The Golden Hour: High Summer and the Sun

Happiness, freedom, confidence, vitality

For many, the energetic vibe of summer is defined by the sun: life-giving light and warmth beam across the solar system from our star. The sun card in the tarot deck depicts uplifting imagery that shows how hard work (making it through winter?) pays off with a much needed joyful reprieve. The universe has your back, so let yourself soak in the energy. The long warm days do not last forever, so enjoy the present moment!

Here in the Northern Hemisphere we eagerly absorb as much solar energy as possible during our brief sojourn under the warm, summer sky. Similarly, our plant allies leaf out to their fullest extent, optimally building their energy stores in order to produce flowers and fruit as the season progresses. Flowers and fruit come in a myriad of jewel tones, attracting birds, animals, and pollinating insects. The pollen, itself, is often in hues of yellow; the pollen is truly the source of life. For the pollen holds the key to the next generation of plants, that support all life on earth, in each golden grain.

Meditating on the sun and the color yellow

The color yellow has also long been associated with the sun, and its positive, uplifting energy. In pagan tradition, calling upon the four directions often opens any ritual. We begin in the east, toward the rising sun. The east is associated with the color yellow, as well as the element of air and intellectual curiosity. Turning toward the east, we look for a fresh start, or a new beginning.

In Hindu belief, yellow is linked to the third chakra, Manipura. Manipura is located at the solar plexus (aptly named), just above your belly button. It is the seat of personal power. The sun is the center of power in our entire solar system, and here, resting right at your center, represented by a beautiful blooming golden yellow lotus, is your own internal sun: your own source of power. Yoga sutra 3.27 in Patanjali’s Sutras says “By samyama on the sun, knowledge of the entire solar system is obtained.” In the ponderance of this sutra, or general truth, we connect macrocosm to microcosm. As we study the sun, our star, and how it gives us life in the macrocosm, we can similarly focus on our internal fire, or agni, the sun within us that reveals personal truths and powers. 

Close your eyes for a moment and focus your attention on your midsection right above the belly button but below the heart. Perhaps lay your hands on this place and feel as your breath rises and falls. Tremendous power your breath has, as it fuels your vessel from the moment you are born until the time you transition back to the earth. Feel a warming sensation in your solar plexus. Imagine the feeling of facing toward the sun on a beautiful summer day, the breeze blowing gently around you, and feel the warmth begin to spread its healing and energizing power throughout your whole body. You might envision a yellow or golden lotus flower blooming and unfurling with the light of the sun radiating outward around your whole being. Sit here for a few moments in the power of your own being, trusting that indeed, the universe does have your back. Feel as your mood lifts, and your physical and emotional energy levels elevate. 

Warm seasonal plant allies

The most obvious of summer’s floral beauties is the sunflower. Growing tall and proud in sprawling fields, they encourage us with feelings of positivity and strength. The scientific genus name for the sunflower is Helianthus. It comes from the Greek words "helios", meaning sun, and "anthus", meaning flower. The ancient Greeks believed that sunflowers turned towards the sun because of Clytie's adoration of Apollo, the God of the Sun. Each morning, she awoke at dawn to greet Apollo, and bask in his warmth, as he soared from the east to the west.

Here are a few of our other local favorites for foraging, cultivating, and wildcrafting medicinal goods:

• St. John’s Wort (Hypericum perforatum): St. John’s Wort is associated with the sun and is a traditional herb commonly harvested and used in Midsummer celebrations. The most popular medicinal use of St. John’s Wort is for depression, and when used topically, it can treat minor burns and wounds or ease sore joints. 

• Mullein (Verbascum thapsus): Fuzzy and soft, the leaves of the mullein plant not only help respiratory issues, but feel like lamb’s ears. The tall stalks appear biennially with yellow five-petaled flowers at the top in late July or August. The stalks were historically dried and dipped in wax to make special ritual candles, and the flowers can be infused in oil or made into a tincture to treat ear infections! 

• Evening primrose (Oenothera lamarckiana): Most evening primrose begins blooming in the late afternoon and continues throughout the night, closing up before noon the next day, depending on the temperature. It has lemon-yellow flowers that bloom from May to July. The oil can be taken orally or as a suppository to help relieve PMS symptoms and other issues related to hormone imbalance, and is also commonly used in skin care products.

