Damiana, Turnera diffusa, is a shrubby plant native to Mexico known for its aphrodisiac properties. In this episode, clinical herbalist, Ashley Elenbaas, will share her experience dieting this plant for 28 days, or a full moon cycle. The theme that played out in her experience of Damiana was a reframing of pleasure. Ashley shares how her childhood understanding of pleasure informed her ability to experience joy as an adult. Through the course of 4 weeks, Ashley shares how each week highlighted an aspect of the pleasure and slowly opened the doorway into a more mature and integrated experience of pleasure itself.

To watch the "Herb of the Month: Damiana" episode, click here: https://youtu.be/V76eFVrVt4k

Organic Damiana can be purchased through Mountain Rose Herbs here: https://mountainroseherbs.com/damiana-leaf

What is the heart, and how do we arrive in this sacred temple? In this episode, Bhakti teacher Rukmini Walker of UrbanDevi, and herbalist and yoga teacher Ashley Elenbaas explore what it means to make a pilgrimage of the heart. Through the intersecting teachings of Christianity, Bhakti, and Nature-based spirituality, we come to discover where home lives and its spiritual purpose. 

Resources 

"The Breath of the Soul" by Benedictine nun, Joan Chittister

"The Book of Qualities" by J. Ruth Gendler

"The Herbal Astrology Oracle" Tarot by Adriana Ayales

"The Love Locket" Composed 1684 in sanskrit, English edition translated in 1992 by Dasaratha-suta dasa.

Thank you so much and wishing you and Ron a Happy Valentines Day!

It's a cozy deep winter week, and I wanted to bring you along with me to far Northern Minnesota. In this video, I will share a bit about my recent trip to Lutsen, Minnesota, and some of the herbal and process-oriented takeaways that go along with the work of the winter. I hope you enjoy this more story-based episode, and would love to hear your thoughts and comments!

February’s Herb of the Month is Damiana or Turnera diffusa. This warming, aromatic herb is native to Mexico and the arid regions of central and South America. Damiana has a long history of use as an aphrodisiac and was used to increase endurance during long periods of travel. I chose damiana for the month of February as it is an herb that speaks to us about love. Not only our need for love and intimacy and connection with others but also our need for connection and intimacy with ourselves.

During this month of Valentine’s Day celebrations, you might try drinking damiana tea to get in touch with your sensual and intimate needs.

I recommend brewing damiana leaves as tea.

🌿 Add 1 teaspoon of dried herb to 2 cups of hot water and steep for 5 to 7 minutes covered.

🌿 Then strain and add a little bit of plant-based milk to reduce its drying qualities.

Enjoy a warm cup of damiana tea every morning, and if you have time, take a few minutes to sit and journal about how you’re feeling and any other sensations or images that arise.

Where to buy Damiana:
Mountain Rose Herbs - Wild Harvested from Mexico -  https://mountainroseherbs.com/damiana-leaf-wildharvested

Please leave your questions, comments, and takeaways below! I love to hear from you all!

As much as I love plants, I also love taking care of my skin and using natural beauty-enhancing products. Here are five of my go-to beauty products that use natural oils and pigments for an all-over natural glow.

I have no affiliation with these companies, and the links go directly to their sites, with the exception of Crunchi, where I will be sending you through my sister-in-love's site.

Revision Skincare Intellishade TruPhysical Tinted Broad Spectrum 45 Mineral Sunscreen - https://revisionskincare.com/products/intellishade%C2%AE-truphysical-1-7-oz?gclid

Ranavat Brightening Saffron Serum - https://www.ranavat.com/collections/shop-your-ritual/products/brightening-saffron-serum

Auric Plush Ritual  Lip Treatment in BARE - https://auriccosmetics.com/products/plush-ritual-ceramide-lip-treatment?variant=41233021763767

Crunchi- Shadow Bar Vol. 1 Eyeshadow Palatte -  crunchi.com/nicolefeldhaus

Chanel Baume Essential - Glow Stick in SCULPTING - https://www.chanel.com/us/makeup/p/169060/baume-essentiel-multi-use-glow-stick/

Trees are part of a large, interconnected community interacting with their own and other species in deep and fascinating ways. In this talk, Rukmini Walker from Urban Devi and herbalist Ashley Elenbaas explore the hidden life of trees and how their interactions above and underground provide a rich array of symbols and teachings for achieving a more humble and community-minded way of life. Through weaving the latest scientific discoveries of tree communication and the integration of ancient scriptures, this talk will leave you thinking about trees in a new light.

