Hi Fellow Earth Lovers, Like many kids, I spent much of my childhood outside. Our yard housed trees, tiny moss forests, briars thick with animal life, and innumerable seeds, plant pods, and jeweled tree cones. I remember washing the trees and singing to them because they seemed to call out for loving care. Childhood was magical because the earth was magical. I would spend hours staring through the twisted branches of old oak and black locust trees and loved splashing through the creeks barefoot on hot summer days. This fascination with the forest and plants never faded. As a young adult, I sought out travel to exotic landscapes and stood among the redwoods, tropical mangroves, and young seagrass. My favorite rituals in life have always revolved around spending time in secluded outdoor spaces. Preferably ones I get to know over months, seasons, and years. In these spaces, time slows down and I get to experience the budding, blossoming, and fruiting of trees, the playful exchanges among animals, and the eventual blanketing of the landscape with winter's sleep. Nature teaches the patient. It takes time to form relationships with the environment, with the plants, with our own inner voice and to listen to the wisdom captured inside a drop of dew or a cicada wing. At a young age I learned how to listen to the plants and as a young adult, I learned how to take in their wisdom as medicine. My first herb walk in the mountains of North Carolina was a confirmation of so many things I deeply knew as a child, that the earth loves us and we can love her back. I learned how the plants are like little messengers that connect the physical world to the astral world and how they contain coded secrets that can heal and protect us. I never wanted this to end. This learning and exchange between me and the plants. So in 2005 I started my studies at a school that housed an appreciation for the healing arts and deep wisdom about the plants and how they work. Three years later I graduated with a masters of science in clinical herbal medicine, started my practice, opened an apothecary and vowed to share this knowledge with as many people as I can. It was a natural next step. In 2012 I started the herbal apprenticeship program at Sky House to bring others into this deep communion with the natural world. Every class starts with a few quiet moments to feel our bodies in time and space. We move our attention to the breath which connects us so intimately with the plants. We then humbly open ourselves to become carriers of plant wisdom through the material shared in our online classroom. Then, and the clock strikes our closing time we end with a nature poem or wise words from an herbal elder. It is a ritual in itself and time spent in the natural world. This fall we have a few spaces left in our year one course. If you are looking for a way to bring back your childlike wonder and bring the medicine of plants and nature into your body and mind, come. Everyone is welcome and everyone will benefit. Green Love, Ashley Litecky Elenbaas, MSc., RH(AHG)

NYE: Here's to a Hopeful 2017

Cheers to a challenging 2016, a year speckled with both grief and gratitude. This will be a year I will never forget. 

So many seeds planted, so many fruits stolen away. In these moments I am reminded of the cold harsh reality of life, of nature, of death. 

Yet even in these darker spaces there is still room for hope. Still enough space for light. In the moments when my grief would eclipse my hope, it was still there, hidden, obscured, but there. In 2017 I hope this process of uncovering continues. I know it will not be easy. That the deep work of Pluto and loss cuts and leaves scars. 

Yet there is beauty here too. In the pain and scars there is the carving out of our character and the sharpening of our living senses. I am learning that hope is not something we have "in" something. Like hope in the goodness of humanity, but rather something that stands alone. We hope for hope's sake. Hope, like faith, just is. 

I pray to feel this hope throughout every cell in my body. That 2017 is the year for hope's return. 

Sending light and love and blessings and the return of hope in 2017.

Blessings,
Ashley

An End of Autumn/Early Winter Treat

Guest Writer: Hannah Leatherbury

It’s the end of autumn – my good friend in college always said “Fall makes me CRAZY.”

Until my friend said that, I had never considered the effect the seasons had on my mood and my choices, but flash forward 10 years and it’s something I constantly consider. I study and practice many teachings from the traditional medicinal system of India – Ayurveda. One of the things I love about this system is that it clearly states that I am a reflection of nature and that if I can find harmony with nature’s rhythms, my health and well-being improve.

Ayurveda teaches that the season of Autumn/Fall is the season that favors the qualities of air and space – it’s colder, windier, unpredictable, erratic, exciting, creative and a little CRAZY.  That means that in order to find harmony, I need to look for warming, predictable, cozy, stable influences to help ground me in the strong winds.

