Past "Medicinal Plants of the Week" - Part 2

CANCER BUSH

Common names: Cancer bush (Sutherlandia Frutescens). Origin: native to Western and Northern Cape, Botswana and Namibia.


Widely distributed, drought tolerant small attractive bush with bright red flowers and small papery seed pods.


The cancer bush is an old Cape remedy for stomach problems and internal cancers. It is said to be a useful bitter tonic and a good general medicine. According to tradition, the virtues of the plant extend to include remedies for colds, influenza, chicken-pox, diabetes, varicose veins, piles, inflammation, liver problems, backache and rheumatism. The medicinal use probably originated with the Khoi and Nama people, who used decoctions externally to wash wounds and internally for fevers and a variety of other ailments.


This plant is one of the most talked about in the ethnobotanical world because it has a strong reputation as a cure for cancer and now increasingly as an immune booster in the treatment of HIV/AIDS. It is known to decrease anxiety and irritability and to elevate the mood. Cancer patients, as well as TB and AIDS patients, lose weight and tend to waste away. Sutherlandia dramatically improves the appetite and wasted patients start to gain weight. It is also known to improve energy levels and gives an enhanced sense of well-being. It is hoped that treatment with sutherlandia will delay the progression of HIV into AIDS, and even remission of the disease is hoped for.


Plant wisdom: Helps you release and cope with internal and external stress. Invigorates and strengthens the system.

YARROW

 

Common names: Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) aka ~ wound wort, nosebleed. Origin: native to Europe and Western Asia.

Loves hot and dry conditions, light sandy soil, but will also do well in compost.


An ancient and revered herb that was used to staunch wounds ~ Achilles reputedly used yarrow leaves to heal the warriors during the battle of Troy. Robes were embroidered with yarrow sprigs and leaves were pressed into books to keep them insect free.


This truly wonderful herb actually stops bleeding. It also increases sweating and is a mild diuretic and an anti-inflammatory herb. Yarrow is probably one of the very best fever breaking herbs. It is wonderful to have growing in your garden to put on cuts and scrapes. Stops nose bleeds (used to be called nosebleed), heals ear aches. A cup of yarrow tea daily reduces high blood pressure, regulates menstrual flow. It’s an age old remedy for chicken pox and measles.


A handful of leaves in your compost heap will help to break down and ferment even the toughest materials in a matter of weeks. It is also a great insect repellent and is marginally effective in expelling worms. It is safe to use on animals... to stop bleeding (internally and externally), helps with circulation and is a unique vascular tonic. Its anti-inflammatory qualities make the herb useful for treating arthritis and navicular syndrome in horses. Great to treat early kidney infection.


Plant wisdom: Yarrow helps you to create the future of your dreams. It will give you courage to change, help increase your psychic power and also helps to release negative energy. Yarrow incense fills your home with love, happiness, and ease.

OAK

 
Common names: Oak (Quercus robur). Origin: native to Europe and North America.
The mighty oak needs no introduction, it is perhaps the mightiest tree… tall and majestic, it covers most of England’s forests. Oaks were very sacred to the Druids. Symbolically the Oak tree is often used to represent the tree of life. Trees live long and will often last for eight hundred years or more.


The bark is widely used in medicinal preparations to ease chronic diarrhoea and dysentery. A tea made from two tablespoons of bark in a quart of water boiled down to a pint will relieve a chronic sore throat and will help bleeding gums when applied regularly. A fallen branch which has been struck by lightening is said to be particularly powerful and will protect your home from lightening, assure abundance, enhance fertility and repel sickness and disease. Placing an acorn in your pocket will protect you from harm… plus it may serve as a reminder that within the little seed you carry the mighty oaks’ spirit resides.


Plant wisdom: The Oak helps to show you how to manifest your magnificence :)

CHAMOMILE

 
Common names: Chamomile (Matricaria recutita or Camomilla recutita). Origin: native to Europe and North America.


Chamomile is a member of the daisy family and is perennial with feathery, parsley-like leaves and a fibrous root. It grown up to 10 inches high and can form a wonderful ground cover if left to spread.


A tea made from its flowers tastes a little like apple or pineapple. Camomile is used as a mild sedative and tonic. It can be used to ease depression and help you relax when you’re under stress. It is said to calm the digestive system, settle nervous indigestion and gastritis, and relieve headaches, menstrual pain, and disorders of the kidney, liver, and bladder. It may also be used to treat hay fever, insomnia, stomach cramps, vomiting, spastic pain, arthritis, and appetite loss, as well as to relieve teething pain and colic in babies. It is also highly antiseptic and can be used to reduce abscesses and wounds.