REFERENCES

The Mother Tree Experiment - https://mothertreeproject.org/mother-tree-experiment/

The Social Life of Forests - New York Times article - https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/12/02/magazine/tree-communication-mycorrhiza.html

Environmentalism in the Lord of the Rings - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Environmentalism_in_The_Lord_of_the_Rings

The Pando Aspen Colony - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pando_(tree)

Mary Oliver - When I am Among the Trees - https://medium.com/magazines-at-marquette/when-i-am-among-the-trees-musings-on-mary-oliver-bc992e1934b

FIND US ON SOCIAL

Connect with Rukmini through her Patreon Community: Patreon.com/RukminiWalker 
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rukmini.walker 
Urban Devi: urbandevi.com 
Bhakti Center: https://bhakticenter.org/ 

Connect with Ashley on
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/SkyHouseHerbSchoolApothecary 
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ashley.litecky 
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skyhouseherbs/

UrbanDevi Retreat with Rukmini and Ashley- Costa Rica, April 17-24, 2023
https://bhakticenter.org/urbandeviretreat/

Disordered eating affects people of every age, race, gender identity, sexual orientation, and background.  This video explores some of the possible roots of this disorder and ways to reimagine your relationship with your body and the world you live in. Herbal suggestions are offered to support and nourish your body while you find the inner voice that wants to speak.

"We can do hard things" podcast with guest Tracee Renee Taylor. Jan 11, 2023 -  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sonya-renee-taylor-what-if-you-loved-your-body/id1564530722?i=1000593882497

Tracee Renee Taylor's book, "The Body is Not an Apology: The Power of Radical Self-Love" - https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-body-is-not-an-apology-the-power-of-radical-self-love-sonya-renee-taylor/7723432?ean=9781523090990

NEW COURSE! ROOTS AND SPHERES starting Jan 19, 2023 - https://nightlightastrology.com/roots-and-spheres-a-moon-circle/

Join me for a women's Retreat in Costa Rica April 17-24, 2023: https://bhakticenter.org/urbandeviretreat/

Coffee, as a plant, has many magical powers and its own likes and dislikes. While coffee can be addictive, it can also be very healing. In this video, herbalist Ashley Elenbaas will share the indigenous creation story of the coffee plant as shared by the Ormomo people of the West Wallaga region of Ethiopia and how approaching coffee in a sacred way can change the way we relate to this everyday plant. 

Mentioned Resources:

Buna Qalaa: A Quest for Traditional Uses of Coffee Among Oromo People with Special Emphasis on Wallaga, Ethiopia https://scholarworks.umass.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?referer=&httpsredir=1&article=1521&context=adan

Is Coffee Healthy? James Hoffmann and Professor Tim Spector - YouTube Video:
https://youtu.be/XO-7irGCaTA

Recommended Book: "The Botany of Desire" by Michael Pollan

Join me for a Women's Retreat!
UrbanDevi: Gift of the Feminine Voice
April 17-24, 2023 - Costa Rica
A Few Spaces Still Available: https://bhakticenter.org/urbandeviretreat/

As we step across the threshold to the New Year, we must also acknowledge the things that have died and the things that must die for us to move ahead. We will explore how we let go of dreams, the medicine of mugwort in transitional times, and I will share my processing of a tragic loss of a friend. I hope this video supports your processing, and I would love to hear if you have used Mugwort to aid your visioning and transitions.

To support me and my husband's work, please pledge to our Kickstarter before midnight EST on 12/31. You can grab a space in our upcoming herbal astrology circle, Roots and Spheres, via Kickstarter!

Click here to support us: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/nightlight2020/nightlight-daily-horoscopes-2023

Plant Ally:
Mugwort/Cronewort
Artemesia vulgaris
I use a few drops of fresh plant tincture throughout the day.

Book Resources Mentioned:

Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert: https://bookshop.org/p/books/big-magic-creative-living-beyond-fear-elizabeth-gilbert/588716?ean=9781594634727