Achillea millefolium

Achillea millefolium

Continuing our exploration of ancestral wisdom and plant gifts, I wanted to share with you a small bit of information about Achillea millefolium, commonly called yarrow, milfoil, woundwort, staunchweed, herba militaries, allheal and bloodwort. A review of these common names indicates Achillea’s powerful ability to staunch bleeding. I have heard some pretty harrowing stories of its successful use as emergency first aid for major wounds.

Ancestors, Alchemy and Anti-Virals

Ancestors, Alchemy and Anti-Virals

This piece was written toward the middle of the pandemic. It feels like a nice way to share some herbal lore, plant wisdom and perennial power.

Something deep inside is awakening. It is true for me, but I get the feeling it is true in a broader sense for all of us. We are in a shared experience that no member of humanity is escaping (maybe there is some tribe deep in a forest somewhere who remains untouched, but by now, that is unlikely). In general, every single one of us is knee deep, no at this point, probably shoulder deep into the churning and discovering inevitable of this pandemic world. And very few pandemic survivors are with us from the 1918 flu, though surely the changes of the last century have made this an entirely different experience. So, while we can certainly learn from our ancestors as we transit the right of passage similar to that of a century ago, we also must learn by listening to our hearts for a way through the challenges, a way to alchemize lead into gold, inspired deeply by sipping on potions of sour lemons turned to mouth-watering lemonade.

Touch Your Already Open Heart

Touch Your Already Open Heart

Many sage people from many, many different parts of the world and belief systems have tapped into the miraculous gift of an open Heart. From this connection comes the wisdom of Christ, the teaching of Mary Magdalene, the poetry of Hafiz, the depth of self-inquiry from Ramana Maharshi. From this connection, comes the voice of Love through the vessel to shower the world in beauty, to penetrate into the world the possibility of being a Divine human.