Washing your hands in Chamomile tea attracts abundance… add some flowers to your bath water to purify your body… it also clears skin… helps aching legs and feet. A hair rinse will lighten your hair. A skin wash will help oily problem skin. It is also wonderful for the compost heap and will help to break down the compost. With rosemary is makes a great spray for mildew, aphids and white fly.


Plant wisdom: Brings calmness, ease, and abundance to you life. Relieves stress and increases confidence.

“What a doctor or healer tells you is a reflection of the beliefs and expectations you hold. Change your beliefs and you change the prognosis. Who is the doctor… but the mind of the patient.” ~ Alan Cohen

NASTURTIUM

Common names: Nasturtium (Tropaeolum majus). Origin: native to Peru but cultivated all over the world. Nasturtium is a cheerful annual that springs up after the rains have come in a profusion of colours ~ orange, yellow and red flowers.


Nasturtiums engender spiritual strength and purity. Both flowers and leaves are edible and have medicinal uses. The flowers can be used to treat wounds and clear up infections. The leaves and flowers can be brewed into a tea and used to quiet a cough and break up congestion. The leaves also can be used to stop the itching of insect bites. Add the flowers and leaves to salads for a little colour and magic. In the 17th century it was used to treat scrofula, which is the tubercular infection of the lymph nodes. Ground seeds have purgative properties and were used to treat worms in both children and animals. At the first sign of a sore throat chew on a few leaves (its rich in Vitamin C) and is a natural antibiotic.


If you plant them in your garden, they will help you find and stay on a spiritual path. Use the leaves in a cleansing bath ~ toss in a handful of dried or fresh leaves to boiling water allow to steep, then add the mixture to your bath water.
Nasturtium flowers will help you invite the magic and power of spirit into your life. Simply allow yourself to connect with their essence by opening your heart and your mind.
Plant wisdom: Makes you pure of heart.

CALENDULA

 
Common names: Calendula (Calendula Officinalis). Origin: Eurasia
A bright and cheerful winter annual that no garden should be without! Plant in full sun and richly composted soil. Sow seeds from late summer onwards.


Primarily used as a skin healer to soothe and encourage new growth. It is also an excellent mouth wash for gum problems. A tea infusion may also be sipped to soothe indigestion or as a liver tonic (a quarter cup of dried flowers to one cup of boiling water). Great treatment for tired, saw eyes and helps to reduce cataracts. Rub a flower on a bee or wasp sting to reduce the swelling. Also makes a great hair rinse to encourage shiny hair. A cream can be made up from the flowers and used to treat haemorrhoids, cracked lips, sore nipples, chilblains, varicose veins, sunburn, burns, redness, rashes etc.


If you plant them in your garden they will protect your property and attract positive energy into your home. Place dried flowers in closets to dispel negative energy. Add a few handfuls of flowers to your bath water to sooth chapped winter skin or problem skin (rashes, redness, dry patches, etc). An excellent companion plant with basil, cabbages, celery, potatoes and radishes. Keeps the chickens and cows healthy ~ giving their eggs and milk a beautiful golden hue.


Plant wisdom: Helps you use your dreams to connect with the wisdom of the ages.

Strive to see the divine spark in everyone :)

There is so much cruelty, suffering, and negativity in the world today it sometimes seems impossible to believe we are all “one” ~ but we must remember that these “lower energies” are those of the third dimension and when we focus on these lower energies we lower our own energies and add to the suffering (because we are feeling it so keenly). Blessings, love and light,



In the fifth dimension you envision the divine perfection of all beings… the animals, the plants and the humans… This raises your energy, as well as the energies of all the beings on the planet. It brings about change and raises the consciousness of everyone. So always strive to see everyone’s divine spark!


When you see or hear of someone doing something cruel/hurtful/violent... instead of reacting with pain for the victim in the situation ~ see both the victim and the aggressor in the highest possible light (remember we all choose experiences in order to grow) ~ in the beginning this may require some extra special imaginative capabilities ~ but give it a bash... bless all of the people / animals / plants involved... see or imagine their divine spark as best you can... and finally pray that the heart of the antagonist be opened fully to allow unconditional love to enter.




xx

~ New Moon Friday, May 14 2010 ~

In this next moon cycle of change we are urged to look at what keeps us locked into the very real mental behavioural patterns. You might be noticing such patterns in your life particularly in the relationships closest to you (because the people who know us best… know our triggers and how to set them off). These patterns are coming up now to be released ~ not to be judged and criticized by us but to be looked at with love and acceptance. 