• Goldenrod (Solidago spp): There are more than 50 species native to the Americas and several species native to Europe. Goldenrod does not cause allergies, but is commonly confused with the allergy-inducing ragweed, another native plant that flowers at the same time as goldenrod and often grows alongside it in fields. It is good for general anti-inflammatory purposes, and we LOVE using it for a pop of sunshine in our dried herb bundles!

All of the herbs listed above thrive wildly in the northeast and can be sustainably harvested and infused in oil to make an all-purpose healing salve! Dandelion, yarrow, and calendula are some other great healing and moisturizing (and yellow!) summer herbs we like adding to the recipe.

Simply pick and chop up your herbs (flowers and leaves) and fill a mason jar ¾ with plant material. Pour your favorite oil over the herb clippings to fill the mason jar (we like a blend of grapeseed, coconut, almond, and jojoba for skin care). Let the herbs infuse in the oil in a dark cool place for 2-4 weeks then strain.

To make 6 oz of salve, mix 5 fl oz of the infused oil with .25 cups of beeswax and 1 tablespoon of shea butter (or cocoa butter) and heat/stir slowly in a double boiler until everything is melted and combined. Optional: add 10 drops of vitamin E and an essential oil blend of your choice (~60 drops) once the mixture cools a bit then pour into three 2 oz tins and let set.

During summer, when we walk through our blooming gardens and the vibrant fields we see the happy and vibrant yellow hues, and we immediately feel safe, loved, and enlivened. Even the bees that drone slowly in the heavy warmth boldly display their golden stripes and pollen-laden hind legs. Summer, at its finest. 

Looking forward to fall

As the wheel of the year turns, the strength of the sun’s light wanes. But fear not, the cooling powers of autumn usher in relief after months of summer heat. The time to rest is not far off. Visions of strolling down a russet-colored October road, cool breezes with a tinge of wood-smoke and a hot apple cider to drink along the old fieldstone wall in the woods began to dance in your subconscious. Autumn is the time to honor all that will go back to the earth so it can be reborn once again.

As Above, So Below... Back Into the Light We Go!

From beneath it rises.

The first plants that break the surface of the snow between Imbolc (February 1) and Ostara (or Spring Equinox, March 20) are often those that rise from energy contained within a bulb. There is a certain “as above, so below” magick contained within the unassuming pods of energy that we sow into the ground in late autumn. We place them into their earthen beds and cover them up, a small treasure, so that one day they will rise from beneath the soil and bloom with unparalleled arrays of color and fragrance, feeding the early pollinators and wildlife that so desperately need nourishment after a long winter’s sleep. The tulips, crocuses, daffodils, lilies, and other early bloomers color the previously drab landscape and give us a sense of relief that we have indeed made it through another winter.

The queen of the underworld.

This rise from below into the above truly marks our ascent out of the underworld of the year. The journey of the bulb is very much like that of Persephone. In Greek mythology, the story of Persephone being kidnapped by Hades, ruler of the underworld, functions as the personification of the vegetation that disappears into the earth when sown, and sprouts from the earth in spring. Her mother Demeter, the goddess of harvest and agriculture, causes the earth to remain cold and barren for the months that she is without her daughter. In spring, Persephone returns to her mother, and the land comes back to life. Not only does the annual mother/daughter reunion explain the changing seasons and the departure and return of the light, it also symbolizes death and the regeneration of life.

The energy within… and without.

Botanically speaking, a bulb is a short stem with fleshy leaves, known as scales, and it functions as a food storage organ during the plant’s dormancy. At the center of the bulb, is a shoot that will eventually break through the surface and flower. Bulbous plant species have both a vegetative and reproductive stage. The bulb grows to its full size, during the vegetative state and begins to flower during the reproductive stage. After flowering, the foliage remains, allowing photosynthesis to continue, and the energy can go back into the bulb. Now, at this point, the plants we cultivate for their flowers only may begin to return to their dormancy. However, there are certain plants that we actually harvest the bulbs of. One popular variety of edible bulbs are onions. The unassuming onion tends to be a cooler spring crop, with edible shoots rising to the surface in the early spring. Of course, we do love to use the whole plant in this case, and while all the energy is still within the bulb of the onion, we usually harvest them for consumption when they are sweet and flavorful. The energy within, is converted to the energy without in the form of many delicious savory recipes. 

