SUPPORTING YOUR IMMUNE SYSTEM WITH ELDERBERRY SYRUP

“SOUFUL HEALING ASKS, WHILE YOU ARE HEALING YOUR BODY WITH HERBS FROM EARTH, THAT YOU LOOK FOR THE MEANING IN WHAT IS HAPPENING WITHIN YOUR BODY AS IT RELATES TO YOUR WHOLE BEING.” ― Robin Rose Bennett

No matter what the season, I am always trying to find efficient and easy ways to incorporate herbs into our daily lives. Whether it’s a brothy soup with copious amounts of herbs or a simple tea infusion. Lately, I have been focusing on the respiratory system. I usually make elderberry syrup closer to Winter time, but since we are now in a full blown pandemic due to COVID, I am making this now and wanted to share this recipe with you. I deal with seasonal allergies and asthma so I am already at risk of developing some type of congestion or upper respiratory condition. Many tend to take elderberry syrup once they’re already sick but the truth is, herbs can be great tools when used preventatively. Around here we like to stay ahead and take it daily during the Winter. Either way having it on hand is a must.

You are probably already familiar with Elderberry syrup and might have seen it at your local health food store but I wanted to share my recipe because its so easy to make and everyone should have access to it!

Elderflower and elderberry are both exceptional allies during colds, the flu, and other respiratory infections. Elderberry can help soothe inflammation and encourage the release of excess or stuck mucus which is why it’s a perfect tool when battling a cold or congestion.Taken when symptoms first arrive, elderberry has been show to reduce the duration of illness by 4 days due to the fact that it interferes with virus replication and strengthens cell walls to inhibit viral penetration.

I like to add fresh ginger and cinnamon sticks to my syrup, not only because I love the taste but the fresh ginger adds warming and moistening properties to your syrup as elderberry can be a little drying. Some people like to add clove and/or anise which are also great options. Use what you have, make it your own!

Theres no better time to learn how to make this super easy immune boosting syrup than now. Its easy to make, cost efficient and better tasting than the store bought version WITHOUT all the extra sugars and additives. Dried Elderberry can be ordered online but I always recommend supporting local farms, herb shops, and herbalists. So maybe do a little search online and see if thats on option for you. Recipe is shown below. Enjoy!

Elderberry Syrup Recipe

Ingredients: 

dried Elderberry 2 oz.

chopped fresh ginger, as desired

2 cinnamon sticks

1/2 cup - 1 cup of honey

4 cups of water

Directions

1. Look through your dried berries and remove any stems or leftover debris.

2. Combine 2 oz of dried elderberries per quart (4 cups) of water in a saucepan.

3. Bring to a simmer and cook gently until the liquid volume reduces by half. Keep an eye to ensure it stays at a gentle simmer. Simmer for at least 20 min. This is very important as elderberries can cause a toxic buildup of cyanide in the body if not prepared properly!

4. Add ginger and cinnamon.

5. Strain decoction into a glass bowl or container with a tea strainer or cheesecloth. 

6. While the liquid is still warm (not boiling!!) add 1 cup of honey to the liquid. This enables the liquid and honey to mix easily.

7. Transfer syrup into a clean, dry, sterilized glass bottle or jar. At this point, you can add any herbal tinctures or alcohol if desired.

8. Label and store in the refrigerator. Shake before use.

Dosing:

For adults — 1 tablespoon every 4 hours when feeling under the weather or a tablespoon a day for general wellness.

For older children 1 — 1 teaspoon every 4 hours when feeling under the weather or a teaspoon a day for general wellness.

Note: Honey will prolong the shelf life up to a year if refrigerated. 

**NOTE: This is not medical advice. Please do your research and make sure this is something that aligns with you and your body. What works for me may not work for you and that is where your critical thinking and intuition comes in! I am using all preventative measures to SUPPORT my immune system and body however I can. Healing comes in many ways. It can be as simple as using herbs while cooking, getting proper sleep & rest, getting sun, etc. I wanted to share this recipe for anyone who may find it helpful.

Happy Healing!

THE BEST CRYSTAL COMBINATIONS TO USE ON A DAILY BASIS

“THE CRYSTALS WE ARE DRAWN TO ARE MORE OFTEN THAN NOT THE CRYSTALS WE NEED FOR HEALING.”

While its fun to play with your crystals and use them for elaborate full moon rituals and baths, it doesn’t have to be like that every single time you work with them. We’re all living busy lives, adding one more thing to your schedule can be exhausting thus leading you to procrastinate or never doing things at all. Social media tends to add pressure by making you feel like its necessary to go all out but it doesn’t have to be complicated. There are so many ways to use your crystals on a daily basis.

Before getting started: Cleanse your stones and make sure they are clear of any past programing. Hold them in your hands and state your intention clearly.