One of my favorite practices in the fall is to massage my face with warmed oil. This practice is designed to help re-hydrate chapped/dry/irritated skin and soothe tension in the muscles around your face. Self-massage with oil is an ancient practice from India -- in the Sanskrit language, the word for "love" and "oil" are the same. Oil not only hydrates your tissues fully (meaning that it absorbs deeper into the pores and tissues beneath the top layer of skin than lotions and moisturizers will), it also draws out toxins within the tissues. You really have to try it to believe it.

First, choose an organic oil that you have on hand. I now use Palmer’s Cocoa Butter Formula with Vitamin E Skin Therapy Oil for Faces because it is such a nice blend, but, you can use plain ole’ sesame oil (if you have dry skin) or coconut oil (if you have inflamed/acne-irritated skin).

Next, find two containers, one smaller than the other. This could be a small glass and a large glass, or a squeeze bottle and a large glass (shown here). The smaller container will hold about two tablespoons of the organic oil you have chosen. The larger container will hold the smaller container plus enough hot water to warm the oil from the outside.

After the oil has warmed for a few minutes, pour a little of it into the palm of your hand.

Massage oil into the skin using circular motions around the temples, cheeks and chin. Use long strokes on the nose and forehead. Let the face feel completely saturated, just short of dripping with the oil. Wear this around your house for about 5-10 minutes (or longer if you wish).

Take a washcloth that has been run under hot water and feels warm to the touch. Squeeze out excess water.

This is my favorite part, can you tell?!

Unfold the steaming washcloth onto your face and gently pat away any excess oil. Notice the subtle glow left behind and enjoy! Your face is ready to dance with the wind and the cold of Autumn.

If you want to learn more Ayurvedic practices and tips, we start our next 30-Hour Ayurveda Immersion in January of 2017! Check out details here! http://www.skyhouseyoga.com/30-hour-ayurveda-immersion-program.html

More About Hannah:

Hannah Leatherbury (E-RYT-200/RYT-500, YACEP) has been a student of yoga and Ayurveda for over a decade. She co-leads Sky House Yoga's 200-Hour Yoga Teacher Training Program and directs the 30-Hour Ayurveda Immersion. You can read about her journey from being a disenchanted goody-goody to a slightly more enchanted and mischievous yogi here: www.HannahLeatherbury.com

Three Ingredient Immune Boosting Tea

As a new mother I am constantly trying to simplify my life. Gone are the days of highly structured schedules, ambitious meals, and leisurely coffee dates. These days I am chasing around a highly mobile 9 month old and trying to stay well and nourished along the way.

Recently after a few weeks of travel and the usual back-and-forth weather changes that come with autumn I noticed my throat was feeling scratchy. You know that feeling. That on-no-I-might-be-getting-sick feeling. So, I ran to my fridge and herb cabinet to see what I could whip up.

In 2015 a Yale-led study found that the common cold virus can reproduce itself more efficiently in the cooler temperature found inside the nose than at core body temperature. So, the first thing we should do when we are feeling on the edge of a cold is to WARM the body, especially the nose.

One of my favorite herbs to quickly heat the body is Ginger. Fresh Ginger root is warming, sweet, pungent, and stimulates circulation of both blood and reflexively moves lymph. Ginger root is an " indispensable herb suited to people who feel chilly" according to herbalist Matthew Wood and is a popular household remedy for chills associated with colds and flus. It is a superb diaphoretic which means it will quickly open the pores to induce sweating which is exactly what is needed to overcome a cold.

Since Ginger is a peripheral circulatory stimulant it will not only increase circulation but it will also bring warm blood to the periphery of the body and places like the hands, feet, and NOSE. So yes, Ginger went right into my pot of water.

Next I went to my herb cabinet and pulled out Chamomile. You might be thinking that Chamomile is an herb for relaxation. Well, it is, but what is interesting is "how" it relaxes us. It relaxes us by warming us up! Chamomile is a gentle yet powerfully warming plant that relaxes tension, spasms, and restores the flow of blood through its fragrant volatile oils. This is a wonderful way to warm and boost circulation while also relaxing the body which will protect it from the immune suppressing effects of stress.

