it all started when…
Once upon a time, a girl wanted to live a healthier life. She was tired of feeling ill, depressed and cold (physically and emotionally). Conventional pharmaceuticals did not help her, and many made her feel worse. So she read a book about herbal medicine. Then she read a book about nutrition. Then she went to school for herbalism, and grew some herbs in her garden. Then those herbs helped her make medicine. Light bulbs went on and slowly but surely, she changed her life. She began to feel good. She began to feel happy. She shared her experiences with her loved ones and they too started to feel better. And she lived happily ever after.
Ok, so there was a little more to it than that, but that’s the reader’s digest version. The fact is that my life was changed when I started taking control of what I put in and on my body.
Now the fun part. My gateway herb. My herbal ally. My friend and companion. Calendula. Cal-en-jooo-la. Ruled by the sun, giver of sunshine, light and warmth - wait, didn’t I say in the beginning how some of my health issues were related to coldness (as in a cold damp tissue state, not necessarily temperature)? hmmm. So this herb that has shown itself to me will heat up my cold damp tissue state? Light the fire within my life force again? And that it did. I began working with calendula in the winter (completely out of season, but nonetheless). I made tea that warmed my bones, and gave my lymphatic system a boost. I began to see a light in that cold dark winter state. If I had labeled it, it would have been more like a seasonal affective disorder. Regardless of names, the petals of this little golden and orange flower lit a fire to get me through the winter months and thrive. I began to see it’s benefits externally as well. I made an infused oil and used that oil for my dry cracked hands and feet. And thus our relationship began. Little ‘ole Calendula and me.
I started growing calendula that spring. By golly my friend that helped me through the winter, began to grow and thrive in the garden. I was able to give him a place to flourish. I hadn’t had much gardening success prior to this. Sure, I’d had some plants and yeah, they didn’t die, but my friend Calendula became the center of my garden. He grew, and gave flowers for the bees, and for me. There was a fire in my garden, like the sun. It was a beautiful sight. Calendula allowed me to harvest many of his flowers for more tea and infused oil. Then in an amazing and generous manner, my calendula friend laid down seeds for his return next year, and the following year, and beyond. His bed spread from the middle of my garden to right beneath the window by my room. Almost like he wanted to be closer to me.
