For some, there is a longing to have a partner and a family of their own .. that so called perfect life. Even those who do have those immaterial things in place can get that feeling of free falling once the hubbub settles down and normal life continues. There’s a vast array of reasons this may come about, particularly at this time of the year. ​As a whole, our society is moving so fast, and the holidays increase this tempo significantly. Things to buy, places to be, the pressure of doing enough. We are off of our schedules, we are staying up too late, eating a bit more of the things that we don’t normally eat, maybe celebrating overmuch with alcohol, spending more money than we usually do.. essentially we are spinning our wheels and draining our coffers physically, emotionally, mentally, and financially. It’s no wonder why, as January settles in, there is this uncomfortableness that settles in with it.

What is the message here? That we can now repent for our lecherous ways? Slim down and clean up our acts!? This messaging is steeped in shame, instead of acceptance. Shame keeps us from the best parts of ourselves. We all have things that we want to do differently or stop doing or begin doing. We don’t have to tackle them all at once, or even go hard. Maybe it’s better if we simply ask ourselves how we can support ourselves so that we can make slow and steady progress towards our goals. When we go inward and slow down, just as nature does at this time of year, we grant ourselves the opportunity for true growth as the year ahead unfurls itself. 

The Big D
There are many factors that come into play when we are feeling more than a little sad at this time of year. One thing that can play a major role is the lack of sunshine, which can lead to a vitamin D deficiency. This fat soluble vitamin ( or is it a hormone?) is stored in our fat cells. Our bodies make the active form of vitamin D, calciferol in our kidneys and liver. Since we get most of our vitamin D through the conversion of UVB light from being in the sunshine, after months of less time spent outside we have depleted our stores.  ​Vitamin D is responsible for many of the processes in our bodies that contribute to our emotional, mental and physical health. Inflammation, sleep regulation, pain tolerance,calcium regulation, and immune system regulation to name a few. It may be necessary to supplement our vitamin D during the winter months, preferably a liquid supplement that includes K2, to prevent a deficiency.

Skullcap has been called upon in traditional medicine for centuries for her calming, antispasmodic properties. She is a go-to for insomnia and chronic pain that interferes with our ability to sleep. Skullcap is best used only at night until we know how our body's Individual constitution reacts to her.

Hops, yes, that Hops.. the same plant used in the process of making beer, has wonderful relaxing properties and can make it easier for us to unwind and get sleepy at night.

​Adaptogenic Support
When we feel that we need daily support because we are out of sorts sometimes we need to call upon our adaptogenic herbs. Adaptogens help us to better manage daily stress by regulating how our bodies react to those stressors. They help to balance these reactions and the hormones and chemical reactions that occur so that we can be in a more harmonious state of being

Ashwagandha helps with focus and is known to reduce stress and anxiety, leading to better sleep. She can help us to feel more on top of things and to feel more in control of our response to life’s challenges as she helps regulate stress hormones.

Cordyceps helps us to have more stamina which can decrease burnout from stress. This mushroom adaptogen allows us to also connect to the divine and open us up easier for meditation practices.

Reishi is another adaptogenic mushroom. Known as the mushroom of immortality. The benefits of this plant medicine are far reaching and go beyond her adaptogenic qualities. Reishi promotes feelings of well being as she helps our bodies' stress response and improves our sleep. This amazing mushroom improves our overall vitality and can help us maintain our mental and physical health

Tulsi, also known as Holy Basil is a sacred herb that has long been revered for opening up the heart and mind to gratitude and devotion to our spiritual connection. She improves our energy levels while simultaneously inducing a calm state of mind. Working with Holy Basil, her adaptogenic properties promote the balancing of our stress response, so that we have energy during the day and can sleep peacefully at night.

Oatstraw is another health maintaining herbal ally for year round fortification that is especially useful in the winter months. She not only contains vitamins and essential minerals, Oatstraw also has a ton of mucilage and carries the energy of water. The winter months can really do a number on our skin, but we can help combat the effects of the cold dry air when we moisturize from within. With her mood regulating and anti anxiety properties, this gentle nervine can help us maintain our mental and emotional regulation. At this time of the year, maybe we are a little down and our nerves are frayed from the holidays. A strong nutritive infusion of Oatstraw will allow us to relax, sleep better and nourish our body, mind and spirit when we need it most. Making this ahead of time and keeping it in the refrigerator makes it easy to add it to your water to help you stay hydrated, and if you add Rose Hips to the infusion you can boost your vitamin C while you’re at it. Sometimes we need a little bit more support than we get from our nutritive herbs alone plant medicine has quite a few tricks up her sleeve, if you know which beauties to turn to.

