December Rituals

Now that it is December and the closing of the calendar year is nearly upon us;  my attention always turns to how I can begin to start tidying up my life, in both practical, physical ways as well as spiritually and energetically.

I begin by tidying up loose ends in my business, putting plans in place so I can take time off during the long summer days and holidays that we in the southern hemisphere, are about to  move into.   I also tend to start stocking up the pantry and tidying away any clutter, ready for family and friends to come around and to avoid the shops during the craziness that is Christmas/holiday shopping (I don't know about you but I have zero patience when it comes to standing in line or finding carparks)!!!

This freed up space in my physical world also allows for me to start freeing up space in my mind.  I naturally start to want to let go of that which no longer serves and to connect with those things that fill up my cup and connect me back to my authentic, sacred Self.

It is kind of perfect then, that here in the Southern hemisphere we find ourselves with access to an abundance of summer blooms and fresh plant material.  All of this natural abundance I find in my garden gets me excited to start harvesting and creating some fantastic smelling aromatics to help cleanse my space and remove unwanted stress and negative energy.

Aromatic plants like cedar, mugwort, lavender, eucalyptus, rosemary and white sage get cut to uniform length and bundled together tightly to make saining bundles, while roses are laid out on the drying rack - later on these dried roses are mixed with patchouli and amber and made into a beautiful loose incense blend.

Citrus fruits, sweet smelling roses, jasmine and lavender are mixed with lemon verbena, mint and assorted dried spices and added to a vodka to gently simmer and infuse.  Once this aromatic mix is strained and placed into a clean bottle in order to make my signature Antipodean water.  This floral water can be used as a room mist to cleanse the space energetically or added to floor washes or used to cleanse and wipe down surfaces to invite in blessings and add a layer of protection to the home.

I find the act of harvesting and creating to be super soothing to my soul.  These activities help me slow down, give thanks and connect me back to practices I can easily imagine my ancestors doing, as well as connecting me to Mama Earth and my plant kin.

The potent, aromatic saining bundles, incense and antipodean water that I make each December last me through the following summer.  Helping me connect to the joy I felt during the spring watching the plants unfurl and start to bud up; and to the hot summer days spent harvesting, drying and working with these sacred plants to turn them into the energetic medicine I use  to keep my home, my sacred space and my mind clean, clear and connected.

Some of the saining bundles I create in early December are dry and ready for use on New Years Eve.  Every December 31st my children and I sit and write out lists or letters of things we wish to let go of and release.  These could include resentments, hurt,  heartbreak, things that no longer serve etc.  We write them down, tuck them into a saining bundle and throw them into a fire pit.  It's quite a therapeutic activity as the act of writing allows us to validate our experiences, while watching the paper and plant bundles burn (safely) signals to us that we are leaving the past behind.  The aromatic smoke cleanses our energy and releases our hopes and prayers for the future.

If you have access to some aromatic plants growing in your garden or surrounding area, perhaps consider gently harvesting and creating your own saining bundles or floral water.  It is such a lovely activity, one that can be enjoyed alone or with friends or children.

Please always ensure you harvest plants that you have correctly identified and always use your discernment when it comes to using plants and any allergies or health concerns you may have.

If you would like to try making your own Antipodean Water you can do so by following this recipe from my book Magic and Medicine; Finding the Wise Woman Within

You will need a slow cooker and the following ingredients.

Antipodean floral water:

9 cups of vodka (the cheap vodka is perfect as we are not drinking this)

Dry ingredients:  

3 -5 sticks of cinnamon

2-3  Tablespoons each of cardamon pods, cloves and star anise 

Fresh ingredients:

Roughly 2-3 cups of each of the following; Mint, lemon verbena, the peel of orange and lemon (roughly chopped), flowers of rose (the more aromatic the better), jasmine, lavender

Optional: Essential oils of clove, jasmine and rose geranium (add in at the end)

Add all ingredients to the slow cooker, put the lid on and turn on to low.  Allow this mixture to gently heat and steep for 45 minutes and then turn the heat off and allow the slow cooker to cool.  

Once cooled, strain the mixture through a muslin cloth lined colander, with a bowl underneath to collect the liquid.  Gather up the cloth and give it a good twist and squeeze to get release any more liquid trapped in the  plant material.  The liquid can then be bottled and labeled for use, make sure to add the date and the warning not to ingest, external use only on the label.   If you wish to add a bit more aromatic punch to the strained floral water , add in 15 drops of each essential oils to the bottle.  Be sure to give the bottle a good shake before use to make sure the essential oils disperse, as the oil will sit on top of your floral water.

The left over macerated plant material can now be either  be returned to the earth with thanks via the compost or returned to the soil around the plants you harvested.

Happy Holidays and Happy Harvesting!!