Kira Tolman: Wildness and Magic

Oh hey, it is getting to be that time of year again where everyone wants to make elderberry syrup for cold and flu season... which I highly recommend! However with this foraging endeavor, there is always that handful of people who think all of nature is a beautiful paradise and all plants are safe.

So here is a PSA of something I see Every Single Year.

On the left are elderberries which are edible and used to make syrup. Just don't use the stems or any other part of the plant beyond the ripe berries. They grow on an elder tree. It looks like a TREE. Shocking, I know. They can be a bit of a messy weedy tree, but a tree nonetheless.

There are also blue elderberries, which I forage, I'll drop a photo of those in the comments, they are more common in my area and can be used in the same way. Red elderberries also exist but I'd read up on them before foraging since there is some controversy there.

AND THEN ON THE RIGHT is American Pokeweed. In my opinion it looks *completely* different, but every single year at least one person tells me they found elderberries and they turn out to be pokeberries. It grows on a shrub, not tree. The fruit are bigger, and as you can see the way their berry clusters form in a completely different way.

Pokeweed is quite poisonous. You'll know you were dumb enough to eat some because it is a slow acting but violent emetic (you are going to puke more than you thought possible.)

And if you ate way too much (like say... in a concentrated syrup because you didn't identify your plants properly) you might die from respiratory paralysis. The smaller your body size the more intense and rapid these effects will be.

This is why I don't buy foraged elderberry syrup. I make my own (as a fermented honey syrup.) I have seen too many people get this one wrong to trust someone else's preparation.

So if you want to forage elderberries this autumn, make sure you acquaint yourself well with the elder tree. Usually I would say just take my elderberry foraging class but my leg is broken so no hiking for me for at least another month. You can always message me on Instagram (becomingkira) or text me photos if you feel uncertain though.

PS: You can also gather pokeberries, *just don't eat them.* They make an absolutely gorgeous ink and dye (fugitive stain technically.)

(This photo is not mine, however I no longer recall the original source.)

It is the time of my beautiful lady, the summer rose. I am always enchanted by her legends and folklore.

I have written a little post about her with some of my favourite pieces of her myths.

www.wildnessandmagic.com/journal/rose-season

Larkspur is the beautiful spring sibling of summer's monkshood. Both dwell within the buttercup family. Both are very baneful and I forage both.

You can read more about this lovely poison and its uses over on my blog. https://www.wildnessandmagic.com/journal/larkspur

Larkspur — Wildness & Magic Larkspur is the beautiful spring sister of summer's monkshood. Both dwell within the buttercup family. Both are very baneful and I forage both. Rising tall above the grass of the forest meadow, the raceme of our native Upland Larkspur is …

In 399 BCE Socrates was found guilty of impiety towards the Athenian gods as well as corrupting the youth of Athens. He was sentenced to death and required to carry out his own ex*****on. It is commonly said that his death was by drinking a potion of poison hemlock (Conium maculatum,) but was that the only thing in it?

In a recently blog post I explore the death of Socrates and why I think hemlock might not be the only culprit.

You can read more here: https://www.wildnessandmagic.com/journal/the-death-of-socrates

This evening I finished the Twelfth Night Elixir with mistletoe essence.

In a departure of my normal tech free ritual habits, my dearest friend Andrea was kind enough to use her photography skills to take beautiful photos of our outdoor altar space as I worked.

Thank you to everyone who has purchased items from the shop so far from this update (and all who plan to before December 14th!) And thank you to everyone who has shared any of my content in support, which helps new people find me. I know I say this a lot, but it matters. It all matters so much.

I can put food on the table and my bills get paid because of you. We have winter coats, my daughter has aerial silk class, my eldest has fishing equipment, I can study, grow, and connect with new herbs, all because of your support of my work.

Thank you. ❤

Kira Tolman: Wildness and Magic updated their website address.

Nothing quite feels like summer to me like gathering the first basket of Saint John's Wort.

Though currently a popular and effective herb for some mood imbalances (though check for interactions with some birth controls among other medication) I most commonly recommend it for skin complaints.

This batch is beginning it's slow infusion into olive oil (which will turn a beautiful red over the next few weeks) that will be a component in a salve I make that is useful for addressing skin trauma, like small cuts and scraps, sunburns, myalgia, and bruises.

I will also tincture some to make liniment for uses similar to the oil, or for clients who are using it orally to address mood imbalances. I strongly recommend an herbal consult if you are interested in using Saint John's Wort for it's effects on mild to moderate depression, whether through me (I offer sliding scale consultations) or another trained herbalist.