Extra Support
Sometimes we need a little bit more support than we get from our nutritive, sleep enhancing, and adaptogenic herbs alone. Plant medicine has quite a few tricks up her sleeve, if you know which beauties to turn to.

St. John's Wort is harvested at the peak of the longest days of the year in June and July so it’s no wonder that this yellow flowering herb is brimming with the energy and mood enhancing properties of the Sun. The main chemical component in St. John’s Wort is Hypericin, which produces a lovely red medicine and has been clinically proven to increase dopamine levels, making her a potent ally in the treatment of mild depressive symptoms and anxiety. She can calm nerve pain both internally and topically which also contributes to her mood modulating effect. Spiritually speaking, Hypericum Perforatum( Her Latin Name) hints at her ability to allow light to fill the holes in our aura. With this herb, you do want to start slowly to see how it affects you because it can interfere with sleep in some people and cause light sensitivity. I’ve taken it personally and did not have any issues in that regard.

*For those who are currently on any medications for depression and anxiety it’s best to seek the advice of your health care provider before working with this herb.*

Lemon Balm has properties that help to enhance our mood and cognitive function. She promotes a happy outlook, reducing anxiety and her mild calming effects are gentle enough for children and sensitive adults, especially those who tend to have nervous stomachs. Lemon balm can also benefit heart health. *those with hypothyroidism should not consume lemon balm regularly in large doses*

Movement
Moving our bodies is important for flexibility, strength, increased energy, and better mental health, we all know this. Making lofty goals to go to the gym or begin a grueling workout regimen is a typical resolution when the New Year rolls around, but for a lot of us this is not something we enjoy or something that we can maintain long term.

When we set goals and cannot see them through this can lead to disappointment or shame. Finding other ways to keep ourselves moving can boost our self esteem and help us connect our minds, bodies and souls. Walking even if it’s cold outside we can bundle up and take short(or long) walks. At the same time being outside will allow us to take in some sunshine and convene with nature.

Yoga enhances our flexibility, balance, posture, and strength, while improving our mental and emotional health. Breathing practices that are a part of yoga, along with gentle stretching help to alleviate stress and improve our cardiovascular health. Joining a yoga class also invites us to be a part of a community of like minded people, and we can all benefit from the support of community through group yoga

Alyssa, at Herbs, Love, and Yoga has a large variety of herbs and tinctures as well as tea blends that can help to support us through the Winter Blues, and she employs her vast knowledge in order to help find the right herbs for each individual. Seeking the advice of someone like herself can really help us to support ourselves when we need it most.

Winter Light

The bluest of skies are borne by the magic of Winter light
In the bated breath before a Winter sunrise and within the last exhalation of her setting sun, our eyes are bathed in the saturation of Divinity. The light is fleeting, the time in which she is available to us is short lived, but oh so rich!
Her magic is unmatched, as she reveals all that is hidden.
The color that paints our world has been sent up into the cosmos for a time, having faded away from where we roam, the only thing left is the light and shadow, the very bones, the foundation from which everything else derives. See not the absence of life, but the beauty of deep rest in the brown and gray.
The magic of the winter light is meant to open our eyes to the unseen. The way in which her sparkle swaths the frozen landscape leaves no darkness untouched as winters’ accompanying winds shift the shadows like a kaleidoscope.
In our acceptance of rest, we allow her light to influence the light within, to caress the shadows that lie in our depths. Every part of who we are is meant to be kissed by the light. Our stillness is vital, may our spirits, like the wind, reveal the parts of our souls hidden by our willful pursuit to keep us safe in the act of staying busy. By being pretty. By being full of life.
Welcome Winter, her magical light.
Welcome rest, we are worthy.
Welcome the drab, the brown, the gray
The ground will thaw and the color shall return, once again there will be much to do. Rest.

This post was written by Debra Romano, a Herbs Love And Yoga herbal apprentice.

