In-depth research and love of lavender fill the pages. There was a little bit of everything in here: Wisdom on safety, support, plant energetics (whicIn-depth research and love of lavender fill the pages. There was a little bit of everything in here: Wisdom on safety, support, plant energetics (which my beginner herbalist heart loved), and so much more lavender love.
I'll never forget how the author, Susan Brougher, wrote about essential oil being the life force of plants, the equivalency of what blood is to us. Plants offer their 'life force' to us, being medicinal. My gratitude and love for plants, herbalism, and aromatherapy increased immensely.
I loved that she touched on, something you may or may not have ever heard of before; plant murder. I haven't conducted any polygraph tests myself (an amazing study shared in the text) but I have seen plants react and protect themselves first hand: When I approach our overgrown Prickly Pear Cactus with an attitude of less than love: "I'm going to chop you down whether you like it or not, you've got to go!" I'm always injured, the cactus protects itself by releasing tons more thorns at me than when I lovingly have the intention of "I'll only cut what is needed, you are hurting anyone that walks by. Please allow me." I always come out way more unscathed, if any injury at all, compared to when I go about it 'King Kong style'. Energy matters. "Want To Feel Better - Keep Lavender Handy", shared multiple studies and results of research conducted to share impactful visuals to better understand and back the text.
I learned so much from this, having worked with Lavender quite a bit in the last few years, this surprised and thrilled me!
Here's just some of what I've learned:
• How to make signature scents by letting oils "get to know each other", as the author calls it (I loved that) over several days vs taking 5 seconds to make an essential oil blend.
• Plants do communicate in frequencies humans can't hear and also release scents as a way to communicate with other plants.
• I deepened my relationship with Lavender, but also included at the very end are 24 other essential oils, their energetic properties, medicinal properties, safety concerns, +.
My only wish is that this would have been longer. It didn't feel like 110 pages (ebook). Give me more, because this was GREAT info. —If the author laser-focuses in on individual plants as she did here, I'd love a big huge binder compilation of all of them together to refer to over and over again throughout the years, (once done) one wouldn't need much else to study from. I look forward to seeing more from this author. :)
*Essential oil recipe blends were not a focus.
Much gratitude to publisher Outskirts Press, Inc. and author Susan Brougher for the ARC (ebook) I won via the Goodreads Giveaway Program. I was under no obligation to write a review, my honest opinion is freely given....more
Found a new author I like! I've added all her herbal books to my TBR shelf.
I really enjoyed this, I wouldn't necessarily say it's for beginners. (It dFound a new author I like! I've added all her herbal books to my TBR shelf.
I really enjoyed this, I wouldn't necessarily say it's for beginners. (It doesn't say beginner on the title or cover, but I thought I'd mention it. That shouldn't deter you if you are interested though!) I say that because the organization of the book is a bit backward for a newbie but fine for someone more experienced —(recipes first, terminology and description of herbs were in the back) you could read this backward if you wanted or needed to gain a better understanding. AND... MOST of the recipes call for multiple TINCTURES to be blended together to make formulas. If you've never made tinctures before, you can purchase them pre-made (safe, sustainable, and trusted sources are listed in the resource section of the manual) but be warned they CAN, not always but CAN, get pricey depending on a few factors: how many tinctures the recipe calls for (# QUANTITY) and QUALITY of specific herbs. (Herbs are pretty affordable, but once you start purchasing others' pre-made products you are paying for them to do the work, plus packing/shipping/handling, and getting a product/profit markup of usually, 20%.)
If you have practiced making your own tinctures, want to try it yourself, or don't mind purchasing some, the recipes are great! Again, they are not super in-depth for a beginner. A few formulas called for +4 tinctures and the step by step instructions do not include the steps to prepare all those tinctures (for repetitive reasons), but simply moves on with the rest of the recipe. A BASIC tincture-making page was included, but an in-depth guide on alcohol percentages and conversions (so you don't burn your herb tincturing) wasn't incorporated. That is why I say this book may best suit someone with a tad bit of experience. Using honey and glycerin as alcohol alternatives were touched on but not elaborated upon. There are tea formulas and other lovely infusions to make but MOST of the recipes focused on tinctures. Because tinctures take 4-6 weeks to make, I'll be making some of the herbal tea recipes sooner rather than later because I want to get started; watching herbs in jars isn't the fun part, using the finished product is!