A cure for what ails you.

As is common with seasonal change, our human bodies sometimes suffer the effects of illness as our immune systems adjust to the shifts in the natural world. A really simple folk remedy for a nasty seasonal cough, taught to us by our teacher, is to slice an onion and place it within a mason jar. Cover the onion slices with really good local honey and let it sit. The sugars in the honey will begin to draw the liquid out of the onion and form a sweet, yet slightly zesty, juice that can be used to tame a cough. The bonus is that once you consume all the liquid (hopefully assisting you with ameliorating your bronchial ailments) you can throw those sweet honeyed onions on a salad or into another meal of your choice. They are quite tasty!

Late winter color.

Another common late winter/early spring bloom is the crocus (Crocus spp). The emergence of the bright flecks of color across the snowy landscape is the perfect representation of new beginnings, and their very presence reminds each of us that even at the darkest points in life, the seeds of happiness and joy are always present just beneath the surface. Appropriately, this plant is associated with Persephone, and along with violet, lilac, and hyacinth, was one of the spring flowers she was picking when she was taken by Hades. The crocus is also a traditional decoration for the pagan festivals of Imbolc and Ostara.

Crocus bulbs, planted before the ground freezes in the fall, will naturalize, meaning that they spread and come back year after year—with minimum care—for an ever-larger display. As a bonus, critters rarely bother the early buds, and many have strong perfumes that lure bees out of their hives in February or March. A beautiful and easy way to incorporate this symbolic flower into your springtime rituals is to harvest fresh crocus from your garden and dry the colorful petals. You can then sprinkle the dried petals into an herbal incense blend to burn for the Imbolc fire festival or mix them into the wax of a homemade candle to be used for an Ostara spell or ritual to celebrate earth’s reawakening.

Spring, and its resilient flora, reminds us that renewal is constant. The colors, the light, the scents, the energy all harken what is to come in the form of the sweet nectar of summer. The sense of excitement buzzes around, just like the bees, and offers us so much bounty to look forward to. As the days become longer and warmer, we are once again drawn into our gardens, to the seashore, and out into the wild, wandering world.

THE GIFT OF WINTER WARMTH

The seed of light...

The gestational time between Samhain and Winter Solstice is deep and dark, lit only by the light from within.  We wait patiently, incubating like a seed beneath the cover of frozen earth.  From this place of darkness and retreat, the first rays of returning solar light emerge at Winter Solstice, shining the light from without.  Although Solstice is the darkest night of the year, the light grows stronger each day afterwards.  At this time, we are called to fill our emotional cups with yuletide cheer, and to celebrate hearth, home, and community. The tide turns at Solstice and we quietly take our first steps out of dormancy and into the reborn light. 

Yule (from the Norse iul, meaning wheel), coincides with the Solstice and marks the death and the rebirth of the Sun God. The Goddess, who was Death-in-Life at Midsummer, now reveals her Life-in-Death aspect. As the solar light becomes stronger by the millisecond, we begin to observe the world around us again.  Glancing outside, we see the evergreen trees radiating lifeforce from between the barren branches of the surrounding deciduous  species. The evergreens stand strong all year long, but our attention is brought to their presence so much more during winter. Many evergreen species have energetic associations with the sun and the element of fire; they seem to emanate light and warmth from within during an otherwise cold and dark time.  This energy serves as a kind of medicine for the body, mind, and soul. 

Winter tree medicine…

A particularly useful and beautiful evergreen species is Eastern Hemlock (Tsuga canadensis). Hemlock trees are majestic, long-lived conifers found in cool, wet, dark forests throughout New England. Ironic, for a species associated with the element of fire. They are also the largest native evergreen in the Eastern US, eclipsing even Eastern White Pine (Pinus strobus - another very useful herbal ally!). These sacred trees often live to 4-500 years, with the oldest possibly living up to 1000 years. The towering leviathans of the dark forest have long enticed humans, featuring prominently in indigenous legends, and inspiring many a famous New Englander, as Robert Frost illustrates  in this poem:

