Correspondences: Step One Towards Figuring it Out for Yourself
Correspondences: Figuring it Out For Yourself
Many years ago, people had no microscopes or laboratories to tell them what to use a certain plant for. They relied on shamanic practitioners and their own daring to discover the properties and uses of the plant life that grew around them.
Here is an exercise to help you see what it must have been like for early humans learning about our world.
Choose one culinary herb, your choice, fresh if possible but dried is fine. It will be best if you choose a herb you do not know much about, just head on over the grocery or fresh greens shop and choose a bundle of fresh (or dried) herbs that strikes your fancy.
You will want your notebook handy. Take a moment to clear your mind and relax. Gently touching the herb, feel free to say any prayer, blessing or charm in gratitude for this gift from the earth. Now take some of the herb in your hands and close your eyes.
Breath slowly and deeply until you are relaxed. Try to turn as much of your focus and attention on the herb. With respect, ask the herb to share with you… Continue reading
Concerning Wildcrafting
Concerning Wildcrafting
Hints & Tips
Also some common sense, and not so common sense, rules
Make sure you have all the tools and equipment you need before you head out.
Get to know as much as you can about your area, the weather, climate, the plant and animal life etc. It is very important you have intimate understanding of the land you gather from.
Take the time to learn about the area/land you will be gathering from, in all seasons. Also, get to know the plants at different phases of their lifecycle.
Start with only a few plants and learn them well before you begin to study and gather more.
Make sure you have the permission or the permits that might be needed for collecting at the site.
Keep a journal (and/or a map) and make sure to carefully note where you gathered each plant. Refer to this to ensure you do not gather too much from the same place. This also makes sure you can find again where you gathered a certain plant.
Taking pictures of each strand of plants before you harvest, and each time you revisit, can help you to keep track of how your gathering… Continue reading
Gathering in the City
Gathering in the City
So you live in the city and/or an apartment eh? Don’t despair!
It is harder to walk a nature path if you live in an urban area, or in an apartment, but there are options available to you. Waiting for the once a year chance to go to a campground takes a lot of patience. Let us also not forget most parks and campgrounds are nature reserves, national parks and the like, meaning you cannot gather there, not even ONE stick! If you are in the city, you will have to get quite creative in looking for places to gather or practice wort cunning and wildcrafting. Here are a few suggestions:
- Vacant lots. Do check for “No Trespassing” signs first!
- Ditches. I know, icky, but you will be amazed at what you can find growing in a ditch. Looking out the window of my RV, I see sunflowers & tansy growing tall in the ditch across the street, and that is just at first glance.
- Schoolyards, playgrounds, neighborhood parks. Some cities do not mind a certain amount of picking in such places, so check local bylaws.
- Do you have family or friends who hate to work… Continue reading
To Fly By Night
Hoofprints in the Wildwood
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