Today’s aromatic herb swap adventure awoke after having been in quite
the hibernation mode for a week due to near zero weather conditions.
(I know...the North chuckles, but this is Texas. Where the freedom to opt for minimal apparel is enjoyed. Any cold weather requiring more than a light
bundling quickly begins to feel like Curly from Three Stooges in his
never-ending layers of clothes episode and is so dubbed a major event.
Any hibernation therein is certainly never questioned!)
Even so, Yule still reigns, and the celebration of light continues.
And a New Year with its bringing of new beginnings and hope is upon us.
A perfect time for an “out with the old and in with the new” swapping of herbs!
Lavender
Delicate, Light, Floral, Sweet
Constitutes Silence and Calm
Happiness, Luck, Purification
Spiritual healing
It started with a tide of abundant sunshine gently ebbing in as I brewed my morning cup of coffee. A sight and warmth unseen for several days. So, with no surprise, my curiosity was sparked of the day's prospectively improved forecast.
I readily threw on my huge down-filled jacket that had become the past week’s customary for venturing past any exterior threshold, grabbed up my freshly brewed cup of dark roast and (feeling much like the blueberry girl from Willy Wonka) made my way outside to investigate.
Amusingly, my intrigue and outdoor venturing proved to be fruitful in more ways than expected!
The sun was in fact bringing much needed light and warmth to all that had been dark or frozen. There was no trace of a frosty bite in the air. I even managed to finish my coffee without frozen fingertips!
But it was a potently strong aroma which suddenly wafted in that proved to be the most captivating and truly amplified the day's adventure. Chamomile!
Chamomile
Light, Sweet, Apple-Like
Peace and Calm
Rebirth and Renewal,
Fulfillment of Wishes and Dreams
A nice surprise since the area chamomile seemed to have vanished with the initial freeze of the winter and thought not to return until the spring.
So late in the winter season, the outdoors have more generally remained immersed in an intoxicating potpourri acquired through the gracious donations of every local hardy evergreen.
One can only imagine the sheer delight felt when this gentle sweet scent peeked through the robust pine curtain!
This small aromatic gesture soon gave way to thought...or more so revelation... as I stood there now out of coffee and assured that I could down-size the present coat apparel, it began to dawn that the outdoors wasn’t the only place submerged in fragrant evergreens!
Lilac
Light, Fresh, Floral Notes
Purity, Happiness, Calm
A Herald of Spring
The past week of hibernation had been an indoor oasis of piney perfumes, warm, dark spices and wintry peppermints!
All lightly sweet floral-like or mild citrusy scents had already been placed in hibernation prior to the present cold snap.
Thus, I found myself promptly back inside on an herbal quest!
Once returned to minimal layering (and after having made a quick pit stop at the coffee pot for a refill), I set forth to waking the herbal sleepyheads!
Out of hibernation came beautiful lavender and lilac, sweet chamomile, bright oranges and lemons, and a bit of rose!
Lemon
Light, Citrusy
To Purify, To Heal
Luck and Longevity
Orange
Light, Citrusy
Health, Fortitude, Vitality
Success and Prosperity
Then, in true honeybee fashion, I floated from one incense, burner, diffuser etc. removing the old (Ok...sooo...almost all the old cause I just couldn’t part with my peppermint or sage!) and accordingly “pollenating” with the new.
Rose
Light, Floral
New Beginnings
Beauty, Purity, Courage
So, making the aromatic herb swap complete!
Ergo another adventure to list, and a perfect prelude to the approaching New Year!
-Elise’s Adventures In Herbaland
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