Wednesday 24 June 2015

Rose - a fragrant remedy to soothe upset emotions


"The rose and the thorn, and sorrow and gladness are linked together." 
Saadi (Iranian Poet, 1184-1283)

Moroccan Roses growing in the Atlas Mountains Dades Gorge where we went 
on our honeymoon. There is an annual rose festival in this region every year. 
Lush green oases produce heavenly scents at the foot of dry red earthen slopes.
This iconic bloom is strewn throughout literature as a symbol of love, passion, romance. Given as a token of affection to lovers and mothers worldwide throughout the ages, the unmistakable soft sweet scent of rose evokes a heart-melting gentleness, compassion and sensual femininity. Rose is revered in herbal medicine where a patient might require a 'herbal hug'.

While training to become a herbalist, my dear grandmother, Oma suffered a stroke, lost her ability to speak and became paralysed down one side. My family experienced the loss of our cherished matriarch to this condition and the anticipation of her passing. This prompted me to do my herbal medicine dissertation on how herbal medicine can be supportive for the experience of grief and loss.

I surveyed all herbalists registered with the most popular professional bodies of herbal medicine in Britain. Out of the many herbs used in prescriptions for a broad range of actions to support patients experiencing the emotional and physiological effects of grief, rose was by far the most widely used. The aroma of this gentle plant can be a soothing balm even in the depths of sorrow.

Rose petals and hips have a wide range of applications in health and beauty products, cooking and crafting. The buds and petals are cooling and mildly astringent, helping to reduce inflammation. Rose water has been used traditionally as an eye wash, skin tonic, and refreshing for over-heated skin.

The rose hip seed are rich in vitamin C and healing as a cold-pressed oil to restore scar tissue and skin irritations, as a tincture or syrup to boost immunity when depleted or at the change of seasons.

I often recommend adding a few drops of rose essential oil to a base oil and using this regularly to massage into pulse points or onto the chest and throat, common areas of tension where there is emotional upset. Tincture of rose can be taken as a herbal rescue remedy, a few drops on the tongue or added to water, in times of overwhelm or distress.

Love and rose petals,

I encourage you to fall in love with yourself first for the ultimate relationship at my upcoming Nurturing Rose Remedies Workshop on Wed 22nd July 2015 6.30 - 8pm - £10. Learn to create a healing range of delicate rose concoctions with many applications, but especially to soothe emotions and gently uplift spirits. Make your own handmade remedies to take home. 

Places are limited so booking & payment in advance is vital to secure your place on 0131 226 3223 or edinburgh@nealsyardremedies.com.



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Tuesday 16 June 2015

Herbal Tarot Reading New Moon in Gemini - 16th June


Welcome to this moon's herbal tarot reading! 

This new moon is in social, adaptable gemini, a mutable air sign representing themes such as communication, connections and intellectual inspiration. Ruled by swift moving planet mercury and associated with the colour yellow, I felt drawn to set up for this reading looking out onto Edinburgh's Salisbury Crags amongst a swathe of buttercups gently shivering in the breeze. 

It's a slightly overcast evening after recent sunny spells, but the flowers brighten up the cloudy midsummer evening light. It's a joy to sit outdoors with my flask of tea, feeling the earth beneath me, cozy on a rug, and finally getting to know my beautiful new Mucha Tarot cards, a gift from my sweet sister.

I scanned around me for nearby plant life and spot plantain seed heads, fluffy white cow parsley, vibrant purple pea flowers of common vetch vines peeking out at me invitingly. I gather a few for the tarot offering and settle down to marvel at their shapes and colours. 

My shuffling and plant arranging amongst a shimmering sea of golden petals attracts some curious dogs enjoying the evening air and their apologetic pet humans. I don't mind at all. I love dogs and reminds me of many great times leisurely lounging out in nature with my dear Whisky dog. 

It strikes me that dogs embody in many ways the qualities of gemini: curious, adaptable, playful, friendly. For many of us these fur-babies invite us to reconnect with a lightness of heart and unadulterated joy that can get lost with the cynicism of age... 

Now on to your reading...

Take a moment to 
breathe... 
into your heart... 
relax... 
body & mind... 
close your eyes 
& focus your intention 
for the upcoming cycle.

When you are ready, open your eyes and choose your card:


Card 1     Card 2     Card 3


Love and blessings,

Fiona Morris - Herbalist & AstroTarot Reader


Herbal Wellness Plans | Courses & Workshops | Wild Remedy Walks
Holistic Body Massage | Indian Head Massage | Tea & Tarot Readings

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PLEASE NOTE!

If you are reading this on the 
main home page of my blog, 

**Stop scrolling down now** 

to avoid spoilers of your card 
reading in the blogs posts below






















Herbal Tarot New Moon in Gemini Card No 1

You chose card no. 1

~ 8 of Pentacles ~


A solitary man kneels under a tree a safe distance from the distractions of local life, focused, determined, hard at work, skillfully crafting golden discs with his own hands.

