December Herb of the Month: Calendula

December is all about going within. This year it seems that with the extreme temperature drops going within is more welcomed than usual. Much like November, December is filled with the "ickies" as germs and allergens abound. The continued use of elderberry is always recommended However, myy discoery a few months ago that Calendula actually increases white blood cell counts, made it my immediate choice for December.

Calendula officinalis or "marigold" is a particularly potent combatant for issues surrounding skin and inflammation. I often recommend it to client who have skin issues with acne and psoriasis. It is an excellent external and internal cleanser and its dazziling yellow color adds to its healing energy. David Hoffman offers this list of indications below:

Calendula is one of the best herbs for treating local skin problems. It may be used safely wherever there is an inflammation on the skin, whether due to infection or physical damage. It may be used for any external bleeding or wound, bruising or strains. It will also be of benefit in slow-healing wounds and skin ulcers. It is ideal for first aid treatment of minor burns and scalds. Local treatments may be with a lotion, a poultice or compress, whichever is most appropriate. Internally it acts as a valuable herb for digestive inflammation and thus it may be used in the treatment of gastric and duodenal ulcers. As acholagogue it will aid in the relief of gall-bladder problems and also through this process help in many of the vague digestive complaints that are called indigestion. Calendula has marked anti-fungal activity and may be used both internally and externally to combat such infections. As anemmenagogue it has a reputation of helping delayed menstruation and painful periods. It is in general a normalizer of the menstrual process.

(Source: http://www.healthy.net)

Calendula products abound and can be found in everything from my "Autumn Leaves" tea blend to soaps, ointments and even oils. To purchase calendula loose or in its varied form log onto: www.smileherb.com

Re-Communing with Spirit

I remember my mother being quite the witch growing up. It was her answer to our childhood inquiries on how she always knew things like when we were lying, or upset. She would say, "You know I'm a witch," in answer to our awe and dismay. As her child, I accepted this answer and quite honestly felt somewhat empowered by having a mother who was a self-claimed witch. I remember thinking she was just naturally powerful. It wasn't until I was older that I realized that while she had natural leanings, it was the ritual of prayer that kept her fortified. It was also the lack of ritual that eventually led to her dimmed inner light that shone brightly when I was younger. Those moments of "dimness" happen to me from time to time and when I become aware of this fact, I realize that I have "fallen off" and must re-engage with Spirit.

At one point, I started each day with a tarot pull to help ground me in "the now". I do a simple three-card spread where each pulled card represents: the dominant energy for the day, the players involved and how I might be affected. The ritual was less about "prediction" and more about awareness and intention setting. The pulls empowered me with the information to gauge the people and happenings around me, it was like the first time I put on prescription glasses and wondered, "Did I always see so clearly?" As I slipped away from this particular ritual, I became foggy and unorganized. In not carving out time for this very simple ritual, I lost focus.

This is not to say that before tarot pulls I was clueless, but I am finding that as I expand in my higher self, there are tools that become a necessary part of my journey. While I can sense things without having used a pulled card, to start the day without my ritual is the equivalent of not stretching before a run. While I will be able to complete the run in both cases, the instance where I didn't stretch beforehand, means more soreness and pain later.

"Falling off" is a very common thing and very much part of the human existence. The issue of consistency is one that has been a lifetime struggle. I know that without consistent ritual I lose my ability to be active in the spiritual realm, but it doesn't make staying the course any easier. When we don't engage Spirit actively, we lose the ability to tap into Spirit easily, especially when we most need it. This is something I am learning and in doing so, understanding what it takes to re-commune when I have lapsed.

In September, things sort of "fell apart" for me. If I had been doing my daily pulls consistently, I probably would have pulled the Tower card at some point. There was drastic change that affected me in so many ways and I had a bit of a breakdown. Whie this breakdown was not necessarily visible to those around me, it profoundly affected my ability to tap into Spirit. There was fear and anger and a host of other emotions that I found very difficult to engage. I just shutdown and shifted to autopilot. It wasn't until recently that I was able to step back and breathe a little. I looked up and my space was dim, light was not being created from the inside and I was relying on Spirit for EVERYTHING. I was just trying to survive and in those moments of desperation, I let go of those rituals that had previously kept me awake and aware. I essentially, fell asleep.
I "woke up" in early December as I prepared a presentation on my life story, or at least part of it. I looke around and noiced how dull everything was. My altars were not as clean as they should be. I wasn't burning candles like normal and my spiritual work station was collecting dust. That morning I cleaned, did yoga and pulled three cards. Just like that, I felt renewed and energized. In reviewing my notes from previous pulls, I noticed I had not consistently pulled for over a month. The first pull of my renewal, spoke of an end of a cycle and new lessons to be learned.

