Walking in the forest today I realise how scared I am of the wilderness. Having grown up in London my experience of it is restricted to holidays walking in the lake district with my Dad. But the fear is worth it for the deep sense of satisfaction I feel on walks such as these.
It is this deep satisfaction that makes me so unimpressed by the satisfaction that comes from making purchases. It seems like such a waste of time and money when I know I can get a better fix for free!
On this picking trip I come across Sloes, Hawes, Hips, Grapes, Yarrow, Red clover, Conkers, Hazelnuts, and more. I picked many Hawes to make medicine with. I like to use Hawthorn Berries (Hawes) to treat problems associated with the heart chakra. It is a cardiac (heart) tonic working on physical problems with the heart such as angina, palpitations, high blood pressure etc. and emotional problems such as a broken heart, coldheartedness or anger. I make a tincture of hawthorn berries each year and use vodka as it seems to bring out a sweetness which I have never experienced with Ethanol preparations of the tincture. The sweet taste used to be a good indicator of an energy source which would have been a very comforting thing to our hunter/gatherer ancestors. Even to this day we find the sweet taste a comforting one and this is why I like to include it in medicine for the heart.
I picked some yarrow as I plan to make a magical ward with it for my door. This will repel any unwanted guests 
. Medicinally I use yarrow to manage a fever but picked it earlier in the year as it is coming to the end of it’s season now. It is less well known for its uses as a womens tonic helping with heavy periods and menstrual pains as well. It is best known for helping to staunch wounds as its latin name is Achillea millefolium referring to how Achilles used it to staunch the wounds of his army on the battle field.
I picked sloes for my sloe gin this year. I couldn’t make enough of this last year and I will en devour to make more this year! They are currently in the freezer so that when they come out the sugars break through the skin. My sloe gin is made in the same way I make a tincture but I use gin as the alcohol instead. So check out the tincture making section to find out how.
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