Tumeric Lemon Balm Brew

Summer is a lovely time to experiment with new recipes, and to enjoy new uses for familiar herbs. Lemon Balm, while good at 'running amok' in the garden, is also brain power super-heroine (& I have had a patch for 4 decades). Lemon Verbena, a tender perennial, which sometimes overwinters in the Northwest, and Tumeric, that golden tuber that gives curry its 'glow' are also super herbs. Combine them with a few more ingredients, & you've got a drink that will 'make your ears wiggle!' while perking up the grey matter - win/win!

A gal-friend has been making Tumeric Lemonade for a few months. She finds it really clears out her brain fog, and has grown quite fond of it. Curcumin is a 'unique antioxidant' found in Tumeric tubers, and the benefits include:

• Supports cognitive function, and overall brain health 
• Anti-inflammatory, it promotes a healthy response to inflammation
• Eases aches and pains
• Supports Cardiovascular function (reducing inflammation)
• Promotes healthy Mood balance 
• Promotes skin elasticity

Lemon Balm, Melissa officinalis, an herb in the Mint family, has long been known as a 'tonic

herb,' which can be consumed daily, for optimal health. Like its cousin Rosemary, it is high in antioxidants, many of which also enhance brain function! 

• Calms the mind (the essential oil is great for this, or a cup of tea!)
• Promotes restful sleep (good for both children and adults)
• Promotes skin elasticity, healthy aging (can be used topically)
• Boosts mood and alertness 
• Sharpens the mind and enhances cognitive ability 
• Protects brain cells (anitioxidant: Eugenol)
• Contains several powerful antioxidants
• Supports and protects the liver 
• Balances blood sugar and reduces insulin resistance

Lemon Verbena, Aloysia citrodora, is another high antioxidant lemony herb.

• Anti-inflammatory, helpful in reducing sore muscles and following exercise
• Stress reduction
• Anti-spasmotic, Digestive aide
• Rejuvenate skin
• Reduces muscle damage following exercise
• Antioxidant, boosts immune system

My recipe: Combine a handful of fresh Lemon balm with a few sprigs of lemon verbena in a quart jar, and cover with boiling water. Add one to two Tbsp local honey, cap, and step overnight in the fridge.
Grate two Tbsp fresh turmeric into a small bowl., and sprinkle with fresh ground pepper. Cover with the juice of one lemon, one lime, and 1/2 a ruby grapefruit or orange. Cover and refrigerate.
In the morning combine the two and shake. Pour 4-6 oz into a pretty glass or cup, add 1/4 Cup sparkling water or Kombucha and enjoy.

Imbolc & Land Clearing

Over the last year, I've spent more time on my Artsy Blog than I have here; as I was enrolled in a Quest to become a teacher & coach in the Color of Woman movement! I finished my coursework on schedule with many of my class in December (woo hoo!!), & am working on building my classes & offerings. I have a couple of pieces in a show at a local Artist Co-op Gallery, & will teach my first class in their 'Backdoor Studio' this month.

Color of Woman Graduation altar

This week I've been working on my website, making some artsy business cards (I need to order some with my art on them!), and am preparing to take some of my 'ladies' and paper project over to a friend's Yoga Studio for the First Friday Art & Wine walk. 

We are at the cross-quarter between Winter Solstice & Spring Equinox, Imbolc, the time of the goddess washing her face, and preparing for the new. This is a great time for the Land Clearing process I've shared here before. 

My flower Essence friend Molly Sheehan of Green Hope Farm Essences shared this process several years ago, & I share it with her permission. She feels the more people who do this in harmony with their bit of land, the better! She has had several experiences where bad weather was avoided or diverted, after being nudged by the angels to do this clearing every day. 

Molly comments that the guides & devas delight in being asked to help us. She & others who are sensitive to land energies feel that nature holds & stores energy that has been released when there are intense emotions, battles, etc. And when we ask, "A group of spiritual entities connected with Nature do the actual energy cleansing but this group cannot do this work unless a human asks them to do it. It is one of our vital roles in the co-creation & maintenance of earth. If a human doesn't ask for energy cleansing for a piece of land & this land is holding a lot of negativity, spirit's only options for removing this negativity are extreme weather."