The format of this book is set up like magazine columns, which makes sense now that the last chapter shared the author is a magazine writer and publisher. I liked the style for particular reasons and didn't for others: I wish each recipe would have had its own separate page, so I wouldn't have to flip back and forth while medicine making (for contamination reasons). I did like how it kept everything in a straight line and was easy on the eyes though. The few pictures that were included were crystal clear and extremely professional, I desired more! My heart melted over the stuffed animal, lavender bear project!
The emotional descriptions were great! The emotions discussed that I remember most were: Anxiety, Depression, Digestive Imbalances, Headaches, Heartaches, Insomnia, Stress, SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder), PMS, Pain, and more. I liked how the author wrote about a particular herb helping with circular thinking and how she found this funny because the tendrils of the plant go 'round and 'round anything they can climb on, in a circular fashion, just like their medicinal property! I love synchronicity. People that pay attention to this type of detail are my type of people!
Much gratitude to Rockridge Press, compliments of Callisto Media for the e-book ARC I received. I was under no obligation to write a review, my honest opinion is freely given.
**It's hard for me to review ebooks when I don't have an actual book to flip through, so I took a TON of screenshots of all the recipes I plan on trying. I have a mini apothecary so I'll be making recipes, you can follow my Twitter and IG to keep up with my herbal/healing journey if you like at @itsblee1234...more
**spoiler alert** Not sure why my review is no longer with the rating, luckily I had this review still saved on my notes. I'll repost: ⬇️ April 2020
The**spoiler alert** Not sure why my review is no longer with the rating, luckily I had this review still saved on my notes. I'll repost: ⬇️ April 2020
The focus of this book is on the folkloric and magical uses of herbs, rather than medicinal applications. It provides a few traditional uses of herbs, but the overall theme is knowledge of the plants and their associations, and incorporating them in your spiritual workings. This is an Introductory to Magical Herbalism.
"Many practitioners believe prosperity spellwork works best when performed from need as opposed to greed."
The author's spiritual practice is rooted in traditional American and European Folk Magic. She is a licensed Pagan Clergy and is the founder of Clan Of The Stone Circle, a Celtic Pagan Tradition. (Funny, anything Celtic has been pulling my attention feelers lately, no wonder why I loved this book.) Her spells are derived/based upon the traditional folk magic practices of Western Europe and the British Isles, and the author's own experiences. They are positive spells for magical intentions of healing, love, prosperity, and protection. Baneful or negative workings with herbs are NOT used in this book.
The aesthetic of this book has my little, beginner herbalist heart gushing! The blue, green, and yellow earthy tones and hues used were perfect for the topic of herbs! The cover is GORGEOUS! It's so pretty and flowery, the illustrated pictures of the herbs were extremely helpful because I had never seen some of the plants before. This will make future identification much easier for me!
Herb Magic opens with terms and properties. After that section is an insight into 40 of the most common herbs with a little illustration of each plant. Follows, are 75 Spells and Rituals, this is where I found what I like to call "DIY Spiritual Decor" with intentional healing and protective purposes. They were categorized into the following: Protection, Love, Healing, Wealth, and Divination
The "Simple Magic On The Go" sections were for those who want to practice their spirituality on the go, or for those who simply don't have much time. I loved these cute tips! My favorite tip from this part of the book said to put some lavender essential oil on a little piece of cotton and put it in a locket; inhale when you need to feel rejuvenated. I need to find my essential oil necklace again because this is a tip that I know works for me.