The holiday season is in full swing! Many people, including myself, are so busy and overwhelmed trying to get everything in place to make the holidays special, and trying to find the time to also enjoy what is supposed to be the most magical✨ time of the year. It’s lovely, and it can be stressful, so what if we took some time to slow down and look at the traditions that came before the widely celebrated winter holidays of today? The ancient Scandinavian, or Norse Cultures( also known broadly as Old Germanic/Pagan) celebrated the winter solstice with festivals centered around light, fire, community, and feasting. Winter, on the wheel of the year in many cultures, represents death, our ancestors and their wisdom, and the coldest and harshest turn of that wheel. Yule celebrates the rebirth ✨ of the sun after the shortest and darkest day of the year. Celebrated for twelve days with festivities beautifully decorated with nothing more than the magical abundance all around us. Each day of Yule represents a slightly different theme but what ties each of them together is that they all revolve around our meaningful relationship to nature, ancestors, family, friends, community, and self reflection. The Yule log is the most well known image from this celebration. It originates from thousands of years ago when a large tree would be felled and burned to light up the night and warm villagers with its protection, honoring the returning sun. It would burn for all twelve days while the merriment continued through the last day of the solar year. Making a Yule log is a fun and practically free way to rekindle the spirit of what the Winter Holidays derived from. Sometime after Thanksgiving I start scoping out the roadsides and keep my eyes open while I’m walking in nature for the perfect log to bring home. I prefer to get one that isn’t very big because I don’t plan on burning it for twelve days. As a matter of fact, I don’t burn it at all, instead I write down things( on small bits of paper) that I want to let go of that I’ve recognized this past year that aren’t serving me any longer. I write down my goals and wishes for the year to come, things I want to see come to fruition. I place these on or around my Yule log, and I light them ablaze with the candles I’ve adorned my log with. This year I’m stepping it up a notch by writing some of my reflections on bay leaves, as their magical properties will help to make something magical even more potent. Once I have decorated her, and have her in place, I invite my family to also write down their thoughts so we can all slow down for a bit and take some time to reflect, give thanks, and notice what we want for ourselves in the year ahead. I do try to leave her out for a few days, lighting her candles when I’m home, and on the night of the winter Solstice( not always-I’m busy!) we send our intentions up into the cosmos with the burning of our written words.

This is my Yule log from last year, if you decide to make one then you can festoon it any way you like. I personally like to find twigs and branches that have fallen from the Evergreen Trees, Pine Cones, dried up berries from bushes I encounter, and rocks and Herbs that I already have on hand. I’ll also cut up an Orange and a Lemon for their bright and cheery color. I usually have twine or ribbon laying around that I use, but I like to keep it simple. Herbs like Rosemary for remembrance and clarity, Cinnamon for abundance and prosperity , Cloves for protection and creating valuable connections, Star Anise with its deep connection to Jupiter opens pathways for growth and expansion , Thyme for compassion and emotional/spiritual healing, and Sage for heightened intuition and connection to the Divine are all wonderful additions that hold great power.( and smell amazing!) During Yule you could also create a simmer pot with the aforementioned herbs. Adding Balsam Fir for its lovely aroma and Juniper Berries as they were sacred to the Norse culture and offer a plethora of magical energy. Besides Herbs, I love adding citrus fruit into my simmer pot, as it embodies the warmth of the sun. Slow down, Be Happy, Stay warm, and Make a Yule log.. you won’t regret it!!

​The first night of Yule begins on December twentieth, and it is known as Mother’s Night. This night honors divine feminine energy, motherhood, our female ancestors (particularly, but not exclusively our maternal lineage), goddesses, fertility, and Mother Earth herself.. for they are how we have sustained life. Lighting a candle in their honor, telling stories of those who came before us, reflecting on nurturing energy, or even making a recipe passed down are simple ways to celebrate Mother’s night. We can also honor our own divine feminine, thus celebrating from whence we came by nurturing and caring for ourselves. Recognizing that when we nurture ourselves, when we heal ourselves, we are also in effect healing and caring for all of our Grandmothers who came before us✨

Even if we only have a small amount of time to set aside for ourselves, at any time during the holiday season, this simple yet nurturing act of self care will leave us feeling like the goddesses we are meant to be