I was in a (zoom) class with herbalists and other people drawn to plant spirit work on Sunday, and the struggle that black and indigenous people of colour are encountering here in the USA was a big component in our intention setting.

It was also brought up how the herbalist community has a bad habit of up and vanishing during these times, even though the medicine we provide is deeply needed.

I cannot speak for other herbalists, but I know I am guilty of not speaking out as often as I should. I do donate to wonderful organizations like Campaign Zero and Black Visions Collective but often... I stop there.

In an effort to offer the services which I am able, and certainly inspired by a few of my fellow plant workers, I want to offer the medicine I do have (either divination, spiritual, or herbal consults) for free to black and indigenous people of colour.

If you are local to me (near Liberty Lake, WA) I also have a limited amount of preparations I can deliver to you.

I don't seek to profit off these offerings at this time, I am just seeking to offer aid in the ways I know how. My calling is to heal, and in this respect I am forever called to do what I can to those who are hurting. Even if... especially if actually... it is just knowing when to listen.

Black lives matter.

When artist inspire artists. Shout out to Bailey and Mike of Oregon Makers for writing this haiku that inspired my cross-stitch. ❤🔪

This is the place in which I often find my hope for the future restored. In the home with my children, teaching them skills that my ancestors also shared with their families.

Today it was teaching my youngest how to make an apple star (her favourite bread that I make) that she modified to use raspberries. Yum!

Today it was also rolling out fresh pasta made with farm eggs from a lady just down the road, with my eldest, to be included in our supper.

The world is crazy, but it feels more distant and less threatening when we are in the kitchen bringing into being joy and nourishment for each other. ❤

Can we talk about pretty and nourishing ferments and sprouts? Because the way the light is filtering into my kitchen right now is making the line of a few of ours look lovely right now.

Left to right I have some lactofermented garlic carrots I started this morning, then honey garlic honey I started a few days ago, next is two jars of clover sprouts my kid started in staggered succession (a sandwich time favourite,) and of course my sourdough starter. A few things you don't see here that we almost always have on hand are my elderberry honey which is made each autumn - it is stored in the cool dark garage, and a big bucket of hard apple cider on the kitchen floor awaiting its next step.

Do you like fermented food? What's your favourite?

(I love lactofermented green beans with garlic, dill, and cayenne peppers and nettle sauerkraut.)

Our seed and seed potato order from Seed Savers Exchange arrived!

"To plant a garden is to believe in tomorrow."
- Audrey Hepburn

Today we've had snow, rain, hail and sun, all at least twice.

So self-isolation today is looking a lot like just me sitting inside making paper flowers, listening the podcasts, while occasionally taking breaks to stoke the woodstove that I'm slow brewing a pot of chai on.

Sometimes there is a special magic to not setting expectations for a day.

In this time of isolation is can be hard to find my way out of a frustrated mood. It is important to remind myself that while I cannot change how other people behave, I can keep those nearest and dearest to me safe. It is okay to feel deeply, I just seek to avoid drowning in that well of emotion right now.

This evening I found myself calling upon Eir for guidance with my herbal practice and the wisdom to use only what I need in this time. I also called upon Hel asking that my ancestors whisper to me ways to find strength in difficult times.

There is a way through all this.

Are your hands crazy dry from all the handwashing?

I have one jar of plaintain salve that is going to a friend via post on Monday but I have enough infused oil to make a few more jars. Though they won't all be in these fancy brown glass jars.

Plantain is an amazing skin soothing herb. A jar of salve lasts quite awhile depending on your skin type. I use a jar about every 3 months and I have naturally dry skin.

Here's the thing, I'm not in the business of making things unattainable to people, if we didn't live in a capitalist society where bills are a thing, I'd definitely live on barter.

So if your hands are ridiculously dry, let me know, if there are enough people to warrant a small batch (six) I will make some and mail it to you. You can pay me what you are able to and we will call it good.

Edit: An anxious person messaged me about what is enough. I hesitate in this but my base cost and shipping will be covered at around $10. If this is too much though, it is okay, and if you have the means to offer more thank you.

Tomorrow at noon (Pacific Standard Time) I will be doing a Foraging Your Yard & Nearly Free Gardening livestream class here on Facebook and over on my Instagram (.)

As I am in quarantine on my property near Liberty Lake, WA this will be geographically specific of course, but I plan on touching on a few plants that aren't showing here yet but will be any day now.

I will do my best to keep up with any questions. Normally I only teach classes in person so this will be a first for me. It is completely free (with donations if you are able accepted via my ko-fi) so I hope to see you.