“The way a crow
Shook down on me
The dust of snow
From a hemlock tree
Has given my heart
A change of mood
And saved some part
Of a day I had rued”

— Dust of Snow by Robert Frost

The hemlock possesses a number of useful energetic and medicinal properties, specifically, those related to warming, cleansing, and supporting good health. The hemlock can warm and create heat, either by building a physical fire, or by way of a hot tea made with the needles.  Medicinally, hemlock is thought to possess warming and astringent qualities, and may be an immune boosting plant because of its high levels of vitamin C. The needles are where the vitamin C resides, and they are deliciously sour, tonifying the mouth, throat, and digestive tract, while promoting digestive secretions, and waking up the liver. One such way to prepare hemlock needles is to make an elixir that can be used on its own or as part of a festive yuletide libation. 

Winter Solstice Cocktail

1.5 oz cinnamon infused vodka
1 oz hemlock & wild rose elixir
1 oz cranberry juice
Club soda
Orange slice for garnish

To make the cinnamon vodka, simply place 1 cinnamon stick in 1 cup of vodka and let it sit for at least 24 hours (remove the cinnamon stick before serving). This warm and spicy infusion is the perfect base for a winter cocktail. For the elixir, just fill a 16 oz mason jar with plant matter halfway then add in roughly 75% brandy and 25% raw honey, until it’s about an inch from full. Let the elixir sit for 2-4 weeks, then strain. Once the infusions are ready, the cocktail is easily assembled by pouring the vodka, elixir and cranberry juice over ice, then adding a splash of soda water, stirring, and garnishing with an orange slice. Cheers!

A magickal Yule…

If ingestion is not something that appeals to you, another way to work with the warmth and cleansing aspects of hemlock, is through magickal and energetic means. As Yule marks the wheel turning out of the darkness and into the light; a new beginning of sorts, evergreens can be a powerful energetic ally for any meditation or spellwork you might decide to explore during this time of year.

Crafting an herbal spell bag on the winter solstice and keeping it on your altar as a reminder that the sun will always return is a wonderful way to celebrate this season. There are no rules to follow, and you can use whatever objects call to you, but for this particular herbal pouch, we simply combine a small amount of herbs, crystals, and other ingredients on a square swatch of fabric, then wrap it up and tie it off with the string.

Sea salt (for purification and protection)
Birch bark (for renewal and healing)
Dried orange (for divination and prosperity)
Hemlock cones (for warmth and transformation)
Rose hips (for love and peace)
Bloodstone crystal (for grounding and intuition)
Swatch of green fabric and red/white string

We have also written up a short charm, or incantation, that you can recite as you craft the bag and meditate on its symbolism:

“Winds of the north, east, south, and west. Elements of earth, air, fire, and water. Tonight we celebrate Yule, the winter solstice. It is the season of the Crone, the time of the winter goddess. We welcome the rebirth of the Sun, the return of light and warmth. As the Wheel of the Year turns once more. We honor the eternal cycle of birth, life, death and rebirth. As above, so below, as within, so without, in light as well as shadow.”

Even though the days of winter feel long and the light creeps back slowly, the sense of impending spring remains salient and on the horizon. At Imbolc (Feb 1), the first sense of movement begins beneath the quiet ground as the seeds activate and awaken. From there, movement and life begin to come out of dormancy and the light strengthens with great force on the eventual journey back to Midsummer.

INTUITION & TRANSFORMATION: THE HERBAL FOLKLORE OF SAMHAIN

“I am the hallow-tide of all souls passing, I am the bright releaser of all pain, I am the quickener of the fallen seed-case, I am the glance of snow, the strike of rain, I am the hollow of the winter twilight, I am the hearth-fire and the welcome bread, I am the curtained awning of the pillow, I am the unending wisdom’s golden thread.”

— Song of Samhain, by Caitlin Matthews

Darkness. To some who fear the unknown, it may be considered evil or scary. To those with an appreciation for mystery and magick, darkness is something to be revered and celebrated. Samhain is the fire festival that takes place at the end of the harvest season, and marks the beginning of the dark half of the year, midway between the autumnal equinox (Mabon) and the winter solstice (Yule). Also known as the “Witch's New Year,” Samhain is often synonymous with All Hallow's Eve or Halloween (October 31) and is considered to be a time when spirits come out to play (in a good way!). This otherworldly celebration also falls, astrologically, in the dark corners of Scorpio season. Scorpio is the zodiac sign associated with shadowy intuition and connection to the spirit world, with death, transformation, and rebirth. For so many reasons this is a time of liminalism; a wonderful chance to connect with those who have passed through the veil, to pay respects, and perhaps ask for their support in our lives. 

