Meeting the wild plants of Glastonbury Abbey

Glastonbury Abbey, a peaceful summer haven

Last Saturday I attended the modestly titled Herb Walk led by local herbalist Jenny Gaze. Jenny is wise and accomplished, possessing a clear and thorough knowledge of wild and cultivated herbs.

Jenny gives useful information for collecting, preparing and storing plant materials. All good stuff. And yet beyond the practical something deeper was  illuminated: the hallmark of a truly talented teacher.

In recent weeks I have been exploring teachings around sacred plants, plant medicine and plant consciousness. Meandering with Jenny through the stunning wildlife haven of Glastonbury Abbey during high summer was a perfect means of animating this research. The session highlighted themes and insights that are showing up all around in my life right now, may be this will resonate for you too:

Jenny identifies mullein

The gift of change: Loss as a call to empowerment and re-skilling
The recently enacted EU directive prohibiting the sale of many plant based health supplements upset and angered many friends and therapists within the community.

I haven't felt moved to protest; it doesnt work for me to resist change; I prefer to flow like water and look instead for the opportunity to create something new, real and sustainable.

Surely it is an improved, evolved scenario to know someone personally, within one's community who can advise, teach and provide. And ultimately this is a call to learn for ourselves how to make one's own teas, tinctures, decoctions and ointments.

Humanity's current insanity is a blip in the grand scheme of things
Jenny really helped me shift perspective here as she related how up until the 1940s i.e. within living memory doctors in general practice in this country would rely on herbal medicine as a main treatment modality.

The pharma-scientific-technological-capitalism, the unchecked exponential expansion of allopathic pharmacology was a short, intense phase of aggressive acceleration that is burning itself out (MRSA anyone?) Peace and sanity is being restored TODAY; the old and new systems operating in parallel; one falling away as the other rises.

Return to community living, honouring of ancestral wisdom and tribal ways
Our indigenous ancestors held and embodied the timeless teachings of nature and we will again and it this time it will not be lost. We are interested in Grandmother's remedies. We turn to the wise elders within our community. We have the answers amongst us. We share resources and skills.  We care for each other, we are important in each other's lives. Embodying knowledge, we become living teachers of a practical wisdom that is enhanced and shared through the day-to-day reality of our lives. 

Receiving the teachings in the presence of the plant

Real and direct modes of learning  
I acknowledge and embrace all of the amazing digital technologies that allow me to be present with a master teacher in Hawaii or Skype with a friend in New Zealand. 

I love the vast and growing libraries of interviews and recordings that  humanity is sharing so freely and easily at this time when relearning is vital. Yet right now, for me, nothing beats showing up in a small, curious group and being shown how. 

Shifting to an expanded consciousness:  
As we become alive and sensitive to ourselves we begin to experience the natural world as sacred, alive, intelligent, aware and caring. Higher states known by enlightened masters and advanced spiritual seekers are available to us all. Feeling deep presence, divine healing energies and moments of sacred bliss are our birthright, our soulright.

Moving into heart-based sacred relationship The Earth is our mother who loves us and wants to care for us. Plants can support us in our cleansing, nourishing, healing and beautifying. As we synergise and align with their subtle signatures we receive nurture and increase vitality. It is for us to choose to recognise and accept the great love and abundance being offered. And we can choose to reciprocate with sensitivity, empathy and intuition; gratitude, respect and honouring.

Affirmations and intentions:

I reclaim my relationship with the natural world

I treat myself kindly and holistically with natural remedies

I open myself to receive the wisdom, love and nurture of Mother Earth

I acknowledge the sacredness and beauty of all living beings

Links/resources:

Additional photos from the Glastonbury Abbey Herb Walk on facebook

Further opportunities to learn from Jenny in Glastonbury early autumn 2011 www.jennygaze.com

International teacher Eliot Cowan is a personal plant hero, I recommend his book Plant Spirit Medicine

I am inspired by the programs on offer at the Gaian Institute, New Mexico www.gaianstudies.org

Joanna Harcourt-Smith interviews leading luminaries from the fields of indigenous wisdom, ancestral pathways, Gaia consciousness and related topics www.futureprimitive.org

Bountiful blessings of high vibrational plant love and healing

Jennifer

Visit to Merrick's Organic Farm Shop

A friendly welcome awaits

"I can't wait to taste that!' Exclaimed Amanda, plucking a jar of home-made spiced pumpkin and apricot jelly from the shelf. We were both amazed and delighted by the varied bounty of fresh, organic produce on sale at Merrick Farm's shop.