The third ingredient in my tea was lemon. While lemon isn't considered an "herb" per se, it is a powerful ally and is a great immune boosting fruit that is packed with Vitamin C and cell protecting flavonoids. Lemon also adds a sour taste to the tea which balances out the spicy ginger and flowery taste of Chamomile.

You can just stop here. However, if you have access to other herbs and are like me, you like to throw in a "pinch" of this and a "pinch" of that. My pinches came from my potted herb garden and from a recent harvest of reishi mushrooms. I added a few slices of Ganoderma appalatum, a pinch of fresh basil, lemon balm, sage, oregano, and some dried lemon verbena leaves that a friend had given me.

Three Ingredient Immune Boosting Tea Recipe

•  5-6 slices of fresh ginger root (or 1 tbsp dried if you don't have fresh)
•  1/8 lemon juice and rind
•  3 tablespoons of dried chamomile flowers
•  4 cups of water

Optional Additions: Basil, Oregano, Sage, Thyme, Lemon Balm, Lemon Verbena, and Black Pepper.

Directions: Add all of the herbs to your pot of water and simmer on low heat covered for 30-45 minutes. Keep the pot covered to keep all of the volatile oils inside and let sit for 15 minutes. You can also double this recipe to make larger batches. Once you are ready to drink it, pour it through a strainer and enjoy! I will leave this pot on my stove for a few days and will add more herbs and keep it cooking until I am feeling better.

In addition to sipping this tea all day and night, take a hot bath which will also warm your body and kick start your circulatory and immune systems.

Even if you are not feeling sick you can still enjoy this tasty golden tea and use it to keep you healthy all autumn long!

Be well!
Ashley


 

References:

http://news.yale.edu/2015/01/05/cold-virus-replicates-better-cooler-temperatures
http://www.woodherbs.com/Ginger.html

Fire Cider Season is Here!

Last Autumn's Fire Cider Sweet Orange Blend

Oh Fire Cider, how I love thee.....let me count the ways!
As soon as the weather starts to change I become aware of that familiar tickle and soreness in the back of my throat. That feeling of a sneaky autumn cold standing just on the edge, teetering precariously next to me, waiting for the right moment to strike.

Good thing I have my trusty friend, fire cider. This blend of immune raising herbs is warm, spicy, zesty, and seems to kill off anything in its path, including colds. It is an old recipe and one that lives in the kitchen of many herbalists today thanks to the revival of  this recipe by herbalist Rosemary Gladstar.

Making fire cider is easy! You simply gather the ingredients from your grocer or farmer's market  and throw them into a blender and voila! You have fire cider! Some batches I strain with cheesecloth and others I use as a thick slurry on toast with olive oil.

However you choose to use it, your system will benefit! Fire cider increases circulation, digestion, enhances immunity, reduces inflammation, and will keep away vampires thanks to its large dose of garlic.

Take it by the sip or the shot glass full and keep your system in tip-top shape all autumn and winter long!

Ingredients
1/2 cup fresh chopped organic ginger root

1/2 cup fresh organic horseradish root (or from a jar is fine too)

1 medium organic onion, chopped

10 cloves of organic garlic, crushed or chopped

1 organic jalapeno pepper (remove the seeds), chopped

Zest and juice from 1/2 organic lemon

1/2 cup fresh turmeric root or 2 tbsp organic turmeric powder

1/4 tsp organic cayenne powder

a few tablespoons of orange peel zest and 1/8 cup of juice from that orange

1.5 -2 quarts organic apple cider vinegar

1/8 cup Honey (optional)

Directions

Place all of your ingredients into a blender and pour apple cider vinegar over the top until it covers the top of your roots and fruits.  Blend until it turns a nice bright orange color. Once it is blended pour this slurry into glass storage containers. Mason jars work nicely. Use a piece of natural parchment paper under the lid to keep the vinegar from touching the metal, or use a plastic lid. Shake well! Store in a dark, cool place for about 2 weeks.

After 2 weeks, use cheesecloth or a fine metal strainer to strain out the pulp, pouring the vinegar into a clean jar. Be sure to squeeze as much of the liquid goodness as you can from the pulp while straining. If you'd like,  add 1/8 cup of honey and stir until incorporated.