Rose, the ultimate GODDESS herb. She reminds us to love and honor ourselves. Her connection to the element of water, and her planetary alignment to Venus, allows us to see the true reflection of ourselves: that we are BEAUTIFUL, we are SACRED, we are SOFT and DESERVING of our own PROTECTION. Rose is GENTLE and MOTHERING. *She calms the skin with her antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, and her scent is feminine, sweet, divine. Red Raspberry Leaf, a well known woman’s herb, who, similarly to Rose, is a water/venus herb. She also carries potent moon energy, so she invites us to EMBRACE OUR EVER-CHANGING SELVES, to KNOW THAT WE ARE ALWAYS WHOLE, and our bodies HOLY. Red Raspberry shows us how to SIT IN OUR FEMININE ENERGY, to BE EMPOWERED by our own STRENGTH. Her energy lets us RELAX, LET GO, and BE PATIENT. *Her tannins help to protect our skin from free radicals and her astringent properties help with oily skin and acne. Jasmine enrobes you in her PEACEFUL, CALMING energy. She INVOKES the GODDESS within, bringing out our FEMININE ASPECTS. Jasmine’s planetary alignment with Jupiter brings about GROWTH and EXPANSION. *promotes peaceful sleep and beautiful dreams while relieving stress and anxiety. Her medicinal properties like an abundance of antioxidants can help our skin feel rejuvenated. Orange peel brings the YANG into the YING with MASCULINE and EXPRESSIVE energy. Orange peel’s association with the SUN and the element of FIRE adds warmth to the darkest time of the year, while UPLIFTING and INVIGORATING our senses with her beautiful fragrance. *promotes soft and bright skin, loaded with vitamin C, is antibacterial and anti-inflammatory. Honey, with its lovely GOLDEN color and SWEET DEMEANOR, symbolizes the WARMTH and LIGHT of LOVE. Referred to as the nectar of the Gods( and GODDESSES). Honey is used in Ayurvedic Practices to treat imbalances in the body. *naturally promotes water retention in the skin with its humectant properties, and is an emollient, so it smooths and softens skin as well. Sea Salt cleanses your Aura. imbued with both SOLAR and LUNAR energies, Sea Salt promotes BALANCE and SERENITY. *helps to detoxify skin, improve circulation, ease anxiety, and restore minerals in your body

This post was written by Deb Romano an herbal apprentice at Herbs Love And Yoga. 

The feasts that we prepare for Thanksgiving, with love, are the centerpiece of this holiday. Coming together from far and wide so that we may enjoy the company of our family and friends, with thankful hearts that we are blessed to have this day of togetherness, to have and share such abundance. It has been said that eating is America’s favorite past-time, and yes, we tend to overdo it, especially on Thanksgiving. Our ancestors prepared many of this holiday’s most popular dishes with herbs and spices that are helpful for digestion and comforting to our bellies. Age-old remedies are interwoven into our traditional dishes, even today. Although recipes differ, these herbs are the shining stars of many of our Thanksgiving favorites! Bell’s Seasoning, for instance, is used by millions of Americans on Thanksgiving to flavor their family’s stuffing and the ingredients are Rosemary, Oregano, Sage, Ginger, Marjoram, Thyme, and Black Pepper. Whether you’re grabbing for this pantry staple or you’re using fresh herbs, it’s amazing to consider that these aromatic herbs and spices all have properties that help to digest food and ease bloating and gas. Even traditional Thanksgiving desserts like Pumpkin and Apple pie are made using spices and herbs that help in this regard like Cinnamon, Nutmeg, Ginger, and Cloves.

-Rosemary~aids in digestion by stimulating the liver and gallbladder because it is a bitter -Oregano~ a warming digestive stimulant, Oregano not only helps to digest food, its antibacterial properties help to fight off any food borne pathogens -Sage~Helps to move stagnation, especially helpful in aiding digestion of meats and higher fat foods, Sage helps prevent gas, indigestion, and belly aches that are commonly associated with the rich dishes we enjoy on Thanksgiving. -Ginger~ the warming properties of Ginger help to stimulate digestion, bringing heat to move things along by increasing digestive enzymes to work on the fats and carbs we eat. This root is also well known as a very powerful anti-nausea remedy, helpful to ease the queasiness after a big meal.

-Marjoram~ another great digestive aid, Marjoram helps us to digest our food and helps to alleviate gas and flatulence. Like many of the previous herbs listed, She is also an anti-spasmodic, meaning that Marjoram reduces spasms in the digestive tract that lead to cramping.