These so called patterns have served their purpose (they are gifts that come with lessons and as soon as you learn the lesson the patterns can dissolve) and now it is time to let them go so that you can step into your higher-self energies. This is an on-going process... kind of like peeling back the layers... until you get to the place where you simply shine with radiant light... where you are the very highest possible version of yourself... where you and your divine spark are merged into one.



At New Moon it is the perfect time to make the intention to release these outdated and stuck patterns. Know that these intentions come from your innermost space of love and are for the highest good of all life concerned.


Move into the space of your Infinite Being (higher-self ~ your heart center)… try to imagine your energetic body as a light holograph image before you in your minds eye… see the inner struggles and mental patterns as dark areas located within this holograph… reach forward and gently pick out these areas of darkness and at the same time feel the changes taking place in your own body ~ really use your imagination with this (as you know... energy follows thought ~ so you are actually imagining yourself free of anything that is holding you back from being the best you can be... and so it is) ~ really have fun with this… perhaps see it as a game where you blast the dark areas away with a love blaster… perhaps use the violet flame of transmutation to burn them away… maybe ask the angelic beings to help you… do whatever feels right for you. Once you have cleared the holograph of all dark areas… see in front of you a clear and brilliant light body… feel yourself physically lightened by the whole experience.


Now see an angelic being coming towards you holding out new codes of light ~ you know instinctively that these codes of light hold the higher being (new Earth race) genetics which can now be activated and actualised. See the codes of power as a light suit or cloak… put it on over your body and see all the lines of light begin to activate and “power up” all over the suit ~ see it however you imagine... it may follow and flow through your energy centers... it may feel like a light grid-pattern that covers your whole body... you  may see it follow your meridian system... go with whatever feels right for you. The light is a beautiful golden light much like the sun ~ warming, uplifting, loving... simply bask in this light for a while and feel the love and light energy powering up all the cells of your body... feel this energy powering up dorment DNA... feel your whole brain expand... like the universe is now inside you... that it is a part of your awareness now like you are linked in some way... connected to everything that is... feel the immense power of love and light radiating directly from the Source in the center of the universe within ~ it is like a giant radiant sun shining golden, healing, loving light on you.


Start to feel the new powers and new connections that have been activated... use your intuition and play with the energies so that you can learn how to use them. Remember to always have the highest intentions when using this energy... always use it for the best and highest good of all... that way no harm can be done. 


Enjoy playing and working with these new and stronger energies. Remember that you are an integril part of the ascension path... that you hold the most sacred energies in place for every being on this path... that you hold the highest intention and the greatest good inside you... and know that you are transforming into the divine being that you already are.


Blessings, love and light,
Tracy

~ Tread gently on the Earth ~

So much of our ‘way of life’ is tied up doing things that least affect those living things around
you… treading lightly on the Earth means using products that do not in any way harm anything


around you… more and more people are adopting lifestyles that embrace this concept… and new


ways to live in our world are emerging… people are moving back to the land and reassessing their


lives and the impact they are making on this Earth. It is truly a wonderful time to be living… to see


all these changes taking place… all these new ideas coming to the fore… all these little groups


gathering together to do great things.






But treading gently on the Earth is not just about “doing”… for me it is more about BE-ing. We all


get that our thoughts create things… that we have the power to manifest anything that we want…


but the reality of trying to control our thoughts… to morph them into a positive fountain of joy


and bliss is sometimes really hard… particularly when faced with difficult experiences. The great


thing though is that it is possible… and it becomes more and more a way of life the longer you


practice… like forming any habit it should be practiced often.




For me it all started in the car… I had just read The Hidden Messages in Water by Masaru Emoto


and decided to send out the energy of ‘love and gratitude’ to the rainy world outside of my car…


every puddle I saw I projected outwards an energy wave of love and gratitude… I simply focussed


on the energy of love and thankfulness and imagined it flowing out of my heart and into the pool of


water I saw… I did this with the rain drops too… seeing them in my minds eye fall to the Earth


with their molecules loaded with love and gratitude ~ this in turn spread to the plants that drank


the water… to the people and animals that splashed through puddles and of course into to the


Earth. I did this for all bodies of water I passed… dams, rivers and oceans… no body of water was


too big because I knew that just one molecule of water loaded with love would spread this


heightened state of being to its neighbouring molecules of water… kind of like setting loose a virus


of love and gratitude that infects the whole world through its water systems… and even in the


driest places there is water.




