Happy Herbalist Day!
Happy Herbalist Day!
An Herbal Love Letter and an Invitation to tea!
Happy National Herbalists Day to all of you from me and my friend the Golden Hops…this year I’m celebrating it in honor of the amazing woman who taught me everything I know, my teacher and renowned Herbalist LaWanna Rine who passed away early this year at the age of 96.
I spent close to 30 years learning from her… she was so amazing. She was such a gifted Herbalist…and so generous with her knowledge. LaWanna was almost indescribable… one of the finest Herbalists I’ve ever known, a color therapist, bodyworker and an iridologist. Because of her I became an Herbalist and Aromatherapist myself, a Reiki Master and a Institute for Integrative Nutrition Certified Health Coach. She became my mother when my own passed…LaWanna truly knew what it meant to love unconditionally.
She never said “ Goodbye”…she always said “ Go with love”. To LaWanna, life was a great spiritual adventure. She was the real deal… the whole deal… a woman who shared all of her knowledge with a huge open heart. I can only hope to be 1/2 as talented as she was, but she told me many times…” Honey, by the time you’re done you’ll be way greater than I am”.
In her honor, I’ve reprinted one of the “Love Letters” that she gave me to publish on my blog, this one from 2012. She wrote one everyday until about 2 months before she died. They ranged from simple herbal advice, to beautiful spiritual prose that always lightened my heart. LaWanna was a wise woman, a traditional herbalist who loved the wild native plants and knew how to use them. She always wore purple and adorned herself with the crystals she loved. She walked her land everyday with her dogs and made tinctures and fermented foods long before they were in style. She taught me to forage the land for fresh healing foods. Her herbal voice was simple, effective and powerful.
I promised her in our last conversations that I would continue her work. I promise that I won’t let you down LaWanna…Go with love.
Love Letters From Lotus Lodge: Add More Spice to Life and Live! 09/14/2012
“I love my spices - every morning on my old fashion oats , cinnamon and turmeric - raw honey, cranberry juice or grape juice. Blueberries or blackberries and lots of raw nuts (no peanuts)! Cinnamon is one of the most ancient of all spices, in Rome, it was valued more than gold - I sprinkle it into my tea and on my oatmeal every day to help balance the blood sugar. Cinnamon is a top spice for survival, I grind mine from cinnamon sticks. I also use cinnamon oil (but make sure that it's the real stuff)!
Cumin is another spice that's also worth it's weight in gold! ; a potent natural medicine and food! Great for digestive and circulatory disorders, cumin has also been of great use to strengthen the liver and pancreas. It is a great aid in destroying the larvae and eggs of parasites! I love cumin to keep fungal growth at bay and cumin also aids the body in removal of toxic chemicals.
Fennel gives physical strength and endurance. I use fennel seeds when brewing my pot of herbal tea - daily! This helps my digestive system, weight balance, gas, bloating, also helps to improve vision and increases the life span because a Healthy liver = healthy life!
There is ancient proverb that claims that if sage is consumed every day, the individual shall never grow old! I add sage to different foods to extend my shelf life! Edible sage oil made from the wildcrafted herb is the type I use for my health, 3 to 4 drops daily! I also use it on warts and skin irritations! Another benefit is that it calms my dogs and I put a few of the ground leaves in their food several times a week to help settle their stomachs during times of stress. It just goes to show you that everyone can use an adrenal tonic! I love sage oil as a beauty aid - and it goes into my tea daily!
Thyme has so many life giving virtues, why don't you try mixing thyme into your spelt (or any other ) flour - It makes the yummiest bread!
Cayenne can stop a heart attack - but I never ever cook with cayenne - I put it on food after it's cooked, because then it's a stimulant.... if cooked with food it becomes more of an an irritant!
Garlic is one of the most safe and versatile herbs yet I also classify it as a spice! It goes without saying how wonderful garlic is for seasoning and its very valuable for combating a wide range of illnesses - especially killing parasites, viruses and anything fungal.
There are so many wonderful healing spices. In my kitchen I keep them stored in glass canning jars labeled with the dates that I harvested them so I've always got the freshest herbs possible. They are one of my favorite sources staying healthy and I never run out of good God ideas for them - Salads, breads, soups, popcorn, vegetables... all of my foods enjoy the spice of life. I hope that you have fun spicing up yours !!!
Go with love,
LaWanna “
Join the City Wytch's Secret Tea Society for a Witches Tea Party on Zoom on May 9th at 7 pm EST. Let's celebrate spring, love, healing, and living in harmony with the seasons. Bring your favorite herb-infused tea and treats to share as we discuss reigniting the magic within. Donations appreciated but not required. All are welcome!