Welcome to It's My Nature's online email
newsletter. Our goal is to provide you with interesting,
useful information about herbs and aromatherapy. We will share
ways to relieve the stress of daily life and bring a little natural
comfort into your life and the lives of those you love.
Summer is rapidly coming to an end and we hope you are enjoying
the last few weeks of the season. It's time for our annual zip
herb sale so stock up now and save! Dried herbs are great for
making your own crafts and gifts for the upcoming holiday season.
It seems a long time off, but the holidays will be here before
you know it! Get ready early this year and avoid holiday stress!
Our website is continually being updated so please remember
to BOOKMARK it and visit often. http://itsmynature.net
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Monthly Tip:To rejuvenate and fluff up feather pillows,
place them one at a time in the dryer on a warm setting for 10
minutes with two clean tennis balls. For a pleasant scent, sprinkle
three drops of an essential oil, like orange or rose onto a cotton
ball, tie it into a handkerchief, and add it to the dryer along
with the pillows.
Herbal Treasures
There are many unique gifts you can create from the bounty
of your herb garden....or, create gifts just to indulge your
own lover of herbs. Certain herbs have specific associations.
Rosemary, for instance, has special significance at Christmas.
It is said that the Virgin Mary spread her blue cloak on a Rosemary
bush when the Holy Family stopped to rest on their flight from
Bethlehem and that since then, some Rosemary blooms with a blue
flower in her honor.
Following are some ideas for making some herbal treasures:
If you're looking forward to using the bounty of your herb
garden to create craft items, be sure to plant enough Bay. Bay
leaves are indispensable in making wreaths and other dried arrangements.
These herbs retain a green color, and withstand handling and
arranging without crumbling.
If you'd don't have a Eucalyptus tree...get one. These wonderful,
pungent leaves are a staple in wreaths and garlands. There are
many varieties of Eucalyptus, but look for the leaves shaped
like knife blades and the beautiful 'spiral' or 'silver-dollar'
varieties in particular. They look wonderful combined with your
favorite dried flowers.
Additional favorites for crafts are Lavender, which retains
its wonderful fragrance even when dried, and such other aromatics
as beautiful dusty-green Sage and Rosemary, with its pine-needlelike
leaves.
Nature's Treasures In addition to collecting dried herbs and flowers from your
own garden, plan a picnic and harvest day with friends in the
nearest meadow or woods. Every Autumn we go up into the Black
Hills where there is a treasure trove of beautiful grasses, bits
of bark, berries, pinecones, seed pods, thistles, dried mosses
and lichens, wildflowers, evergreen fronds, vines and graceful
branches. Many of these materials are available at craft shops,
but purchasing them is not nearly as much fun as gathering them
on your own. Remember to ask all the appropriate permissions
and harvest responsibly. Never dig up native plants or break
off branches of living trees. There are plenty of items that
can be gathered without causing harm to any living things.
Crafting With Your Treasures Cover hollow wreath frames of wire, twigs, or dried vines
with sphagnum or sheet moss that has been soaked to reconstitute
it. (Wear gloves when handling the moss, as it can cause skin
irritations.) Once the moss is formed around the wreath, cover
it with plastic or florist's tape to keep it damp and in place.
Straw wreath forms are easy to work with and are great for
dry arrangements. Bind your chosen items to the form with nylon
fishing line, or you can use the florist's pins.
You may want to create a wreath or garland of fresh materials
and then let the completed item dry, rather than constructing
the adornment with the more delicate dried materials from the
start.
Create a living wreath by planting your favorite herb seedlings
around a wire wreath form covered with soaked sphagnum moss.
Root the seedlings in the moss and attach them with transparent
fishing line, then pack another layer of moss over the roots.
The moss needs to be sprayed daily to keep the herbs growing.
This 'fairy ring' is a lovely and useful addition to a kitchen
garden.
For the upcoming winter holidays, add sprigs of your favorite
fresh or dried aromatic herbs to pine wreaths and garlands to
add texture and color and mingle the scents. For a fabulous red
and green holiday wreath, combine dried Sage and Eucalyptus leaves,
Rosemary and Tarragon sprigs, Holly or bittersweet Berries, and
dried Red Chilies. Finish it off with a gold or red bow!