For a boost of inspiration — CARNELIAN + CITRINE

Working on a project and can’t find the right motivation or inspiration? You can use Carnelian and Citrine to boost your creative juices.

You can put them in a bowl next to your workspace and absorb the creative energies these two have to offer. Carnelian will help you activate feelings of confidence and courage while it removes feelings of doubt and despair. It will remind you of your unique talents. It can also help you step into your true power, giving you the power to take on any task.

 Citrine is a great manifestation stone, it will help you create the type of energy needed to be successful while creating. Citrine will boost your mood and help you think clearly. Its said to carry the energy of the sun, dispelling all low frequency energy and making it positive. 

To help you sleep at night — SELENITE + LEPIDOLITE (one of my favorite combinations)

For a full nights rest, sleep with Selenite and Lepidolite under your pillow. These two will clear the mind and get it ready to take off into deep deep slumber. Lepidolite will help stop the repetitive thoughts that keep you up at night. This stone will help you unwind, relieve stress, and reduce anxiety.

Selenite will help clear the mind and release any heaviness you could have picked up during the day. This stone is extremely clearing and powerful! It is known as “liquid light”, you can feel immediate results. I recommend holding it on your chest or head before bedtime to clear and align. Pair this duo with some passionflower or skullcap tea and you’re set!

To attract loving interactions and pleasant days — ROSE QUARTZ + MALACHITE + CITRINE

Use these three to encourage pleasant and loving interactions with those around you. Of course you have to be willing to do the work but this combination will be a gentle reminder. Carry rose quartz to increase feelings of peace, love, compassion and to help encourage leading from the heart.

Malachite is associated with strong love goddesses and its deep green hues makes it a great heart chakra stone. You can use it to enhance your personal power, and protection in workspaces.

Citrine will help boost your mood and transmute negative thoughts into positive ones. It is said to carry the energy of the sun. A great manifestation crystal and can also help you attract money —looks like a win-win to me!

To cleanse yourself and your crystals everyday — SELENITE

Wave a selenite wand around your body clockwise or simply hold it on your chest. Sit and let the liquid light illuminate your body and clear it of any heavy or low energy you could’ve picked up that day. Selenite is a self cleansing crystal and can cleanse any object or space with its light energy. You can also put your crystals on a selenite wand for an easy and effective way to cleanse your crystals overnight. We don’t always have time for smudging and cleansing — so this one is a favorite in my book!

To reconnect with divine feminine energy — ROSE QUARTZ + CITRINE + MOONSTONE

Rose Quartz for self-love, self-confidence, and self- esteem. Teaches you to be soft and gentle with yourself and others. A very nurturing stone.

Citrine is said to carry the suns energy. Helps boost creativity and optimism. The energy citrine carries can help deter and transmute energy into more productive activity.

Sometimes all we need is to nurture tend to ourselves. I can’t think of a better stone than, Moonstone. A stone that embodies the divine feminine, motherly energy, fertility and new beginnings. It will help you tune into your intuition, encourage hope and can also enhance your intuition.

HOW TO USE CRYSTALS

“A healer's power stems not from any special ability, but from maintaining the courage and awareness to embody and express the universal healing power that every human being naturally possesses.” 
― Eric Micha'el Leventhal

Crystals, energy and alternative healing methods are trending big time. You see crystals everywhere now! All over beauty magazines, department stores, Pinterest and IG. While people are attracted to their beauty, theres a lot more to crystals than most people know about. There are so many possibilities and combinations, it really is fun playing with them and using them in different ways. Each crystal has its own unique properties and purpose. Even then they can be used in many different ways. If you are new to this, I wanted to share some easy ways to work with crystals. 

WAYS TO USE CRYSTALS :