Here's the Process Molly & I use:
** Imagine the boundaries of the land you wish to clear (you may want to have a map of your property, if it's larger, & may be guided to clear it in sections. If you're in an apt., clear your own space, imagining the grounding cord of the apt going into the earth below you, & clear the land surrounding the apt. Invite guidance for what best suites your circumstances!

Energy Cleansing Process
Find a quiet & comfortable place to center yourself. In the beginning, you'll want to be in the garden/ on the land you're clearing.
"Ask for assistance from:
The Overlighting Deva of the piece of land you want to clean. This being from the Angelic realm holds the divine plan for this piece of land. (Deva is a Sanskrit word meaning 'being of Light')
Angels Overlighting the land. They work with the Deva
The Elementals of the land. These are the beings who bring land into form & then hold it there so we can live in a physical world. Gnomes for the Earth element, Undine with water, Sylphs work with air, & Salamanders with fire.
Pan, Head Elemental of Earth (Machaelle Wright calls Pan the CEO of Nature)
Any Ascended Master of God realized being who is connected with this piece of land. There may or may not be any connected, depending on the piece of land. (You can always invite the presence of the Ascended Master Jesus Christ, Mother Mary, Quan Yin, St Germain, & other Masters with whom you you feel connected.)
Deva of the Earth's atmosphere, Lunaria
Deva of the Earth's surface, Sapphalo
Deva of the sun in the center of the Earth, Darndella
Our Sun, Helios & Vesta.
"After you call in this group, ask them to CLEANSE, CLEAR, RE-BALANCE & ILLUMINATE the land you are clearing.
"You can visualize all the negativity being removed from the land both below & above the ground. You can visualize yourself or an angel holding a sword (Michael/Michaella) cutting all the negativity free, perhaps spinning in a circle holding the sword out; or you can imagine a big gyroscope whirling & cleansing. The image only needs to work for you. If visualization isn't possible, it's OK. The land will still be cleansed because you have asked to have it done. Close the session with a thanks to everyone involved.
"This is the bare bones of a process. Over time you will probably develop your own individual approach. For example, you may get to know the names of the Deva & Angels of the land. You may get shown a process that will improve on this one. You may get asked to do several pieces of land. Thank you for doing this service."

Violet Flame

** I also like to imagine a hedge of roses (think Brier Rose) with portals of violet flame at the entrances, clearing folks' energy as they enter or leave. At times I erect a golden pyramid above my property (rectangular here :) or a violet bubble - check in & see if any images come!
Any time you feel vulnerable, are concerned about weather or safety, take a few moments to do this process. It helps to have quick name for the process - you may simply invite 'Devas, Angels & guides of land clearing, please CLEANSE, CLEAR, RE-BALANCE & ILLUMINATE this land!'

* Besides clearing my own land, I often invite the Devas/guides of the city where I live (or someplace I'm visiting) to CLEANSE, CLEAR, RE-BALANCE & ILLUMINATE that place, as appropriate. I figure any place humans can toss litter, I can invite the guides to help clear! I especially see the 'green areas' being cleared, parks, the planting strips & flower pots in the downtown, etc. Molly invites us to listen to our guidance, & network with the devas, guides & elementals on this!

* When you're gardening, do a clearing first, & imagine that you're infusing light into the soil as you play in it. Bless the water you offer your garden, & the plants as you place & nurture them. Our weekly Farmers Market is held at the Grange Hall on the edge of town which sits on a lovely piece of land with tall trees. This is one of the places I clear when I think to.
At Findhorn Garden in Scotland, the original gardeners worked in close harmony with nature, & were enjoined to bring light into the soil as they worked with it, to eat from the garden, & to drink lots of water. This is good to remember, in our busy & often far-from-nature world!