It was my suggestion to make the trip from Glastonbury. A former housemate of mine used to visit weekly and return with unfeasible amounts of lovely looking fruit, veg and flowers.

Blessed with sunny blue skies, we chatted and laughed as we bounced along Somerset's rural roads in Amanda's beloved campervan.

Simon who owns and manages Merrick Farm popped into the barn-cum-shop and introduced himself.  He was friendly and relaxed as was the general vibe of the place. His wife Jane also dropped by, presumably the genius talent behind the awesome array of pickles, jellies, jams and chutneys on sale. She must  be one terrific cook, I thought.

Shopping is relaxed and fun

The abundant farm produce is pre-bagged and attractively arranged on shelves. One simply helps oneself, tallies up the bill and leaves cash payment in a pot. It is very reasonably priced.

'This is the way,' affirmed Amanda, selecting ripe tomatoes, strawberries, early season Discovery eating apples and mixed salad leaves, 'You get loads in a bag!'

I was entertaining myself with carrots that looked like people, generally enraptured by the whole experience. It was a green juicer's heaven and I was totally blissed to find inky dark Cavello Nero (90p), stubby cucumbers (35p), pungent, glossy parsley (80p) Fave find: fresh fennel bulbs complete with herby fronds (3 for 1.65).

Got carrots!

I treated my friend to a bunch of gorgeous smelling sweet pea blooms (2.50) as a thanks for driving.

And made a mental note to return for the Swiss chard, bright yellow baby patty pan squash and calabrese broccoli which I had neither fridge nor stomach space for.

Highly recommended.


Merricks Organic Farm shop is open Tuesday - Saturday with stock delivered Tues, Fri and Sat
www.merricksorganicfarm.co.uk

Merrick farm produce is also available from Cobbs Health Foods of Somerton
Tel: 01458 274066

The Kitty Commandments: Teachings from the furry, purry one

Cute and feisty at seven weeks

My delightful cat companion Kitty turns two today.  Born in a barn on a local farm, I have looked after her since she was a tiny kitten, so small she could fit in a pocket! 

I have come to recognize her as a noble teacher who has much to show me. 

Here are the top ten Kitty commandments:

1 Trust your instincts and stay sharp. Avoid cars, busy streets, loud noises and angry people.

2 Be discriminating in what you eat and insist on freshly prepared food. Do not compromise!

3 Spend as much time as possible outside, preferably in wild, natural environments. Sleep outside in summer.

4 Always maintain a high level of personal grooming.

Keep exploring, whatever the weather

5 Sleep is a priority: choose a warm, comfortable and quiet spot.

6 Be playful! Climb trees, roll in the grass, commune with butterflies and bees.  

7 Green grass is medicine.

8 Stretch the body and especially the spine.

9 You are a sensual being. Receive physical affection and show your pleasure.

10 Be open and loving whilst maintaining a strong sense of self. Be vocal in expressing yourself!

Praise and blessings to all cats of the world!

Jennifer

                                                                                                                                                                                  

Local food find: free range eggs

This poster caught my eye

Once a week I take a short walk to my egg lady, who lives along the road, handy! Susan is one of a growing number of householders in Glastonbury, and nationally I suspect, who keep a few chickens in the back garden. I had noticed an alluring sign taped to the caravan in her driveway: Ex-bat Free range Chicken eggs for sale.

Until then, I considered that I was doing well buying free range eggs in a local store from a Somerset producer. Now I could take shopping locally to the next level and buy directly from within my community which is even better. Not a single food mile involved!

Susan is a busy mother and cat lover who looks after seven female birds, formerly resident in a battery farm, where birds are intensively farmed in an indoor environment. They were re-homed to her by the British Hen Welfare Trust, a UK charity. Susan explained that when the hens arrived, they had been plucked and needed rehabilitation. They had regained their feisty, spirit of adventure and would happily use the cat flap to get into the main house and party hard when they were able to slip in unnoticed!

