Dear Yogis,

Things are changing is big ways.  You are all getting back to studio yoga (or no yoga), and the zoom classes are gradually closing down apart from the Monday Teacher Training, Tuesday Rumi Study and Sunday Gita.  And even they are contracting.  The next Teacher Training in the Studio is Sunday the 2nd May at 2pm, and the next after that the 6th June – always has been the first Sunday in each month.

 

SMOKIN’

At the moment I am writing a booklet on SMOKING HERBS (called “SMOKIN’).  This is extraordinary for me – I have always been pathologically opposed to smoking in every form, however, in order to be of service, it is falling to me to introduce you to alternatives to nicotine and there are many and most grow in your garden.  That is the lovely part – knowing what you are growing and understanding why we were given these plants.  Even hemp was given by Shiva to benefit mankind, that is why it will grown just anywhere, and give multiple yearly harvests.  But we in Australia are not allowed to know about this herb.  Sorry about that, but there are relaxing alternatives.  Damiana, Marijuanilla and Hops for instance.

After seeing what is happening in my community, those people who have received bad news, who have gone through trauma, and who should be looking for healthy alternatives to handling grief, turn to nicotine.  This may feel like it helps, but down deep you know it doesn’t.  Yes you may like to believe you are relaxing but your body is being flooded with harmful chemicals with every breath.   The pictures on the packs must give you a clue. They are truly shocking.  The nicotine is still in the cigarettes together with sugar and other addictive chemicals, but you are being shown the terrible effects of that addiction.  Does this make sense? CHANGE UP.

There are alternatives to store bought.  I have learned that although you may have herbs growing that can help, you have to know how to harvest and dry them and then how to mix them.  It is not just a matter of cutting them up and putting them in a pipe.  It would be easy if it were.  I am not an expert, not an herbalist, but I am learning more about this group of herbs..

It is also important that you know the action of the various herbs.  How they can help apart from just giving you something to do with your hands!   Once you have got these simple how-to’s organised, you can have a lovely smoking experience that will make you feel better, and more relaxed with no long term nasty chemical effects. I am my own experiment.

When the book (SMOKIN’) is finished, I will selling it together with a bag of basic herbs so you can add signature herbs of your choice to get the effect that you want easily.  I will also be giving directions for you to make your own pipe – once again not as easy as you might think.  The position of the stem, the entry of the air into the bowl, the size of the bowl and the ability of the clay or wood that you choose to stand up to heat,  all need to be taken into account – or you could buy something beautiful on line (or one of mine).

I am now making them in terra-cotta clay, and have road tested a clay made out of common kitchen ingredients which seems to be fine. I decoupaged this one and added a crystal.  I  also store my herbs with crystals to add another positive vibration..

What started out to be a small book, is going to be very exhaustive, and will help you on many levels.  How to make pipes – what herbs to grow and harvest – how to harvest – the effect of herbs – ancient rites – spells.  Whatever information  I can bring that I believe will help you.

Smokers among you who are encouraged to go down this route – I do encourage you to do your own research.  However, this booklet will give you the pointers for your own foray into this ancient field.  People throughout the ages have smoked herbs for many reasons, physical, spiritual and mystical.   Only we added addictive chemicals, but you can choose if you are going to buy into this.  It will take time to learn, to change,  but it is worth it.  I will keep you informed of my progress through these newsletters.

Down the track I will have studio or zoom classes.  It is a big subject.

NAMASTE JAHNE

 

 

 

 

 

Dear Yogis.

What a freezing Sunday.  I was told it was snowing in the mountains, and it might have been snowing up here – I just didn’t go out long enough to find out!  It made no difference to the Gita Zoom Class.  It was fantastic as usual.  The photo of the snow is taken from my studio door a couple of years ago.  This year could be the same.

SMOKIN’
I have always been pathologically opposed to cigarette smoking probably because my parents were addicted.  They took up smoking during the war.  My father in the trenches and my mother in The Blitz in London.  I understood the cause, but could not understand their unwillingness to change in the face of the negative effects on the body and the family.   The word “Addict” was never used, but it was part of the explanation.   My father eventually quit due to illness and died in pain, my mother never did and it killed her before her time. 

