“May you have great dignity, Sense how free you are; Above all, may you be given the wonderful gift Of meeting the eternal light that is within you.” - Excerpt from "For Old Age, To Bless the Space Between us" page 71, John O’Donohue - I sit at my window, looking out into the bleak landscape of Mid December in the prairie. The sky clouded gray with promises of snow. With this anticipation of the coming storm, my thoughts turn inwards. I think of my dear friend, ill in her bed, laughing at a story I told with great drama and enthusiasm. Thoughts of my senior cat Autumn, next to my yoga mat, laying on her back,...
Dawn Lusk, Owner of Raven's Moon Holistic Wellness Ever heard of a Tincture before? No, well how about a tea? Or perhaps a poultice is your preference? Just like our bodies, herbs come in many forms and each herb may provide you with more benefits, depending on how you apply it! Often times, the biggest question is internal or external? Most herbs are best if taken internally, other herbs are strictly topical use only, and then there are herbs that fall on the fence of best if applied topically and taken internally. We reached out to one of our local Herbalists, Dawn Lusk owner of Raven’s Moon Holistic Wellness (AKA Raven’s Moon Apothecary), asking her so speak on some of her most favorite methods for utilizing herbs! Sometimes, you need to get creative, and that is exactly what Dawn is good at! "When I first started my herbal education, I had heard of two ways to use herbs: in tea, and on food. I quickly learned that herbs can be used in almost never ending applications to help support the healing process, and to help bring our bodies back into balance. Let’s talk through some of my very favorite ways to get creative with herbs: Poultice – a poultice is a simple combination of fresh (preferred) or dried herbs, mixed with a little water and applied to the skin. I was recently reminded of how much I appreciate the mighty poultice when I...
Alex Svoboda, Owner of Arise Botanicals We have interviewed one of our local Herbalists, Alex Svoboda owner of Arise Botanicals, to give her list of the top 7 herbs to have in your medicine cabinet. From herbs for emergency use to your daily nervine tonic, Alex has provided us with a great place to start for anyone new to Herbalism. Now, there are thousands (if not millions) of different herbs out there, so picking only 7 of them was not the easiest of tasks and some of these may not suit you and your needs, but this is a great place to start! "It is important that we all understand the concept of each person having a unique constitution –...
"Sleep is the golden chain that ties health and our bodies together." - Thomas Dekker A good night's sleep… something that we all love, but so many of us living in the 21st century struggle to obtain. We live in a world of excitement, constant stimulation, and the romanticization of unhealthy habits and lifestyles. These things can make, what should be something as simple as sleep, extremely difficult to obtain. Sleep can affect so many aspects of our life including one’s mood, focus, appetite, mental health, bodily functions, and much more. Through my journey, I have experienced its effects heavily on my mental health. It plays a big role in continued feelings of anxiety, depression, and anger in...
“The soul is a breath of living spirit, that with excellent sensitivity, permeates the entire body to give it life. Just so, the breath of the air makes the Earth fruitful. Thus the air is the Soul of the Earth, moistening it, greening it.” St. Hildegard of Bingen- I walk along the foggy narrow trail nestled in the gold, green purple hues of Autumn prairie grass. Fuzzy caterpillars cling to the flora. My boots and pants are soaked from the Earth’s moisture. I have sauntered into another world. The wild natural world. The crispness of the air signals the deep knowing inside of me of the connection to the change of the season, the thinning of the veil. I understand...