I learned how to: • Enchant Herbs- this was really neat and reminded me of Affirmations "Heal my body, heal my soul, heal what's needed to make me whole." • Do Tea Leaf Readings • Make a natural DIY Pendulum out of Mistletoe Wood
My Favorite DIY Spiritual Crafts: • Protective Wreath- to go on the front door of our home using dried herbs, it will smell good too! Bonus, the circle is an honored shape in sacred geometry! • Protective Herb Planters- to go outside of the most frequented doors • Herbal Braids- to hang (reminded me of a Smudge Stick, but braided beautifully, I've seen Sweetgrass Braids, they are so pretty.) • Peaceful Protection Potted Plant- I'd like to do this with Rosemary for protection or Jade to increase luck and money. Always check what plants are toxic to pets before bringing into the home or yard! (Aloe almost killed one of our dogs, because we moved into a new home and didn't know!) • Kiss Me Mouthwash Magic- I was looking for a natural mouthwash free of chemicals! Perfect! • Apple Blossom Countdown- Divining with Herbs, this reminded me of the "Sorcerer's Stone" • Soothing Sachet- to calm • Healing Water Handwash- this is especially good for the pandemic right now • Basil Wisdom- Reading Tea Leaves • Moneybags Money Bag • Check Your Wallet • Penny Power • Cash Register Charm (An old boss of mine used to do this, at the time I asked what the rock in the cash drawer was. Haha! "Good intentions", she said!) • Wealth Wash for Your Home- spiritually cleaning my house with good intentions and visualizations IS something I do. • Piggy Bank Money Magic- I do something similar to this, I'm now going to adjust a little bit and see what happens • Spread the Wealth Money Oil- give money, get money. • Psychic Amulet • Spiritual Bath Blend • Awakening Oil • Sandalwood Clairvoyance Spell • Self Awareness Spell • All of these spells and rituals inspired my own ideas of Potpourri blends I'd like to make and place in various rooms for different aromas and intentions!
I like to live spiritually and intentionally; books like this empower that in me. Many thanks to the author for imparting her spiritual and herbal wisdom upon me. I'll be referring to this time and time again, it already sparked much inspiration in me to do my own workings. Thank you!
An important note from the author "use magic in tandem with medicine, not instead of it."
Because I'm into healing, spirituality, herbalism, religious freedom, natural medicine, and all things positive, I give much gratitude to the publisher Rockridge Press and Callisto Media for the early copy I received. I was under no obligation to write a review, my honest opinion is freely given....more
**spoiler alert** Not sure why my review is no longer with the rating, luckily I had this review still saved on my notes. I'll repost: ⬇️ April 29, 202**spoiler alert** Not sure why my review is no longer with the rating, luckily I had this review still saved on my notes. I'll repost: ⬇️ April 29, 2020
The focus of this book is on the folkloric and magical uses of herbs, rather than medicinal applications. It provides a few traditional uses of herbs, but the overall theme is knowledge of the plants and their associations, and incorporating them in your spiritual workings. This is an Introductory to Magical Herbalism.
"Many practitioners believe prosperity spellwork works best when performed from need as opposed to greed."
The author's spiritual practice is rooted in traditional American and European Folk Magic. She is a licensed Pagan Clergy and is the founder of Clan Of The Stone Circle, a Celtic Pagan Tradition. (Funny, anything Celtic has been pulling my attention feelers lately, no wonder why I loved this book.) Her spells are derived/based upon the traditional folk magic practices of Western Europe and the British Isles, and the author's own experiences. They are positive spells for magical intentions of healing, love, prosperity, and protection. Baneful or negative workings with herbs are NOT used in this book.
The aesthetic of this book has my little, beginner herbalist heart gushing! The blue, green, and yellow earthy tones and hues used were perfect for the topic of herbs! The cover is GORGEOUS! It's so pretty and flowery, the illustrated pictures of the herbs were extremely helpful because I had never seen some of the plants before. This will make future identification much easier for me!
