Receive Ease with Elderberry

Before I begin, I invoke the ancient spirit of elderberry with a couple sips of the sparkling tonic I’ve poured in an eggshell blue enamel mug. Please speak to & through me, I ask. Let the wise words and healing energy you wish to share be what pours forth now. I hold the mug at my heart and breathe deep.

One thing I hope to convey with this entry is that, like many who have channeled from somewhere or someone beyond, I too fancy myself a budding medium. Here to share not MY words per se. But use my voice and my platform to speak for those whose voices are not so easily heard by common ears. It’s not a special gift, as I believe anyone can tap into the unseen realms in a variety of ways. It just takes a certain level of receptivity, of asking for their spirit to merge with ours, and for their wisdom to be heard – not through the ears – but through the heart. Then having enough trust to believe it’s true. Enough discernment to know what’s to share or to keep. And enough courage to put it out into the world.

Plants speak to me because I ask them to. Because I listen. Because I love them with my whole heart. Because they want to communicate and connect and be heard like any being on this living planet. And if you are reading this –
be certain they want to commune with you too!

As I take another sip and will words to come, I understand it’s not how this medicine works. Elder instructs me to slow down but stay in the flow. To focus on my heart’s beat and my breath breathe. Insisting that the patient ones know this medicine best. It works to boost our immune systems, strengthen the heart and reduce inflammation – and it works better when we work with it.

I quickly sense its profound calming quality. It demands to be received with true receptivity, not by force. This calmness comes as a significant relief. And then the ally speaks:

“To truly heal, be at ease. At peace.” 

Sitting with it coursing through my physical and energetic bodies, I am so much more open and present than when I started. As was intended. And I am reminded how the most profound truths are often the most simple ones. Not the spoken, but the felt ones.

The spirits of the plants ask to be acknowledged, heeded, appreciated, sat with. And that’s all I am really here to do. And to remind you to do too.

So go out soon and get your elderberry harvest on. It’s mid-August and they are ripe for the picking! Make your medicine with love & see what healing comes through for you.

Magical Magenta Elderberry Syrup
makes one quart jar

2-3 cups of fresh elderberry
3 sprigs of yarrow
4 cups water
1 cup raw honey

Harvest berries with respect, give offerings and gratitude. Leave some for the birds & bears!
Use immediately or freeze/dry. 

Wash berries and add to a medium pot with water and yarrow. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and let simmer for about 30 minutes. During this point it’s a good idea to infuse your medicine with blessings, songs, breath, cleansing smoke, and intentions.
Stir occasionally and breathe in the sweet aroma. 

Turn off heat, remove dyed yarrow, cover and let steep for 45 min to an hour. 

Strain through a nut milk bag or cloth lined mesh strainer. Squeeze well to get all the juice. Add to a clean jar with honey inside and stir or shake until incorporated. The honey is what preserves the syrup.
Note: you can also use alcohol as a preservative, but this is what I had on hand.

Let sit on an altar with crystals or sacred objects to cool and marvel at the gorgeous magenta color of this medicine! 

Store in fridge & imbibe for up to 6 months.

Enjoy medicinal sips as is.
Try it with sparkling water.
Or indulge with it a gorgeous ice cream, pancake or baked goods topping.

“Go easy, and be the Medicine you seek.”