That not withstanding, yesterday I was drying some smoking herbs for students – hops, mugwort, comfrey etc.  These herbs contain no nicotine or addictive chemicals or sugar found in commercial cigarettes, they are quite powerful, and can be a step towards quitting.  They can also be used specifically to ease symptoms when needed, perhaps to alleviate anxiety, reduce addictions, increase those “loving feelings”, and increase creative capacity.  If you have a problem “There is a herb for that!” and they mostly grow in my garden. Even hops.

After an afternoon of drying herbs in the dehydrator I felt so exhausted I couldn’t keep my eyes open.  I was writing  the booklet in the next room  (not close to the drying),  and when I looked at what I had written this morning it was hopeless, probably because whilst working on it I was half asleep.  The hops are a cousin to cannabis I am told, and for me, they had the same effect.  I just went to sleep.   Note to self – no more drying hops without a window open.

The booklet I am writing (SMOKIN’ ) will tell you what herbs you need, how to dry them, how to mix for a pipe (or cigarettes), even how to hand craft your own pipe.  I made my own, but I don’t need to use one – just drying the herbs for you is enough for me.

As well as drying the herbs, I love making pipes, and plan to shortly do a decoupage one with a fine wood bowl.  Should be beautiful.  I have beaded them, feathered them… now decoupage.  Oh yes.  I have made one from a DIY white porcelain that seems to be good.  Don’t know how it will stand up to wear and tear, but it is TOTALLY organic, and that does count.  I wouldn’t like to be inhaling wood glue, or clay drying chemicals (does anyone think about that?).  The pipes,  because they are made of kitchen ingredients are compostable… totally able to be put in the garden when they have outlived their usefulness, or you want a new one.  Even the wood ones can be recycled.  No plastic used.  I also don’t use a workshop full of tools.  You can make them yourself.

The pipe I made from this material doesn’t look as long and elegant as a “Gandalf pipe” – that comes later.  I have a lot to learn about pipes.  My father had one with a swivel bowl that the soldiers used to tuck under their collars to keep them warm in the trenches (or so the story goes).   I loved the aroma of the tobacco, but dad rarely used it.  He suffered a severe back injury in the war and was in constant pain – I guess pipe tobacco didn’t give the rush or imagined ease that nicotine did.

I wish he could walk into my studio today.  Apart from teaching him how to BREATHE PROPERLY, and do yoga exercise around his limitations,  and I could show him what herbs could be used to ease his pain, how he could get a good nites sleep….and even think about doing positive things towards good health.    I am sure it would make a difference to his mental state (as long as I can remember he was always depressed and negative, taking every opportunity just to sit).  I am sure you know all the stats about skin, ageing and general health and the negative impact that cigarettes have.   Selfishly I know it would have made a difference to my life – I really hated the ashtray stink.  Everything in the house reeked of cigarettes.

I can’t change my dad or my mum they are both dead, but I can help others.   When my mum “comes to visit the studio” even the students can still smell the cigarettes.  True.  I have no explanation for this, it just is.    I have had clients who have tried 40 or 50 times to quit, have had surgeries, but like my mum,  still can’t lose the habit.  It is not a pill, but herbs can help.  However, no matter what addicts choose, in order to change they are going to have to change.  No-one else can do it for them, but I am sure herbs can help.  I hope mum and dad are listening – they will be amused.

Surprisingly, in investigating these herbs, in making the mixes, and writing, I have understood a whole lot more about who my parents really were, why they smoked, why they didn’t change, and how they could have been helped.  Too late now for them, but maybe this will help others.  All the years I tried to help, but did nothing to ease their pain, and we all ended up frustrated and more unforgiving than we should have been (especially me)..  Maybe these herbs are the missing link.

HEY GANG – I WILL SEE YOU ON THE MAT NOW THAT YOU ARE WORKING YOUR WAY OUT OF COVID.

NAMASTE.  JAHNE