Create a classic herb wreath with Bay, Chili Peppers, Mint,
Oregano, Rosemary, Sage, and Thyme. Hang this one in the kitchen
so that you can enjoy the aroma, and if you like, pick off pieces
to use when you're cooking. Be sure you wire the pieces on rather
than using glue.
About the author: Karen is an avid gardener and crafter.
She and her husband have a Backyard Wildlife Habitat, plus 'Fairy
Gardens' where the children can learn about different herbs and
hear Karen read a story about the Garden Fairies and Flowers.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Ease The Stress- Managing Stressby Margaret
Paul, Ph.D.
Since 9/11, our society has been challenged as never before.
Anxiety and stress fill the air so thick we can feel it around
us. Our sense of safety has been undermined, and along with it
our sense of control.
We lived under the illusion of control for so long that we
may have come to believe in it. We may have believed we were,
for the most part, in charge of our external safety -- if only
we drove carefully or didn't walk in dangerous areas, and so
on.
That illusion of control has been pulled out from under us
and many of us are left with knots of anxiety. How do we feel
safe in such an unsafe world when death could come out of nowhere?
In reality, our external safety is never assured because we
are mortal beings whose bodies can be harmed. To think otherwise
is to maintain a belief in controlling others and external events
that does not exist, and never has existed.
The anxiety and stress will continue until we can tap into
our personal spiritual Guidance, our source of love, wisdom and
compassion that is always available to all of us. While we cannot
move beyond caring about the safety of our bodies, we need to
move more into caring about the safety of our souls.
Now, more than ever, we need to be able to turn to a reliable
spiritual process for our sense of safety.
Would you feel scared if you were able to tap into a reliable
source of spiritual wisdom to guide you in your decisions regarding
when to get on a plane or when to attend a crowded event? If
you knew that this Guidance was available each and every moment,
would you be so anxious?
The Guidance is here, always. The challenge is to access it.
Spiritual Guidance vibrates at a higher frequency than we
do, so the challenge is to raise our own frequency. The secret
to raising our frequency lies in our intent. Basic to
the Inner Bonding process that I teach, there are only two possible
intents: to protect against responsibility for our own feelings
and behavior through some form of controlling behavior, or to
learn about loving ourselves and others.
Positive feelings such as love, compassion, acceptance, joy
and peace raise the frequency, while negative feelings such as
anger, anxiety, depression, judgment, and shame lower it. Processed,
greasy, sugary and pesticide-laden foods also lower our frequency.
There are many experiences that can assist us in raising our
frequency, such as meditating, praying, being in nature, practicing
yoga and other breathing techniques, or listening to beautiful
music. However, none of these will raise your frequency high
enough to access spiritual Guidance unless your deepest desire
in the moment -- your intent -- is to learn about loving yourself.
When you ask your Guidance (which can be your experience of
God, or a light, a presence, a guardian angel, a mentor or teacher,
or the highest part of yourself), "What is most loving to
me in this moment? What is in my highest good?" you automatically
raise your frequency and open the door to your personal spiritual
Guidance. Once your intention is to learn about loving yourself
and you are willing to take the loving action you are guided
to do, then all the other ways of raising the frequency may be
of help to you.
It is when you can access your personal spiritual Guidance
that you are then able to take loving care of yourself. You will
create an inner sense of safety and serenity when you are willing
to learn to take 100 percent responsibility for all your own
feelings of both pain and joy.
Learning to hear, see and feel the messages from your spiritual
Guidance takes practice. The more you practice, the more you
trust that you are never alone and that you really are being
guided toward your highest good. This is what will release your
stress and create your sense of safety.
It may be difficult to practice opening to spiritual Guidance
if you believe it doesn't exist, or that it will not show up
for you personally. The only way you will know for sure whether
or not this guidance is here is to practice moving into the intent
to learn about loving yourself with your Guidance and see what
happens. It takes a leap of faith to open to learning with something
that you are not sure even exists.
Years ago I read the Carlos Castenada's books. Carlos was
being mentored by a teacher named Don Juan. At one point, Don
Juan stated that he would choose the time of his own death. Carlos
asked him (I am paraphrasing the question since I no longer have
the book) "What if you were walking through the desert one
day and someone was hiding behind a rock ready to shoot you?"
Don Juan's answer was one I never forgot: "I wouldn't be
there." He wouldn't be there because he would have tuned
into his Guidance and would have been told not to go there.
