[Marilyn Michele]

Very lovely offering Antoine, I feel heard and engaged. Such a delight.

What you described in both expressions, of music and of mars, is the juxtaposition of all that is, and form. Some call it enlightenment. That is a term used so broadly, it has been diluted for me. But this knowing brought forward with Mars has such a deep relationship to life force, vitality, yes?

And I love how Zin Master Dogen is said to have replied in his old age, to an acquaintance asking how his enlightenment is going? He replied something like, oh the enlightenment is fine, it is my body which is still adjusting.

Your description of the that which interweaves within form, born is expressed by Dogen. This is such vibrant and rugged dancing. And the asserting onward and maintaining of one’s life force throughout the movements of form…. In how I understand it, is Mars. What an amazing ally.

Anger was a feast in my childhood. And what resonated with me as I have journeyed this for decades with full embodiment of my fire trine (Jupiter, Moon, Uranus, & Sun, South Node, Mercury – lead by Mars- in the dance,) the anger keeps a spark lit. What am I experiencing when there is a needed spark firing off. And as I enfold the aid of Mars to keep a spark lit the practices/habits of anger are shifted.

It is like our herbal practice, getting to the root, the start of the condition, of the illness. I have found within the root of my fire anger has been a call forward of self love unwilling to be extinguished. It is as though the river washed over me in a playful delight of dance. And the myriad of ‘stuff’ called forward in this one, me, being in form, has continuously lifted the spark of love, over and over again.

And of course my North Node in my 2nd house is all about this coming to fruition. Doing the happy dance over and over again as this deepens and soaks into every bone.

Lovely lovely exchange, xMMMmmm

[Marilyn Michele]

And my double boiler is fabulous. It is an oldie but goodie as well.

[Marilyn Michele]

Here is my hefty old school ricer. What a great tool. The strainer part comes out as well. So it is very cleanable.

[Marilyn Michele]

There is a lot of intensity here. I enter to honor all engaged. I am not sure how to respond, whether to the Mars or Spagyric essence query. And yet I wan to respond to both from my experience.

I find it is not always the modality of the herbs presence, but the herb itself which ignites my bodies response. I have used all of the above you listed. And each modality (Spagyric, gemmo, tincture, and so on) each have had some very powerful offerings yet, each have had some rather impotent body responses. I find it depends upon the plant, and what my body is needing. This is a dance of fine tuning of me with awareness in the exchange. It was a single drop of gentian that spoke volumes to me. And a decoction I drank for months on end that offered volumes of healing.

Now can I join in to the offering about Mars. As I read through this exchange, I was drawn to yarrow. I find this is a Mars plant. It has a strong association with blood. As well I have learned with/& from others that Mars is about maintaining our boundaries for life, for our vitality. A sustaining of one’s vital force, (not in keeping territories. That is how it has been used. A bit different in my mind.) And as Mars mobilizes form out of the nothingness of the 12th house and Pisces. So keeping one’s vital force -vibrant, this makes sense. And this mobilization is without plans. It is without thought. It is very responsive and engaged according to what is – the now.

And if we look at the edge of the edges of the leaf of yarrow, or the myriad flower edges, it is not able to be mapped. Stay with me I know I am talking mapping all of the sudden. When the edge of the land meets the ocean (Mars -form meeting oceanic Pisces) – all the ins and out of the exchange is not map-able. But it is firmly present. This expresses the boundary which cannot be mapped, which is yet in form, is this not very Mars of the first house? I say yes. What do you feel?

So, in my minds eye, I have worked through explaining my sense of Yarrow associated with Mars. Maybe this works for you. We can discuss this more as well. But then I come to the first time I stood on a mowed clump of yarrow. I was at a farm. And the grass changed in this one circled area. So I went to stand on it and “get the vibe.” I had begun developing this registration in my body pretty keenly.

I stood on the yarrow and it was kind, gentle, welcoming… and – for me – pure love. Unconditional love. Full accepting love. I kept stepping off. And getting back on. I kept getting the same vibe. Those leaves like gentle green feathers.

As I see it, any movement out of -all that is, our 12th house, Pisces realm into form 1st house, would be pure love. A love of the 10,000 things – unconditionally joined with all, of the heart.

So, might we say that as Mars mobilizes… an unconditional love is the source, the foundation of Mars sustaining vital force?

I have enjoyed the engagement. May it greet you well. XMmMmm

[Marilyn Michele]

Summer lavender tincture.

[Marilyn Michele]

Lovely exchanges thank you.

Finding local is my delight. I bet you will find a host of great plant company whether mullein or not.

Enjoy x MmmMmm

[Marilyn Michele]

Hahaha this is such a great share… I have not grown Black Cohosh… and stinky flowers on the porch, what a hoot. But there we are sitting with our plants in good humor.

[Marilyn Michele]

Fabulous we are in such harmony in our approach. I like to engage porous listening which does not mean I know where I am going, but listen to follow.

Couldn’t pain in the lower arm below the elbow be tendinitis? I am sure you have worked it out the source of it. The joint areas of our bodies hold so many intersections of body. Best to you on figuring, as you listen 😉

I was also thinking rosemary in your blend to aid in blood stimulation. I really like using fresh herbs over dried in my salves. And I am dancing with delight in the way mullein leaves and flowers are actively healing within these salves. It seems to me there is a demulcent capacity that is a factor. The nature of mullein to grow in rough or dryer conditions and thrive with that fat stalk, cushy leaves and abundant flowers. Just the expression of mullein seems to be nurturing and, well, demulcent in active expression of its self. No?

