From Dec 18th 2014 Newsletter

Hello
From Kellie and Herbs & Things.

The cave you fear to enter holds the treasure you seek. 
~Joseph Campbell~

Book club this month was much fun and the book Leaving Time by Jodi Picoult...was AWESOME. If you are on the waiting list, stay there, it's worth the wait and IS a must read.

Memory Keepers daughter from last month was also a good read.

Spiritual Gab was fun too, we talked of many things, such as, Chiron the wounded healer, great teacher, who represents our deepest wound and the efforts to heal the wound; How Chiron's placement in astrology is affecting many of us.  

Chiron was named after the centaur in Greek mythology who was a healer and teacher who, ironically, could not heal himself. 

Also about, that the 'holding pattern' we've all been feeling is starting to dissipate. We discussed how we wanted to kind of hibernate and just wait for some things to just be over. Maybe I can shed some 'light' on these feelings and why they are there.

If you ever want a reality check of who is control, you or the animals, Especially when your are sure you now have the chickens trained to come when you call them because they always do... just have 4 chickens sneak out of the barn when you are done with chores and ready to go in, through the what you thought was to small of an opening for them, in to the snow free driveway thoroughfare, and then try to get them back in, while keeping the others from coming out, because they aren't ready to go back in their coup where you can lock them in.

Yep the crazy chicken lady, was at it again...that be me...LOL

The Winter Solstice is almost here. We all look forward to it for many different reasons. We start to gain daylight hours, like the energy winter brings, it's almost Christmas and the new year, and more.  

Many will be celebrating with drumming, dancing and big gatherings, which if this is what you feel you should do, you should...but I get the feeling, at least for me, and maybe for many others, more so than last years quiet time, this should be a quiet celebration with much reflection, and thoughts and thanks for what we have. Because change is coming. Thus because this change is coming, we need this quiet time, solitude, and rest to be prepared.

I found even through Christmas decorating this year, a reflection of this 'quiet' with my senses wanting subtle, natural and soft decorations with few lights, leaning towards mostly a old fashion, natural and country kitchen smells, motif.

I feel the holding pattern we've all been feeling for weeks and months, is about to dissipate, shift and energetically increase, bringing spiritual energy closer to the physical and many of us will feel it strongly, hence... prepared through rest.

One reason I think I've gotten this message correct, is confirmation by a dreamTuesday Dec 16th.

Black Panther came to me in my dream. With out going in to great detail of the dream, the gist was, I was afraid when I saw him, and ran from fear, but once I got to safety I accepted this fear, saw his beauty, and was proud that I survived it's presence, all that happened was significant. 

Panther is about reclaiming ones true power. It's cycles of power is New Moon (Dec 22nd, day after the solstice), Dark of Moon (the lunar cycle from dark moon, until the new moon)and winter. Also the fact I dreamt of Panther now, and he was a...pronounced shiny.... black, links it to this Dec 2014 Lunar energy, thus making it's timing, before the solstice, New Moon and during the Dark Moon Phase, perfect!

For whom Panther comes to, it's energy is sometimes a reflection of ones self, in that Panthers often are loners, although they do like to socialize with others, but find comfort in alone time. Panther also suggests being quiet while pursuing goals, and is often a symbol of darkness, death and rebirth, Darkness where most of our fears are. Death meaning old parts of ourselves are dieing...and new is emerging.

Panther helps us to understand the dark, our fears so we can acknowledge them, thus eliminating fears and allowing us to use our 'new' powers as we travel towards the light of the new moon; New Moon representing the beginning or birth of things.

Panther Medicine covers much, and reflects the saying 'of that which does not kill us, makes us stronger', thus it's energy also holds the promise of rebirth and guardianship, and that whatever is lost will be replaced by that which is greater, stronger and more beneficial.

Dark Moon...Stillness is the key word for the Dark Moon Phase. Restful, rich solitude gives you the chance to hear that inner voice. With the lunar face hidden, the intuitive-psychic self takes over. This quiet reflection helps make space for a clearing of the mind and spirit, so that you can be ready to receive when the light of the new moon illuminates.

The holidays for some is stressful, and I've had a lot of people ask about aromatherapy. So here are few ideas for up lifting or calming down scents.

And of course I do have a few essential oils in Herbs & Things...You can use them in a diffuser or in a pan of hot water ( I use EO's in my pan of water on top of fireplace heater in the kitchen). 

Oils such as lavender, chamomile, geranium, yang yang, sandalwood, cedar-wood or patchouli are great for calming and smoothing your energy.

Clary sage, Melissa, orange, lemon verbena, and lemongrass are good to lift your spirits.

Cinnamon, clove, ginger, allspice, citrus and evergreen scents help create positive energetics of "winter holidays."

Remember, Essentials oils are not your only source of aromatherapy.

Herbs & Things wonderful scented home poured 100% soy candles, in a variety of calming, or uplifting scents. (yes a shameless plug:)

With the Snowvember storm, there are plenty of evergreen branches on the ground for you to gather and use in the house, in a vase with other holiday decorations, created a swag or what ever idea you come up with and have fresh pine scent.

Put mulling spices in a pan of hot water and let simmer.

The smell of baking cookies or bread, always creates a calming throughout the house.

Burn a beeswax candle, it will have a subtle aroma of honey.

Take a walk outdoors in the fresh air, breath in and enjoy!