While I am still working my way back to center, I see how the cards inform and how ritual pulling, much like wearing bindis, forces me to focus. Tomorrow is my mother's birthday. I have endured life without her physical presence for 16 years and I want to honor her on her birthday with a special initiation ritual that will humble me before Spirit and renew my path on this plane.

Re-Communing with Spirit is not hard, but it does require humility and the acknowledgement of how your spiritual absence affects your abilities. Everyone is diffrent, but here are a few suggestions:

• CLEAN: Spiritual work of any kind cannot be properly done in an unclean environment. Wash ritual clothes and tool, empty incense holders of ash, clean away dust, etc. Sage is a great way to cleanse with smoke, but sometimes things need physical cleansing as well, so use a little elbow grease and remember that energy must flow throughout. A cluttered or unclean space = stagnant energy.
  
  
• REESTABLISH RITUALS: Whether it is daily tarot pulls, seated or walking meditation, bring back those personal rituals that you used to do. Focus on those rituals that left you energized and focused. Communing with spirit is different for everyone, so find those practices that speak to you and jump right in!
  
  
• FORGIVE: Sometimes we are so hard on ourselves that we can't get past our own egos, which is really what forgiveness is allabout. So you slipped up, so what? Once you awaken, forgive yourself and keep it moving.
  
  
• ENJOY: There is joy in a good yoga practice, a sweet smelling incense, a beautifully cast spell or heartfelt prayer. Spirit should not be treated as this brick wall that you must smack yourself against. Instead view Spirit as a non-judgemental force that gives you what you ask for. Nothing done is nothing received, so enjoy the love and energy that is Spirit and you will find that it will be easily returned.

SIDENOTE: I started this post two days ago and am just now finishing it up. Right now, I should be in Florida visiting family. I had a standby ticket and the flights which were open two days ago, were oversold by the time I arrived . After two failed attempts to get on a flight, I decided to go home. Before I left the house, I felt compelled to light a white candle on my personal altar to serve as my "beacon" while I was away. I did my three-card pull and the card representing the dominant energy for the day was The Hermit. It was hard to be frustrated by the day's outcome with such prior knowledge.

IA

Personal Responsibility: Energy Shifts With a Punch!

I met with some of my students today as they prepare for their impending final exams. As a community college instructor, I am constantly aware of the energies of my students and often have to guard myself in the teaching process. It can be very taxing being around people, who essentially and genuinely "need" you. The neediness increases or decreases depending on the student, but I find that the closer we get to the final submissions, the more spent the teaching and meeting sessions leave me.

Today, I met with a student who about two months ago sent an email expressing just how desperate she was to pass the course. We set up a meeting and she didn't show. She had had a family emergency and was unable to attend the meeting. In her previous email, she was concerned about her grades and made it clear that she didn't have the money to take the class over, so she really wanted feedback. I told her to reschedule when she was ready and we never met--until today. Tomorrow is the last day for her and her peers to submit the assignments which will determine their final grades. The last assignment was assigned about two and a half weeks ago and has been the focus of the class ever since. Throughout the assignment process, I have repeatedly asked for drafts and offered in-class help to students with questions. This student along with a few others, never once produced a written draft of any kind.

As we were reviewing her paper, I could feel her tension and anger as I pointed out all of the errors and made it very clear that she was in danger of failing the assignment. At one point, it looked like she was going t o cry. I stopped and looked at her and said, " I have to say I am very disappointed that the day before the final is due you are just now bringing me something to look at." I went on to remind her of her email, failure to reschedule and the weeks that passed by with me reviewing papers in class, none of which, were hers. She of course had no response, but it struck me in that moment how her energy changed. Before I made my appeal, there was outward irritation towards me as I reviewed her mistakes. When I pointed out her lack of effort, there was a change, a shift that landed the previously outward energy squarely in her center core. She, in that moment, realized that if she failed it was no one's fault but her own.

We are our own responsibility. Ultimately, failures and successes are largely determined by how much of ourselves we put into a situation. True failure is not a simple "A" or "F" as in the above case. It's about genuine effort. Too many times, we try to look to Spirit as if to say, "How could you let this happen?" As if Spirit told us to buy shoes instead of pay a bill, or stay out late when we knew we had an early flight. We live in a world where personal responsibility is easily dismissed in an effort to shift the blame (insert government bailout example here). However, in keeping things true and honest, too many times WE are the reasons for failed relationships, unpaid bills, unfinshed projects, etc. The key is to accept and take responsbility for how much effort we put forth, and work towards the center.

Tomorrow that same student who experienced that brief moment of clarity will submit her final papers. From now until 9 am tomorrow, the difference between her success and failure will depend largely on what she does with the feedback she was given. In the end, will it be an issue of blame or responsibility? Time will tell as with all things, but in the short term, so will her final grade.

IA