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Dear Yogis,

 

Not long now to Christmas, which feels like it is tomorrow…. it has been Christmas in the shops since after Cup Day!

STUDIO YOGA still on Monday 1pm, Wednesday 5.30 and Friday 5.30 until the 20th December.
There is no zoom until January….
BAYBERRIES.. a recipe
An old American saying goes…..
“A bayberry candle burned to the socket
Brings food to the larder
And gold to the pocket”This old farmer’s tale is one of the iconic traditions of Christmas.  When this poem was written there were no chemical based fragrances, so Bayberry although very mild, would have been a valuable Christmas treat. It is said to smell like “winter”.   Bayberry is not available here commercially yet, although it is a native plant, and in the States is scarce and to our tastes only mildly scented.

But northern (native) Bayberry is much more than just a source of perfume for candle wax, and a whole lot different to the commercially grown Red Bayberry.    The native plant was used traditionally (and still is) for its astringent, drying qualities and in the USA made up into a concoction called “Composition Powder” useful for drying up coughs and colds, and protecting the body against infection. It was also used as a general tonic in all cases of debility and is taken as a preventative measure against disease, particularly during outbreaks. It is also helpful to be used at the first sign of any acute ailment such as a cold, flu, cough or sore throat.  Fantastic at this time when we are all very sensitive to colds and respiratory infections.  This old remedy is still used today for colds, flu, as an eye wash, anywhere that an astringent, drying remedy is needed.Here’s the recipe.  I have it in my winter stash, and also make it into teabags which is easier to access and use.Composition Powder
Ingredients:
1 cup Bayberry Bark, powdered
½ cup Pine or Spruce bark, powdered
½ cup Ginger Root, powdered
1 tbsp. Cloves, powdered
1 tbsp. Cayenne pepper, powdered
PS.  I’m opening the doors to my DIY HERB NETWORK new members now.  If you’ve been wanting to join the NETWORK you can you can do so my emailing me and I will put you on the contact list.   

SEE YOU ON THE MAT – (yes I am still here)

NAMASTE JAHNE

Good morning Yogis,
We are back to winter again here.  I didn’t turn the heating system off entirely and I am glad I didn’t.  Sunny but freezing.
SCHEDULE
ZOOM: Sorry, no more zoom until January, although you can have a zoom consultation with me any time. Email me for a zoom appointment.  We will beginning a new CCP class in January, as well as the usual Teacher Training and Tarot.
STUDIO:Monday 1pm, Wednesday 5.30 and Friday 5.30.  Last class for the year December 20th.
RECIPE – SUMMERTIME HERB BLEND
There are many wonderful herbs that we can prepare into tasty teas that’ll give us the support we need this season – right in our tea cups! For added immune support and heart health, try a big mug of this sweetly spiced herbal tea!  There are enough herbs here to make a pot.. so you will have plenty for top ups – you could even make tea bags.
Berry and Flower Spice Tea
1 teaspoon dried elderberry berries
1 teaspoon dried Hawthorn leaves
1 teaspoon dried calendula flowers
1 teaspoon dried rose petals
1 teaspoon cinnamon chips or 1 cinnamon stick
½ teaspoon dried ginger root powder or ½” piece fresh ginger root, chopped
12 fl oz boiling hot water
Get this full recipe will help bolster the immune system, provide essential vitamin C and other nutrients, support digestion and good circulation, and soothe the nerves and while encouraging a healthy response to stress!  And who doesn’t want that! Try it soon.  The Hawthorn bushes are still bursting with shoots and life, soon there will be berries.
ART
I am nearly finished the first print of Australian Mushrooms. I hope to be printing it next week… if you have a friend who is a mushroom fanatic, you can get this print as a stocking stuffer.  I didn’t think I would be able to get it printed before Christmas – but I have.  Just lucky I guess.
THE BACH REMEDIES – THE YOGA OF HERBS
This too is nearly finished. The book contains details of the flowers of the garden and fields, the essences and their uses, how yoga and Ayurveda fits with this philosophy, the Gem essences, and how to help our pets.  You can also learn how to make essences for yourself, and how to prescribe for family and friends.  When I looked at the cost of Bach flower remedies I could see that preparing this way which is what Bach intended, then you would be able to take control of your health, and save money.

Bach worked so hard with his flowers and essences so that everyone would be in control of their own health, and take it out of the hands of “professionals”.  He believed that illness and disease came into the body because of the condition of the mind and emotions, feelings.  This aligns to what we believe in yoga.

“In illness there is a change of mood from that in ordinary life, and those who are observant can notice this change often before, and sometimes long before, the disease appears – and by treatment can prevent the malady ever appearing”.
– from The Twelve healers and other Remedies by Edward Bach.
There is still time to see me on the mat.
Namaste. Jahne

Dear Yogis, 

A very short newsletter today (maybe you can read the last one again – it was long).

SCHEDULE: NO ZOOM UNTIL THE NEW YEAR.
STUDIO: Yoga Monday 1pm, Wednesday 5.30 and Friday at 5.30

ART WORK:

I am busy with the Fungi Print I am drawing..A collection of unusual fungi of Central Victoria. I think it will be ready before Christmas, but as it is not a download, postage will be an issue for some.

This has not been an easy project, although an enthralling one.

I have long been a fan of Paul Stament the “father” of fungi in the USA (especially his mother’s cancer journey and the role of Turkey Tail mushroom).  He started like me, drawn in by the medicinal and practical nature of fungi not addressed in today’s world.  Out of this enthusiasm and dedication,  he has created umpteen patents around his fungal discoveries (everything from cancer “cures”, to fungal remediation dealing with oil spills and rubbish d) which you will see if you watch FANTASTIC FUNGI on Netflix.  I think he was the first person to make fabric out of mushrooms – he made his hat. This breakthrough has been taken up by major designers including Stella McCartney.

Your next step in your fungal journey (apart from ordering my great poster)  would be reading Alison Pouliot’s wonderful guide to the fungi of Central Victoria, and FUNGI IN AUSTRALIA by J. Hubregtse, published by the Field Naturalists Club of Victoria Inc. They have both inspired this work, and future work now on the drawing board.

COVID NOTE:  I guess not many of you watch CCTV and certainly not DayStar which is one of the radical fringe.  Marcus Lamb       -the now LATE Marcus Lamb who was the founder and president of DayStar a Christian Broadcasting company, has used the last couple of years focussing on the value of hyroxychloroquine, dexamethasone etc.  He donated valuable hours of television time telling his large flock to not get vaccinated, that covid was a hoax, that it was a conspiracy.  In spite of his alternative medication, he contracted covid recently and died last week.  Four other leading lights of the CCTV anti-vax brigade have also died in the last week or so.  Hardly surprising when you see that in their churches few wear masks or social distance.

I PROBABLY WON’T SEE YOU ON THE MAT…BUT I WILL BE THINKING OF YOU.  Namaste – Jahne.