Be well
Laugh often
Love large
Dig in the dirt
Grow a garden
and may the sun light your way

Kellie
+
Herbs & Things  

From March 21st 2014...
Happy Spring
From Kellie and Herbs & Thing
No winter lasts forever; no spring skips its turn.
~Hal Borland~

It is Spring and today the sun is shining.
I know it’s hard to think it's spring as the cold and snows still have their grip on us, and I am anxious to get my new little green house up, but close your eyes and feel instead of looking, and you will feel springs energy all around you.

Last week I was invited from the the big old Tree up in Chris's hay field across from the Medicine Wheel, to come and visit. I did not go then, the time did not feel right.

It was with joy Monday, walking to the Medicine Wheel, I heard what I've been waiting for, the song of the Red Winged Blackbird...telling me Spring really is here in spite of what it looks like outside. Not only did Red Wing announce they were back but they also graced my yard and feeders Thursday in a huge number of at least 50. But this mobbing of my feeders I believe was not only finding food in the spring snow storm, but a conformation that a visit I did, was just at the time I was suppose to do it

Taking advantage of another beautiful day, Tuesday the dogs and I again, walked over to the Wheel enjoying the Robins and Red Wings Songs, and watching the Bluebirds pick bugs off the snow; how resourceful they are. Though I want the snow gone, I had to thank the hard snows still on ground making the walk over to the Wheel, and up the hill later, much easier.

Tuesday was the time...time to go visit the Old Tree...Once more taking a moment to listen and soak in, the welcomed song of the Red Wing Black birds, I started my trek to visit the Old Tree.

At first I was almost afraid to take the walk, why? I really don’t know, but I pushed on. Once the dogs and I crossed the road from the Medicine Wheel and started walking up the hill, it took on a surreal, quiet and calm feeling.
I enjoyed looking at all the various tracks on the snow....Fox, Duck, Turkey, Crow, Deer, Mouse/Mole, all those I did not see with my eye that had crossed that field, but their tracks, just like mine now, told a story that they were there.

The serenity and quiet embraced me like a hug. I noticed too, as I got closer to the tree, the sounds of my foot steps on the snow, and my coat brushing against the bushes, were amplified...creating a new depth to the sounds and heightened my hearing, making everything seem as if it were in another dimension or a different area.

About 40 foot away for the Tree, I was awed by the energy it expelled. The energy though powerful, was warm and welcoming.
The old Tree is surrounded by brush and it took me a minute to find my way through a small pathway. When I reached the Tree, I was awed again, forgetting from Linda’s and my last visit, the size of the trunk and it's massive limbs.
Just as I stepped on a rock that is near the tree, a breezed stirred and gently brushed on my face, if felt as if if someone had opened a door and I walked through.

I stood on the rock, laid my hands on the Trees warm trunk; the dogs lay at the base of the trunk, still and quiet, they too seemed to be soaking in the welcoming energy of the Tree. Again, a breeze brushed against my skin and was inviting. Just being there feeling her bark on the palms of my hands was comforting. I could feel a heart beat. I concentrated to see if it was my own, It was not, there were two distinct heartbeats, hers and mine.
I closed my eyes, I felt sadness and think the Tree told me it felt like it was dying. It was low on energy, because that it and all the other trees, felt forgotten, not by the animals but by us humans.
I asked if I could do anything and She asked for energy healing.So I asked God to allow the energy to flow through me. As I felt the warmth go through me into the Tree, my thoughts were...trees are a direct connection to God so why could they not ask God to heal themand I heard, sometimes a simple touch is the healing modality one needs.

In this quiet reflection I realized how much the sounds in the valley and beyond, from my position under the Tree, were amplified to the point it sounded like people were right next to me. I could hear people and sounds from up on Partridge and way down Hayes Hollow.
Amazed by this amplified hearing, the Tree knowing my thoughts, told me, it hears all the prayers, sorrows, angers and fears, from miles around and sends them to God. This is why She and many other Trees are tired, because they always help us, but so many of us in our to hurried lives, don’t take the time to give back or give thanks for what Trees do.
She told me, the Tree people, watch many of us drive and walk by, but are hurt the majority of people no longer take the time to acknowledge them or give Trees a second thought; taking them for granted.
She then asked me, "why can't humans see what the world would be like without trees" and She reminded me, all Trees are connected to each other, God, the Earth and us, each healing the other...if only we would connect again.
After spending a while with the Tree, I could ‘feel’ she felt better, and i got some of it was just in the fact I took the time and thanked Her too for inviting me, I told her I’d be back.
After reaching the bottom of the hill, walking back through the Medicine Wheel, I had to walk the East spoke, honor the Red Wing Blackbird, then walk the spoke of the Ancestors. I heard, “The Ancestors and Trees work as one”.

I found out after the fact, doing the walk on this day, after the return of the Red Wing Black makes sense with perfect timing, because the colors of the Red Wing Blackbird are connected to the Tree of Life and has ties to all the creative forces of nature. blink, blink...awesome.
Trees are an Ancient life and powerful symbol of the connection we all have, between each other, heaven and earth and the universe. They represent all things that grow. They are of the Earth but reach to the Sky, creating a bridge, as birds do, we need between heaven and earth to enable us to walk between the two in our consciousness as we grow.
It is the Tree that holds the knowledge of paradise and hell to us, along with many other lessons of the ancestors.
One needs to know nothing of the labels we’ve put on Trees, all we need to do is spend time with one, to feel It’s energy and gain from it’s ancient wisdom, literally and spiritually.
So this is a reminder, as you go about your day, take a moment to give thanks to the trees, and what they offer; They offer more than we realize.
As always
Be well
Laugh often
Love large
Dig in the dirt
Grow a garden
and may the sun light your way
Kellie
&
Herbs & Things