Herb Magic opens with terms and properties. After that section is an insight into 40 of the most common herbs with a little illustration of each plant. Follows, are 75 Spells and Rituals, this is where I found what I like to call "DIY Spiritual Decor" with intentional healing and protective purposes. They were categorized into the following: Protection, Love, Healing, Wealth, and Divination
The "Simple Magic On The Go" sections were for those who want to practice their spirituality on the go, or for those who simply don't have much time. I loved these cute tips! My favorite tip from this part of the book said to put some lavender essential oil on a little piece of cotton and put it in a locket; inhale when you need to feel rejuvenated. I need to find my essential oil necklace again because this is a tip that I know works for me.
I learned how to: • Enchant Herbs- this was really neat and reminded me of Affirmations "Heal my body, heal my soul, heal what's needed to make me whole." • Do Tea Leaf Readings • Make a natural DIY Pendulum out of Mistletoe Wood
My Favorite DIY Spiritual Crafts: • Protective Wreath- to go on the front door of our home using dried herbs, it will smell good too! Bonus, the circle is an honored shape in sacred geometry! • Protective Herb Planters- to go outside of the most frequented doors • Herbal Braids- to hang (reminded me of a Smudge Stick, but braided beautifully, I've seen Sweetgrass Braids, they are so pretty.) • Peaceful Protection Potted Plant- I'd like to do this with Rosemary for protection or Jade to increase luck and money. Always check what plants are toxic to pets before bringing into the home or yard! (Aloe almost killed one of our dogs, because we moved into a new home and didn't know!) • Kiss Me Mouthwash Magic- I was looking for a natural mouthwash free of chemicals! Perfect! • Apple Blossom Countdown- Divining with Herbs, this reminded me of the "Sorcerer's Stone" • Soothing Sachet- to calm • Healing Water Handwash- this is especially good for the pandemic right now • Basil Wisdom- Reading Tea Leaves • Moneybags Money Bag • Check Your Wallet • Penny Power • Cash Register Charm (An old boss of mine used to do this, at the time I asked what the rock in the cash drawer was. Haha! "Good intentions", she said!) • Wealth Wash for Your Home- spiritually cleaning my house with good intentions and visualizations IS something I do. • Piggy Bank Money Magic- I do something similar to this, I'm now going to adjust a little bit and see what happens • Spread the Wealth Money Oil- give money, get money. • Psychic Amulet • Spiritual Bath Blend • Awakening Oil • Sandalwood Clairvoyance Spell • Self Awareness Spell • All of these spells and rituals inspired my own ideas of Potpourri blends I'd like to make and place in various rooms for different aromas and intentions!
I like to live spiritually and intentionally; books like this empower that in me. Many thanks to the author for imparting her spiritual and herbal wisdom upon me. I'll be referring to this time and time again, it already sparked much inspiration in me to do my own workings. Thank you!
An important note from the author "use magic in tandem with medicine, not instead of it."
Because I'm into healing, spirituality, herbalism, religious freedom, natural medicine, and all things positive, I give much gratitude to the publisher Rockridge Press and Callisto Media for the early copy I received. I was under no obligation to write a review, my honest opinion is freely given....more
Did you know items labeled PURE, NATURAL, ORGANIC, USDA ORGANIC, THERAPEUTIC GRADE, and 100% PURE each have differentIntroducing Organic Aromatherapy!
Did you know items labeled PURE, NATURAL, ORGANIC, USDA ORGANIC, THERAPEUTIC GRADE, and 100% PURE each have different meanings? Finally, a book that clears up the confusing and sketchy marketing terms used to sell and advertise products today. This is the information everyone is looking for! Not only is the information in-depth and made me feel super informed; the recipes rock!!
Upon reading the table of contents, I saw the word ALLERGIES and immediately turned to the corresponding page. Over-the-counter allergy medicine has been causing my fiancé and I, odd symptoms such as severe dry mouth, knee pain, and other joint pain, so I've been looking for a natural remedy that works for us as a replacement.