It is about finding this “well of love” within you and then radiating this energy outward… so you are


in a constant state of love… it is like experiencing a waking meditation of sorts… the focus being


on your heart centre… on your connection with Source or God… and with the God in all things…


I find it easiest to do while I am driving my car because I am in a protected bubble of sorts and


am able to observe the world around me as it constantly changes… being the impartial observer


allows you to step back from the mind (judging, assessing, etc) into the stillness of the heart.


What started as a small little ritual has now spread to other things… I do this when I cook my


food (hence the name ‘dinners with love’)… when I walk in shopping centres (smiling is my way of


sending it outwards so that it is tangible to the people around me)… when I tend my garden… and


when I play with my cat… it is all an expression of love at its purest.




It doesn’t mean that I don’t experience the occasional bout of road rage but once the emotion has


passed through me like a storm (once it has been expressed… usually by some rather bad language


and hand shaking)… I smile to myself (in forgiveness)… I take a deep breath… I let it go… and then


I start over… sending out love and gratitude to the world around me.
 

~ The Burning Issue ~

I went to Afrika Burns this past weekend and the most profound experience for me was being in a society (however temporary) without money.


Most of the people there opened up to the beautiful flow of life ~ that ‘give and receive pendulum’ did not swing about so crazily as it does in our current society… it seemed more balanced and with that balance came this emotional space of harmony and unconditional love.


There was no judgement ~ everyone was happy to express who they were at that moment in time… there were also no hierarchical levels that people like to define themselves by (particularly when it comes to money)… no-one was overly attached to anything… people felt free to express themselves any way they wanted to and it was truly magnificent!


And that really is the crux of the matter… in our society we judge everything… what car you drive… what work you do… how much money you make… how you are dressed… how thin you are… even how spiritual you are… it is all about hierarchical levels… better or worse… and it has got to stop because as Wayne Dyer says,

“When you judge another, you do not define them, you define yourself.”

When you criticise another you are simple projecting something of yourself (that you don’t particularly like) onto someone else… when you are irritated with someone else… that which irritates you is actually something in yourself that you haven’t yet had the courage to face or can’t for some reason see… and the universe is simply showing it to you so that you can see it and deal with it… and you don’t face it with judgement… you face it with love… unconditional love and forgiveness… for it is the experience that matters not what is right or wrong!


Judgement of others makes you feel less than ~ it makes you attract things into your life that you feel you deserve (which is an experience that is “less than” that which you deserve)… what I realised out there in the desert is that without money this mental block or boundary falls away to some extent… and when it does fall away (when it is released) it allows integrity and truth to flow in… and with integrity comes freedom of expression and a deep self love and acceptance… and with this comes the flow of inner bliss… that abundance that we all are so desperately searching for.


In our current society people have lost their sense of belonging because they can’t perceive that they belong in a space that is so impersonal and unwelcoming… but how can one feel welcomed and a part of something if they are standing in judgement of it?


Harmony and peace begins within you… when you find it… the world will become like that little temporary town in the desert called Afrika Burns… a space of love… of self expression… and of harmony.


Transformation begins when you see that "all that is within you" is like the jewel within the lotus ~ perfect in everyway... this state of being may not fit well to begin with... but with a little faith and loads of grace you will soon be wearing it like a warm and comfy coat on a beautiful winters day.


So stop making choices that re-affirm the belief that you are "less than" and start make ones that affirm that you are more than you can possibly believe... because you are not one thing or one expression... you are an infinite being in posession of unlimited potential ~ the only limiting factor in this is you.
 Namaste

To find the perfect reflection, look within :)

We are One

The Earth School Experience


Earth is a place where souls like us can experience duality... the dark and the light... where we experience both points of view so that we grow as individual souls... this duality is our freedom to choose one direction over another... it is our free will (to use in this dimension ~ beyond this there is only light).


And that is just it... this duality... this sometimes “dark” place called Earth is just a programme... an illusion... a place for us to experience it ALL... the illusion is a learning space where we can "play" with or sorts of archetypes and roles... where we can be anything we want to be… and pretty much do anything we want to do. There are however consequences to everything we do.