He is dedicated to his art, consistently honing his skill with single pointed dedication and commitment. He has gone far beyond his apprenticeship and training, taking pride in his work with greater sense of ease and flow. His skills have become second nature. Creative output flows in a rhythmic and more structured way.

The craftsman is driven and passionate about his art, willing to sacrifice time and energy to throw himself into his career and produce his offerings to the world. It is easy to concentrate and focus, pouring heart and soul in your efforts when mind, body and spirit is in alignment.

Any awkward phase of trial and errors has long passed and solid progress can be made which is sure to pay off on many levels, such as personal security, professional growth, attracting respect and admiration from your peers.

Where does your passion lie? What structures are needed to bring your gifts to the next level? How can you create time and space away from daily distractions to allow a prolific outpouring from your creative heart? What can you do to optimally nourish yourself for a focused and productive period of creative intensity?

A Herb for Endurance ~ Siberian Ginseng

When you have set yourself a challenge and make a decision to commit to it with blood, sweat and tears, there are times you may feel energy flagging or a tendency to overdo leads to burn out.

Herbs with adaptogenic actions support your body in coping with the physical and mental demands of temporary self imposed stresses. Siberian Ginseng is one such herb. It is the root of the plant that is used, the part that holds steadfast to endure harsh and extreme environmental hardships through stormy wild weather and helps it to thrive regardless.

Taking this herb as a tincture, capsule or elixir on its own or alongside other supportive herbs may greatly aid short term personal missions. This may allow for a greater sense of energy when it is needed most, to give our body a boost of energy, balancing our adrenal stress response and maintain alertness.

There are times in life when we feel called to test our limits and go beyond. This herb may help, but also ensure that you look after yourself well with quality rest and nourishment too.

Your determination and focus can reap great rewards. Commitment to your work and art is admirable and serves you well in moving forward powerfully in the cycle ahead.

********

I hope you have enjoyed your reading and find it supportive in moving forward into the next cycle. 

I'd love to hear how this resonates with you. If you have any insights, connections, recollections, I welcome you to share them with me in a comment below, a personal message, or on my Nourish and Flourish FB page.

If you have friends you think might appreciate it, please do share :)

For occasional updates of upcoming new moon readings, soulful self care tips, herbal wellness blog adventures, holistic clinics and events, I invite you to click here to sign up for your free Nourish and Flourish Love Letters delivered by email directly to your inbox. 

For personal tarot readings or herbal consultations, you are welcome to contact me for further info.

Love & healing blessings,
Fiona Morris 
Herbalist & AstroTarot Reader


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Herbal Tarot New Moon in Gemini Card No 2

Your chose card no. 2

~ 7 of Pentacles ~


A man gathers the fruits of his labour out in the fields. He looks a little weary, having put energy into preparing his land and tending his crops. However, now he is starting to experience abundance and the rewards of his previous efforts. There is still work to be done, but there is always time to stop and smell the roses.

Projects that have been set in motion need to be followed through. In our daily grind, the monotony of daily mundane, repetitive tasks can make it easy to lose sight of the bigger picture at times. We may get a little restless when stuck in the thick of things. Some despondency may creep in where life appears to have lost its sparkle.

When you find yourself in that state of mind, what can you do to brighten up and shake things up a bit? It's important to allow some space to regain some perspective at times. Remember to remind yourself of how blessed you are, be aware of the abundance around us that we can sometimes take for granted.

Although you may be committed to seeing something through to its end and it feels like a hard slog, take some time to appreciate how far you've come. Remind yourself where you have chosen to head to, remember your 'whys', bring your hopes, goals and dreams to mind. Then return back to the here and now.

Make an intention to be mindful of the blessings to be found in everyday life. Be grateful for your health, your home, your resources. Your loved ones, daily meals and rituals bless you daily. A practice of being thankful expands your sense of abundance. Focusing on this awareness may restore a sense of joy and celebration for what lies on your doorstep, which grows even stronger as your gratitude practice deepens.

A Herbal Tea Blend for Optimism and Cheer

When making herbal tea blend, consider not only the therapeutic action, but how the colour and taste make us feel. For a sense of joyfulness, Lemon Balm has a calming and uplifting effect, delicious in teas, especially fresh, with a touch of zing in its zesty flavour. With its antiviral effects it also has an immune strengthening benefit, to offer a pick me up when run down by the hum drum of life.

Adding a touch of colour may be visually therapeutic. The sunny flashes of yellow and orange of chamomile and marigold flowers bring an element of sunshine to herbal tea blends whether fresh or dried. Watching them swirl in a pot or cup transports you to another world, beaming light to your cuppa. These herbs are settling to the nervous system and soothing to digestion. 

Sometimes a little time out to refresh the senses and contemplating a lovingly made cup of tea with a thankful heart is all you need to get back on track.