• PROGRAM A CRYSTAL -- You can start simple and use one crystal at a time. You can program your crystals to focus on something very specific. For example, you can program a piece of citrine to bring in some extra monetary wealth. Citrine is known as the merchants stone and stone of manifestation. It can help you manifest wealth and prosperity among other things. Cleanse your crystal, then hold it on your hand and simply say I program you to "blank blank". In this case, you would say, "I program you to help me manifest monetary wealth." Carry that crystal in your pocket or purse, next to your wallet for a few weeks. You can also use it as a reminder of what you wish to attract. This a great way to help you keep your thoughts on track. See how things slowly or maybe even immediately start coming your way. It could be something as small as finding a $20 bill on the floor, to something more significant, like getting a raise. 
• SMALL POUCH -- Carry a small pouch of crystals and stones with you on a daily basis. You can combine sets of crystals based on one specific thing. For example, you can make a good luck pouch and carry some aventurine, jade and citrine to attract luck with money. Or you can just carry all your favorite crystals with you.
• MEDITATE -- You can also use your crystals to meditate. You can program a crystal to work on a specific chakra. For example, if you need help expressing yourself and want to open your throat chakra. Meditate with a lapiz lazuli to open up your throat chakra. Many stones can be used to heighten your intuition or to help you connect with your spirit guides. You just have to narrow down your goals, figure out what your focus is, then pick the proper stone to use. 
• CLEANSE -- One of my favorite things to do is use selenite to cleanse myself. You simply grab the wand and run it through your body clockwise. Almost like you're brushing yourself with the wand. Allow the selenite to cleanse your body and fill you with its "liquid light". You can also use crystals to dissipate negative energy by placing a smokey quartz in the room to absorb energy that may be lingering around. 
• TO SLEEP -- Trouble sleeping? Put some calming crystals under your pillow to help with insomnia. Rose quartz, lepidolite, and amethyst are all good to use depending on what you're working on or trying to achieve. For instance, for loving and peaceful energy while you sleep put rose quartz under your pillow. Lepidolite is great to quiet all those repetitive thoughts and calm your mind before drifting off, if thats what you need help with. 
• TO JOURNAL -- Again, because you can program a crystal to do pretty much anything, they are great to incorporate when you journal. Write down what you want to attract or manifest and when you're done, place your programed crystal on top of your journal. This is a great way to start an easy yet effective ritual. If you want to attract love, write that down. Then, place a piece of rose quartz on top of your journal to set your intention. 
• CREATE A VIBE -- Depending on what you want to achieve, you can strategically place crystals around your home to attract certain things. Lets say you need hep being creative, place some citrine around your desk area to absorb some of the creative energy that citrine carries. Or if you are having a party, place some citrine in the room for its creative and joyful energy.

HOW TO: CLEANSING YOUR CRYSTALS

IF YOU WANT TO FIND THE SECRETS OF THE UNIVERSE, THINK IN TERMS OF ENERGY, FREQUENCY AND VIBRATION. - NIKOLA TESLA

Just like everything else, crystals need cleaning too. I know, I know... The last thing you want to do is add something else to your endless list of chores. But its really not THAT bad! As a matter of fact, since we talked about how to cleanse your space in our previous post, this is going to be an easy task for you! I'll give you a few different examples of how to clear your crystals. I have tried all these methods myself. All very easy and simple and you can choose whichever fits you and your schedule the best.

Think about it this way -- a lot of crystals act as place holders for your energy or other peoples energy. These stones are absorbing energy, good AND bad. Would you like to carry all that around? Yeah, I didn't think so! THIS is why its important to cleanse your stones often. Especially, protective stones/crystals whose sole purpose is to absorb negative energy in order to protect you from it. Now, that we know why lets talk about how!

Smoke: A good time to do this would be while you are using smoke to clear unwanted energy from yourself or your space. You may as well take the time to cleanse your crystals, since you are already creating the perfect environment for this. Simply wave the smoke unto and around each stone. Or you can clear them all at once while they are sitting on a shelf or wherever you have them setup. I like to take the time to clean & organize my crystals while I cleanse them. Sometimes while cleansing, I will feel attracted to specific crystals and this is how I know I need to work with that specific crystal and its energy.

Moonlight: I like to do this during a full moon for a better effect. Plus, its a good way to make it a routine. But, you can also do this any night and as often as you'd like. Simply place your crystals outside to charge under the moonlight or you can put them on your window sill while they're in a glass bowl. In the morning they will be ready to use again. Just make sure not to leave them out in the sunlight too long as this can discolor some crystals.

Selenite: Selenite is a clearing crystal. Place whichever crystal you wish to cleanse next to a selenite wand and let sit. I usually let it cleanse overnight. 

Salt: Another easy way to clear your crystals is by putting them in a bowl of salt. Sea salt and pink Himalayan salt are the best to use but use. Cover your crystals with salt, let sit overnight. Dispose of salt outside when done, do not reuse salt.

Water: Like a river, lake, natural spring or ocean. Any body of water can be used due to its cleansing and purifying abilities.

I hope you enjoyed these simple yet effective ways to cleanse you crystals.

SACRED SPACES: CLEARING YOUR SPACE 101

SOME OF OUR FAVORITE ESSENTIALS -- PALO SANTO & BLACK TOURMALINE.

"I think a spiritual journey is not so much a journal of discovery. Its a journey of recovery. Its a journey of uncovering your own inner nature. Its already there."  Billy Corgan

Spiritual hygiene has become a hot topic recently, many are becoming familiar with the term. In short, life is all about energy. We encounter all kinds of energy on a daily basis and it can be really overwhelming if you dont separate yourself from it. Especially, for those who are highly sensitive or have trouble setting boundaries. Take into account your own energy, relationships, work, stress and just everyday life in general. The burden of carrying the load can make it hard to function and can even make you feel depleted or drained. This is why clearing our space of energetic gunk on a routine basis is so important. Scroll down if you want to skip ahead and learn how to cleanse/purify your space.

