Most of the images on my site are photographed by myself, however; this lovely image came from istockphoto.
I have studied herbalism for many years and enjoy using the knowledge that I have gained to create both simple and complex herbal remedies, delicious teas, tisanes and brews, and to make natural skin and hair care products. I get to share a lot of this knowledge in my weekly column on hellogiggles.com as The 21st Century Herbalist. Once a week I like to repost the column here, just in case you missed it!
Original publish date: September 20, 2012
enerations ago, there were tiny homes cobbled together by the people of the surrounding village, with each neighbor helping the next to create a community. Inside these little homes you’d find simple furnishings and functional décor. Keep looking and you’d notice a fire burning low in the hearth and table made of heavy wood, flanked by empty chairs and benches awaiting their occupants. On shelves sat tools worn with use, yet cared for by the very hands that worked them so hard. If you were to open the cupboards, drawers and cabinets you’d find them brimming with trinkets of nature, bottles of herbal brews, oils, salves and lotions. This is where the secrets of generations past were stored. This is where the true old wives tales were born and this is where they were passed on.
As an herbalist participating in traditions that were started long before I came into existence, I’m interested in the beginnings of these sacred practices. When I use my mortar and pestle, I imagine the wise hands of elders cupping the hands of young ones, showing them the motions and flow needed to grind the herbs. I picture small bottles of golden oils filled with the essences of plants and pure waters from rain, river and well, being set out for the brewing that was to come. Around a table sat women of generations each with a journal, some as large as tomes, filled with the knowledge of their years. Each book was tabbed with bits of ribbon and string, bookmarked with feathers and scrawled with herbal recipes. Back then (and even now) there were the few that could understand the plants, they were attuned to them and they knew how to use them. It was the plant walker that usually became the medicine man or woman of the village. As an herbalist of today, it is these medicine women of the past that I think of when making healing herbal brews. Learning about traditions that started long ago and were enacted as hearth fires were lit, foods
…read more (you’ll be redirected to my column on hellogiggles.com)
There is something primal and fundamental about passing on traditions. Its an ongoing belief in the future of humanity and its inherently beautiful and powerful at the same time. I remember time spent at my grandmothers knee learning how to make a simple cup of tea “properly” and picking herbs from the garden to use in her creations. The best way to pass things on to someone is to show them. The practical and personal sharing of information forges community spirit and an ongoing information highway. Thank you for this lovely post Katie, it certainly got me thinking at 5.04am where not much else does! 🙂
Oh, I’m so glad you enjoyed it. I couldn’t agree more, it really is primal and I think that people long for it, even if they don’t know that is what they are missing. I think a friend of mine said it best, “We need our tribes.” I thought that summed it up beautifully. Thanks for reading. 🙂
That sounds wonderful! Such a beautiful post!
There is something called Bach Flower you may be interested in. They are all flower essences with properties that calm or get rid of unwanted thoughts, etc… I have always wondered how they experimented with these teas!
Oh Bach Flower oils are wonderful! They really are amazing little things…perhaps I should do a post for those that don’t know about them? You’re quite the inspiration, thanks Susie!!
I love this photograph! My cousin took a similar one with her mother and sister and the five granddaughters…what a show of beautiful hands!
Oh my goodness, five granddaughters! I bet that was a lovely picture. 🙂