In pagan traditions, there are many deities associated with the final harvest, the borderlands between light and dark, and between life and death. Connecting with ancient icons and symbols associated with this season is a great way to celebrate the beautiful shift from light to shadow. One of our favorite and most beloved deities is Hecate, one of the embodiments of the Triple Goddess – the maiden, mother, and crone archetypes – each of which symbolizes a separate stage in life, season, and phase of the moon. Most prominently correlated with the crone archetype of wisdom, freedom, and personal power, Hecate is the Greek goddess of magic, witchcraft, and the dark moon. She is also known for her knowledge of herbal medicine, poisonous plants, and she oversees boundaries or crossroads (e.g. the veil between worlds).

Appropriately, at Samhain, the veil between worlds becomes thin and the liminal space between the living and the dead blurs, allowing us to reach through to the other side. Our intuitive powers grow while this portal opens, and if we allow ourselves to see not with our eyes, but our minds, new vision into the ether may reveal itself. Our ancestors were quite familiar with plants thought to enhance psychic abilities (plants that Hecate knew a lot about!). These herbs were used to open channels to the otherworld. Two such intuitive herbal varieties, long associated with psychic enhancement and All Hallow’s Eve, are mugwort and wormwood.

Both herbs are thought to increase intuitive sensitivity and wormwood is considered moderately poisonous (see disclaimer)! Belonging to the genus Artemisia, and native to Europe and North Africa, both species are naturalized in North America. Mugwort (A. vulgaris) can be found lining old fields, along roadsides, and popping up anywhere humans inhabit. Mugwort may derive its name from the fact it was once used to brew beer, and contains nervine properties that relax and release tension, similar to hops. Wormwood (A. absinthium) is most renowned as an ingredient in traditional absinthe recipes. Absinthe consumption is associated with hallucinations (or perhaps a peek into the otherworld!), historically thought to be derived from the high content of the compound thujone in wormwood. However, absinthe was also extremely high in alcohol, which may have contributed to the effects experienced when imbibing la fée verte (the green fairy). 

Creating a bundle of these herbs to place on your altar, or to burn, may still impart the intuitive energies of the plants. In conjunction with the presence of these herbs, you may find yourself drawn to intuitive readings and divination using tarot cards, crystals, or scrying mirrors. With your third eye (the sixth chakra, Ajna) open and receptive, now is a good time to experience what psychic and intuitive impressions arise when you practice these arts. The Death and High Priestess cards in the traditional Rider Waite Tarot Deck, are two Major Arcana cards associated with both intuition and Samhain. The Major Arcana represents overarching life lessons, and the High Priestess reminds us to trust our intuition and to honor the divine feminine as well as our subconscious thought process (shout out to our girl, Hecate!). This card provides appropriate focus during this highly energetic time when the veil is thin. The Death card heralds change: an end allowing a new beginning. The festival of Samhain is a celebration of death and rebirth, so this card is an excellent portent of what may come.

As the air becomes colder, we feel the impending winter on the wind. Samhain is the last harvest, and the time to prepare for hibernation. Many herbs and spices of the season are of the “warming” variety. Their herbal actions and constitutions create heat within the body, keeping us warm and our spirits lively. Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) is a warming herb that has been considered by many cultures, across thousands of years, to be a sacred herb tied to memory and remembrance, in celebrating both life and death (how apropos!). It is often used in cooking, in making herbal medicines for digestion, and can be an interesting and savory addition to a mulling herbal bouquet for wine or cider.

Mulled wassail (often associated with Yule) is also a traditional drink for Samhaintide. Because apples were recently harvested and fermented into cider and other beverages, Samhain was often the season for this treat. Try blending cider or red wine with rosemary, cinnamon sticks, cloves, freshly sliced apples and oranges for a delicious and warming beverage. Keeping the wine on low on your stove or in a crock pot will prevent you from burning off the alcohol. Fresh cider can be prepared similarly and when you are ready to serve it, you may choose to add a shot of your favorite liquor (rum and whiskey work well) to your mug. Of course, it is also delicious on its own! 

