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.

SPRING: THE FLOW OF TRANSITION

As you lay in your cozy bed towards the end of winter, enveloped in the warmth of your blankets, you soak in the blue light of dawn as it seeps in through the edges of your windows.  You are not yet fully awake, but you begin to activate in the early morning hours by becoming more aware, turning over, wiggling your fingers and toes, in preparation for a new day.  For those who practice yoga, this point in the sleep cycle is very similar to the moments toward the end of savasana when you begin to stir before sitting up: the end of your practice and the beginning of whatever comes next. Late winter/early spring is much the same for the wheel of the year.  As the season shifts from winter, with minuscule growth in the amount of sunlight each day, your body can sense the transition. These transitions, in the moment, seem so small and insignificant, but taken over time they create new manifestations, whether it be the growing light of the season, renewal of the body and mind, or the return of the our herbal plant allies) in their fullest form in the natural world.

The Goddess Parvati is the gentle and nurturing form of the “Supreme Being” in some versions of Hindu spiritual belief.  She embodies the feminine Shakti energy and represents powerful regenerative forces. Her name translates to “daughter of the mountain.”  When her form takes on the energies of the warrior goddess, she becomes Durga.  Similarly, when her energy becomes chaotic and fierce, she transforms into Kali, the Destroyer.  In her most benign and nurturing form, Parvati, she is mother of the universe, providing life and renewal to all of her children. And this transition from winter to spring is all about renewal, rebirth, and nourishment, just like Parvati provides.  Even before you can see the changes beneath the melting snow, the soil below is full of activity.  Incubating seeds begin to metabolically prepare for “birth” when the soil is warm enough.  When the Full Worm Moon waxes in March, you guessed it, the worms have begun moving around, out of sight, aerating and fertilizing the deep unfrozen soil. A preparation for what is to come. 

Parvati’s true regenerative forces can be felt as we move further into spring.  The Full Pink and Full Flower Moons of April and May begin to color our landscapes again.  From the gray and brown of March, we shift to chartreuse and lime green tinting the early part of April, and culminate with shades of pink, purple, yellow and brilliant emerald in May. With the gradual greening of the world around us, the sun’s warmth continues to renew and encourage us to release the bonds of winter and fully embrace a feeling of outward projection in our daily lives.  The spring provides us with so many delicious and nutritious plant allies: stinging nettles, japanese knotweed, garlic mustard to name a few.  Not only do these plants have many medicinal properties, but they also can be treated as “food as medicine” and cook up into some delicious spring meals. Dandelions begin to appear as spring continues providing both flower and leaf as food and as medicine.  Eventually we see the violets and plantain: two HUGE allies to many systems in our bodies including our circulatory, excretory, and hepatic systems! 

But let’s talk about your skin. Because renewal is constant in any cycle, and your largest organ--your skin--is continually undergoing renewal as you shed cells, spring is a wonderful time to slough off winter in preparation for the seasonal shift.  And so many spring plants are known for their skin soothing properties!  And let’s be honest, we all know how great it feels to exfoliate winter away and moisturize that new spring season into place while we let our skin see the light of day for the first time in months! A simple, pure, and easy homemade way to get these results is to make your own body scrub with sugar, nourishing oils, and some powerful herbal allies. You can control the quality of your own ingredients, and add whatever it is that calls to you, but here is our favorite recipe to help you glow like a goddess! 

“Ostara’s Renewal” Green Tea Sugar Scrub

Ostara is another name for the Spring Equinox Festival celebrated in the northern hemisphere each year, and this scrub is a perfect recipe to welcome in the fresh energy! Green tea contains large quantities of antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial polyphenols. Dried green tea leaves are ground up finely and mixed with raw cane sugar (a gentle all natural exfoliant), raw honey (naturally antibacterial, moisturizing, and full of antioxidants), vitamin E (blocks free radicals from the body to reduce wrinkles and keep the skin youthful-looking), rosehip seed oil and evening primrose oil (both soothe, rejuvenate, and heal dry irritated skin).

