by marikare | Sep 19, 2020 | body wisdom, chinese medicine, Five elements, Medicine Making, nervous system, resilience, Self-Love, Uncategorized, wild food |
Once the signs of autumn roll in I immediately start craving chai. It has been a favourite drink of mine for a long time but especially after living in India and daily finding the Chai wallah on the closest street and sipping on the warm, sweetly spiced beverage. Here is my version that I make at home. You can adjust i based on your preferences either doing a base of black tea if you want a little kick or some medicinal mushrooms if you want something more rejuvenating (chaga and reishi are my favourite) or a simple herbal base like red rooibos. You can also adjust the spices to your liking making it more heating and spicy with chilies, ginger, black pepper and clove or more neutral and sweet with cardamom and cinnamon. You can sweeten it with honey, maple syrup, sugar, xylitol or stevia and add any animal or alternative milk based on your preference.
Immune-boosting, earth-nourishing Chai
Ingredients
- Base- two bags black tea, two tablespoons medicinal mushrooms or other adaptogenic herbs or one tablespoon red rooibos
- 3 cups Milk- Goat, cow, sheep, almond, cashew, oat,…
- 3 cups water
- thumb sized piece of ginger – peeled and sliced
- one tablespoon spice mix (cinnamon, clove, chilli, cardamom, black pepper, fennel, fenugreek, allspice, nutmeg,….)
- sweetener- honey, maple syrup, cane sugar, xylitol, stevia
Instructions
- Pour water and milk into a pot and put on medium high
- Peel and slice ginger and add to water
- Collect what spices you like and grind in a mortar and pestle (I usually make lots and keep extra in a jar)
- Add spices to the pot
- If using medicinal mushrooms or other herbs add now
- Bring to a boil and allow to simmer for 10- 20 mins
- Add black tea or rooibos
- allow to steep for 5 mins
- strain into a cup and add sweetener as desired
- Enjoy!!
by marikare | May 1, 2019 | body wisdom, Five elements, Flower Essences, grief, Medicine Making, moon, traditions |
I love Flower Essences! They are one of my favourite tools for creating mental, emotional and spiritual transformation and connecting in with the seasons and cycles of nature. You can purchase many different essences online and in health food stores but they are so easy to make and allow you to connect with the plants that are growing in your community.
What are flower essences?
They are vibrational remedies preserved in alcohol that tap into the different energetic levels of your being. Each individual essence has captured the energetic imprint of a flower into water and then they are further diluted with alcohol and water. Like Dr. Masaru Emoto’s work in “The Hidden Message of Water” Water takes on the energy of the flower as it can take on the energy of our words.
Which Flower Essence is best for me?
Each flower has its own unique vibration and medicine to offer to us. Some are good for all people while others are good for just some people. You can read about different essences and see which resonate with you. My favourite list is here.
My favourite way to determine which essences are best is to go for a walk in your neighbourhood and see which flowers call out to you. It could be with their smell, their colour or just their vibration calling to you. That’s where making your own essences is so great. Once you have made your essence you can try it and identify what it is that it helps with through your experience with it.
How to make your own Flower essences?
First, find the flowers that call to you and the best place to pick them. I like to pick mine with the new or full moon but any time will do.
Prepare yourself a dish or jar and fill it with purified water, 1 cup/250ml is lots.
Go to the plant you have chosen and introduce yourself. Ask it to share its medicine with you.
Once you have asked harvest one flower head and place it in the water.
Place it in the sun or under the moon for a few hours or up to one day.
Strain the water into a sealable jar, flask or dropper bottle and top with 1 cup/250 ml brandy. Label with flower, date and any astrological info. This is your mother essences.
To make into an essence to carry with you or give a friend or family member.
Grab a dropper bottle and fill it 3/4 with half water and half brandy. Then add seven drops of each flower essence you wish to add to it. I usually add a maximum of 5 essences to a bottle. Label again with flowers and date made.
To use:
Take four drops under the tongue or in a beverage as often as needed. For chronic or deep work, once a day is good. For acute work like grief, stress, anxiety, as much as needed. Ideally taking a moment to take your essence allowing it to work its magic as you breath is best.