********

I hope you have enjoyed your reading and find it supportive in moving forward into the next cycle. 

I'd love to hear how this resonates with you. If you have any insights, connections, recollections, I welcome you to share them with me in a comment below, a personal message, or on my Nourish and Flourish FB page.

If you have friends you think might appreciate it, please do share :)

For occasional updates of upcoming new moon readings, soulful self care tips, herbal wellness blog adventures, holistic clinics and events, I invite you to click here to sign up for your free Nourish and Flourish Love Letters delivered by email directly to your inbox. 

For personal tarot readings or herbal consultations, you are welcome to contact me for further info.

Love & healing blessings,
Fiona Morris 
Herbalist & AstroTarot Reader


Let's connect: Facebook l Twitter l Blog l Instagram l Pinterest
Click here to receive your Nourish & Flourish Love Letters

Herbal Tarot New Moon in Gemini Card No 3

You chose card no. 3

~ XV The Devil ~


An attractive woman in opulent finery invites you to her fiery lair. She is alluring and mysterious, with feet of a goat, wings of a bat, a head dress of peacock feathers and ram's horns, a cheeky red tail.

Oooh, this one is a biggie! Are you ready for this? Summon up all your emotional resilience, the Devil card is one that holds a lot of push and pull, attraction and resistance, a yang to our yin. She evokes some strong emotions, passion, surrender, enjoyment, denial

Are you aware of your weaknesses? We all have them. They are so easy to observe in others, but not always so easy to observe in ourselves. However, true healing can only start from within. What areas of your life keep you feeling small and trapped? Where do you feel ready to strengthen and grow? What have you outgrown? What needs to be released and brought back into balance?

As challenging as this card may be, do we really want to keep brushing these issues back under the carpet or hidden away in a dark closet? Or is it time to clear out those cobwebs and give those dark corners of our mind a thorough spring clean?

The ram's horns symbolise a tendency to react without mindfulness or reflection of the consequences. In this card, a naked woman and man sit on the Devil's outstretched open hands. They are not in her clutches, as we might imagine. They are perfectly free to go whenever they choose. They are not imprisoned except for the self imposed shackles of their own minds.

By choosing this card, you are presented with an opportunity to honestly review your choices for what they truly are in the plain light of day. There is no fault. No one is to blame, but simply seemingly irresistible life choices that throw you into a dramatic dilemma of 'bad' and 'good'. In the clear light of wisdom, it is neither bad nor good, only what your mind chooses or has been conditioned to believe.

It may feel challenging to work with areas we feel seduced by and where we seem to have no power. We can become fiercely defensive of them as they remind us of our vulnerabilities, but this is precisely where conscious transformation has potential to grow.

The peacock's feathers may represent vanity and pride. On the other side of the coin, they are also symbolic of spiritual wisdom, in this case one that comes from an awakening and desire to liberate yourself from habits that keep you playing small. What is causing inflammation and irritation? What are you in denial of? If you're not sure, tune into your higher self for the answer. 

So what are your vices? Is it time for a fresh look at them? Perhaps their grip is not as tight as once imagined. In the shadow of night they may appear attractive, but on closer inspection things are rarely what they seem. Perhaps this devil is not the demoness she is made out to be, to be feared and reviled as much as our own ignorance? Is it even possible to grow without going through trials like these? Bring them on!   

A Herb to Help Release Addictions ~ Wood Betony 

Allowing for positive change physically, mentally, emotionally may call for humility. Thoughts and feelings of shame and regret may arise initiating another self-defeating cycle of negativity. Take the passion you currently hold for your addictions and self-limiting objects of desire and channel that resolve into training your mind in the areas of your life that you are ready to give strength to.

In the mean time, nervous system tonics, such as Wood Betony, in your tea blends or tinctures may ease the effect of these thought processes through the transitional period towards inner strength and freedom. This herb promotes a grounding effect in the body. It nourishes the nervous system and helps us get out of over thinking and headiness.

Your strength is forged through the temptress' tests. It's time wake up to your weakness and reclaim your power.

********

I hope you have enjoyed your reading and find it supportive in moving forward into the next cycle. 

I'd love to hear how this resonates with you. If you have any insights, connections, recollections, I welcome you to share them with me in a comment below, a personal message, or on my Nourish and Flourish FB page.

If you have friends you think might appreciate it, please do share :)

For occasional updates of upcoming new moon readings, soulful self care tips, herbal wellness blog adventures, holistic clinics and events, I invite you to click here to sign up for your free Nourish and Flourish Love Letters delivered by email directly to your inbox. 

For personal tarot readings or herbal consultations, you are welcome to contact me for further info.

Love & healing blessings,
Fiona Morris 
Herbalist & AstroTarot Reader


Let's connect: Facebook l Twitter l Blog l Instagram l Pinterest
Click here to receive your Nourish & Flourish Love Letters