Tincture-ing

I happen to be a messy cook and a messy herbalist. :) You will not find any nice/awesome/"it took me two hours to get this photo" pictures here. This is real life. I don't have time for that!

My herb happenings

I have a friend in town who has resparked my interest in all things herbal.

So far, I've made some lotion and some black drawing salve (to pull out splinters/spider venom/glass/basically anything you want pulled out of your skin).

We decided to start a little herb club, with just the two of us. :) We meet once a month, learn about an herb and make something together. Last month was the drawing salve. This month we are making cough drops for the winter (two different kinds) and so far on the list we want to make dit dow ja (muscles/bruising-which requires buying vodka-gasp! Haha it's to be used externally-see D&C 89 for the proper use of alcohol: to wash our bodies!), she wants to make calendula salve, which I'll be making in Utah too, and we are planning out the rest of our herbal adventures this Thursday.

I decided to start some tinctures for this winter. The first is what I'm calling "The get better tincture" it should be pretty calming/maybe even sleepy tincture-echinacea (for the cold/flu/immunity booster), raspberry leaf (same, and all the beneficial minerals and vitamins), rosehips (vitamin c, among other exciting things), chamomile (to calm), catnip (calming/upset stomach).

The second tincture is with elderberries... And only elderberries. It is smaller, but it will probably only be used if we get the flu.

I'm planning to make an 'herbal day-quil' for J. He has to work, he needs energy and something to actually HELP the sickness, not just boost his energy enough to get him through the day (although, I'm hoping this tincture does do that too). It will have astragalus (need to order-this I'm hoping boosts him), mint (clean sinuses), elderberry, raspberry leaf, rosehips.

What an exciting summer! It feels good to once again be prepared for winter and have things in my cabinet to help my family.

My little guru

He chants all day long. It is the cutest thing ever.

Meditating Children

"I think we pay too little attention to the value of meditation; a principle of devotion... Meditation is one of the most secret, most sacred doors through which we pass into the presence of the Lord." David O. McKay

We started meditating/listening to meditation mantra music a couple months ago.  We recently started listening to something together (the kids and me) at some point during our mornings together.

When we do this our days go so smoothly. Rico even comments throughout the day, "Mom, this is a really nice day." They love learning the different hand movements.

Deddy's favorite mantra to sing is Long Time Sun .  Rico's varies. At the moment he loves By Thy Grace. They chant it throughout the day together.  At one point it repeats "Allah, Jehova, Rama, Sa ta na ma" Yesterday, Deddy chanted ALL DAY LONG "jehova, grandma." It was hilarious. They love to watch that particular video. So grandma's, if you were feeling extra love, it was from him.  :)

Rico says it makes his body feel better. I know what he means. I have more patience and understanding. I know that with praising God you can totally transform. I think meditation and chanting mantras while praising God elevates your entire being.  Our house is functioning better than it ever has.  

I found one that you do for your children: to remember the divine spirits that they are and to help them turn to God. It is beautiful.

Just give it a try! Try meditating to one of these for a week and see if there are any changes.

If you are worried that meditation and Christianity cannot co-exist, I invite you to study your scriptures and pray about it.  Psalms 5:1, Psalms 19:14. There are SO many more.

For those who need healing. 

I am loving this one. It helps with communication and brings you into balance. It is supposedly the "base" mantra for all other mantras. I especially love that video because she teaches you how to do the hand movements (I think called the mudra). And her voice is beautiful.

If you go to spirit voyage website and search the mantras you can find the translation and meanings. 

“Meditation centered upon divine realities is the very essence and soul of prayer. It is the silent reaching of the soul towards the Eternal. More petitionary prayer without meditation is a body without a soul, and is powerless to lift the mind and heart above sin and affliction.” James Allen, As a Man Thinketh, Vol. 2.