And I had a combo of primarily yarrow flowers & feverfew come to be a blend. I was thinking maybe a bug repellent. But if you have any sense of what this blend might offer share it back with me, please.

XMMmmmm

[Marilyn Michele]

Exactly right Ariel I will post a picture.

[Marilyn Michele]

Hey Jackie, I hear you on time. Absolutely a factor isn’t it. No worries on reading through it all. I will try to be brief but I like thoroughness.

Salves. I make a general wound healer, for scraps and scratches. And then I experiment. I like making a salve for my dry skin & rashes. And for a personal lubricant. Each have been very successful.

I have my base salve variations down. I can give you my recipe. I posted it above. But I can redo easy in a personal message.

So now I am just making unique plant combinations, according to who is blooming or ready. As the plants express readiness I harvest them. And next my practice is to then figure what the combination is leaning towards. I almost always add in a few bits of surprise plants which just seem ready. My salves made this way, have been dynamite in really working. This method seems to be most successful. I have the time to sense which plants are ready, and those which want to be together and then ask them – what for? I would be glad to share the combo’s if you want.

For pain I add in oragano. I have recently understood it works well for pain. As well I add in wild lettuce. If I had California poppy in good soil I would add that.

But consider the source of the pain. And add in plants that care for those things.

And next if I might suggest, I think a plant directing the pain remedy would be nice. Sajah calls them “drivers.” Such that the upper leaves of Mullien are for the upper back – to lower neck area. Adding in these drivers is helpful.

Where is the pain you are targeting?

Thanks for engaging. I enjoy hearing from fellow makers. XMmMm

[Marilyn Michele]

Agreed coconut oil is lovely.

[Marilyn Michele]

Well thank you. Hey maybe give it a go?

What are you doing with herbs this month? Sometimes I am just looking and loving.

Gottah picture?

[Marilyn Michele]

Hey Angeline, I am glad to share my combination in my salve oils.

Taking into account one’s sensitivities obviously. But I cannot use Jojoba oil. My body rashes and is hot like fire. Looking to create what your body wants, know your body. My body likes oil. I am super dry. But NOT any oil. Aside: All my oils are organic. And I have found my body responds really well to glycerin.

I am not a big fan of olive oil. But soo many folk use it. And it works great – for them.

Sajah speaks of sesame oil which blends into the skin well. And I know tallow, beef tallow or leaf lard (pig fat) an animal fat really blends into the skin well. So I do add these in.

My primary base is cacao butter, which is food grade. I know folk use bees wax, but in my experience that takes higher heat to dissolve. And in my early attempts if it doesn’t fully mix in it is chunky feeling.

Cacao butter is firm, too firm for a jar of slave. Yet if you melt it and put it into a small wafer chocolate mold. They come out in small squares and I break off a piece and use it. Once it is at body temp as I rub it on, it melts. OR I have a larger rounded chocolate mold in the shape of a coffee bean. I use that a rounded bar of salve and just rub it on my skin. It is so lovely. For molding your salve: I heat in the double boiler to melt the cacao nibs or raw cacao if you can find it, it is all the same. Once melted I put the temp to very low. I add in the herbs. I have a wooden flat ended dowel which I push the herbs down and jostle as they “cook.” I leave them with this very low heat for a day, getting jostled throughout. I have found 1 – 2 quarts of herbs will work down into 1-1 1/2 C oil blend.

This year I have struck a great combo. I use

• equal measures of cacao butter and shea butter. And
• to that measure whatever it is of cacao & shea I add in 1/3 or 1/4 organic sesame oil (not the toasted sesame – I did that once, my salve smelled like a campfire.)
• And then I add half to the sesame oil, glycerin.

So it might look like:

1/2 C each cacao & shea butters + 1/4C sesame oil + 1/8 C glycerin OR

2/3 C each cacao & shea butters + 1/3 C sesame oil + 1/8 C and oneTBL glycerin

I have had great success with equal measures of cacao butter, shea and tallow (beef or leaf lard.) I do not need as much sesame oil & glycerin but they do soften nicely with just enough.

Maybe: 1/2C each tallow, cacao & shea butters + 1/4C sesame oil, 1/8 C glycerin

I strain it all with a ricer, and then drop it through a colander and pour it into a paper coffee filter in those filters used for holding coffee over a cup, but it is over my jar. IF the salve will not make it through the filter, I put it in the oven on the lowest temperature. I set the filter on the jar, and the two are set into a baking dish incase things spill. This will allow the salve to make it through the filter, very slowly.

What is key here is whipping it on high with your mixer as it cools. And just before it hits room temperature whip it again. It will settle just a bit firm, and yet soft in use.

If pictures of anything I have mentioned would make sense. On my next batch I will take photos.

X best

[Marilyn Michele]

Oh fabulous. What a grand surrounding. I was looking for visual sharing. If you might.

[Marilyn Michele]

Lisa you are most generous. I have been doing salves for years now. I am still learning. But having a ceramic & copper double boiler handed down from my aunt has eased and aided me the process.

But Lisa might you share a picture of a plant or potion? What plant has caught your eye or is sitting beside you as you take a rest?