Leaning into the seasonal shifts, learning to embrace the cold, and how to inspire more comfort in your life (even among the darkness)
I have a sort of love-hate relationship with winter.
The stillness and opportunity to go inward are something I value. I plan my year knowing that an eventual rest and pause will come toward December and plan accordingly.
I try to encourage friends and clients to shift their mindset during this time of year to have more grace, especially around food, expectations, and travel. There are herbs to support us with our different feelings, emotions, and health struggles. But it’s valuable to try different solutions and experiment with lifestyle shifts before reaching for an herbal remedy immediately.
Now more than ever, it’s important to familiarize yourself with your energetic constitution. Are you someone who has a damp/stagnant body, or maybe you’re more of the heat/excitation type? I say this because it helps you find what herbal allies you might have an easier time connecting with. The synergistic relationship might already be lingering in your constitution. It helps us trust the medicine more easily, instead of being “failed” by an herb that was never meant for us in the first place.
I also just made a video talking about the language we use around food, which is especially potent this time of year. Food is medicine, and that includes sweet treats made by elders, savory dishes crafted with love, and a special treat just because! You are worthy, just as you are, to enjoy the moment. Not to mention, being in fight or flight doesn’t help the rest & digest necessary for optimal digestion. Care about your body, especially with the words you tell yourself.
🌿 Practical Plant Wisdom
If there’s one thing I love about this time of year, it’s the spiced apple teas. But did you know, not all cinnamon teas are created equal? I’m not talking about the ones you’re probably thinking of that are found at the supermarket, either. For me, those are problematic for more reasons than one. Don’t even get me started about microplastics in commercial tea bags, low-quality herbs, small quantities, and natural flavors that are often added. Especially in holiday blends, it’s almost impossible to find an apple spice tea without “natural” flavors.
Cinnamon has incredible uses in herbalism, and I bet you didn’t know that there are different kinds of cinnamon, and they both have different profiles. In fact, there are two main types commonly used: Cassia (Cinnamomum cassia) and Ceylon(Cinnamomum verum).
Cassia Cinnamon, sometimes labeled as “Saigon cinnamon” or “Chinese cinnamon,” is the more common (and usually less expensive) variety found in most grocery stores. It’s darker, thicker, and has a stronger, spicier aroma with a bit of bite. Cassia contains higher levels of coumarin, a naturally occurring compound that can be harsh on the liver if consumed in large quantities over time. While fine in small doses, cassia isn’t ideal for daily use as a tonic herb.
Ceylon Cinnamon, often called “true cinnamon,” is lighter in color and flavor. Its delicate, sweet aroma comes from a more complex balance of essential oils, and it contains much less coumarin, making it gentler and safer for regular use. Energetically, it’s considered more balanced and heart-centered, making it a wonderful ally in a herbal practice. When given a choice, I’ll always choose Ceylon cinnamon, and it’s what I keep stocked in my apothecary.
In herbalism, Ceylon cinnamon is revered as a warming circulatory stimulant, digestive aid, and antimicrobial herb. It brings blood and energy back to the surface, easing coldness, stagnation, and sluggish digestion. Beyond its physical benefits, it’s a plant of sweetness and joy, supporting emotional warmth and connection. It’s also a perfect spice for spells of love, abundance, and hearth magick.
Ceylon Cinnamon (Cinnamomum verum)
Parts used: Inner bark (dried and powdered, or as chips)
Actions: Circulatory stimulant, carminative, aromatic, antispasmodic, antimicrobial, hemostatic
Planetary Correspondence: Sun (vitality, protection, clarity) | Fire element
What I’ve Learned From Ceylon Cinnamon: I first got to know cinnamon back in 2017, when I was desperately looking for routine within my days that seemed to have none (I traveled for work full-time, and didn’t see my home very often). Cinnamon was there to warm me and help me fight off fatigue. I always gravitate toward herbs that support digestion, and cinnamon didn’t disappoint. It was easy to sip on throughout the day, and helped me balance cravings when I was working too much to have a solid break (which I 10/10 don’t recommend). Nowadays, I add it to winter tea recipes, in hot cocoa, and in tea blends that need some extra warmth.
👉 Looking for a personalized blend? I craft custom teas for businesses and events. Plus, my handcrafted organic tea line just went live on my website! I’ve already sold out of some options, so check it out while supplies last, since some options are seasonal and have limited supply!
🌻 Living in Rhythm
I feel like I’m always talking about this, but the trees right now truly have me in awe.
It’s incredible how easy it is for them to let go of their leaves. Some of the trees on our property have been doing this for twice the amount of time that I’ve been alive. Year after year, they shed their leaves and don’t even give it a second thought.
I want to be more like the trees as we tread into winter. To make space for some of my parts to go down to bare bones, only to emerge in spring with so much more space.
Not that my grief will ever leave me, but this winter I want to make space for the parts of it that are limiting me, and the parts that are causing me pain every day. I am still struggling with the grief of the summer, and anticipatory grief of a new situation, and sometimes it all seems like too much. But in times of solace, I go back to my vision of the trees and remember that I’m capable of doing this.
Learning to sit with grief when it comes up and talk with it like an old friend.
Define self-care as something that encompasses my entire being.
Choosing foods that help me feel good and empower my body.
Bracing my body for more intentional movement.
Learning to schedule daily quiet time into my day.
Devote time to care for my hair, skin, and nails.
Giving myself plenty of miso soup.
This winter will not make me hard, shelled off from the world and also myself. It will give me the space to land my heart, and tear away the brush that’s overgrown. It’ll provide the retainer to be held within my partnership, our home, and the family we’ve created with our two dogs. We’ll have meals by the fire, candlelit dinners, and games with friends. We’ll curse the mornings of letting the dogs out, and relax early in the evening. I’ll be sure to curate time in my routines for beauty, for rest, and renewal.
That way, I can do as the leaves do, and surrender to the wind.
👉 Want to meet “in person” and talk about herbal allies? My monthly virtual Herb Circle, Roots & Remedies, is where we explore herbal practices together and talk about seasonal living with our community. Click here to RSVP!
📣 Big ‘Ole Update
Now, the latter section below is usually reserved for paid subscribers; however, I’ve been toying with a more accessible option.
In the past, I’ve taken down my paywall every 10 publications.
I’m thinking of taking down my paywall altogether and instead, shifting toward a heart-based donation toward paid subscriptions. I want my content, especially my Substack, to be more accessible. I put so much time and energy into this, and I’d love nothing more than for folks to be more open to Earth-based spiritual practices.
Yearly subscriptions will still include a free solar-return reading, of course. But my goal is to not only make this publication more exciting for everyone but also be a source of inspiration, education, and information for more folks looking to get into astrology, herbalism, and rituals.
Plus, the weekly astrology forecast is coming back, but with a revamp and a BANG! I’ll let y’all know about the upcoming transits, the big ones that you’ll probably feel, but every day I’m updating y’all on the DAILY forecast in my “accessible astrology for all” IG group chat. It’s free, and you’ll get real-time information on the current transits and get your questions answered ASAP! Here’s the direct link to join; all you’ll need is an Instagram account!
Please reply to this email if you have any thoughts, feelings, or recommendations regarding this possible change (especially if you’re a current paid subscriber).
In the meantime, I’ll be reconfiguring this entire publication to meet the new paywall-less structure, so please let me know if you have any special requests or feedback in the coming weeks while I find my new normal!