-Thyme~offers us the same benefits that many of the previously mentioned herbs, as far as her digestive and carminative properties( gas and bloating). Spiritually speaking, Thyme helps bring down heightened tension and mental exhaustion, allowing us to release our in-breath. I find this very helpful during holidays because there can be some tension amidst the festivities, as is expected because we are human, after all.

-Black Pepper~ another of our warming allies, Black Pepper is the dried fruit of the Piper Negrum plant. A powerful digestive stimulant, it also works with our digestive enzymes to allow for better nutrient absorption. black pepper helps reduce toxins in our gut as it increases our digestive fire.

-Cinnamon~a warming and stimulating herb, Cinnamon, like many of our aforementioned herbs, helps to raise the vitality of all of our body's functions. In this way, it can help to speed up our digestive processes. Cinnamon has medicinal qualities can also alleviate diarrhea and quell nausea. Many studies credit this herb with the ability to lower blood sugar too, always beneficial after a carbohydrate laden meal.

-Nutmeg~has digestive properties that can help with indigestion and stomach upset. Nutmeg can help to reduce stress, as it has mild adaptogenic qualities.. holidays can be stressful, as we all know!

-Cloves~the carminative action of Clove helps to increase peristalsis( the movement necessary to digest our food) as well as increasing the hydrochloric acid in the stomach, leading to better digestion. Cloves are an analgesic too, which means they can reduce pain. While the herbal actions of all of these herbs used in our Thanksgiving meals have many of the same or similar properties, they each bring their own flavors and benefits. Food is medicine, and even though we include them in our heirloom recipes to this day, a nice cup of tea made from these herbs as an added boost can remedy your digestive discomfort after a day renowned for overindulgence. ( or any day you’re belly is not up to par) Herbs, Love, and Yoga has their own tea blend specifically crafted to support digestion, and carries individual herbs if you prefer certain herbs for their flavors and properties. One of my personal favorite herbs that I find has the most calming effects on an upset stomach is Chamomile. She is not one of the herbs that is typically used in our Thanksgiving meal, but she is a great nightcap and I highly recommend turning to Chamomile after the festivities wind down.

This post was written by Debra Romano an apprentice at Herbs Love + Yoga

I can remember, not too long ago, during one of my classes at Herbs, Love, and Yoga when Alyssa asked each of us “What is gratitude?” There isn’t necessarily a right or wrong answer, but I began to panic. I have so many things that I am grateful for; I am mostly healthy, I am loved, I love deeply, I am appreciated and I show appreciation, my family and those close to me are not all healthy, but they’re doing the best that they are capable of and bless me with all sorts of intangible gifts, allowing me to bless them with mine as well. I am clothed, I have a place to call home and I have abundant resources. I know that I am fortunate even though my life is not “perfect” and for all of these reasons I am grateful, but there is this deeper sense of gratitude that I have come to know. Finding the words ( as much as I love words) to articulate what gratitude was seemed nearly impossible. I stumbled over my response, and all I could verbally come up with at the time was that it was a feeling that fills you up. Over the years, and through many hardships I had this idea of gratitude that went something like this: -You SHOULD be grateful for what you have because someone else who doesn’t have what you have WOULD be. This leads to comparison and shame - It’s hard to feel grateful when so many things are WRONG or I am LACKING something that I want, and others have it, or things come easy to them. This creates envy. -If I do something for YOU then you SHOULD show ME gratitude, and YOU doing something for ME implies that I OWE you my gratitude. This feels like both indebtedness as well as entitlement and obligation. -If I have X,Y, and Z then I am grateful, my gratitude then becomes dependent upon my circumstances and what I HAVE or DON’T HAVE. The issue with viewing gratitude with this mindset is that it is dependent upon outside sources. It can be taken from you against your will, creating resentment, anger and a deep sense of lack, or maybe this could even bring up thoughts that you are not deserving of the things that would make one grateful. So, what is gratitude then? GRATITUDE:( noun) the quality of being thankful THANKFUL:(adjective) conscious of benefit received, expressive of thanks, well pleased; glad. But, is it really? When approached within this construct it diminishes the actual power of gratitude, and its ability to be a life changing practice. Key word PRACTICE, which is a verb,meaning it’s an action. Not a noun, which is simply a thing. What if you could approach the concept of gratitude in a way that could transform your life? GRATITUDE:(verb) the act of recognizing and acknowledging, immediately, the moment(s) when your spirit has been breathed into( touched) and therefore has been acknowledged and recognized by the Divine Spirit itself. This recognition combined with acknowledgment in the moment creates a channel through which light, love, and a sense of knowing( pure magic✨) can flow from God and back through you, and all throughout the center of you to extend out to everyone around you, and to the world. Once you begin to acknowledge these occurrences, and the feeling that grows inside of you, your heart will open. What that feels like is a sudden shift, like a blooming, that expands and awe and amazement of the best kind is at the center of it. It’s big, and trust that when you become aware of it, you will know. Not only will you know, you will automatically think to yourself “THANK YOU”. Love and light will become the guiding force that leads you in life, whatever you do and wherever you go. Gratitude in its true form fills you so completely that being thankful everyday becomes as natural as breathing air into your lungs. It makes you want to do good, to make the world better, to help, to be kind, to love and understand people, to be compassionate, to be gentle..you’re not looking for reward or praise, your only motivation is to share the light you were fortunate enough to receive through your notice of it’s existence. ( God, Source, the Divine, the Creator, the Universe; whoever or whatever your higher power is)