Then cap tightly and store in the fridge. It will stay for 6+ months.

How to use it?

If you feel that familiar tickle in your throat, know that you have been around a snotty sickly person, or are just feeling a little run down, do the following:
 - If you are a sensitive type: Add 2 tablespoons of fire cider to a cup of water 

- If you have a stomach of iron: Fill a shot glass and take it down in one gulp

Take this dose every 2-3 hours until you are feeling sparkly and back on your toes!

Have fun and play with the proportions! I like to add a bit more horseradish and orange, Oh, and be sure to warn friends and family that it does NOT taste like orange juice.....I've seen some horrified faces over the years :)

xo!

Reviving the Doctrine of Signatures: How to Start Seeing Signatures in the Natural World

Photo by Ferran Jorda

By Ashley Litecky Elenbaas, MSc., RH(AHG)

From the very beginning of time humans have sought out recognizable patterns in nature and have tried to decode their hidden meanings. As natural creatures, that is, having evolved from the same elements and in the same environment as the flowers, trees, and stars, we contain the same natural wisdom as every other creature and plant that lives in this world. This natural intelligence has led us to not only follow very basic patterns of living on the earth and following the cycles of day and night but also a deep desire to sync up and understand patterns inherent in other  beings, plants, and animals.

We are not sure when humans first began to see the similarity of patterns found in plants and rightly compared them to the patterns found in their own bodies. We can speculate that many of plant names like lungwort, stoneroot, mandrake, and eyebright were chosen because of the similarity of the look and shape of the plant to its medicinal use.

This intelligent awareness of seeing patterns in plants led our early ancestors to associate plants with body parts they looked like and seeing the shapes and colors or flowers as containing sacred information that would lead us to decoding its special powers and medicinal uses. These signatures were mentioned in the early Greek texts written by Dioscorides (40-90 AD) and Galen (129-200 AD) when it was common belief that in the shape and character of natural objects there are symbols that by association can lead to an understanding of their use. Paracelsus, a Greek astronomer, botanist, chemist, and herbalist was thought to be the first person to coin the phrase “Doctrine of Signatures” in 1537 and used the term arcana to describe the spirit by which we can decode these great mysteries.

This model of understanding and studying plants is now resurging after many years of condemnation by the church and scientific communities. The idea that imagination, analogy, and essence is just as much a part of learning and healing process is coming back in a big way as many herbalists are desiring to blend the magical with the mundane. The doctrine of signatures provides a practical method for tapping back into our imaginal and natural intelligence to understand the basic essence and possible uses of plant medicines.

So, how do we DO this? How can we tap back into that primal way of viewing ourselves as natural creatures who are connected and innately designed to decode the natural world?

Here are a few ways to get started:

• ·         Open Your Senses – Each day go outside and walk around. Walk as if you are not just an observer of the natural world but are a living participant. If a plant moves and catches your eye, walk up to it. Study its movements, the shape of its leaves, the color of the flowers, the way it grows and where it grows. Does it resemble any body organs or make you think of a body system like the circulatory system or a knobby joint? Gently squeeze a leaf between your fingers and notice its smell. Is it grassy, aromatic, does it remind you of something else? Listen to the plant, the sounds of its leaves in the breeze any rattling or moaning. What do these sounds have to say? Notice the plant’s texture, its leaves, flowers and stem. Does it have thorns or does it have a fullness or succulence? What might that mean? Lastly, if you have properly identified the plant, have a taste, what does your body tell you about this taste?
  
•     Think Like a Plant – When you find a plant that you wish to study give yourself time to think like that plant. Where is it growing? Why is it growing where it is growing? Why might it choose to live there? What adaptations would this plant have to make in order to thrive under its current conditions? How might this translate into a medicinal teaching for humans?

  

  Photo by Eddl Van W.