No cockerel? The early morning crowing would have been unacceptable in our suburban environment, Susan felt. Fair point.

Super fresh, large and tasty!

I took a dozen eggs, paying one pound sixty, a total bargain! The eggs were still warm, brown, evenly sized and pretty clean too. Golden yolked, super fresh, they taste as good as you could imagine.

If you would like to get involved with chickens, check out Healing Waters Community Garden, a Glastonbury based food growing co-operative, currently recruiting new members. www.glastonburyhealinggardens.com

Will Peddle, 'the egg man' delivers eggs to homes and businesses in Glastonbury from his charming and immaculately maintained Morris Minor, find him at 4 Old Wells Road, Glastonbury.

Further information on re-homing farm hens from the British Hen Welfare Trust www.bhwt.org.uk

Singing for the Inner Child: New Workshop

Free child in nature

The inner child to me represents the most alive and feeling part of myself. A deep joy to be present with.

My inner child communicates with me through dreams, creativity and play and through strong emotion. Feeling scared, threatened and vulnerable are all signs that I am connected to this soft and sacred part of myself and I honour and cherish all my precious feelings.

If overwhelmed, threatened or rejected my inner child might withdraw, shut down, hide away. This produces an immediate deadening or numbing of my consciousness and can be accompanied by reactive, negative, self-destructive behaviours.

Through years of healing and self-discovery across many modalities I am really, really pleased to me mostly living from a state of self-connection with the occasional disconnect; I recognise that for most of my life the opposite was  true. What a gift to be living and co-creating with a divine, magical child!

My inner child responds positively to nurture of all kinds: a clean and comfortable home, the sanctuary of bed and bedroom is especially important. Opportunities to play in nature, to touch and feel the textures and sensations of leaves, twigs, stones and water.

Most of all my inner child requires for me to create a loving environment within myself. I need to emanate a vibration of kindness, acceptance and compassion and flood every cell of my body with unconditional love. Negative emotions directed from myself to myself are especially toxic to the inner child who is vulnerable to shame, blame, criticism and judgement.

I surround myself with loving friends, in effect a soul family, who reflect and amplify loving feelings back to me and encourage my inner child to stay present in the world. My inner child is learning that the world is a safe, enjoyable place to be. It is ok to self-express, my contributions are valuable, I am loved and appreciated: I am good enough and I matter!

African Lullaby workshop June 2010

A huge, huge part of my healing journey has been through patient and persistent repetition of positive affirmation; reprogramming core beliefs. 

And singing, the inner child loves to sing. I have gathered a wealth of devotional and medicine songs from many traditions, ancient and modern from all over our beautiful planet.

Songs mostly learnt in singing circles, passed orally. Often in nature, blessed by sacred elements: the ocean, sunset, around a fire.

I have selected a number of songs to pass on, with the focussed theme of Singing for the Inner Child. This workshop is not offered as a healing or as medicine, although I wish for all who attend to experience benefit. My intention is to gather a small group of people within a safe, held space. To create the conditions for the inner child to show up and receive nurture and positive affirmation.

Singing strengthens immunity, gladdens the heart and these simple songs take one out of the mind and into the heart. It is beautiful to be open, trusting and to share with others.

Musical talent or prior experience is definitely not a pre-requisite! We come as we are and all are welcome! I invite you to listen, receive, relax, participate as you feel appropriate.

This workshop is offered with love, in service to love and for the highest unfoldment of good for all.

I hope you can join me at  New Holistic Camp 2011 where I will be holding this circle during the gathering.

This workshop is likely to be repeated in Glastonbury in late summer. Keep an eye on my schedule for updates.

If you would like me to bring this workshop to your event, gathering or camp I welcome invitations! Contact me or leave a comment below.

New Holistic Camp website www.new-holistic.co.uk

Further resources for Inner Child work:

Louise Hay Forgiveness and Loving the Inner Child audio download
Inner Child Tarot
Music of Shania Noll
Books by Charles Whitfield
R E Jenemy's YouTube channel