winter solstice botanical witches brew

to assist in the winter solstice dec 21 2020 portal +

to support through feb 2021 energy bridge

home-compiled tea made with (edible!!!) plants that have been used as medicinal allies (+ plant dyes!) for centuries.

for integrating 2020, enjoying the pause of winter + transitioning into the new year.

hello, you made it, you mean the world to me, thank you for everything small and big you've done (yes i mean for us, but for you, for me, and for the world). here you go - a tailor-made tea made with my love while thinkin' about givin' you a big suffocating hug!!! if you don't want to drink it, you can integrate it with another element - burn it, bury it in the soil, let it get carried off in the wind, anything that lets you take a minute to think about the year you have survived.

(...or not! take what resonates below and throw away the rest. for example, you might be down with a tea with too many ingredients, but don't want any associated "meanings" or for the tea to hold any significance beyond just tea; do you!!)

HIBISCUS

(flower petals) adds a tangy tart bite (woah! beware! add honey to your tea if you're scared!). supports the upper respiratory system and is soothing to the throat. assists in healthy circulation and keeping fluids moving through the body. rich in antioxidants, potassium, iron, + vitamin a, b, c + d.

associated with love + passion (remember to [continue to] give plenty to yourself and to your interests/hobbies/etc!!). some keep it close in seeking self sovereignty and freedom.

HIMALAYAN SALT

(coarse granules) an edible crystal! hundreds of millions of years old sodium chloride arranged in a three dimensional matrix that we eat! wow!

associated with grounding, soothing, cleansing (old habits or ideas), and setting boundaries.

LAVENDER

(flower buds) adds a woody, earthy, and mint-like twist to this mix.

associated with washing away stress, sharpening the mind, curing heartbreak, and easing sadness.

[YOUR PICK]

add something to break your own heart. this item will represent re-opening bruised parts of you, and facing what you have mourned this year (or perhaps have not yet mourned but would like to name now). this represents inviting in grief and acknowledging what you have suffered or had to let go of this year.

use something(s) from your fridge or cabinets that is edible (trust your gut/first instinct! and it doesn't have to be blue in color!) and let it represent the qualities above. you can explain out loud what item you will be adding and what it signifies to you. if you live with folks, invite them to listen (they can even add their items too!) if you like. equally as potent, keep it as a secret with yourself.

[YOUR PICK]

add something you hold close to your heart. perhaps it's something that you love(d) fiercely or kept you going, perhaps it's something you are proud of but haven't given yourself acknowledgment for yet or something you have immense gratitude for.

use something(s) from your fridge or cabinets that is edible (trust your gut/first instinct! and it doesn't have to be green in color!) and let it represent the qualities above. you can explain out loud what item you will be adding and what it signifies to you. if you live with folks, invite them to listen (they can even add their items too!) if you like. equally as potent, keep it as a secret with yourself.

TULSI (HOLY BASIL)

(leaves) regulates cholesterol and blood pressure, promotes upper respiratory health, and has been used to relieve headaches and stress.

associated with abundance (think about what this means to you - it doesn't necessarily mean financial abundance) and luck. traditionally used to promote understanding and avoid arguments.

CALENDULA (MARIGOLD)

(flower head) this flower opens at sunrise and closes at sunset. ingested and applied topically, it eases inflammation and joint pain. it has been used to reduce fever and prevent muscle spasms. women and people with a womb have historically taken this tea a week before their bleed to reduce pain. it has also been used to improve quality of sleep.

associated with sun energy and ushering in the return of vitality for the living. it is often found at graves because some believe its light will accompany spirits safely wherever they go. it was used in the middle ages to protect against the plague (you are correct - it didn't work! hah! but appropriate for the times amirite). it is associated with sound sleep, and also with luck and abundance.

TANGERINE

(zest of the rind) people take this for asthma, indigestion, clogged arteries, cancer prevention, chemotherapy side effects, colon and rectal cancer, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), liver disease, and lung cancer. what a multi-tasker!

associated with happy thoughts about the future and bringing up memories that make you smile. it has been used to enjoy work and to have renewed excitement for seeing a project through to close.

SAFFRON

(zest of the rind) people take this for insomnia, recovering from shock, heartburn, dry skin (helloooowinter). moderate depression (hellloooowinter), and anxiety.

associated with happiness and integrating lessons (from life experience or during healing process).

love you dearly,

eva