  
  
•   Learn to Listen to your Intuition – For many of us this is the hardest part. We see a plant and we think back to what we have learned from books or teachers or expect the plant to come right out and tell us what it is. Learning the subtle ways of pattern observation and deep listening is a skill that must be developed just like developing our rational mind to do math and to drive a car. I find that sitting with a plant and taking deep breaths while dropping into an almost trance-like state is the easiest way to access our intuitive body. Once we are relaxed and open we can tap into a curious and child-like space where we start to see patterns, magic, and sometimes we can even hear the plants as our awareness of the living essence of the plant opens up before us. Don’t get discouraged. Keep trying.  Try talking to your houseplants while you are watering them, sing to your garden flowers, and sit beside trees and try to feel into who they are.
  
• Look it up in a Reputable Source! Once you’ve sat with a plant and have gathered some ideas from your senses about what they may mean, look it up! I like to use the Peterson’s Field Guides and Botany in a Day by T. Elpel for my botanical identification and then look up the signatures in a wonderful book on the doctrine of signatures called The Language of Plants by Julia Graves.

Using this method of learning about the plants will help you not in your recollection of these medicinal uses but will also deepen your connection to the essence of each plant.  As natural creatures living in a natural world why not study herbs in a way that honors both the magical and material parts of our ancestral past.

Published by Evolver. Visit skyhouseyoga.com for more of Ashley's work and writings.

Mother of All Asanas: Salamba Sarvangasana

Today the sun goes into the sign of Leo and we enter into the fixed fire of the summer season. During this hottest time of the year there are many things we can consider in terms of our yoga practice and keeping it balanced.

While it is not necessary to completely remove all warming and fire producing postures and breath techniques, we should consider adding poses that cool, calm, and nourish the system. My favorite among these is salamba sarvangasana or shoulder stand.

In "The Light on Yoga" B.K.S Iyengar calls this pose the"Mother of asanas" and "as a mother strives for harmony and happiness in the home, so this asana strives for harmony and happiness of the human system."

To properly prepare for this pose we should adequately warm up the neck, upper back, shoulders, spine, and work on backbending pose shapes like cobra, locust, camel, and bridge pose where the lower tips of the scapula are working toward the front ribs (depression) and together toward the spine (adduction). We also want to emphasize the importance of grounding the back of the head into the floor or mat and lifting the neck vertebrae away from the floor. Pressing the head of the arm bones into the floor also helps this action. Beginners should use blankets stacked under the shoulders to reduce compression of the spine and advanced students can work on chinlock to stimulate the thyroid.

As the summer heat kicks in taking 3 minutes for shoulder stand in every practice will help regulate the thyroid and parathyroid glands which are responsible for metabolism and body temperature regulation. Inverting will also support heart and brain health and has a cooling and calming effect on the mind. Along with increasing our intake of water and adding in more fruits and vegetables, we can use yoga's most mothering pose, the shoulder stand, to keep the body and mind cool, calm, balanced, and collected.

Happy Practicing!
xoxo,
Ashley

5 WAYS TO CATCH THE SPIRIT OF A PLANT

by Ashley Litecky Elenbaas, MSc. RH(AHG)

Featured on: The Alchemists Kitchen a Reality Sandwich Production

Plant spirits are tricky.  Like catching fireflies, their magic quickly fades once you try to place them in a bottle, jar, or pocket (we all make mistakes). So, how do we catch this elusive spirit of a plant? Are there ways to coerce the plant spirits into our medicines so they can perform their magic in our bodies and in our spaces?

The good news is there are! Here are some fantastic ways to respectfully harness plant spirits into safe and usable forms and the methods and practices that I have found over the years to work best. As with all medicine and plant gathering, be sure you know your plants. These formulas will work best for the aerial parts of a plant which includes the flowers, leaves, and the above ground parts.  If you are new at this I recommend starting with familiar culinary plants like basil, peppermint, rosemary and thyme. All have delightful spirits that will work well in each of these preparations.

Here are two crucial tips necessary for catching plant spirits:

Firstly, and most importantly, consider your approach. If you go straight at a plant with a sharp pair of scissors and a lifted eyebrow, chances are the plant spirit will vanish. Sometimes they disappear into their roots, other times they jump to another plant. When approaching a plant be relaxed, soft, and pretend like you have a little secret that you are going to share with them. Plant spirits LOVE secrets.  

Then, once you are close enough, kneel down, gently take the plant into your hands, start to tell them a story or fun secret from the human world and then gingerly transfer them into a container of your choice. Even if you are collecting herbs in a basket, you can keep the spirits around by keeping them entertained as you gather and walk.