Gratitude flows, it is like water. It removes the expectations and entitlement that our egos seek in order to feel secure. It gives us the clarity to listen to our intuitive heart.Yes, there were innumerable times in my life that honest and authentic gratitude was given and received. It wasn’t until I truly came to understand that gratitude is a direct relationship (a pathway, a connection) to the Universe, that I recognized how powerful a medicine it is. I can’t tell you exactly how to tap into this lifeforce because my personal experience is my own, but I can explain to you what it feels like and how I came to recognize its true nature when I began to tap into it. Many people will feel the essence of gratitude within the walls of their churches, many will find it during prayer and meditation. I, personally, did not have the community of a religious group or a religion that was practiced as I was growing up. This left me unsure about who, exactly, I would be thanking or praying to and what it even meant.. if I’m being honest, it made me uncomfortable. It was only in the depths of despair and brokenness, that I found myself being inexplicably drawn to spend more time alone in Nature. Noticing the way the sunlight dappled through the densest canopy of trees, glimmered on her streams. The reflections and shadows created when her canopy was bare. Her welcoming embrace surrounded me with comfort. Her magnificent beauty, her perfect imperfection, her smell, her song, her texture, her taste(who doesn’t nibble from a plant or two while exploring the wilderness?) She changed constantly yet remained ever the same, in that she felt like home. I could pull myself out of my own thoughts and instead pay attention to every detail of her existence. She had the audacity to persevere while the world, my world, was in such a state of distress. She lives and she dies and she lives again, all the while she does so with grace, with ease. Interesting… while nature itself is actually anything but quiet, there is a quiet sense when you are alone in it. You are the disruption, until you spend enough time in it to realize that you are actually not just a part of her, you are her. She was showing me what it means to just BE. She was inviting each one of my senses to be engaged, expanding my perception. Bringing my sense of self down out of my head and into my body. Nature, in her wild, untamed expression of life revealed to me what gratitude, as a practice, truly was. The reciprocal relationship between myself and the Universe that is my driving force in everything that I do. While my practice of walking in gratitude has changed my life profoundly, I do want to say that like anyone else I falter. Walking in gratitude highlights your humanity, and isn’t it beautiful to be here, as a human being with all of your intricacies, attributes and even your shortcomings? And to see and accept them in others? I encourage you to go and find the moments that open your heart to the power of gratitude, not as a thing but as a living, breathing practice. Let your authentic self shine, let that light lead you, find your magic!!
You are LOVE❤️
You are LIGHT💛
You are MAGIC✨

This post was written by Debra Romano, a Herbs Love + Yoga Apprentice. 

Tagetes Erecta~Cempoalxóchitl(sempa-soo-cheel)
Aztec Marigold is sometimes called African Marigold, but these plants are Native to Mexico and Guatemala, where they grow in the wild. The Ancient Meso-American civilizations like the Aztecs, Mayans and Toltecs revered the Marigold as medicine and as a sacred plant. Like Calendula she can be used to dye fabrics and foods and is edible. In modern Mexico she is integral to their Day of the Dead celebrations. Her pungent aroma guides the spirits of the dearly beloved back to the earthly realm to visit, and her bright orange and yellow colors invoke a connection to the sun; the bearer of warmth and of life. Marigolds keep pests, both above and below ground, at bay-interestingly this could apply to both physical pests and spirits that mean harm. The energetic qualities of Tagetes are pungent, bitter, astringent with planetary influences from the Sun and the sign of Leo.