Whether you are celebrating the bounty of the year’s harvest, honoring ancient deities or ancestors, or going inward on your own journey, Samhain is surely a potent time of year to manifest magick in your life. It is important to remember though, that while ritual crafting with intuitive herbal allies can create an awe-inspiring experience, it must always be done with care and supported by knowledge and expertise. All of the above statements and information about intuitive herbs are for historical knowledge only, and ingesting these herbs is not recommended. However, the folklore around these herbs and associated with the final harvest may bring about new intentions in your life as you reap what has been sown, cut away all that does not serve, and hunker down in preparation for winter and the return of the light at Yule.

THE POWER OF MOTHER OCEAN AND HER COASTAL FLORA

As the sun rises higher and higher and the days become longer and hotter, a natural drive toward the cooling waters of the North Atlantic, here in New England, begins to emerge. The human fascination with water is as old as we are. Modern science has even determined that being in, near, around, or adjacent to water does amazing things for our central nervous system and our emotional wellbeing. Simply stated: being near water calms us and makes us happy.

As Summer Solstice draws near, we personally find ourselves gathering with our friends to cool off in Mother Ocean. We know we are very lucky to live in a coastal community with easy access to the shore. A shoreline that supports so many wonderful and healing plants that come to life in June. The strawberries ripen to the most perfect juicy red in the coastal fields under the Full Strawberry Moon, and the wild rose (Rosa multiflora) unveils her fragrant beauty and permeates the night air as you cruise by with your windows down. Closer to the sand dunes, where two worlds meet, beach rose (Rosa rugosa) begins to show her flashy pink petals in the dune grass, beach pea, and other sturdy plants that keep the sand particles of the coastal dunes stable in an ever-shifting landscape of in-between. 

Beach Rose Toner
Both wild rose and beach rose are edible. You will of course want to make sure you forage in an area free of pesticides and pollutants. While a freshly picked June strawberry is a treat all on its own, you can incorporate these abundant wild roses into a treat for your skin! A favorite of ours is to further infuse a rose hydrosol (or “flower water”) with fresh rose petals! Any organic rose hydrosol will do (they are readily available from herbal supply companies). In a mason jar, add your fresh petals and steep only for a few days in the hydrosol. Make sure you add enough to cover the petals completely. Because the material is fresh, do not let it sit too long. You could also infuse apple cider vinegar with rose petals in a similar way and add that to a commercially produced hydrosol. However, many people do not like smelling like vinegar even though it's glorious for your skin. Once the hydrosol and/or vinegar mixture is ready, you can fill a small spray bottle about ⅔ full. If using vinegar and hydrosol, add about ¼ infused vinegar and fill the rest of the way to ⅔ full with hydrosol. From here, a humectant such as pure organic vegetable glycerin (again, available from many herbal and skin care supply companies) is a great addition. You can fill the sprayer almost to full, leaving room for a few more ingredients. A few drops of almond oil, and a few drops of your favorite essential oil (rose, lavender, and frankincense are all great for your skin and smell wonderful) added to the spray bottle will give you a cooling and moisturizing skin toner for the hot summer days ahead. Give it a good shake before spraying it on freshly washed skin. 

Moving from the dunes into the cooling spindrift of Aphrodite’s realm, we feel the pulse of tide and with it marvel at all that is offered along the rocky intertidal zone. With each ebb and flow of ocean water, organisms adapted to both marine and terrestrial life, feel the nourishment and cleansing of seawater: full of trace minerals and salt ions we cannot get from our terrestrial world. With this, the ocean offers us a peek into hers. 

Sea Greens for Glowing Skin
One of the best and most accessible seaweeds that we love harvesting and using in our botanical products is irish moss (Chondrus crispus). You can find this species in shallow water, usually attached to rocks and sometimes free floating after the tide has freed the fronds. It’s small and fan-shaped and ranges in color from yellowish-green to red to dark purple. Irish Moss is very rich in iodine, sulfur, omega-3 fatty acids, and antioxidants. It is wonderfully softening, protecting, and hydrating for your skin. You will find this treasure along the shoreline all summer long. 