Once you have gathered the plant, with the spirit intact, here are 5 ways to preserve your plant spirits:

Make A Spirit Vinegar – This is a very simple and easy way to transfer the spirit of your plants into a very usable and palatable form. My favorite is apple cider vinegar, raw and organic if available.  To do this, use your hands and gently tear your plant into smaller pieces. Try singing a song, humming a melody, and work quickly and sweetly.  Fill about ½ of your container with the plant material and then use your apple cider vinegar to fill the container to the top! Place in a shady nook or cupboard for a few weeks. Then strain the plant material out, donate it back to the earth, and your plant spirit infused vinegar on salads, stir-fries or as a daily supplement!

Bundle it up – You like hugs, right?  Well plants do too!  Consider making an herb bundle with your spirit infused plants. These can later be used as decoration for altars, wall art, or burned as an herbal smudge ceremonially. My favorite plants for bundles are mugwort, peppermint, sage, sweet grass, and lavender. To make an herb bundle, gather your plants into even bunches and trim the bottoms so the base is flat. Use hemp, thick red thread (spirits love the color red!), or twine and begin to wrap them from the bottom. Once you have wrapped them 10-12 times at the base, cradle the bundle in your hand holding the leaves together and begin to wrap upward diagonally. Once you reach the top wrap diagonally downward so that you cross each thread and make an X. It is also a good idea to hum or sing while doing this process. Then, hang your bundles upside down in a well ventilated space for a few weeks until they dry.

Soak the Spirit in Spirits – Nothing preserves the spirits of plants like alcohol! Plus I have to think that the little plant sprites like the buzz as they relax and let their spirits flow into the fluids around them.  If you can get organic grape alcohol, this is my favorite -- or you can also use Everclear grain alcohol. Aim for 190 –proof alcohol if possible, and if that is not available then you can use 150 or 100-proof vodka. To infuse your plants gently tear them into smaller pieces while singing or humming and place them in a glass jar with a good fitting lid. If possible fill the jar all the way to the top leaving an inch at the top. Then pour your alcohol over the top and press the plant material down gently until it is completely submerged. Cap and thank your plant spirits for their cooperation and let them know they are in for a fun ride! Place in a shady nook or cupboard for 21 -28 days (a full lunar cycle is best) and then strain and compost/offer the plant material back to the earth.  There are many ways to use these spirits depending on the plant you chose. You can add a splash to a fruity cocktail, place a few drops on your tongue for a plant pick-me-up, or mix with water and add it to a spritzer bottle with a few drops of essential oil as a plant spirit spray. 

Invite Them In – A great way to bring the spirit of plants, especially flowers into your life, is to place them in a jar or vase in your home. You will still gather the plants as recommended above and simply place them somewhere in your home where they can soak in conversations, laughter, mealtime smells, and human secrets.  This is also a wonderful way to get them to share their secrets with you. Here is a great article on how to gather and arrange wildflower bouquets.

Make a Flower Essence – The cool thing about making flower essences is that you often don’t even have to pick the plant you're using to make the essence.  A wonderful way to make a flower essence is to go out with a glass bowl of spring or filtered water in the morning around 9 am and find a willing plant in flower. Look for an upright head and in a plant that has an abundance of energy to share. Then, tip the plant head soaking the flower head in the water without breaking the stem and sit for an hour to three hours while thanking the plant for sharing its essence with the water. You can also gather the flowers from the stems, removing them from the plant and place them in the water bowl of water. In both cases, sit with the flowers and let the rising energy of the sun draw out the spirit of the plant. Once you see the petals begin to fade use a clean chopstick or a thick piece of grass to remove the flowers (don’t use your fingers) and look for tiny vibrant bubbles in the water. Then pour this essence into a jar or dropper bottle and add a splash of brandy to help preserve it. This is your mother essence and can be used according to the energetic principles of the plant. To learn more, click here.

***

Ashley Litecky Elenbaas is a Clinical Herbalist and owner of Sky House Yoga, a donation-based wellness collective in Silver Spring, Maryland. www.skyhouseyoga.com