°F.

Spread 1/2 cup pasta sauce in an even layer on the bottom of the Dutch oven. Arrange a single layer of lasagna noodles on top, tearing them as needed to fit. Spread 1/2 cup ricotta mixture on the noodles and scatter 1 cup vegetable mixture on top. Spread 1/2 cup (4 oz./125 g) pasta sauce over the vegetables and sprinkle 1/2 cup fontina on top. Continue layering. Top with the remaining noodles, sauce and fontina.

Transfer to the oven and bake until the sauce is bubbly and the cheese is melted and browned, 45 to 50 minutes. Sprinkle the remaining 1 Tbs. parsley on top. Let the lasagna rest for 15 minutes before serving. Serves 8 to 10.

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Aromatherapy Tips for Travel

9/7/2016

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If you're traveling soon, don't forget about the benefits of aromatherapy for your trip!

If you're traveling by plane, it's helpful to know that most essential oils cans be taken with you in your carry on luggage. I have traveled with 5 and 15ml bottles with no problem. Larger aromatherapy blends can be stored in your suitcase; I recommend wrapping the blends in bubble wrap and then placing them inside a ziplock bag.

Here are some of the essential oils & aromatherapy blends that I like to travel with:

Essential Oils:

Lavender - Aids sleep and soothes anxiety. Also fantastic for bug bites.
Fennel - Supports healthy digestion. (Not suitable for all individuals, so check with a qualified aromatherapist).
Saro - A powerful, anti-infectious oil that provides amazing immune support.
Helichrysum - In case of minor injuries and accidents, helichrysum saves the day! This versatile oil also soothes emotional distress and upsets.
Geranium - Helpful for jet lag and restores emotional equilibrium.
Tea Tree - Disinfects small cuts and scrapes.

Do you have questions about how to safely and effectively use these essential oils?
Feel free to contact me.

I also suggest trying some of my ready-made aromatherapy blends below:

Aromatherapy Blends:

Cooling Summer Gel - Useful for a multitude of ailments including bug bites, mild sunburns, aching muscles, headaches, anxiety, and insomnia.
Refreshing Hair Mist - Aromatherapy and a cleansing hair treatment, all in one. This is an aromatic, liquid spritzer that works like a dry shampoo. It works better than any dry shampoo I've tried. Emotionally uplifting.

Herbal Remedies:

Gin Gins - Ginger candies that are excellent for soothing an upset stomach.
Fennel seeds - If you don't have fennel essential oil, fennel seeds are easy to slip into a ziplock bag. I chew on a few seeds after dining out and they're very helpful for keeping my stomach settled and happy.

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Dear Reader,

Which essential oils and aromatherapy blends do you use while traveling?

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