Cempoalxótchitl can be called upon medicinally for a variety of conditions:

• degenerative eye diseases sore eyes
• stomach upset ulcers low platelet and white blood cell count reduction of bleeding and reduced clotting time cancer prevention fungal infection parasitic infection diabetes
• wound healing fevers bacterial infection
• liver inflammation skin aging reduce inflammation reduce cytokines soothing of the nervous system

The oils of this plant are also helpful to:

• repel mosquitos: it produces naturally derived herbicides, larvicides, and pesticides, reducing the use of manmade chemical agents

Spiritually speaking, the Marigold( Tagetes) is beautiful to work with for support in the following ways:

• building a bridge to connect to your ancestors
• uplifting your mood warming your spirit, when you are feeling disconnected protection from less desirable energies bringing healing allowing oneself to let go of the connection to the people and things that bind us, while keeping the connection to how those experiences served us and shaped us while it was necessary to do so
• Absolutely a lovely companion for shadow work. Because we do not need to be fixed, but we need to learn to welcome all parts of ourselves, past, present and future.. the Marigold holds that welcoming and that surrender so that we may do just that

​This post was written by Debra Romano, a Herbs Love And Yoga Apprentice.

This post was written by Debra Romano, an apprentice at Herbs Love And Yoga.

What’s even better is that when simmer pots are made with the intention of calling forth the spiritual properties of the ingredients, you also will benefit from the positive energetic shift as well. What’s more, a simmer pot crafted with certain medicinal herbs can help us to breathe easier and help to cleanse the air. Lavender and Balsam Fir are two of which have been used for centuries to purify the air and have antimicrobial properties. Whenever I make one of these fragrant, bubbling blends I feel as if I am taking a step back from our fast paced world and I am transported back to the days of yesteryear! New to Simmer Pots? Here are some frequently asked questions:


Q: I see simmer pot recipes that use fresh fruit, what’s the difference between only using dried ingredients and adding fresh ingredients?

A: ingredients like freshly picked herbs, apples, sliced up citrus fruits and berries can be wonderful addition to simmer pots. When you use these ingredients though, the simmer pot will only last about 2 days and if you’re not using a crockpot ( where the heat won’t stay on all the time ) then it would be best to refrigerate the contents in between uses. Dried herbs, peels and spices last longer-about 4 days and their aromas are more concentrated.


Q: Can you drink the simmer pot liquid?

A: You could certainly craft a simmer pot with consumption in mind. These simmer pots would be short simmers and not used for days and then consumed. An example would be a lemon, ginger and Thyme simmer pot. You would only simmer for an hour or two, adding water and honey at the end so it’s not so concentrated, and you could drink it to help ease cold symptoms. You would get the benefit of the lovely smell wafting in the air and have a nice hot beverage to comfort your cold.


Q: Are Simmer Pots pet friendly?

A: Yes, Simmer Pots are pet friendly. Always make sure your simmer pots are out of reach of pets. Some simmer pot recipes you will come across will include essential oils, which can be harmful to pets( and even humans-particularly children and the elderly)in large quantities, as a pet owner I don’t recommend using essential oils in Simmer Pots.

Q: What are some other ways I can use the liquid from a Simmer Pot?

A: You can make Simmer Pots specifically to use in room air freshener sprays and clothing/fabric refreshers. As with the consumable Simmer Pots, you’d not want to simmer for days.. just a few hours at max. Adding vodka prevents it from spoiling and growing bacteria and mold. I typically will add 1⁄4 cup of vodka to 3⁄4 cup of liquid. Just be aware that spraying directly on clothing and fabrics could cause staining so you would not want to use darkly colored liquids. Adding a very small amount of essential oils to these sprays( not to the Simmer Pot itself )is okay since you're not simmering the essential oils, of course if you have pets make sure they are considered safe for pets!


​Q: How do you dispose of Simmer Pot contents?
A: You can strain the liquid, if not using it for the above mentioned purposes, and dump it down the drain. Solids can be thrown in the trash or put in composting pile.( not where pets can get to it though) ​