Grapeseed, jojoba, & coconut oils (softening, nourishing, and moisturizing) are infused with violet, plantain, yarrow, calendula, rose, comfrey, and chamomile. This blend of beautiful garden-grown and wild herbs is chock full of healing, soothing, and anti-inflammatory properties.

Lastly, a blend of invigorating essential oils is added for their supporting aromatherapy benefits:

• Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) relieves fatigue

• Grapefruit (Citrus paradisi) is cooling and energizing*

• Sage (Salvia officinalis) is purifying and disinfecting

• Peppermint (Mentha piperita) is refreshing and reduces inflammation

• Ylang Ylang (Cananga odorata) is calming and improves circulation

*Use caution with grapefruit if you take statin drugs or have any heart issues.

You can of course blend any scents that work for you and your body. 

Apply to damp skin in the shower, rubbing in a circular motion with short strokes towards your heart. Rinse off with warm water before getting out of the shower.

As the wheel of the year continues to turn and gradually the flowers of May turn into the warm buzz of June, verdant and fragranced with wild rose, we look forward to the hot and humid days of high summer and the long hours of sunlight around the Summer Solstice.  During this time of bounty, renewal envelopes us allowing us to feel ready and excited for what is to come.

To Your Health! A Spring Rejuvenation Tonic Recipe

Tonics are an easy way to incorporate beneficial herbs into your daily routine to maintain your overall health naturally. Now with a global health crisis on our hands (literally!), it’s especially important to boost and maintain your immune system as a supplement to all other medical directives.

The herbal blend in our Spring Rejuvenation Tonic is appropriately balanced to support your mind, body, and soul during this time of rebirth (and it tastes great, too). We prefer a hot water infusion, but also like to make a large batch in advance and store it in the refrigerator for a cool refreshing morning beverage. Either way, we blend equal parts of each herb and infuse 1/2 cup of dried mixed plant material with a quart of hot water and let it infuse for a few hours, then strain. We recommend drinking this daily!

Our Spring Rejuvenation Tonic contains four herbs that are chock full of antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals that are highly cleansing, purifying, and stimulating. Nettle and Dandelion are thought to be invasive weeds, and are sometimes pulled or otherwise destroyed, but we like to refer to them as “opportunistic” and are happy to be able to find them locally abundant. Tulsi and Mint are in the same hearty family (Lamiaceae) and are typically planted and grown in a garden. Now, let’s break down this magickal and healthy concoction in more detail.

• Nettle (Urtica dioica): In herbalism, Nettle is the mother of all early spring herbs and has been traditionally used for thousands of years. High in vitamin A, C, and iron, this nutritive plant is a diuretic and antioxidant. It has a lovely green, earthy flavor that is symbolic of its health benefits and the general vibe of the spring season.

• Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale): Another classic “food as medicine” spring herb, the root is more commonly used for the liver, but the leaves are a potent diuretic great for internal cleansing and purifying. Like Nettle, Dandelion leaves are highly nutritive with many similar vitamins and minerals. These two herbs balance each other out very well for daily use, and are both highly abundant for wild harvesting in our region.

• Spearmint (Mentha spicata): There are many varieties of mint, but Spearmint (or common mint/garden mint) is beautifully fragrant with a delightful taste, so we love to add this to our herbal blends to add brightness and flavor. It is a rejuvenating and stimulating herb commonly used for digestion. Mint has been cultivated and traded since ancient Greek times, where it was likely used in ancient funerary rites to mask the smell of the dead. It is also regarded as a sacred plant of Hades. 

• Tulsi (Ocimum tenuiflorum): Tulsi (also known as Holy Basil or Elixir of Life) is a sacred plant from India used in traditional Ayurvedic medicine for more than 5,000 years and is infused with restorative power. There are three different varietals (krishna, rama, and vana), and we like to use a blend of all three for perfectly balanced health benefits and an amazing flavor. Tulsi is primarily considered an adaptogen, which helps the body adapt to environmental stressors and restore balance — a classic ally for getting your body and mind through the seasonal shift.