I made the all-natural essential oil recipe in the book called: ALLERGY BUSTER ROLLER REMEDY and immediately began feeling relief. I sneezed a couple of times and my sinuses started to clear minutes after application. I've found and tried other essential oil recipes but never found an allergy one that worked, until now! I'm excited to use this author's recipe for the next few days/weeks to see the benefits. I would like to get supplies to make Amber Robinson's ALLERGY INHALATION REMEDY; since her first recipe worked so well for me!
(UPDATE: 4/14/20- My allergies are better but not completely gone after using the roller recipe a few times a day for 3 days in a row. It mostly helped with my clogged sinuses and the painful pressure that comes along with that. My essential oil inhalers just came in, I'm excited to try the second recipe so I'm not exposing the rest of my house to strong scents. The lemongrass oil that the first recipe called for made me smell like a Citronella candle and I could tell my fiancé wasn't too keen on the scent. I think the inhalation recipe will benefit me more since it goes right up the nose.)
I enjoyed how the formulas/blends were organized: • Health and Ailments • Emotional and Mental Well-Being • Cosmetics and Personal Care • Home and Outdoors
I loved the organic recipes! The tips included at the end of each were extremely beneficial sharing substitutions in case of allergies.
Here are some I plan on making: • Both Allergy Relief Recipes • Garbage Disposal Cleaner • Sanitizing Spray for Hands & and Surfaces • Re-energizing Room Spray • Pillow and Sheet Spray • Pumpkin Spice Perfume Spray • Citrus Dream Perfume Spray • Natural Flouride-Free Toothpaste • Healthy Mouth Rinse • Aphid Repellant Spray • Deodorant Spray and Stick • Easing Nerve Inhalation Blend • Toilet Bowl Spray • Washing Machine Refresh Blend • + many more!
Each page was modestly beautiful. I couldn't believe how perfect this guide was. Average prices for organic essential oils are also included along with detailed profiles of individual oils. The author, Amber Robinson, is a NAHA Level 2 Certified Professional Aromatherapist, as well as an AHG (American Herbalist Guild) Registered Herbalist. It's no wonder I adored this book so much. This is now my third essential oil book and I think like this one best. The presentation is beautiful with the recipes each having their own page, the instructions had clarity, there are even safety warnings for particular oils, this was absolutely fabulous! The author is a great teacher!
Much gratitude to publisher Rockridge Press, compliments of Callisto Media, for the early copy I received. I was under no obligation to write a review, my honest opinion is freely given....more
Welcome to the elegance of tea-ism. Weaving beauty with simplicity, I have much to learn from Japanese culture. Everything they do is done with such pWelcome to the elegance of tea-ism. Weaving beauty with simplicity, I have much to learn from Japanese culture. Everything they do is done with such precision.
I first fell in love with tea ceremony as a child watching "Alice and Wonder Land", then my love was evoked again in high school when I read "Memoirs of A Geisha" by Arthur Golden. (It's still my favorite book of all time, to this date!) I then found other books on reading tea leaves and using herbs to heal from Chronic Lyme Disease naturally, so ya, you could say I'm INTO tea.
In my herbalist certification class, we were told to "sip tea as if it were life itself." And I have ever since. It's similar to the yogic thought process use what you've learned on the mat and live it off the mat, extending it out onto the rest of your life. Same, same but different.
I should mention that this title has NO RECIPES in it. It is more about Eastern (Japanese) culture, a history of tea, explanations of elegance and simplicity within tea ceremony, merging yin and yang, and getting the West and East to understand one another.
Not only did I find the tea tools lost throughout ancient history to be most fascinating, but the part on Flower Masters was not something I was expecting to be included. It was an added grace of decadence and a free feng shui lesson! (Another topic of interest to me.)
A few of my favorite quotes from the text:
"Tea began as a medicine and grew into a beverage."
"Tea was Taoism in disguise."
"Matcha- froth of the liquid jade."
I am thankful to the community of volunteers who published these works after the author's passing. I've added many of his other titles to my list! For other snippets I found interesting, you can see my highlights and notes on Goodreads. I highlighted close to 50-some passages.
I downloaded this e-book while it was free on Amazon. I was under no obligation to write a review, my honest opinion is freely given.