This is what we all need in these difficult times. We each
need to do all we can to keep our frequency high, for this is
how we can each help our planet. The attack on our country has
made all of us vulnerable to the darkness of fear, anger, anxiety.
stress and depression. We cannot afford to give in to this darkness.
We can each stay in love, peace and joy, rather than in fear,
anxiety and depression, only when our intent is to learn about
loving ourselves and we stay tapped into our Guidance throughout
the day.
Our very way of life is at stake here. Most of us cannot go
out and directly deal with the darkness that destroyed and killed
so many innocent people. What we can do is stay in the light
- in love, peace and joy through our intent to learn and our
connection with Spirit. Darkness cannot exist in the face of
light. The more of us that stay in the light, the more power
we have to overcome darkness. We each have the responsibility
to move out of our intent to control and into the intent to learn
about loving ourselves and others. We all have the responsibility
to raise our frequency and stay in connection with the God/Goddess
energy of love and compassion. We each need to become spiritual
warriors, taking loving action even when it is hard to do so.
Through our own loving action, perhaps then our country will
be guided toward taking whatever action that is in our highest
good and the highest good of all.
Margaret Paul, Ph.D. is the co-creator of Inner Bonding,
a transformational six-step spiritual healing process. She is
a best-selling author, noted public speaker, workshop leader,
consultant and Inner Bonding facilitator. She has been leading
groups, teaching classes and workshops, and working with individuals,
couples, partnerships and businesses since 1973.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Herb
of the Month - Hops (Humulus Lupulus)
Hops has been used medicinally for centuries. Its strong bitter
flavor is what accounts for its ability to stimulate digestion
and increase gastric and other secretions. It can improve both
appetite and digestion as it decreases intestinal cramps and
other spasmodic conditions. Hops is also beneficial for heart
disease, irritable bladder and sluggish livers. It is rich in
vitamin C and B-complex, and also contains various minerals.
The natural antibiotic and antibacterial properties found in
Hops are beneficial in promoting healthy kidney functions, treating
urinary tract infections and reducing painful urination.
To learn more about Hops and find other recipes, visit our archives:
http://itsmynature.net/Articles/Hops.html
Healing Herbal Bath
1 Teaspoon Hops
1 Tablespoon Chamomile
1 Tablespoon Spearmint
1 Teaspoon Eucalyptus
Use muslin bag or mesh ball to contain herbs. Pour boiled water
over herbs and let steep while it cools. Add to bath, soak minimum
20 minutes.
For a detoxing effect add 1/2 cups epsom salts.
Monthly Specials
Dried
Herb Sale - $5.50 each Zipbag
Dried herbs in a recloseable zipbag. Great for all your Aromatherapy
and herbal recipes. Use for tea, bath, potpourri, sachets and
other crafts. Choose from: Calendula Petals, Organic Catnip,
Chamomile, Eucalyptus, Lavender, Peppermint, Roses, St. Johns
Wort and more. Now's the time to Stock up and Save!
Approx. 2 cup recloseable bags - Reg. $6.50 Online Special
$5.50 ea http://itsmynature.net/html/Herbs.html
Dried Hops - Over Stock Sale Hops sedating qualities make it great for evening baths or
night-time tea. It's perfect for all your Aromatherapy, Herbal
and Beer making recipes.
Save this month when you buy our 1 lb size bag.
1 lb size: $12.95 Online Sale $9.95 http://itsmynature.net/html/Herbs.html
Arnica Boswella Salve - Natural Skin Care
A deep penetrating rub for arthritis, sore or stiff muscles,
joint and other types of back conditions. Helps with foot and
leg cramps too. ONLINE SPECIAL 1 oz - $8.95 each http://itsmynature.net/html/Salves.html
SpaCenter- Cold diffusion With Adjustable Fan. Specifically designed to provide the most efficient diffusion
of essential oils in their purest form through cold evaporation.
The desired intensity of the diffusion is entirely adjustable
via chosen fan speed. Includes 5 refill pads. Online Special $26.95
http://itsmynature.net/html/Diffuser.html
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Phone orders -Call Toll Free 1-888-445-5051 PST
Or order online on our secure shopping website: http://www.itsmynature.net
Orders are processed and shipped quickly from Oregon via US Mail
& UPS Ground.
Visa /Mastercard /American Express / Discover / Debit Cards /
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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Subscribe To subscribe to this newsletter: email vicki@itsmynature.net
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Copyright 2005, It's My Nature
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