If you harvest a batch of it, give it a quick rinse with seawater (removing any rocks and debris) and dry it for a few days, then fill tea bags with the dried plant matter. You can simply use it as a quick easy mask by rehydrating a tea bag in warm water, and massaging the tea bag onto your face. It will leave a gel-like film on your skin, which you can let sit for 10 minutes before rinsing it off. This seaweed mask will leave your face feeling unbelievably smooth and soft! We have also conjured up a lovely powdered mix with some other healing ingredients for an even more moisturizing (and deliciously herb-scented) mask as detailed below! 

Mermaid Magick Seaweed Mask
After collecting and drying your irish moss, place about ½ cup in a coffee grinder or food processor with ¼ cup of dried lavender and ¼ cup dried sage, then pulse grind into a coarse powder. Add 2 Tbsp of bentonite clay and 1 Tbsp of aloe powder and mix thoroughly. If stored in an air-tight jar in a dry place, this powder will last a while. Each time you want to treat yourself, measure out a teaspoon of the powder and slowly add enough warm water to form a spreadable paste. Massage onto your face (avoiding the eyes) and leave on for 15 min, then rinse off with warm water. The rose toner would be a great follow up after this mask and before you moisturize! 

Summer Rituals for Mind & Body
With so many beachside beauties to admire, forage, and craft into healing botanical treatments throughout the summer growing season, it’s difficult not to succumb to sensory overload. We’ve only barely scratched the surface here! In the interest of seeking balance, another satisfying summer morning activity for the mind and body is an introspective oceanside meditation. Meditating at the cusp of a seasonal shift (in this case, the Summer Solstice) can be especially powerful and a wonderful way to experience the energy of the natural world. Later in the summer at Lammas (August 1, the first harvest) you may find yourself returning for an especially powerful time to meditate in nature. Additionally, meditating at sunrise is uniquely beneficial for gaining focus, relieving stress, and the effects may resonate throughout the day by keeping your mind fresh and clear. 

Settling into a comfy warm spot on an empty beach at sunrise is a soul-soothing feeling like nothing else. Of course, if you don’t have access to a location such as this, any outdoor space that calls to you will do. Once settled, close your eyes and begin to focus on your breathing, becoming more conscious of each breath. Imagine your lower body melting into the warm sand and feel grounded. With a tall spine, stack your head and shoulders over your hips and allow the crown of your head to merge blissfully with the bright sun and morning sky. Feel this nourishing energy of expansion and growth emanating from Mother earth, and imagine that you are one with her and her healing powers.

Take 3 slow deep breaths in through your nose, and out through your mouth, pausing to feel the breath turn at the top of the inhale, and at the bottom of the exhale. Imagine a warm energizing yellow light expanding around your entire body. With every inhale, comes a feeling of calm focus, and with every exhale you softly release any tension. Remain cradled in this life-giving energy for as long as you like and continue to breathe. When you are ready to return to your physical consciousness, offer the earth and the ocean a small gift of gratitude from your heart directly to them. From here, calmly allow your awareness to return to your body by opening your eyes and gently moving your arms and legs, finally, with care, rising to stand.

Self care rituals, especially involving the aforementioned handmade plant-based products, are a great follow up to a morning sun-soaked meditation. A facial cleanse, mask, tone, and moisturize can seal your morning self care practice on a summer day full of potential. This practice, whether daily, weekly, or monthly may revive the senses while hydrating and cooling the face and body during the hot summer months.

A Time of Growth
As summer’s energy grows and expands into the first harvests from the fields, gardens, and vines, we marvel at all that comes to fruition during this fleeting season. As the vegetables, fruits, herbs, and grains overflow with abundance in their respective spaces, we spend our time projecting outward into the natural world, absorbing Vitamin D from the sun, trace minerals from the sea, and we take in nature’s bounty with all of our senses. On a hot and humid day, the heat breaks after a thundershower passes over the cold ocean water, with the promise of the sun, the moon, and the stars showing themselves in the summer sky again shortly. The pulse of the tides draws us in to listen to all that nature has to share with us, if we only pay attention to the gifts she reveals.