Each experience comes with a lesson... an opportunity for growth... lessons offer us attributes such as strength or humility... and each experience offers us a unique perspective... a greater understanding that we had before.


So if for example our soul chooses to experience being a "victim"... certain emotions come into play... these emotions leave us feeling vulnerable... and deep underneath there may be anger, fear, resentment and frustration which are generally blocked... the victim feels powerless... their power (control) has been "snatched away" by the perpetrator... there are also feelings of blame, shame and guilt which create broken spirits.


All these emotions push us in a number of directions...


The spiritual soul sees that everything happens for a reason... that this experience... this lesson has been chosen in order for their soul to grow... to transform into something "better"... and in order to transform the soul decides to experience the full spectrum of emotions that come up "playing" the victim role. Nothing is blocked and nothing is wallowed in either... all feelings and emotions are allowed to flow freely and after they are experienced they are released... the emotions are not judged but actually thanked for coming up to show us the consequences and lessons of the situation. Knowing that the experience has been a chosen (by the soul) is empowering and this knowledge gives the victim their sense of power back. There are many lessons in the victim experience... such as taking responsibility for self... learning about forgiveness (forgiveness of self being the hardest)... learning about yourself more and accepting and loving who you are no matter what.


The “less awake” soul may get caught up in the guilt and view themselves as "less than" ~ this believe perpetuate the cycle of abuse that the victim has chosen... and if they still do not learn the lesson hidden in the experience they may continue to experience the same thing over and over again... or things may get progressively worse ~ this is why most victims need to hit rock bottom before the decide to change. They believe that they don't deserve better... and constantly choose experiences that keep them in the victim mentality… they allow themselves to wallow in the pain and guilt. They do not try to look deeper than that... to find the lessons.


The “less awake” soul may get caught up in the blame game and many feel that revenge is the only answer... to inflict pain in order to avenge themselves and get their power back.


Remember there is no "right choice" here the road will eventually lead back to the lesson but souls may choose different paths to experience different things… and some take longer than others.


Seeking Balance


The universe strives for balance so it is important to know that if we swing out on a pendulum to experience one extreme the universe will re-balance and give us the opposite extreme to experience so that we can get the full understanding of the experience... so for example if we choose to experience poverty to rebalance we have to experience being rich.


If we choose to become a bully in one experience we may have to experience being a victim in the next.


This is happening in South Africa right now… those who were oppressed are now becoming the oppressors… and it is not a cycle that I would like to see perpetuated… but how does one heal a country full of people? Well I think first you must realise that the world around you is a mirror to what you are thinking, feeling and believing… so to change the world you need to change yourself (watch the secret, You can heal your Life, etc)… so yes, you heal yourself and once you are healed your light will shine out so that others may be healed also. Remember to heal we need to look inside… to face our fears… to discover what our beliefs are to see if they are still relevant.


Many of us are experiencing this polarisation in one lifetime on our own lives. One of the biggest lessons for us all right now is to learn to balance the extremes in our lives… to find the centre so that we can learn the lesson. We are all constantly seeking balance… everyone is trying to find the centre… the still point. In the centre there is only peace… there is no extremes… all is in a state of harmony… this is the eye of the storm.


We are One


It is where we see that we are one with all life… the God in us is in everything… we are all one.


This takes us out of the dualism… out of judgment for you realise that judging another is failing to see their inner God particle… their inner greatness... and in a way you are judging the part of them that is a mirror to your own inner darkness. Everyone is on their own distinct path... who are we to judge another’s path in this life? Who are we to say what is right and wrong in this school of experience.


Third dimension humans fear the differences ~ between races, sex, religions, etc. Knowing we are all one allows us to ascend into the fifth dimension… Here we make choices based on “how that would make me feel”… on treating others as you would like to be treated. Here we strive to see the God in all things… we accept everyone as they are… without judgment!


We love and accept ourselves exactly as we are unconditionally… and that right there is the secret! When we feel loved and accepted we are not afraid to show the world every part of who we are… there are no secrets… we do not feel ashamed of who we are… we can walk and talk our truth without fear of judgement… there is no need to defend who we are because we are accepted unconditionally… we shine our light… and we love ~ and the world mirrors back to us this wonderful new reality!


Remember this “new reality” starts with you… the sooner you love and accept exactly as you are… the sooner we can live in harmony, grace, and love.


Namaste to you... you beautiful and adventurous traveller :)


Blessings, love and light,
Tracy