Banish negativity by making sage smudge sticks

Witches kitchen

Today is all about the herbs, gathered from my allotment I have been making sage smudge sticks, putting the dried mint and lemon balm into pots to add to our winter stash and I have been inhaling rosemary to improve my memory and we could all do with some of that! I have also collected some lavender to dry out for baths, lavender bags for christmas presents and to aid a restful nights sleep.


 I have used dried sage ( I just hang it in bunches in my kitchen to dry out) for the top 3, the advantages are its ready to use and you don't have to wait, using fresh sage means you can bind the leaves tighter but you have to hang it up and wait before you can use it which takes longer because its not loose.

What is smudging?

"Smudging" is the common name given to a powerful cleansing technique from the Native American tradition; however, the burning of herbs for emotional, psychic, and spiritual purification is a common practice among many religious, healing, and spiritual traditions. It is a ceremonial way to cleanse a person, place or an object of negative energies or influences. It is also an effective method for energizing or blessing a person, place or object.
Smudging can be useful when you're feeling depressed, angry, resentful, unwell or after you have had an argument with someone. It is common to smudge yourself, the space and all the guests or participants before a ritual or ceremony or celebration. You can smudge your home or work space as part of a general spiritual housecleaning, and you can cleanse crystals or other objects of any negative or lingering energy with a smudging ritual. (http://www.sageandwisdom.net/what-is-smudging.html)

How to smudge

 Any action undertaken with intention and belief can become a potent ritual, so consider your intention before you smudge and hold it clearly in your mind. Smudging should be done with care, with reverence and in an attitude of love.

A candle flame is recommended to light the smudge stick as it may take a little time to get the stick smoking. Once the stick is alight with flame, blow it out so that the smudge stick is smoldering, not burning - be careful not to blow ash everywhere. If you're using loose leaves, a candle is still recommended, but the single leaf will light much more quickly - again, you want to blow out the flame so the sage doesn't burn away too rapidly (you won't get the sweet sage smoke if it burns rather than smolders).(http://www.sageandwisdom.net/what-is-smudging.html)

Another day at the plot and lovely books

I spent a lovely afternoon in the sunshine today at our plot, did some weeding and dug over a bed ready for planting, planted some seed potatoes that were on offer (I normally just sprout my own in a dark cupboard), built up the next layer of compost with grass cuttings, veg peelings, coffee dregs and horse poo and then sat on a bench we made from bricks and a scaffolding plank and closed my eyes and listened to the birds and the sounds of nature all around me. It was amazing, I remembered when we first got the phone call to say we could have an allotment I said to Tom (my partner) which plot I thought it was, we had visited plenty of times on open day so knew the plots quite well, it was a middle plot with fruit trees on, when we visited to view our new plot it wasn't that one, it was right at the far end with no trees, it was only today I realised when we moved from the half plot to this double plot just over a month ago I was sitting next to the original plot I dreamed about and our new plot has loads of fruit trees on it too!

I was so happy and filled with gratitude, I gave thanks to *God and Mother Nature, my eyes filled up and I could feel an awakening in my body and heart, I feel so lucky and blessed by the life I have, we may not be rich in money yet but I am so rich in other ways.

I took some pictures to share of the beautiful flowers on the plot at the moment, this is Kale that has gone to seed, the flowers are so lovely, I am waiting for the flowers to die off and capture the seeds for next year before giving the greens to the chickens.

Gorgeous apple blossom, how perfect are the flowers, they have a delicate fragrance and the bees love them

I also went to the library and got some amazing books, The thrifty forager by Alys Fowler, foraging by David Squire, Old fashion remedies from arsenic to gin by Dr Rob Hicks and Nature handbook by Chris Packham I also scored The Power by Rhonda Byrne for £5 from The works, got to love the discount book shop!

 

I am going to do another foraging walk and talk tomorrow to coincide with “PLEDGE TO PLANT – EARTH DAY", be a part of the biggest grass-root effort in history by planting a seed/tree as a “give back” to Earth. I am meeting some people at Salisbury gardens behind Stanley park in Blackpool for an informal foraging session, to teach them about the plants they can eat, learn about the plants health benefits and the best ways to cook them. 

*God = all around us, not one person/thing, I believe in the universe, energy and spirit, I think all religions have the same theme running through them all, be kind to each other and the planet, I like to pick different parts from different belief systems and just know there is more to my life than just being here.

Our allotment

I always wanted an allotment especially after watching the good life as a child, I adored Tom and Barbara so much and thought it would be a dream come true having some pigs! 

What I didn't realise is how much hard work they are to get them into shape, I'm talking aching bodies after hours of digging, sore arm muscles after lugging bricks around, and a sore back after bending over so much. 

I always feel like I have achieved something great though and that I deserve my dinner after all that fresh air and hard work. 

We have has an allotment for just under a year now and have gone from half a plot to a full plot, the thing is its takes x full year if having a plot to know how the sun moves over the plot, what is already established and grows perennially, how it drains after a pour down and how the wind hits it, our first plot was sheltered, sunny all day and peaceful as it was at the far end of all the plots. 

Now we have moved to the bigger plot we are right in the middle of the action, overlooked by a huge house that blocks out the sun, compacted clay soil and the drainage is terrible. 

So we have gained growing room and the previous owners left us a shed which is awesome but we have lots of work to do to get it in order and with quality growing going on. 

So the above pic is when we first took over the plot, when its all sorted I will take another and show you guys. 

I have been starting to plant seeds at home and the courgettes are growing so fast already. 

   

 We are trying to grow as much as possible this year and be as self sufficient as possible, practising for our move to Portugal. 

I am hoping I have more success with things like butternut squash and red cabbage this year, last year they didn't grow. 

What a wonderful day at the allotment

Hello lovely people I am now the proud co-owner of an allotment. We was only on the list for 11 months so that's awesome and quick, apparently on average it's 3 yrs waiting. Our plot is number 22 which was my mums birthday . It was pretty overgrown but already had beds in it which was a bonus and a huge rhubarb plant. 

We have been there almost everyday weeding and digging, it really is hard work but the bird song and friendly neighbours make it easier. It's super hot there too and I've got a lovely tan, it always surprises me how well I look when tanned. 

I am hoping not only to grow as much veg and fruit as possible but to lose some weight too with all the hard work! 

We got some rhubarb to bring home to make a pie and in the way popped in the library to get some books, I got the virgin gardener by Laetitia Maklouf, the frugal cook by Fiona Beckett and self sufficiency by Alan and Gill Bridgewater. So tonight after a relaxing bath I shall put my feet up with a cup of nettle and peppermint tea and get some reading done.