Using smoke to purify is a sacred practice that has been used by our ancestors and shamans from around the globe for thousands of years. For many, the first plants that may come to mind are white sage and maybe palo santo. But every culture has its own practices and rituals. You may be familiar with certain herbs that were used in your lineage. For example, growing up in a Mexican household, we used rosemary, bay, sage, rue, and pirul to purify spaces and auric fields.

Once you start a routine, you will begin to feel when you need a shift in energy and when its time to purify your space again. We can start to feel down, “depleted” of energy, or even feel physically ill. It can also be helpful to do this after an altercation or unsettling interaction with someone. Those who are highly sensitive to energy will greatly benefit from clearing their energetic space on a routine basis as well. This is also a good way to release any unwanted energy that a visitor may have left behind. Clearing your energetic space is a great way to eliminate old, stagnant energy which is why its great to do before moving into a new home.

You can create a monthly ritual, doing it at the beginning of each month, during the full moon, or even new moon. Or, simply when you start to feel a sense of heaviness or in the air.

• If you need scientific evidence — the smoke releases negative ions which help purify the air of negative energy or (low frequency energies), which in turn will create a lighter and more harmonious atmosphere so that we may carry on with a clear heart and mind. Per usual, feel free to do your own research on the subject while being mindful of the fact that ancestral knowledge has always been erased and dismissed as something that can not be proven even if results are inexplicably visible. Understand that just because its something you dont believe in, it doesn’t discredit the practice that many hold as sacred.

herbs to use:

There are many herbs you can use to clear your space but I always recommend working with herbs you share a connection with. Specifically, working with herbs that your ancestors might have used. This is a great way to establish a more intimate connection with your herbs and therefore you create a more genuine ritual that garners more personal power. Herbs I would recommend looking into:

• Mugwort — for protection, to induce lucid dreaming, astral projection, and to enhance psychic powers, and prophetic dreams.

• Rosemary — protection, wisdom, purification, healing and health, love, lust, sleep, helps release psychic and spiritual blockages

• Rue — for hex breaking and for warding off evil eye, protection and to increase your psychic powers, clarity

• Sage — wisdom, protection, good luck, prosperity, to attract money, seeking knowledge or guidance, to purify, courage, strength

• Bay — manifestation, money, to open up psychic channels, for dreamwork, protection, purification, strength, wisdom, creativity, abundance, success

• Chamomile — love, prosperity, peace, confidence, happiness, protection, dreamwork, purification, ward against psychic attack, money

• Mint — protection, money, prosperity, happiness, healing, love , luck, travel, vitality, clarity, visions

• Juniper — love/attraction, protection, good luck, increased visions, wisdom, prosperity, & clarity. attracts positive influences while warding off negative energy

• Pine — healing, protection, fertility, prosperity, cleansing, reverse or send back spells

• Lavender — love, protection, sleep, purification, happiness, peace, releases fear, positive energy, protects the spirit, psychic protection

• Copal — intuition, inspiration, uplifting and calming, purification, protection, and spiritual communication, for meditation and spirit work. to remove negative energy from a space, in sweat lodge rituals, or to commemorate weddings and funerals, removes energy blocks

• Rose — love, healing, divination, peace, harmony, psychic ability, spiritual growth, luck, beauty, passion, romance

• Yarrow — courage, healing, love, protection, divination, communicating with loved ones who have passed

There are many other herbs you can use but this is a good place to start your own research.

tools you need:

• Your choice of herbs

• A candle

• A shell or vessel to catch ashes

• Feather (optional)

the ritual:

Before getting started, you want to set your intention. Say a prayer, ask for assistance from — the Universe, your spirit guides, allies, etc. Whoever you have a deep connection with. Give gratitude and ask to be cleared of any energy that does not serve you or your purpose. Ask to release any low frequency energy, obstacles, limitations that are holding you back and replace them with abundance, health, wealth, love, compassion and all the good things that life has to offer. The more personalized and specific the better.

Light your candle in a central location and use this as your fire source so you can come back here and refuel. Use the candle to light your herbs. Let it burn for a few seconds until you feel you can blow the fire out. Gently blow the fire out and start your ritual. Go clockwise and make sure to get every entrance, dark corners, behind doors, closets, anywhere that can be a good hiding spot for stagnant energy to hide. You can use a feather to move the smoke around but this is optional. Once done, open the doors and windows and let that old energy flow out of your space as you welcome in new energy. After about 10 minute or so you can close them. At this point you can spray some florida water, essential oils, or floral water to bring in loving energy. Give your gratitude and thank your guides for their support and guidance.

Clearing your space and auric field is a good way to keep yourself in a state of clarity so you can walk in alignment with your beliefs and you’ll learn to be more intentional about your actions and interactions. It also creates a warm, loving and positive atmosphere, for you and everyone else around. I hope you find this information helpful and that this supports you on your journey.